Month: May 2025

The Quill #7: Summer 2025 (May 19, 2025)

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

The Quill: Issue #7

The Quill is published every two weeks in the spring semester by Prof. Rysavy’s ENG 224: Practicum in Literary Publishing class. Our student editors come from all four UWGB campuses.

Read the full issue online or read each article individually in the posts below.

Student Editors

  • Tiffany Jablonowski: Co-Editor-in-Chief
  • Ginger Knauer: Co-Editor-in-Chief
  • Sierra Nyokka: Marketing & Engagement Manager
  • Sylvie Cavros: The Nerd Zone Co-Editor
  • Clover Cicha: Local Favorites Editor
  • Kendall Cox: TV Editor
  • Shane Ewig: Anime Editor
  • Jenna Fintelmann: Self-Care Editor
  • Katie Frank: Video Games Editor
  • Aiden Gervais: The Trash Vortex Editor
  • Julia Hahn: The Nerd Zone Co-Editor
  • Alex Lopez: Fictional Fiancé Editor
  • Neesa Peak: Eco-Actions Editor
  • Mia Perez-Behringer: The Quill’s Flame Editor
  • Payton Rhyner: Music Editor
  • Brooke Schoening: Book Quiz and Movies Editor
  • Cheyenne Shull: Today’s Trends Editor
  • Noah Spellich: Books Editor
  • Seth Van Ess: True Crime and Sports Editor
  • Karrie Wortner: Book Travel Editor

Copyeditors: Gavin Ayotte • Mia Bolyard • Zoom Coe • Brady Hurst • Autumn Johnson • Natalie Johnson • Vic Lyons • Jennifer Poull • Payton Rhyner • Karly Wigand

Faculty Advisor: Professor Tracy Fernandez Rysavy
The Quill Template Design: Kimberly Vlies

Interested in being on The Quill and Northern Lights staff? Enroll in ENG 224: Practicum in Literary Publishing, available every spring.

Questions or News Items? Contact The Quill’s advisor, Prof. Rysavy.

The Quill #7: AWE News #1

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

Sheepshead Review and Northern Lights Now Available!

Northern Lights 2025 coverThe 2025 Northern Lights Literary & Arts Journal is here! It’s our largest issue yet, with 56 interior pages compared to our usual 40. Copies are now available in the Green Bay campus library (3rd floor desk), as well as in the basket on Professor Rysavy’s office door (Studio Arts 261). Sheboygan and Manitowoc students can find them in Student Services on their campuses.

Sheepshead CoverThe Spring 2025 issue of Sheepshead Review launched its “wackiest” issue to date this Wednesday, May 7th. “This issue is themed after landscapes found in Wisconsin, with wacky elements throughout the pages,” the editorial staff writes. Pick up a copy!

The Quill #7: AWE News #2

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

AWE Spring 2025 Graduate Success Story:
Kimberly Rouse

Kimberly Rouse
Kimberly Earns a Spot in UW-Milwaukee’s English M.A. Program
In these quick chats, graduating Applied Writing & English (AWE) seniors share what ignited their love of words, how the AWE programs shaped them, and where they’re headed next. Dive in and celebrate their journeys!
Kimberly Rouse began her college journey as a marketing major, but a course with Dr. Paul Belanger (Dr. B) during the pandemic sparked a pivot.

“My Professional Writing class with Dr. B changed my life,” she says. “Dr. B convinced me to finish the semester instead of dropping out (as I was tempted to since things were so hard at the time). Being able to stick through the semester paved the pathway for me to smoothly return to UWGB and finally finish my bachelor’s degree.”

Encouraged by Dr. B to stay enrolled despite the challenges, she discovered a passion for language that eventually drew her back to UW‑Green Bay as an English major with hopes of becoming a Japanese-to-English translator after a hiatus spent working full‑time and teaching herself Japanese. That same mentorship introduced her to Sigma Tau Delta and set her on a path of scholarly curiosity that now shapes her graduate school ambitions.

Through editing for Sheepshead Review, writing 50,000 words in Novel Writing Workshop, and diving into cross‑textual analyses (like a metaphysical analysis of Annie Dillard’s Living by Fiction and Pilgrim at Tinker Creek), Kimberly honed the critical thinking skills she sees as essential in an era of AI misinformation. Those experiences propelled her toward graduate research in new-media writing, which explores alternative storytelling forms to reach audiences beyond traditional print.She’ll be attending UW-Milwaukee’s English M.A. program in the fall.

“Our English/AWE programs are so in-depth that I feel more than prepared to continue studying English in graduate school,” she says. “I have learned to think critically about my own writing and the stories I read outside of class. Those skills helped to develop and hone my writing technique. [They have also] made me realize the importance of critical thinking skills and have developed a strong interest in me to study how to make these skills more accessible in an era of anti-intellectualism.”

Though she still thinks translating is a worthy profession, she says her time as an English major at UWGB has inspired her “to be a researcher, a scholar, and perhaps even become a future professor.”

Looking ahead, she’s excited (and a little nervous) to meet new colleagues and pursue questions that may never have final answers, but, she says, that’s the point: “Curiosity is vital to learning. I have grown comfortable with questions, with searching for answers, and with the realization that some questions are unanswerable. But the answer isn’t necessarily the most important part; it’s asking the question.”

[Editor’s note: See Kimberly’s poems “Cacophony” and “Spider Cup” in the new 2025 Northern Lights Literary & Arts Journal.]

—Ginger Knauer, Co-Editor-in-Chief

The Quill #7: AWE News #3

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

AWE Spring 2025 Graduate Success Story:
Noah Spellich

Noah SpellichNoah Finishes a Novel and Earns a Rising Phoenix Award 
Many students in the pursuit of an English degree don’t chose this path with the sole purpose to become better communicators, and Noah Spellich is no different. His journey has been one of self-discovery, resilience, and creativity. As graduation nears, he reflects on his time in the program, discussing both the challenges and triumphs he faced along the way.Early on, writing had always been a passion for Spellich. The decision to major in English came from his desire to improve his writing and gain a better understanding of the English language. It was a choice that would lead to invaluable experiences. Sheepshead Review, the Northern Lights Practicum in Literary Publishing,and his Novel Writing/Revision Workshops have had a lasting impact on Spellich. “The constant exposure to a wide range of creative works, both from my peers and external submitters, has given me a much clearer idea of what high-quality writing looks like,” he stated.

Spellich encourages students to form relationships with the professors and peers, saying “Not only will they be your support when you’re struggling, but they’re also a networking resource that you’ll be able to use after graduation.” He credits the people he has met and the influence they had on him as the most valuable take-away from his time here at UWGB.

He also notes that developing a “writer’s skin” is necessary to any writer. “Regardless of how good of a writer you are, you will always receive negative feedback at some point, and it won’t always be constructive, so it’s up to you as a writer to not let that feedback destroy your confidence.”

Two projects that have been highlights in Spellich’s literary career at UWGB are Type X, a novel he wrote for Novel Revision Workshop, and “Grandpa’s Dragon,” a short story he recently published in Sheepshead Review. Although previously rejected twice, “Grandpa’s Dragon” won the 2025 Rising Phoenix Contest for Fiction this spring, which he credits to his hard work and determination.

Type X is the base for future works to come from Spellich: “My idea for this story has matured from a mere class project, intended solely as practice for my future works, into a full-blown series, something that I plan to develop further in the coming years.”

Spellich is undecided on what his next step is after graduation but knows it will include continued work on his Type X novel with a goal of getting it published. “I’ve dedicated half a decade to my studies at this point, and it still hasn’t fully sunk in that it’s ending. I’m nervous because of the uncertainties, but I’m also confident that I’ll find my way, no matter what.”

As well as “Grandpa’s Dragon” in the Spring 2025 Sheepshead Review, you can see Spellich’s photos “Golden Sun” and “Fire in the Sky” and his poem “The Snowman’s Cry” featured in the 2025 edition of Northern Lights Literary & Arts Journal.

—Tiffany Jablonowski, Co-Editor-in-Chief

The Quill #7: AWE News #4

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

More Good AWE Student News

Page Turner posterSpring 2025 graduate Mia Bolyard recently accepted an internship!
     The Quill‘s faculty advisor was also able to see Mia’s original play script. Page Turner, come to life on the UWGB stage, capably directed by fellow AWE graduate Autumn Johnson. This delightful one-act play details a young woman’s journey revealing to her ambitious, type-A mother that she dropped her business major in favor of pursuing her creative writing ambitions and an English degree, all while the characters living in her head demand to have their stories told. If you missed the March performances, you can watch Page Turner free on YouTube.

Brady Hurst was proud to have his short story, “The Book of Stars,” featured in the 2025 Northern Lights Literary & Arts Journal. “I wrote this for my mother, who loves to tell stories and scared away the monsters from under by bed,” he says. “Love you, Mum.”
The story, which he wrote in a creative writing class, was inspired by a book of fairy tales his mother read to him when he was younger. “It was a whim that I submitted it to Northern Lights, but to my surprise, it was accepted,” he says. “Proves that just trying/applying yourself can go a long way.”

Vic Lyons recently received a grant-writing internship We EmpowHER, a nonprofit organization in Fond Du Lac. We EmpowHER provides mentorship, career exploration opportunities, classes, and other programming to empower women and help them “embrace the best versions of themselves as valued community members.”

Spring 2025 graduate Kephren Pritchett is heading to Iowa State University to pursue an MFA in Creative Writing and Environment.

The Quill #7: AWE News #5

Dr. Jennie Young’s New Book on the Rhetoric of Dating Apps

Dr. Jennie YoungDr. Jennie Young has turned a simple yet powerful idea into a phenomenon. The idea, which was inspired by a public scholarship/social media project she had started in 2023, has now evolved into a cultural movement, gaining traction across social media, earning high-profile recognition, and securing a major publishing deal.

By using applied rhetoric, writing or speaking as a means of communication and persuasion, and feminist theories, Dr. Young has developed a system that protects women’s physical and mental well-being and time as they navigate through the world of dating apps. Her Burned Haystack Method follows ten simple rules to curate the online dating pool to help find matches that are an actual fit for you. For example, instead of swiping left, she suggests blocking incompatible matches to prevent them from showing back up in the pool of potential dates. Instead of wasting your energy on toxic behaviors, these rules make dating apps incinerate the haystack to reveal the needle. Dr. Young’s methods led to Rolling Stone featuring her in an October issue, cementing her place in conversations about societal expectations and feminist ideals. Burn the Haystack: Decode Dating, Torch the Duds, and Make Room for Men Who Matter is forthcoming from HarperCollins in early 2026.

Burned Haystack logoHer book deal came about after an agent found her through the Burned Haystack social media platforms. After entering a representational contract, Dr. Young’s agent did an amazing job handling the book proposal process. “The first week the proposal went out, we had four meetings scheduled with Big Five publishing houses, and I ended up signing with HarperCollins in a preempt deal,” she says. A preempt deal is when a company makes a strong offer to prevent bidding wars with other publishers later.

The most difficult aspect of the book writing journey has been finding the time to write while juggling her full-time job. Once she gets going, Dr. Young “can usually fall into a rhythm and crank out text fairly quickly; it’s getting the time, space, and energy to do it that’s been the challenge.”

HarperCollins has provided Dr. Young with an editorial, marketing, and publishing team that shares an understanding of the work that she developed. “It was important to me to work with a team that was okay with and supportive of my unapologetically feminist positioning; I didn’t want any pressure to ‘water down’ the method or to appease men,” she says. This team has supported Dr. Young as she navigates and learns the process of bringing her work to fruition.

Young’s other notable works include her essay, “Burned Haystack Dating Method,” which is set to be published by Bloomsbury Press in Feminism and Feminist Movements in America: An Encyclopedia of Ideals and Activism, edited by Sarah Kornfield, and “We’re All Christina Applegate,” which was featured in the fall 2024 issue of Spark: Celebrities and Our Decisive Moments, an anthology of creative nonfiction edited by Lee Fearnside.

Her favorite among her essays is one titled “Words with Friends,” which was originally published in the Bacopa Literary Review in the fall of 2016. This essay “was formed around an actual game of Words with Friends that my son and I were playing when he was in high school. It was an experimental (and challenging) format, and it’s different than anything else I’ve written.” This essay uses the words played to reflect on life and parenthood when your child is grown.

Dr. Young hopes that readers walk away from her work with a feeling that it was worth their time. In the future, she may extend her research to connect how Burned Haystack methodology can be applied to other aspects of life beyond dating.

The best piece of advice Dr. Young has for students just starting out in their literary endeavors is to act. “Just do the work. I know that sounds cliched, and it is, but it’s really true that ‘thinking about the work,’ ‘agonizing over the work,’ ‘talking about the work’ — none of that is actually ‘the work.’ Those things might happen too, but if you really want to be a writer, then you need to focus most of your energy toward the work of writing.”

—Tiffany Jablonowski, Co-Editor-in-Chief

The Quill #7: AWE News #6

AWE Faculty 2024-2025 Publications

So many Applied Writing & English faculty came out with recent publications that we didn’t have the space to give them all a feature! Here are some of the works UWGB professors and lecturers have published in the past year or will be publishing in the fall:

Spark! coverRoshelle Amundson published her essay “Panhandling for Peace: Resilience in the Fight for Joy” in Spark: Celebrities and Our Decisive Moments, which came out this past October from Chimera Projects LLC. This anthology of personal essays examines celebrities and their impact on the wider world and our own personal one. Professor Amundson’s piece is a braided essay about “resilience and continuing to withstand not despite but because of. …”

My National Parks coverJacob Boyd published his poetry chapbook My National Parks (pictured left) in July 2024, which was awarded third place in the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets Chapbook Award. He also published three more poems in the past year: “Strophic Cascade [The woods you know. The woods are owned.]” and “Strophic Cascade [Between the storm inside and the storm window,]” appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of 32 Poems. And “Shuffle for James Thomas” appeared in the Summer 2024 issue of Cider Press Review.

JPSM coverBrian Harrell: You may know him from the online classes he teaches in Writing Foundations, but Brian Harrell has a secret double life teaching classes in science writing and research, and medical ethics and humanities for the Northeast Ohio Medical University. He co-authored an article titled “Pediatric Palliative Care Simulation Improves Resident Learning Outcomes: An 11-Year Review,” which was published in February in the Journal of Pain and Symptom Management. He also has another article, “Moving Against the Grain: Combining Writing Center Theory and In-House Editing Services to Create a Graduate Writing Center,” coming later this year in The Peer Review.

Ditko film logoZack Kruse is busy directing and co-producing a documentary film called DITKO, “about the life and work of Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man and creator of Dr. Strange (among other notable comic book characters).” View the trailer and learn more about thie film at the DITKO film website. He is also working with the Ditko estate to revive some of Ditko’s creator-owned characters. Kruse has submitted the first comic in that effort, Steve Ditko’s Static: Architects of the Self, to major comics publisher Image.
Meanwhile, he has been carving out time to co-write an upcoming book, Beyond the Comics Pantheon: The Question, with Vincent Haddad for the Univerity Press of Mississippi. This book is a part of the Beyond the Comics series at UPM dealing with characters that are otherwise “underwritten about.” Kruse also has a book chapter coming out, “Recuperating and Packaging Diversity: The Problem of Whiteness in Doctor Strange (2016),” through RIT Press (title TBD). His upcoming RIT monograph, A Piece of the Action: Grass Green and the Midwest Underground, will focus on Green as one of the few Black comics artists to participate in the Underground Comix movement of the 1960s and 1970s. Finally, his radio show, The Mutant Graveyard, airs every Wednesday from 3:00 – 4:00 PM on Rockin’ the Suburbs Radio.

Ilanot Review coverRebecca Meacham had two flash memoir pieces published in spring/summer 2024: “The Way We Love Each Other” was nominated for the prestigious Pushcart Prize by Ilanot Review, after appearing in the journal’s Spring-Summer 2024 issue, themed “Fixations: Obsessions and Repair.” And “Where Are You? Here I Am, Here,” which centered around the loss of her family’s beloved dog Scarlet, was published in Roanoke Review.

Skipjack Review #4 coverChuck Rybak is seeing the results of an apparent storm of creativity. He has two poems—”No Word for It” and “Multiverse”—in the latest issue (Issue #4) of Skipjack Review, the theme of which is “Best of 2024.” In addition, his poem “Lethe” will appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of Expressive Writing. His creative nonfiction piece “Highway Arithmetic” is forthcoming in Hippocampus Magazine. And his poem “Van Gogh’s Nest” will be published later this year in Wild Roof Journal.

American Gothic Studies JournalTracy Fernandez Rysavy is in the academic phase of her writing/editing career. Her interview with Jessica Johns, the award-winning author of Bad Cree (2024), will appear in American Gothic Studies Journal later this year. She is currently guest co-editing an issue of Feminist Pedagogy Journal on teaching recovered literature by neglected women writers, in collaboration with Alice Martin, which will come out this fall. Last summer, she co-edited the peer-reviewed online teaching resource library for the Recovery Hub for American Women Writers, a partner organization of the Society for the Study of American Women Writers, again with Martin.

Unknown Stories graphicErica Wiest’s story “Vial of Fire” will be published in the book Unknown Stories: Tales of Small Town Magic, “a collection of short fiction about the wonder and power of magic” set in the world of Unknown Worlds, a tabletop role-playing game from Milwaukee-based Anvil 8 Games. This anthology launches on May 30 from Full Moon Forge, Anvil 8’s  new fiction arm. If you’re in Milwaukee on May 30, say hello to Wiest at the book’s launch event at the UW-Milwaukee Welcome Center.

Charlie's Bequest coverWilliam Yazbec is writing away on his Substack called Northern Sky, which he describes as “a mix of serious prose, poetry, and satire.” Find the link and other works on his website, yazbec.org. His chapbook, My Starlight Bends, is in progress at Liminal Spaces. Meanwhile, he reports that his 2016 book Charlie’s Bequest, featured in Quill issue #6 (see below), “has sold millions and millions of copies”!

The following faculty had their written works featured in past issues of The Quill:
  • J. Case co-published Story Mode: The Creative Writer’s Guide to Narrative Video Game Design (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024), featured in Quill #2.
  • Tara DaPra on her Everyday Epiphanies Substack and completing and submitting her book manuscript (Quill #5).
  • Ann Mattis on Dirty Work: Domestic Service in Progressive-Era Women’s Fiction (University of Michigan Press, 2019), featured in Quill #6.
  • Rebecca Meacham published her chapbook Feather Rousing (Black Lawrence Press, 2024), featured in Quill #2.
  • Rebecca Nesvet published James Malcolm Rymer, Penny Fiction, and the Family (Routledge, 2024), featured in Quill #3.
  • William Yazbec with Charlie’s Bequest (Vivat Libro Publishing, 2016), featured in Quill #6.
  • Jennie Young on her upcoming book and other publications, featured above.

The Quill #7: Staff Picks for Summer Fun

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

Top Summer Picks from The Quill Editors

Our editors list the top entertainment picks they’re looking foward to this summer, from books to concerts to museum exhibits and everything in between:

HozierJune 20: This summer I am lucky enough to seem my favorite musician of all time in concert for the second time. If you know anything about me you know that I am, of course, talking about Hozier. He is coming back to the Midwest with his “Unreal Unearth Tour” and will be gracing the American Family Field Amphitheater with his presence on June 20th. I was lucky enough to get some tickets for this show for Christmas this year am beyond excited. If you are a fan definitely check it out and don’t miss the chance to see such an amazing artist so close to home! —Payton Rhyner

Levitt AMP Sheboygan concert seriesJune 26-August 14 (Thursdays): Every summer in Sheboygan, there is a series of free, outdoor concerts in the summer put on by (and held outside) the John Micheal Kohler Arts Center. The Levitt AMP Sheboygan Music Series starts on June 26 and goes until August 14, with a concert every Thursday. There are always a variety of bands, so not all the concerts will be to your taste, but you can look at a preview of this summer’s concerts on the JMKAC website. —Neesa Peak

Squid Game Season 3 posterJune 27: The third and final season of the Netflix original K-drama series Squid Game will be premiering on June 27th, and I know I’m not alone in my excitement. This series took the world by storm upon its release in 2021, with season two following in 2024 and leaving us on an incredible cliffhanger. Now, we will finally get the thrilling conclusion — can Gi-Hun really succeed in putting an end to the violent games for good? If you haven’t checked out Squid Game yet, you’re truly missing out! Take these next weeks to catch up so you, too, can join the hundreds of millions of fans tuning in this June. —Brooke Schoening

Sheboygan Pride Picnic iconJune 28: The Sheboygan Pride Picnic is a big event that happens every summer in Sheboygan. It takes place at the Sheboygan City Greens on June 28th, and throughout the whole day, tons of activities and open opportunity for the LGBTQ+ community to band together for a day are available. The Pride Picnic has food trucks, drag-queen performances, and all sorts of organizations show up, including our very own Green Bay Pride Center. If you’d like to spend a fun summer day around the local loving community of Sheboygan, come attend the Sheboygan Pride Picnic! —Alex Lopez

Jurassic World Rebirth posterJuly 2: Jurassic World: Rebirth is set to hit theaters on July 2, 2025! This exciting installment brings a bold new vision to the beloved franchise, complete with breathtaking visuals, a vibrant new cast, and some truly terrifying dinosaurs. It promises to be a must-see summer experience, blending adventure, suspense, and spectacle that everyone in the family can enjoy! —Cheyenne Shull

Christine Marie Cabanos with the anime characters she voices.July 11-13: Kitsune Kon is an anime convention held every July in Green Bay that has a little something for everyone. This year, it will be held at the KI Convention Center. Guests can enjoy events dedicated to anime, gaming, and much more! Some of the highlights of this year’s convention are visiting voice actors, arcade gaming, the artist’s alley, costume contests, and tabletop gaming. Pictured right: Filipina American actress Christine Marie Cabanos, who has provided the voices of Super Sailor Saturn in Sailor Moon, Rebecca in One Piece, Erica Brown in Violet Evergarden, and many more beloved anime characters. She will be one of the many voice talents visiting this year’s convention! Check out their website for more information and registration. —Clover Cicha

The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 posterJuly 16: A show I’m looking forward to in summer 2025 is the third and final season of the Amazon Prime TV series The Summer I Turned Pretty (2022), a TV adaptation produced by Jenny Han, the author of the book series of the same name. In this third season, we’ll get to see a new side of Isabel “Belly” Conklin (Lola Tung) and which of the Fisher brothers she ends up with after all the back and forth of the first two seasons. As someone who prefers to read the book after the show/movie — I know, sue me — I can’t wait to see which direction Han takes the story in comparison to the book, leaving me excited and bursting with anticipation! —Kendall Cox

Not Quite Dead Yet coverJuly 22: A Good Girls Guide to Murder is a fiction series that I can sit down with on my day off and finish a whole book. Holly Jackson’s attention to detail in moving a plot forward is incredible. Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson is set to release on July 22, 2025. It follows Jet Mason as she tries to solve her own murder. With Holly Jackson’s ability at sprinkling in the most intense, detailed-oriented clues, I can’t wait to see how she’ll go about Jet Mason’s story. Jet is the daughter of one of the wealthiest families is Vermont, and on Halloween night, she’s attacked. Due to the injuries she sustained, her doctors say she has “at most, seven days” left to live — and to figure out who her attacker was.  —Jenna Fintelmann

The Fantastic Four: First Steps posterJuly 25: It’s time for Marvel fans to rejoice! On July 25th, Marvel Studios will be releasing the long-anticipated film The Fantastic Four: First Steps. This will be the first entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe for the first family and is set to feature several memorable characters from the comics, such as Galactus, the Silver Surfer, and even H.E.R.B.I.E the robot. Moviegoers can also expect the story to take place in a setting based on 1960s aesthetics, albeit in an alternate reality to the main MCU timeline. If this sounds like a movie you would be interested in seeing with the family, make sure to keep an eye out for when tickets go on sale. This film will likely be in high demand upon its release. —Noah Spellich

Big Time RushAugust 9: This summer is going to rock, BIG TIME! On August 9th, Big Time Rush is taking center stage at the American Family Amphitheater in Milwaukee. I’m super excited to see my favorite band live on stage after so many years. It will be an awesome end to the summer before I go back to school. [Editor’s note: See Julia’s “Bingeable TV” article on Big Time Rush, the band’s eponymous show, below.]  —Julia Hahn

Lakeshore Balloon GlowAugust 15: From 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., join the city of Manitowoc at the Lakeshore Balloon Glow. This is a free event for everyone. The main attraction — hot air balloons! Strategically placed along the riverfront to light up the night, the hot air balloons will be illuminated at dusk — 7:45 p.m. The evening entertainment list is filled with food trucks, a kid zone, a magic show, 8:30 p.m. fireworks, a water-ski show and more! Funds raised go toward Manitowoc beautification projects. Located at 720 Quay St. Manitowoc, WI. We hope to see you there!  —Karrie Wortner

Joan Jett and Billy IdolAugust 31: “Rebel Yell” Meets “Bad Reputation”: Why I’m Hyped for the Billy Idol & Joan Jett Show This Summer”

  1. Two legends, one night  — Billy Idol and Joan Jett on the same stage? That’s like peak eyeliner, leather, and actual rock history. I’m not missing it.
  2. It’s happening in Milwaukee — No need to road trip across the country. They’re coming here in August, and that’s basically fate.
  3. Joan Jett still shreds — She’s not just a nostalgia act. Her voice still hits, and she owns the stage. Plus, “I Love Rock ’n’ Roll” live? Yes, please.
  4. Billy Idol still commands the stage — At 68, he hasn’t lost his edge. The trademark sneer, the fist pumps, the mic swings — they’re all still there. And when “White Wedding” hits? Instant chills.
  5. It’s not just a concert; it’s an experience — You don’t go to a show like this and just watch. You sing, dance, scream, and maybe even buy a T-shirt you’ll never wear again but can’t throw away.  —Ginger Knauer

Top Secret: License to Spy posterAll Summer (May 17 – September 7): If I hadn’t ultimately decided on a career in publishing and then teaching, college-bound me might have eventually become a CIA spy. However, my unimaginative, pre-internet-era high-school guidance counselor thought my goal was “unrealistic,” so thanks, Mr. Chittum, for killing that dream. But now, you and I can both put ourselves in the shoes of a pre-Avengers Natasha Romanoff when Green Bay’s Mulva Cultural Center brings us the next best thing to a career in black ops: Its Top Secret: License to Spy exhibit goes live on May 17th, and it promises loads of fun. When you arrive, you’ll receive a dossier with a spy scenario and six suspects. Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to gather intellignce from the exhibits and figure out who your target really is. Do my kids want to go? No. Will I make them so I have an excuse to unleash my inner La Femme Nikita on the Mulva Center’s interactive exhibits without looking like a weirdo? Why, yes! Will I probably end up more like Melissa McCarthy’s Susan Cooper in the movie Spy? Yes, again, but the wonderful thing about midlife is that you’re not easily embarrassed anymore. I’ll see you there — if you can find me, blending in with the exhibits like a shadow of spycraft doom. —Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

Howard Commons Activity ComplexAll summer: Come experience fun for free at the Howard Commons Activity Complex. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, & Friday from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m., Saturday from 12 noon – 9 p.m., and Sunday from 12 noon – 5 p.m., this complex showcases a number of summer events such as: Grooves in the ‘Garten, Market & Music, Pints & Pickleball, Rock the Commons Concert Series, and much, much more. No matter where you’re from or what you’re into, there’s an event here for everyone. For more info on their summer events and more, you can visit their website.  —Seth VanEss

MKE Brewers logoAll summer: Catch a baseball game this summer! All the way until September, head to American Family Field for a Milwaukee Brewers game. Weekends and weekdays, everything is fair game. Enjoy some classic snacks, cheer on the Brewers, and make some unforgettable memories with family or friends. Check the Brewers’ website for a schedule of game dates and grab your tickets. If you’re looking to save some cash, Monday-Friday games are only $10 for students. See you at the ballpark! —Katie Frank

The Quill #7: Stupid Summer Reads

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

Stupid Summer Reads

Our editors list the fluffiest and silliest books they recommend or are looking forward to reading now that finals are over.

Apprentice to the Villain coverApprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer: I read the first book in this series last summer, which follows a young woman who took a job as an assistant to the villain (which is the title of the book) after being fired from her previous job. Chaos and yearning ensues. Was it the best thing I’ve ever read? No, but I still enjoyed it a lot, so I think the second book will make a perfect read for this summer.  —Neesa Peak

Beach Read coverBeach Read by Emily Henry: Need some witty banter and angsty romance this summer? Released in 2020, this contemporary novel follows January Andrews, a romance writer, and Augustus Everett, a literary fiction writer, who find themselves living in neighboring houses on Lake Michigan. Both struggling with writer’s block, they make a pact to swap genres for the summer. As they enter each other’s worlds, they slowly realize that there is more to their relationship than just a writing experiment. This was one of my favorites from previous summers, and I’ll keep recommending it if you are looking for something silly and fun to read. —Katie Frank

Two chess knights facing each otherChess Fan Fiction: In the wild world of fan fiction, people can write about anything, including the strategic board game chess. Using the pieces on the board, people have created works of love, betrayal, death, and more. All you have to do is type “chess fan fiction” in a search bar and click on the site “A03.” You will find 82 works of chess fan fiction, and trust me, it’s insane. Make sure to read the tags though, since you never know what chess pieces are going to do. —Julia Hahn

Crave book coverThis isn’t a book that I’m going to read this summer, but it’s a book I’ve attempted to read a few times: Crave by Tracy Wolff. A vampire love interest with trauma, a human girl with a tragic past, a Gothic boarding school full of supernatural drama, and a cover that’s literally just an apple and a shattered rose? It’s like Twilight’s dramatic cousin who read too much Wattpad and said, “What if we did ALL the tropes at once?” —Jenna Fintelmann

The Family Across the StreetThe Family Across the Street by Nicole Trope: This novel has recently caught my interest due to its thrilling and suspenseful nature. What also attracts me to this book is its real-life nature and the possibility of something like this actually happening. It centers around the West family, who’ve just moved into a picture-perfect neighborhood. However, soon after moving in, the West’s neighbors begin to feel that something is off about the recently introduced family. They never join backyard barbeques, always brush away offers to babysit, and always shut visitors out rather than inviting them in when they knock on their front door. Something’s off about the Wests. … What is this picture-perfect family hiding behind closed doors? —Seth VanEss

The Hot GuyThe Hot Guy by Mel Campbell and Anthony Morris revolves around an incredibly attractive character who ruins the lives of everyone around him, including his girlfriend. It’s dumb, funny, and reads like a romantic comedy crafted during a wine-fueled group chat.  —Cheyenne Shull

Mazalan Book of the Fallen coverMalazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erickson: While not “ridiculous” in the way many would define the word, Steven Erickson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen is certainly a stretch of the imagination. Set in a world ruled by the Malazan Empire, this ten-novel dark military fantasy series delves deep into the realm of politics, gods, and war. The story is centered around the aforementioned Malazan Empire and the rulers’ efforts to keep the world pressed beneath their iron boot. However, not all will go according to plan, especially not if the story’s heroes have anything to say about it.  Covering over 100 different points of view across the series, it is a story that has often been described as complex, but while I have yet to read it myself, I’m drawn to it because of its nuanced world-building. If you’re looking for an epic read this summer, Malazan may be for you. —Noah Spellich

One of Us is LyingOne of Us is Lying by Karen McManus: Five students enter Bay View High School’s detention room, but only four come out. What about the fifth, Simon? Unravel the mystery of what happened in that room and who did what. Each student is a suspect. Each student has a motive. Uncover the truth and learn what Simon knew that may have led someone to take his life. —Karrie Wortner

Penpal coverI read a book that started as a Reddit post and now I can’t sleep. It’s called Penpal by Dathan Auerbach, and yes, it began on r/nosleep — the part of Reddit where people post creepy “true” stories that are 100% fake but feel 100% real at 2 a.m. The premise? A class project: write a letter; tie it to a balloon; let it float into the world. Cute, right? Wrong. Someone finds the narrator’s letter — and never lets go. What follows is a series of slowly unraveling childhood memories that start innocently and end in full psychological horror. There are no jump scares, no ghosts, no gore. Just the awful slow realization that something has been very wrong for a very long time. It’s self-published. It’s messy. It’s told out of order. It reads like a late-night text thread from a friend who’s spiraling. And it is TERRIFYING. I finished it in one sitting, and now I flinch every time I hear a balloon pop. 10/10 ridiculous choice for a summer read. Would recommend. Will not recover. —Ginger Knauer

Phantasma cover

If you’ve jumped on the Gothic literature trend and, while reading the latest, have been thinking to yourself, “You know, this could use more Hunger Games-style fights to the death,” then Phantasma by Kaylie Smith might be for you. When Ophelia’s sister disappears, she’s sure that the only way to find her is to enter Phantasma, a sinister mansion that houses a deadly contest and magically appears every so often in the New Orleans Garden District. The rooms change daily, and every dawn brings one of nine mindbendingly difficult challenges. To save her sister, Ophelia must win. And to win, she has no choice but to accept the help of a ghost named Blackwell, who promises his aid … in return for ten years of her life. Described by the back cover copy as “charming, arrogant and infuriatingly attractive” (because of course), Blackwell is also rather persuasive, and Ophelia worries she may give him more than she ever bargained for. This book is by turns wonderfully inventive (the challenges are fun, and Smith depicts Ophelia’s OCD in a way that many readers have lauded for its accuracy) and eye-rollingly ridiculous (see “charming, arrogant, and infuriatingly attractive” life-sucking ghost hero, above). If you want to turn off your brain and have a great time, Phantasma might be your perfect summer read. (Content warning: The heat level is occasionally steamy, though those scenes can easily be skipped without spoiling the story.)  —Tracy Fernandez Rysavy

Road Trip with a Vampire coverIf you’re looking for a summer read with a more peculiar premise than your average rom-com, check out Road Trip with a Vampire by Jenna Levine. Zelda, a reformed witch, wants nothing more to do with vampires — that is, until one shows up at her doorstep. Between Zelda’s mysterious past and her new blood-sucking acquaintance’s amnesia, secrets continue to be revealed along a cross-country road trip to find what they both have been looking for.  —Brooke Schoening

Sky Daddy coverDo you love flying? Linda has you beat in this unique love story. Although it is being advertised as a romance, Sky Daddy by Kate Folk is that and more. It is not a passenger or pilot she is romantically involved with — it is the physical plane. This story promises dark humor and many twists and turns. Let’s hope the book doesn’t crash and burn like Linda wants to — which is, after all, the only way to truly marry a plane.  —Tiffany Jablonowski

Trick or Treat coverOne odd read I’d recommend if you’re a “summerween” lover is Trick or Treat by Richie Tankersley Cusick. After finding this book in an antique store a few years ago, I only just read it last summer in 2024 and was pleasantly surprised. Trick or Treat is a fun horror fiction novel from the ‘80s with some questionable relationships and incredible storytelling that leaves you itching for more. While it is an older book and not summer-based, it’s still a great, quick read if you’re looking for something a bit different! —Kendall Cox

The Quill #7: Book Quiz

May 19, 2025 (Summer)

QUIZ: Which Ridiculous Read Should You Check Out This Summer? 

Beachy hat with book and towelAs the season approaches, the need for a new summer read becomes imminent. If you’re looking for a silly book for a relaxing, low-effort read after a long and difficult semester, this quiz has just the thing for you. Answer the questions below to be matched up with the perfect peculiar book to read this summer, courtesy of our collaborative “Stupid Summer Reads” recommendations section!

1. What are you looking forward to most this summer?

a.) The warm, sunny weather (+0)
b.) Sleeping in (+1)
c.) Planned events (+2)

2. Which juice is better?

a.) Apple juice (+0)
b.) Orange juice (+1)
c.) Neither/Can’t decide (+2)

3. What do you do when waiting in public?

a.) Scroll on my phone (+0)
b.) People-watch (+1)
c.) Daydream (+2)

4. What time of day are you taking this quiz?

a.) Morning (+0)
b.) Afternoon (+1)
c.) Evening/Night (+2)

5. Pick a secondary color:

a.) Orange (+0)
b.) Green (+1)
c.) Purple (+2)

6. How do you feel about mornings?

a.) Love them; it’s a fresh start (+0)
b.) They’re alright, I guess (+1)
c.) Horrible, five more hours please (+2)

7. Do you read the book or watch the movie adaptation first?

a.) Read the book (+0)
b.) Watch the movie (+1)
c.) No preference (+2)

8. Pick a summer accessory:

a.) Pair of sunglasses (+0)
b.) Hat that blocks the sun (+1)
c.) Light tote bag (+2)

9. What do you do with a spider in your house?

a.) Leave it be (+0)
b.) Bring it outside (+1)
c.) Smush it (+2)

10. Which of these is most like your beach vibe?

a.) Reading in the shade (+0)
b.) Tanning in the sun (+1)
c.) Swimming in the ocean (+2)

Add up your points. Your total decides your results! (Learn more about each book in our “Stupid Summer Reads” article! 

0 points: One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus
1 point: Trick or Treat by Richie Tankersley Cusick.
2-3 points: Malazan Book of the Fallen by Steven Erickson
4-5 points: Crave by Tracy Wolff
6-7 points: Phantasma by Kaylie Smith
8-9 points: The Hot Guy by Mel Campbell and Anthony Morris
10 points: Penpal by Dathan Auerbach
11-12 points: The Family Across the Street by Nicole Trope
13-14 points: Beach Read by Emily Henry
15-16 points: Road Trip with a Vampire by Jenna Levine
17-18 points: Apprentice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer
19-20 points: Chess Fan Fiction

 —Brooke Schoening, Book Quiz Editor

Photo by Perfecto Capucine / Pexels.