Remembering Andrea Gibson 📝

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July 27, 2025

One of my favorite poets died two weeks ago.

I can't remember how I first stumbled across Andrea Gibson's work, but I do remember reading "Thank Goodness" for the first time. I was 14 years old, swiping through an e-book version of Gibson's 2011 poetry collection "The Madness Vase" on my iPhone while laying on my bed. The seventh stanza began: "I've seen too many prayers / caught in the grills of eighteen-wheelers."

Those lines hit me like an electric shock. I pictured tiny, down feathers, fluttering in the wake of a semi that had barreled down the highway.

Gibson led me to Danez Smith, who led me to Tommy Pico, who led me to Natalie Diaz. These poets' influences are the reason that I eagerly signed up for as many poetry classes as I could fit in my schedule throughout college, where I met many, many more poets whose words stunned and shaped me.

Do me a favor this Sunday — read some of Gibson's work. Find something that jolts you or surprises you. Email me about it, if you feel like it.

P.S. Did anyone else notice that this seems to be the summer of the book-turned-TV-series? Here's the rundown.

"We Were Liars," a thriller series based on a novel of the same name by E. Lockhart, premiered on Amazon Prime Video in June.
The first three episodes of the third season of "The Summer I Turned Pretty," the splashy adaptation of Jenny Han's YA romance trilogy, are out, with more to come throughout the summer.
Hulu's "Washington Black" (based on Esi Edugyan's novel) was released on July 23.
Cozy mystery series "The Thursday Murder Club" by Richard Osman is the basis of a Netflix show of the same name, slated to release on Aug. 28.

Also in this month's newsletter:
📚 Five new releases, including an autobiography of America's longest serving legislator
🦇 Ghosts, vampires and cryptids, oh my! Meet the "Spooky Science Sisters"
👩‍❤️‍👨 Does having a hobby make you healthier?

Anna Kottakis is digital editor at Madison Magazine. Reach her at akottakis@madisonmagazine.com.

New book releases (and release events)

Doug Bradley's music-based memoir, "The Tracks of My Years" (released June 20), is the story of a young man's evolving taste in music as the years pass. Bradley will celebrate the book release at The Bur Oak on Aug. 13.

"Driftless: An Anthology of Voices from Where We Live" (releases July 29), brings together essays and poems that explore the unique past (and present) of the Driftless Region and its communities.

"Joy Is My Middle Name" (releases Aug. 5) is the debut poetry collection from Sasha Debevec-McKenney, the 2020–2021 Jay C. and Ruth Halls Poetry Fellow at the University of Wisconsin. Debevec-McKenney will launch the book with a party and reading at Mickey's Tavern on Aug. 7.

"Forward for the People: The Autobiography of America's Longest Serving Legislator" by Fred Risser and Doug Moe (releases Aug. 5) is an inside look at Risser's 64 years in state government.

"Saving Our Sturgeon: Protecting Wisconsin's Ancient Fish" by Rebecca Hogue Wojahn (releases Aug. 19) is an accessible and informative children's book, recounting lake sturgeon's long history in Wisconsin waterways and past and present efforts to keep the species healthy.

Summerween at Ink Cap Books (220 W. Main St., Stoughton) | July 31, 6:30-8 p.m.

Steven Davis, author of "The Other Public Lands," at Arcadia Books (102 E. Jefferson St., Spring Green) | Aug. 3, 3:30-4:30 p.m.

Claire Jia in conversation with Felix Lecocq at A Room Of One's Own Bookstore (2717 Atwood Ave.) | Aug. 5, 6-7 p.m.

Fall 2025 Preview at Lake City Books (107 N. Hamilton St.) | Aug. 7, 6-8 p.m.

Local Author Fall Event at Barnes & Noble West Towne Mall (7433 Mineral Point Road) | Aug. 9, 1 p.m.

Lachrista Greco, author of "The Guerilla Feminist," in conversation with Dr. Kate Phelps at A Room Of One's Own Bookstore (2717 Atwood Ave.) | Aug. 14, 6-7 p.m.

Bobbie and Bill Malone in conversation with Doug Moe at Mystery To Me (1863 Monroe St.) | Aug. 20, 6-7 p.m.

"So You Want to be a Mystery Writer?" panel discussion at Mystery To Me (1863 Monroe St.) | Aug. 26, 6-7 p.m.

"The Cost of Winning" book launch event with author Dr. Gerald S. Gurney at Leopold's Books Bar Caffe (1301 Regent St.) | Aug. 31, 1 p.m.

Meet a Wisconsin author

Meagan Ankney and Paige Miller sit side-by-side on a couch. On the left, the black and green cover of a book, "Spooky Science" is shown.

Supernatural meets science in sisters' new book

Meagan Ankney and Paige Miller blend their passion for science communication with a lifelong fascination with ghosts, cryptids, vampires, aliens and more in "Spooky Science."

Ankney and Miller will discuss the book at Mystery To Me on Tuesday, July 29 at 6 p.m.

Read

I do occasionally get to read books by authors beyond Wisconsin's borders. Here's what's on my reading stack this month.

Embarrassing confession: In the past month, I have not read a single book. (In my defense, I did get engaged and pick up a foster puppy.)

In lieu of my typical review, here's a little bit about a book I just started. "The Connection Cure" by Julia Hotz has been on my TBR since I listened to a podcast episode featuring Hotz in April. The book is about the science behind "social prescribing" — basically, how having a hobby can make you healthier.

Recently, I feel like every social media scroll sends me into a health spiral. (Are my cutting boards a source of microplastics? Am I eating enough protein? Am I eating too much protein?) Already, this book is soothing that anxiety — and teaching me that maybe the most important thing I can do for my health is much, much simpler.