Bob Woodward, David Zucker headline Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books

Headlined by Bob Woodward and David Zucker, the Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books returns in November with a big lineup.

The free festival takes place Nov. 3-4 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at Waukesha, 1500 N. University Drive, Waukesha. As usual, it features many Wisconsin writers. It's a good event for emerging and young writers to attend, because speakers are accessible and some panel discussion delve into writing topics.

Here are a few of the festival's talks and panel discussions to consider:

• Woodward will speak about "The Past, Present and Future of the American Presidency" at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the UWM-Waukesha Lunt-Fontanne Theater. This is a change from the previously announced Nov. 2 date, due to a conflict with a "professional obligation" for Woodward, the festival was told. One half of the Washington Post team that broke the Watergate story, Woodward has gone on to write many books, including ones about Presidents Nixon, Clinton, Obama, Trump and both Bushes. Woodward's appearance is presented by the UWM College of General Studies and sponsored by the Tommy G. Thompson Center on Public Leadership. In-person attendance for the Woodward talk is at capacity, but people can register to receive a link for the livestream of this event.

• Filmmaker David Zucker, co-creator of "Airplane!" and the "Naked Gun" movies, will talk about his career and Wisconsin connections at 7 p.m. Nov. 3 with Gino Salamone, WITI-TV (Channel 6) film critic. Zucker discuss his new book "Surely You Can’t Be Serious: The True Story of Airplane!," co-written with Jim Abrahams and Jerry Zucker. Another recent David Zucker book, "Before the Invention of Smiling: The Incredible Journey of the Zucker Family From Horse & Buggy to Indoor Plumbing," delves into his family's history from Hungary to Milwaukee and Shorewood. Advance registration is required.

• Novelist Robin Hemley will speak about "The Hopefulness of the Long-Distance Writer" at 9 a.m. Saturday. He'll also read from his recent book "Oblivion," which Hemley has subtitled "An After Autobiography." As part of this event, Helmley will participate in a question-and-answer session with Journal Sentinel book editor Jim Higgins.

• In a panel discussion called "People Going Places" at 10:15 a.m. Nov. 4, novelists Liam Callanan and Erica Ruth Neubauer will talk about how their books blend fiction with travel writing.

• Former Journal Sentinel reporter Meg Kissinger will talk about her family mental health memoir "While You Were Out" at 12:15 p.m. Nov. 4 with therapist and writer Philip Chard.

• Barbara Miner will talk about her photos of industrial Milwaukee at 12:15 p.m. Nov. 4 in the UWM at Waukesha library.

• In the panel discussion "Animals! Animals! Animals!" at 3:15 p.m. Nov. 4, writers Mel Sobolewski, Jon M. Sweeney and Nigel Rothfels will talk about critters and writing about critters.

• In "Folklore in Literature" at 3:15 p.m. Nov. 4, writers Alex Bledsoe and Valya Dudycz Lupescu will discuss how they draw on folklore in creating contemporary fiction.

For a complete list of events, including links to register for the Woodward and Zucker events, visit sewibookfest.com. Many speakers and presenters will sign books following their sessions.

In a related preliminary event, David Fantle and Tom Johnson will talk at 7 p.m. Oct. 13 at UWM-Waukesha about their new book "C'mon, Get Happy: The Making of Summer Stock." Admission is free.

Jim Higgins is the author of "Wisconsin Literary Luminaries: From Laura Ingalls Wilder to Ayad Akhtar" (The History Press).

RELATED: Outdoor music, arts and more things to do in the Milwaukee area in fall 2023

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bob Woodward, David Zucker top Southeast Wisconsin Festival of Books