A fictional Kohler provides the backdrop of mystery, suspense for this Howard novelist | Lit Wisconsin
Lit Wisconsin is a sporadic series of stories in which we highlight the work of writers of Wisconsin or those with ties to the state.
Today we get to know Aaron Qualio of Howard, a stay-at-home dad who wrote two fictional suspense books set in Wisconsin.
Meet the author, Aaron Qualio
Qualio, 44, said growing up in Kohler has given him creative fodder that nurtured a natural inclination to write. A few years ago, the lockdown and other disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic gave him the push he needed to become an author.
"I had always wanted to write a book but never took the time until Covid hit," Qualio said in an email interview. "My kids were doing virtual school, which meant I was home a lot more ... Also, I came to the realization that if I never wrote a book, I would kick myself when I was older for not doing so. Finally, I thought that if nothing else came from my books, my girls would have something on their shelves someday from their dad."
Qualio is a stay-at-home dad; he and his wife have two daughters, ages 14 and 10. He spends the majority of his days, he said, shuttling them back and forth from school, their various activities and other parental duties. The schedule also gives him time to put into words the stories floating around inside his head.
Writing was not a focus of his education. Qualio said he earned a bachelor's degree in public administration and political science from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay in 2001 and a master's degree in public administration from UW-Milwaukee in 2003. Still, he "always did well in English classes in high school and college. I can't paint, play music or sing, so my creative outlet is writing."
It didn't hurt that his mother was an English major and a former librarian.
"I think I got some appreciation for literature from her," Qualio said.
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Qualio's novels are set in a fictional town based on Kohler
Qualio said he chose to write novels because the "stories I had in my head were fictitious." So far, he's written two, "Mystery in the Hill" and "The Heir." Both are set in the small, fictional Wisconsin town of Ashbelle that Qualio based on his real hometown of Kohler.
"Everyone is familiar with the Kohler Company," he said. "But what people may not be aware of is the unique relationship between the company and the village, and to what the Kohler family has gone to make the village unique and beautiful."
The characters of the two books are separate and the two books are set in different eras.
In "Mystery in the Hill," four high school boys stumble on a discovery that exposes secrets and mysteries in a small town, putting them in danger. This book is set in the 1990s and the 1940s, shifting back and forth in time. Qualio said he based his characters on himself and his friends, and "the book encompasses real places (differently named) and real history that took place in Kohler."
"The Heir" is about a cruel young man who takes over the family business in the 1930s after the mysterious death of his father. The business dominates the small town in which its located, and the young heir "uses his power and wealth to do what he wants without consequences," Qualio said. The man's younger brother must save the company and the town he loves from the tyranny of his brother.
Where can you buy the books?
People interested in buying Qualio's books can order them on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. The books cost from $2.99 to $16 depending on the outlet and version. Qualio said Barnes & Noble stores and libraries in the Green Bay and Kohler areas also stock "Mystery in the Hill." He's hoping they will soon have "The Heir," too.
Contact Keith Uhlig at 715-845-0651 or kuhlig@gannett.com. Follow him at @UhligK on Twitter and Instagram or on Facebook.
This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Howard author sets thrillers in a fictional Kohler: Lit Wisconsin
