Authors Write about Wisconsin Trivia Quiz

Answer: Kidnapping

"The Deep End of the Ocean" focuses on Beth Cappadora and the kidnapping of her son. The family lives near Madison, Wisconsin. Years later, a young man who looks like her abducted son arrives. The novel deals with the consequences of his return. The novel was Oprah Winfrey's first selection for her book club in September 1996.

Jacquelyn Mitchard was a columnist at the Milwaukee Journal for over two decades and also taught at the University of Wisconsin. The idea for "The Deep End of the Ocean" came to her in a dream and the novel was published in June 1996. It was a New York Times bestseller.

Answer: Vince Lombardi

"When Pride Still Mattered" is about legendary football coach Vince Lombardi (1913-1970). He coached the Packers from 1959 to 1967 and led them to five championships, including the first two Superbowls.

David Marannis is a Washington Post reporter who is well known for his work on politics and sports. He has written biographies of Bill Clinton, Al Gore and Barack Obama. He has also done books about Roberto Clemente and the 1960 Olympics.

Answer: Milwaukee

John Gurda wrote "The Making of Milwaukee" in 1999 and has written extensively about the city in the decades since. The 1999 book was the basis for an Emmy Award winning series that aired on PBS. Gurda earned his BA in English from Boston College and his MA in Cultural Geography from UW-Milwaukee. Gurda also holds an honorary PhD in History from UWM.

Gurda has written 22 books, most of which focus on the history and culture of Milwaukee.

Answer: Neil Gaiman

Neil Gaiman wrote "American Gods" in 2001. It tells the story of a man named Shadow Moon, who becomes involved in a war between old and new Gods. It includes various versions of Odin and other Norse Gods. Gaiman says that he did talk to Pratchett as he was writing "American Gods." The book won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus and Bram Stoker Awards, the Grand Slam for horror/science fiction literature. Much of the novel takes place in the fictional Wisconsin community of Lakeside.

Gaiman is one of the most prolific science fiction/horror writers in recent decades. He has written novels, short stories, and screenplays. His episode of "Doctor Who", "The Doctor's Wife" (2011) won a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. He has won numerous Locus Awards, Hugo Awards and Bram Stoker Awards for his work.

Answer: Black House

"Black House" (2001), which Straub wrote with Stephen King, is set in the fictional Wisconsin town of French Landing. The town mirrors Trempeleau on the western edge of the state. The book features Jack Sawyer, the protagonist of "The Talisman" (1984), and focuses on the hunt for a cannibalistic serial killer named "The Fisherman." The novel is a followup to "The Talisman" which Straub and King wrote in 1984, and is also linked to King's "Dark Tower" series. The book won the World Fantasy and Locus Awards.

Peter Straub grew up in Milwaukee and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin (1965). Since 1975 he has been a leading writer of horror novels, and has won several World Fantasy Awards, Bram Stoker Awards and the August Derleth Award.

Answer: Hamlet

The book is about a young boy whose father is murdered by his uncle, so.... Hamlet it is. The novel is set in rural Wisconsin farm country. The novel was the debut for David Wroblewski. It was a huge success in 2008, winning multiple awards and being selected for Oprah Winfrey's book club.

Wroblewski was born in Oconomowoc and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. He has resided in various states, including Minnesota and Colorado.

Answer: Sheboygan

"Vertical" is the second book in the "Sideways" trilogy. Miles and Jack return along with Miles' mother Phyllis. They wind up on a road trip to Oregon and later deliver Miles' mother to her sister's home in Sheboygan. While "Sideways" was made into a motion picture, it remains unlikely "Vertical" will be.

Rex Pickett is a native of California. He is best known for the "Sideways" trilogy.

Answer: Harpooners

"The Art of Fielding" tells the story of baseball player Henry Skrimshander, who plays for the Harpooners at fictional Westish, a small liberal arts college in Wisconsin near Lake Michigan. The novel was on the New York Times Best Seller list and made several "Best Book of the Year" lists. It has been favorably compared with "The Natural" by Bernard Malamud and "Shoeless Joe" by W.P. Kinsella.

"Art of Fielding" was the debut novel of Chad Harbach. He grew up in Racine, Wisconsin before attending Harvard and the University of Virginia. He is one of the editors of the magazine n+1.

Answer: Bon Iver

"Shotgun Lovesongs" is set in a small rural town in Wisconsin. It centers on four friends: Henry, the one who stayed in town and became a farmer; Kip, a successful Wall Street broker; Ronny, a former rodeo star and Lee, a rock star.

The author of "Shotgun Lovesongs", Nickolas Butler, grew up in Eau Claire and is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin. He resides in rural Wisconsin, which is the setting of his first novel. He has won several awards for his novels.

Butler went to high school at Eau Claire Memorial with Justin Vernon, the lead singer of Bon Iver. Vernon won several Grammy Awards for Bon Iver's debut album "For Emma, Forever Ago."

Answer: Lake Geneva

"Shoulder Season" is a historical novel set in 1981 Lake Geneva. It stars Sherri Taylor, who becomes a Playboy bunny at the resort. It follows Sherri's growth throughout her life. The novel includes East Troy, which is about 14 miles straight north of Lake Geneva.

Christina Clancy also wrote "The Second Home" (2020) which is centered on Milwaukee. She is primarily an essayist and has appeared in The New York Times and Washington Post as well as a variety of literary journals. She received her doctorate in creative writing from UW-Milwaukee and taught English at Beloit College. Clancy resides in Madison, Wisconsin.