Poetry Reading: Wisconsin Women's Voices, Part 2

Cathryn Cofell is Appleton's first poet laureate, co-coordinator of the Poetry Unlocked reading series, and immediate Past President of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets. She's published eight books of poetry including Stick Figure With Skirt, winner of the Main Street Rag Poetry Award. www.cathryncofell.com
Emilie Lindemann is the author of Ghost(ed) Woman & the Electric Purple Pants (Fresh Water Press, 2025). Previous publications include a full-length poetry collection, mother-mailbox (Misty Publications, 2016), as well as several chapbooks, including Capsule Wardrobe for the End of the World (dancing girl press, 2019). Emilie holds a PhD in English-Creative Writing from UW–Milwaukee and teaches writing and communication courses at Lakeshore College. She lives near Manitowoc, Wisconsin with her husband, son, and border collie. Her days are lined with lavender, chicory root, Queen Anne's lace, and red clover.
Wendy Vardaman (wendyvardaman.com) has a day job managing websites and visualizing data. The author of five books, including thread me an exit (Brain Mill Press 2025) and the other end of the line (Dancing Girl Press 2026), she volunteers as a graphic designer and illustrator for poetry-related causes. She served as Madison, Wisconsin, poet laureate from 2012 to 2015 with Sarah Sadie.
Lisa Vihos has published five poetry chapbooks, one novel, and one daily haiku journal. She is the winner of the 2023 Hal Prize, and has two Pushcart Prize nominations as well as numerous awards from the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. She was the Sheboygan organizer for 100 Thousand Poets for Change from 2011 to 2023 and served as the first poet laureate for the city from 2020 through 2025. Visit lisavihos.com.