David Maraniss is a journalist with the Washington Post. He’s the author of “Barack Obama: The Story” and “Rome, 1960: The Summer Olympics That Stirred the World.”

Fabu Phillis Carter is a poet laureate and storyteller. Her website is http://artistfabu.com/. She lives in Madison.

Count This Penny is an Appalachian pop band based in Madison, Wisconsin. They write songs born of time spent walking old dogs and doggedly traveling to and from the hills of home.

Susan Firer is the former poet laureate of Milwaukee and the author of many books, including Milwaukee Does Strange Things To People.

Benjamin Percy is the writer-in-residence at St. Olaf College and the author of several books, including The Dead Lands and Red Moon.

Patrick Rothfuss is the bestselling author of The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear.

Bill Povletich is a documentary filmmaker, TV producer and the author of Some Like it Cold: A Sheboygan Surfin’ Safari and Green Bay Packers: Trials, Triumphs, and Tradition.

Larry Watson is an award-winning writer and the author of several novels, including American Boy and Montana 1948.

Tim Harmston is a stand-up comedian based in Minneapolis but raised in Menominee, Wisconsin. He’s appeared on CBS’s Late Show with David Letterman, Comedy Central’s Live at Gotham.

Andrea Thalasinos is a professor of sociology at Madison College. Her respect for huskies grew while she was running her own sled team of six dogs. She helped found a dog rescue group in the upper Midwest for displaced northern breeds.

Lesley Kagen is an actress, voice-over talent, former restaurateur, sought-after speaker, and award-winning New York Times bestselling author of five previous novels including Mare’s Nest.

Anthony Bukoski has published five story collections, including Time Between Trains, a 2003 Booklist Editor’s Choice selection, and North of the Port (2008). He lives in Superior.

Brett Laidlaw is the author of the book and the blog Trout Caviar and the author of Trout Caviar: Recipes from a Northern Forager.