SPASH graduate releases new book
Humorous essays based in central Wisconsin
By Kris Leonhardt
SPASH graduate, Kyle White is releasing his latest book, which touches on his central Wisconsin youth.
The 1986 graduate, who also attended UWSP, began writing while in his 30s.
“I have loved creative writing since I was a kid, but it wasn’t until about 2000 where it moved from guilty pleasure to something I had to do. Writer Frederick Buechner says that the purpose of all art – writing included – is to cause us to ‘stop, look, and listen’ to life and all its mystery. That’s true for the writer as much as for the reader. I started writing essays for a couple Door County arts papers, and with those I set a goal to publish a book of humorous and reflective essays by age 40,” White recalled.
“I grew up in Stevens Point but after college, got married and moved to northern Illinois. Besides all the Cheesehead taunts that came with a Wisconsinite moving to Illinois, it also brought with it self-reflection. I began to think about how one is cultivated by the place he or she is from. You don’t know how good you had it until you move away. There is a lot of humility, and humor, and neighborliness that are part of the Wisconsin soil; those make for good stories.”
White has produced books such as: “Wisconsin River of Grace,” in 2009; “Neighbor As Yourself,” in 2016; and “Winter is Scissors,” in 2018.
His latest, “Freezing, Thawing” is filled with humorous, nonfiction selections, with many of them based on central Wisconsin.
“The Upper Midwest has just two seasons: freezing and thawing,” White said. “Being under the mercy and mystery of that reality, Midwesterners have come to be marked by humility, humor, and neighborliness.”
“’Freezing, Thawing: New & Revised Stories from the Midwest’ is composed of revised work from my three Midwest-focused books, and it includes new pieces that reflect on the pandemic atmosphere.
“I started piecing together Freezing, Thawing at the beginning of 2020. The lockdowns helped give more space for writing and thinking. Plus we were all forced to reflect on community, solitude, our false senses of control, etc…
“In this time of pandemic and division, it’s not a vaccine, but I hope the book brings a bit of respite and humor and reflection – that it helps readers ‘stop, look, and listen’ to their lives, as Buechner says. It’s a good winter read.”
White now resides with his wife in Sycamore, IL, where he works with middle and high school students through nonprofit programs.
White will host two Facebook Live events that will feature readings, giveaways, and Q&A on Nov. 13 at 6:45 p.m. and Nov. 14 at 9:45 a.m. Details are available at @KyleWhiteInk on Facebook.