2023 was quite a year for me. As always, it was a year of challenges, accomplishments, love, and heartbreak. The world keeps on spinning and I keep taking on new projects. Here’s my year in review.

Writing: In May, I was honored to receive two Milwaukee Press Club Excellence in Wisconsin Journalism Awards for two pieces I wrote for Milwaukee Magazine in 2022, “The Last Frame,” and “Wanna Buy a Famous Tugboat?” Freelance writing is a tough gig, but being recognized for your work encourages you on. The majority of articles I wrote this year were for MilMag, but I also began contributing to Atlas Obscura, writing four articles for them. Thanks to my editors Carole and Chris and the rest of the staff at MilMag, and Sarah at Atlas Obscura for giving me some great opportunities.

I did not make much progress on my book project ideas, too much going on, but that needs to change in 2024. I used to write TWW as a weekly column, but week after week this column fell by the wayside. I didn’t have the bandwidth for the TWW podcast either. That’s just the way it goes– sometimes you have to sacrifice some ideas so others may move forward. TWW will return in 2024, but it’ll be on a “when I can, I can” type of basis.

QWERTYFEST MKE: Big in 2023– I helped launch a new event in Milwaukee this year, QWERTYFEST MKE (June 23-25). This was good for me because as much as I like weird paranormal stuff, monsters, and subcultures, I also just like all aspects of writing. So this was a nice change of pace for me. QF celebrates the typewriter/ QWERTY keyboard, invented here in Milwaukee as well as writing and innovation in general. Thanks so much to Molly Snyder for being willing to take a leap of faith with me on this exciting new endeavor. Very excited for QF 24! Save the date: QWERTYFEST MKE–June 21-23, 2024.

QWERTY Quarterly: I am very proud of this humble little publication (the official publication of QWERTYFEST MKE), which features a mix of articles, fiction, poetry, columns, art, and fun pages. We celebrated each issue with release parties at Voyageur Book Shop, Mitchell Street Arts, and Woodland Pattern Book Center. We have had great contributors from locally and beyond. I think of it as a photocopied, Milwaukee version of The New Yorker. Me and Molly are editors, along with our excellent art director Alicia Krupsky and fantastic poetry editor Peter Burzyński. Our winter issue just came out and is “hygge” themed. Buy an issue (or a subscription– a nice holiday gift) here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/qwertyquarterly

Milwaukee Paranormal Conference: I’ve been director of MPC since 2015. This year we returned to the Irish Cultural and Heritage Center (where year one and three took place) on October 14. I was pretty stressed out the day before the conference, but day of I think it was one of the smoothest MPCs ever. Thanks to everyone who helped! 2024 date TBA. Follow MPC on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/milwaukeeparanormalconference

I’m Your Host: I was producer on this documentary directed by Alicia Krupsky, loosely based on a MilMag article I wrote, “Terror on the Tube,” (print version title). Alicia kicked some serious ass on this one. Last year, we won a Brico Forward Fund which provided things like money for costs and free legal advice. We had a work-in-progress screening at Milwaukee Twisted Dreams Film Festival, where it won audience favorite, and another screening at UW-Parkside in Kenosha, where we were given a special award of recognition by Kenosha Community Media. The documentary will continue to be submitted to film fests in 2024 and eventually will be available as a DVD/ online stream.
Check out the trailer on Alicia’s site here: https://aliciakrupsky.me/I-m-Your-Host

Milwaukee Krampusnacht: The Big Beast of the Year, Krampusnacht continues to grow and every year some things move smoother, but new challenges pop up. The event was Dec. 3 and returned to the Brewery District, expanding into some new businesses there. This year I received many compliments from all sorts of people locally and visiting from out-of-state praising the overall vibe of the event. It’s a huge group effort and it’s not about being greedy or shitty but having a good time together and supporting local artists, crafters, musicians, performers, and local business. We already got great ideas for next year, but as the event expands, I need help with organizing various aspects of it. If you have an interest and are reliable, contact me and we can talk about how it might benefit you.
Milwaukee Krampusnacht Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/180734318942836
Save the date: Milwaukee Krampusnacht– Sunday, Dec.1, 2024.

Also: Continued to fill in shifts at my friends’ fantastic bookstore, Lion’s Tooth, and led tours for American Ghost Walks. Both great local businesses!

Psychic Detective Roberts predicts this for 2024

1. I will be writing a new bi-weekly column for the Shepherd Express, “Madcap Milwaukee Calendar” that shares interesting and unique events happening in the Milwaukee area. First column will be posted next week!
2. Continue work on co-authoring Paranormal Road Trip.
3. Undisclosed non-fiction book project.
4. Working on a short documentary about my friend, cosmic prankster Mark Gubin, titled Welcome to Cleveland.
5. Undisclosed fiction book project.
6. And, of course, I will continue to work on the established annual events I mentioned above and continue to seek freelance writing opportunities.