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Books by ‘Notable Wisconsin Author’
PATRICIA SKALKA
STARSONG: A Tale
of triumphant love
Venturing South from the popular Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries, Patricia Skalka tells a poignant, coming-of-age story in her very first novella, STARSONG! A tender tribute to music, memory and the undying power of a mother’s love, STARSONG is a moving meditation on the ways that we carry those we've lost,—and how, sometimes, they reach back — a touching read for parents of any age!
Novella ACCOLADES
““A rich, vivid, and surprising tale ... plumbs the depths of unexpected grief and explores the grace and power of tenacity, family, love, community, and music.””
““Skalka’s luminous tale recalls a bygone era with lovely, lyrical prose—an affirming story of love and loss where a child’s faith, and the pure music she makes, shine.””
A Door County Mysteries Series
The Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries pit a former troubled Chicago cop against a roster of clever killers on the Door County Peninsula in the heart of the Midwest. Set against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty. The series includes:
Death Stalks Door County
Death at Gills Rock,
Death In Cold Water,
Death Rides the Ferry,
Death By the Bay,
Death Washes Ashore, and
Death Casts a Shadow.
The 8th book in this popular series is in production! Learn more on the Dave Cubiak YouTube page.
SERIES ACCOLADES
“A first rate series.”
“A page-turning read”
“The stuff of which award-winning movies are made.”
Recent Awards
USA Today Death Stalks Door County called “An evocative read … Wisconsin’s Book!”
Death Rides The Ferry
Named 2019 best Mystery/Thriller from Midwest Independent Publishing Association
The 3rd Dave Cubiak Door County Mystery wins the
EDNA FERBER FICTION BOOK AWARD, presented by the Council for Wisconsin Writers
Photo by B.E. Pinkham
About the Author
Patricia Skalka is the author of the popular Dave Cubiak Door County mystery series and her first novella, StarSong. In 2024, she received the prestigious “Notable Wisconsin Author Award from the Wisconsin Library Association. She’s won both the Midwest Book Award for Best Thriller/Mystery and the Edna Ferber Fiction Book Award. During the pandemic, USA Today named Death Stalks Door County, the first Cubiak mystery, as the book to represent Wisconsin in its special feature: “50 States/50 Books to Read.”
A popular speaker, Patricia has lectured about craft and taught workshops at numerous venues and conferences including Write On Door County, UW-Madison Writers’ Institute, Bouchercon, Murder & Mayhem Chicago, and Magna Cum Murder. Her non-writing claim to fame: interviewing both Gillian Flynn, author of Gone Girl, and Sophie Hannah, author of the new Hercule Poirot Mystery series, before live audiences of mystery writers.
A former President of Sisters in Crime Chicagoland and member of the Wisconsin chapter, she serves on the Board of the Society of Midland Authors and is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Wisconsin Writers Association, and The Authors Guild.
Patricia divides her time between Milwaukee and Door County, Wisconsin.
ABOUT THE NOVELLA
Set in a small Southern town in the 1960s, STARSONG is a poignant, coming-of-age story of 10-year-old Georgia Weldon who is torn apart by her mother’s sudden death. As she grapples with grief, identity, and faith, Georgia pursues an impossible goal, clinging to both a promise made long-ago and to the possibility of a message sent from beyond. The story is a testament to the remarkable bond of love between a mother and daughter and the power of that unbreakable love.
About the Series
The Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries pit a former troubled Chicago cop against a roster of clever killers on the Door County Peninsula in the heart of the Midwest. Set against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty, the series kicks off with Death Stalks Door County and continues with Death at Gills Rock, Death In Cold Water, Death Rides the Ferry, Death By the Bay, Death Washes Ashore, and Death Casts a Shadow. The 8th book in this popular series is in production! Learn more on the Dave Cubiak YouTube page.
About Door County
Door County Peninsula juts out between the pristine waters of Green Bay and Lake Michigan in northern Wisconsin. With 300 miles of scenic shoreline, five wooded state parks and a collection of quaint, waterfront villages, the area is a mecca for artists, musicians, outdoor enthusiasts and tourists. Every year, some two million visitors come to Door County, the “Cape Cod of the Midwest.”
