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Wade Rouse    

Acclaimed Author, Humorist and Memoirist

The writings of humorist and memoirist Wade Rouse have been featured multiple times on NBC’s Today Show as well as on Chelsea Lately on E!, People.com, Salon.com, Forbes.com, Publisher’s Weekly and Writer’s Digest. The Washington Post calls Wade “an original writer and impressive new voice,” and the Chicago Tribune’s Pulitzer Prize-winning cultural critic states that his memoirs are filled with “sparkling humor” and that everyone should “read Wade Rouse, especially if you value laughter and wisdom.”

Wade has lectured around the country, making audiences laugh and reflect on topics ranging from the writing process, using humor to overcome tragedy, diversity and discrimination, and redefining one’s life at venues such as the Chicago Public Library/Cultural Center, Chicago’s Printers Row Lit Festival, the Wisconsin Book Festival, the Erma Bombeck Humor Writers Conference (the largest humor writers workshop in the nation), and numerous private and public colleges/universities and gay rights organizations.

Wade’s current memoir, It’s All Relative: 2 Families, 3 Dogs, 34 Holidays and 50 Boxes of Wine, which celebrates the yearly celebrations that bring out the very best (and worst) in our nearest and dearest, was nominated for a 2011 Goodreads Choice Award in Humor. In addition, Wade created, edited and contributed to the hilarious dog anthology, I’m Not the Biggest Bitch in This Relationship: Hilarious, Heartwarming Tales about Man’s Best Friend from America’s Favorite Humorists.

Speech Topics

Fat Boys Shouldn't Wear Ascots

Wade will discuss – with humor and sensitivity, and by sharing insight and exercise/lifestyle/eating tips – how he lost over 100 pounds and has maintained his weight loss for nearly two decades by connecting the physical to the spiritual, intellectual, social and emotional.

The Three H's

In this lecture, Wade will discuss how “The Three H’s” – humor, heart and honesty – are the keys to memoir writing (and life), and how the art of writing funny and poignant (combining the lyrical punchline and the heartrending moment) can be achieved via the H’s.

Fear Factor

Americans – writers, especially – are defined by their fears today, rather than their passion. Wade will discuss how to “fuggetabout fear” and turn it into “Free Every Artistic Response”, and how you can change your life, pursue your passion, and write what calls to you.

There's a Place for Us

In this lecture, Wade will discuss how he was bullied for being gay in rural America and then battled sexual discrimination in the workplace, how he used humor as uniter and defense mechanism to overcome those odds, and why – based on his nearly two decades of experience in university, college and prep school administration – bullying and discrimination continues and what must be done to stop it. (Wade also lectures on how to achieve diversity in student bodies, administration, faculty and boards.)

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