Writer is center’s July artist of the month

Fiction writer Carla Luna Cullen is the Cedarburg Cultural Center’s artist-in-residence for July.

Cullen, who lives in Cedarburg, is a former archaeologist who dreams of traveling to far-off places and channels that wanderlust into the settings for her stories.

She writes romantic comedies that have been called “escape reads,” perfect for perusing during a beachside vacation, a long flight or a relaxing weekend at the lake.

“All fiction, even at its wildest and most inventive, is rooted in an author’s life and experiences. By drawing from our strongest memories, we can create stories that resonate with our readers,” Cullen said.

Cullen fell in love with the romance genre at 15, when she discovered a rack of Harlequin romances at the library where she worked.

When she’s not writing, she works in a spice emporium, where she gets paid to discuss food and share her favorite recipes. Her passions include baking, Broadway musicals, office supplies and pop culture podcasts.

Cullen will work and meet with interested visitors at the center from 12:30 to 4 p.m. on July 7, 8, 9, 12, 14, 19, 28 and 30.

She will teach the workshop “Between Fact and Fiction: Using Real Life as a Foundation for Your Writing,” at the Kuhefuss House from 6:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, July 19.

The class will focus on how to use key moments from our lives as jumping points in creating fictional narratives. Students will complete hands-on exercises and should bring a notebook and pen or pencil.

The Kuhefuss House is at W63 N627 Washington Ave.

The fee is $35 for center members and $42 for nonmembers.

More information can be found at www.CedarburgCulturalCenter.com.

The Cultural Center at W62 N546 Washington Ave. is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Tuesdays through Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays.