Stories Rooted in Real Life
Welcome! I'm Dan Hawk, a Wisconsin author writing stories that explore rescue dogs, Wisconsin sports, and the personal moments that shape us. My journey as an author began with a desire to share true stories that connect and inspire. Explore my work and discover stories written with honesty, reflection, and a deep belief in the everyday meaning of life.
Writing From a Life That’s Been Lived, Not Imagined
My work comes from real experience, shaped by the moments that tested me, rebuilt me, and taught me how to pay attention to the world. I didn’t begin as a traditional author. I began as a man trying to make sense of the life I was living. Rescue dogs, Wisconsin sports, kids I coached, hurricane zones, family, loss, and second chances — these are the places my stories are born.
My books, including the Dogs and the Lessons I Needed Most series and State of Play Wisconsin: 2025 Brewers Baseball and More, reflect a life rooted in authenticity. I write to offer comfort, insight, and connection. I write so readers can see their own lives — their hardships, hope, and humanity — reflected back with honesty and heart.
Honest Stories, Real Connection
My goal is simple: I want readers to feel understood. Every story I write is grounded in lived experience, emotional truth, and the belief that real stories make the deepest impact. Whether it’s the gentle lessons taught by rescue dogs or the heritage, identity, and thrill found in Wisconsin sports, my writing invites readers to feel something meaningful.
If my work encourages you to slow down, reflect, or see your own life with a little more hope, then I’ve done what I set out to do.
A Perspective Built Through Experience
What sets my writing apart is where it comes from. I’m a father of seven, a coach with nearly two decades in youth basketball, a man who rebuilt his life more than once, and someone who has stood in the aftermath of hurricanes helping communities rise.
These are not theories. They are lived moments.
My stories carry the resilience, humor, gentleness, loss, and second chances that shaped me. I write from a grounded perspective that readers trust because it isn’t imagined — it’s earned.
Why I Write the Way I Do
Every book I create comes from the belief that storytelling is a form of service. It’s a way to remind people they’re not alone. It’s a way to preserve moments that matter. It’s a way to honor the dogs who’ve saved me, the communities that raised me, and the readers who invite my work into their homes.
Writing isn’t an escape for me. It’s a return — to the moments that shaped my character, to the lessons my dogs taught me, and to the pride I feel for Wisconsin and the people who call it home.