Meet Alicia
Author, Entrepreneur & Speaker
Alicia Boemi is a former dog rescuer from Chicago, turned author, entrepreneur, and speaker based in the small lake town of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Her work is rooted in storytelling, community, and the belief that stories can give voice to the lives and experiences that might otherwise go unheard.
Before turning her focus to writing and entrepreneurship, Alicia spent more than a decade working in Chicago’s animal shelter sector. During that time, she managed all aspects of a newly formed animal shelter specializing in the rescue and rehabilitation of some of Chicago’s toughest dogs. Her work ranged from administering vaccines and microchips and developing individualized rehabilitation plans to leading fundraising efforts that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for dogs in need.
After a life-changing dog-related incident and the cumulative effects of compassion fatigue led her to leave the shelter world, Alicia found a new way to advocate for animals: through writing.
She is the author of the children’s books THE MAILBOAT DOG and THE SAFETY PATROL DOG, inspired by her beloved dog, Izzy, and their adventures in the quaint lake town they call home. Her poetry chapbook, THE LAKE REMAINS, published under a pen name by Kelsay Books in June 2026, is a deeply personal testament to the “heart dog” and explores love, loss, memory, and Alicia’s life with Izzy.
Alicia's poetry has been nominated for Editor’s Choice in the 2026 GenrePunk Awards; her poetry is also published in Moss Puppy Magazine, Poetry in Brief (PiB), Carmina Magazine, Canid Magazine, and through the 30/30 Project of Tupelo Press.
Alicia is also the owner of two businesses, Lakeside Books and Izzy Works Media. Through both ventures, she creates spaces where stories, conversation, creative business, and community intersect. Through her “In Conversation” sessions and speaking engagements, Alicia connects with audiences on topics including storytelling, social media, entrepreneurship, and the power of building a meaningful creative life.
Deeply embedded in the Lake Geneva community, Alicia serves on the Board of Directors for the Friends of the Lake Geneva Public Library and as Chair of the Promotions Committee for the Lake Geneva Business Improvement District. She is also Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Walworth County Rising: 40 Under 40, an initiative recognizing and connecting emerging leaders throughout the county. Alicia is the President of the Lake Geneva Writers Group, which brings local writers together and offers programming to help achieve publishing goals. Alicia was also appointed Co-Regional VP for the South-Central Region of the Wisconsin Fellowship of Poets, in which she currently serves.
Alicia is an MFA candidate in Creative Writing at the University of Texas at El Paso. She holds a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Lewis University and a dual Bachelor’s in English Writing and Public Relations from Drake University.
Whether she is writing about the bond between people and animals, bringing readers and writers together, supporting her community, or speaking with audiences about storytelling and creative work, Alicia’s work centers on connection and the stories that remain with us long after they are told.
