Breakfast of Writing Champions

By Randy Richardson

On Saturday, June 23, I will be waking up ridiculously early for the hour-long drive from Evanston to Glen Ellyn, where I'll be giving a breakfast talk to other writers at the town's annual BookFest. The topic: promoting yourself as a writer. Joining me for the discussion at the Glen Ellyn Library will be Danielle Egan-Miller, president of Browne & Miller Literary Associates, and Joanna MacKenzie, an agent at Browne & Miller. If you're a writer and are able to pull yourself out of bed on a Saturday morning, it should be a lively and worthwhile program. Your morning bowl of writerly advice will be served promptly at 8 a.m. Join me if you can. Read more about the program here. 

After breakfast, I'll be moving over to the Authors Tent, on Duane Street, about a block from the library, where I'll be camped out from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., promoting the Chicago Writers Association and the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. Stop by and say hi.

Attorney and award-winning journalist Randy Richardson serves as president of the nonprofit Chicago Writers Association. His essays have been published in the anthologies Chicken Soup for the Father and Son Soul, Humor for a Boomer’s Heart, The Big Book of Christmas Joy, and Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year, as well as in numerous print and online journals and magazines. The online publication Gapers Block named his debut novel, Lost in the Ivy, one of the notable Chicago books of 2005. For more information about his latest novel, Cheeseland, visit,www.cheeselandthebook.com.

Writers Block Party: Meet the Presses

Book publishers have historically shied away from the City of Broad Shoulders. But the last couple of years have seen a growing number of small presses taking root in Chicago. Learn why these literary entrepreneurs are defying the sentiment that book publishing is a dying art and what they're doing to stay in the game in a free panel discussion, "The State of Publishing," 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Gail Borden Public Library, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin, Ill.

The talk, moderated by Elgin publisher George Rawlinson (State Street Publishing), will feature the creative forces behind four Chicago small presses: Victor David Giron (Curbside Splendor), Rick Kaempfer (Eckhartz Press), Mike O'Mary (Dream of Things), and Emily Victorson (Allium Press).

Following the discussion there will be an opportunity for attendees to "Meet the Presses" during a social networking "Writers Block Party." Light snacks and soft drinks will be served. This free event is co-sponsored by the Chicago Writers Association, In Print and Author! Author! Book & Author Marketing Network.

Reserve your free spot now through Eventbrite!

The Gail Borden Public Library provides library meeting space as a community service. The library neither sponsors nor endorses this event nor the presenting individual(s) or organization(s).   

Update on Live Lit in Chicago

By Mike O’Mary

The Chicago Literary Alliance recently hosted a panel discussion about the "live lit" scene in Chicago. Live lit is a bit of a hybrid art form, falling somewhere between performance art and more traditional book readings. Rules vary from one organizer to another, but for the most part, the emphasis is on telling/performing your story (sometimes without notes), instead of reading it. Ideally, you are putting a lot of yourself into the telling/performance of that story. 

Why should you care about live lit? As an author, you should care about it because live lit event are drawing big crowds. Bigger on average than traditional readings. And as a reader/listener/consumer of literature, you should care because these events are pretty entertaining, and have the potential to become a standalone art form. 

Granted, performing at a live lit event is not for every author. But if you enjoy telling your stories as much as you enjoy writing them, and if you have a bit of stage presence and a flair for the dramatic, then performing at a live lit event might be a good option for you. And whether you want to get up on stage or not, a live lit event is a fun way to spend a little time appreciating the writing -- and storytelling -- capabilities of other authors. 

Here are links to some of the organizers of live lit events in Chicago. Check 'em out!

• THIS MUCH IS TRUE (www.thismuchistruechicago.com/), 2nd Tues of each month at The Hopleaf in Andersonville
• STORY LAB CHICAGO (www.storylabchicago.com), 3rd Weds of each month at The Black Rock Pub in North Center
• GROWN FOLKS STORIES (www.facebook.com/pages/Grown-Folks-Stories/120392737992152), 3rd Thurs at The Silver Room in Wicker Park
• STORY CLUB (www.storyclubchicago.com), 1st Thurs at Uncommon Ground in Wrigleyville
• ESSAY FIESTA (www.essayfiesta.com), 3rd Monday at the Book Cellar in Lincoln Square
• RUI: READING UNDER THE INFLUENCE (www.readingundertheinfluence.com), one Weds a month at Sheffield's
• THE MOTH (www.themoth.org/storyslams_chicago), last Tues of month at Martyr's
• WINDY CITY STORY SLAM (www.windycitystoryslam.com), schedule and venues vary
• HERE'S THE STORY (www.heresthestory.org), 1st Weds at Stage 773
• REAL TALK LIVE (www.facebook.com/pages/Real-Talk-Live/135852693139029), see website for dates and venues
• ILLINOIS STORYTELLING OPEN MIC (www.storytelling.org/openmic.html)
• WRITE CLUB CHICAGO, (www.writeclubrules.com)

Win movie passes to "Moonrise Kingdom"

On Wednesday, "Moonrise Kingdom," directed by two-time Academy Award nominee Wes Anderson, kicks of the Cannes Film Festival. The star-studded cast includes Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Bruce Willis and Frances McDormand. Focus Features has given the Chicago Writers Association a pair of tickets to a special advance screening of the film at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 31, at the AMC River East, 322 E. Illinois St., Chicago. Coinciding with the film's Cannes premiere, on Wednesday we'll be giving away the two tickets we have for the special advance screening here in Chicago on the 31st. We'll post a trivia question about the movie here on our Facebook page. The first to respond with the correct answer wins the tickets. So be sure to keep an eye on our Facebook page on Wednesday for this special contest for our members only.

CWA Authors @ Printers Row Lit Fest

The Chicago Writers Association returns to the Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest for the sixth consecutive year on Saturday, June 9, and Sunday, June 10. CWA authors will be selling and signing their books under the CWA tent (map and precise location coming soon) during the two-day festival. 

The Midwest's largest free outdoor literary event, covering five Chicago city blocks (on Dearborn, from Congress to Polk), is expected to draw more than 125,000 book lovers. 

The CWA authors signing schedule:

Saturday, June 9

10-12: Lise Dominique (The Adventures of Harvey the Wonder Dog & Diane Gilbert Madsen (DD McGil Literati Mystery Series)

12-2: Michael Burke (What You Don’t Know About Men) & Christopher Garlington & Sgt. David Haynes (The Beat Cop's Guide to Chicago Eats)

2-4: JoAnn Fastoff (The Lie, The Pact & The Gordian Knot) & David W. Berner (After Opium: Stories & Accidental Lessons)

4-6: James Finn Garner (Honk Honk, My Darling and Politically Correct Bedtime Stories) & Toneal Jackson (Pleasing Your Partner: A Spiritual Guide to H.A.P.P.I.N.E.S.S.)

Sunday, June 10

10-12: J. Thomas Tucker (The Datemaker Chronicles) & Mike O’Mary (Dream of Things Publishing)

12-2: Rebecca Johns (The Countess & Icebergs) & Charlene Wexler (Follow the Sun, Murder on Skid Row & Milk and Oranges)

2-4: Blake Hausladen (Ghosts in the Yew), Louise Brass (Presenting Pauline)

4-6: Linda Lamberson (Borrowed Heart) & Michael Lydell Williams (No Residue)