Windy City Writers

Digital images by Danny Smith of the Jan. 7 "Deck the Hall" benefit for the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.

The Sanfilippo 'Victorian Palace' is known worldwide for its magnificent collections of beautifully restored antique music machines, chandeliers, art glass, the world's larges theatre pipe organ, the most spectacular European salon carousel in existence, street and tower clocks, steam engines and other functional mechanical antiques, displayed within a breathtaking French Second Empire setting. The primary motive behind this collection is the preservation and sharing of the experience of these marvelous inventions of the Western World. The Victorian Palace contains the largest collection of restored automatic musical instruments in the world, including over 200 music boxes and phonographs, approximately 65 coin-operated pianos, violin machines and photoplayers, 60 large American and European orchestrions, 25 dance organs, fairground and band organs and calliopes, and an 8,000-pipe theatre organ.

"Playing with the Enemy" author Gary W. Moore speaks to members of the Chicago Writers Association and DuPage Writers Group at Sonoma Cafe in Evergreen Park, November 14, 2009.

Nine Chicago area authors tell their stories at "Meet the Authors Day" at the sparkling new Beverly Library in Chicago on October 17, 2009. Authors of fiction, non-fiction and poetry books read from their works and told their personal writing stories. Participating authors, all members of the Chicago Writers Association, included: Cynthia Clampitt (Waltzing Australia); Michael Weeks (The Complete Civil War Road Trip Guide); Gracie Hill (Sorrows of the Heart and Where the Brothers At?); Susanna Lang (Even Now); Jeff Lyon (Bliss); Rachel Madorsky (Symphony of Your Karma and Create Your Own Destiny); Michael Gardner (American in a Sense); Mary T. Wagner (Running with Stilettos); and JoAnn Fastoff (Gordian Knot and The Pact).

The Chicago Writers Association at the Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest, June 6 & 7, 2009. Photos courtesy of Rachel Madorsky, JoAnn Fastoff and Michael Weeks.

CWA celebrated its newfound nonprofit status at its Spring Fling on Saturday, April 25, 2009, at Mad River Bar & Grille. Special guests included Rosellen Brown, author of the best seller Before and After and Sharon Woodhouse, publisher of Lake Claremont Press. Tony Maguire of the power alt-pop band, Farkus, played lived music, and CWA unveiled exciting new plans for the group, including a Chicago Writers Hall of Fame and a mentoring program for teen writers.