Ray Bradbury’s Influence on My Writing Career

Friday, September 30, 2022

by Dan Burns I became a writer because of Ray Bradbury. Over thirty years ago, I first dreamed of becoming a writer. As often happens, life got in the way for so many years. But on Thursday, May 6, 2004, I was struck by lightning, my brain seared, my heart jolted, and life changed forever. On that…

An Interview with Marianne Boruch

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

Chicago is a city tied with identity, its eight million residents hailing from all different backgrounds, cultures, and countries. Wherever I’m At: An Anthology of Chicago Poetry is the cross-section of that city-wide identity, exposing slices of life from a variety of angles. I reached out to…

Hank DeZutter– July 23, 1941-July 14, 2022

Thursday, August 11, 2022

By Dan Baron During a career as a journalist who covered major social movements, a teacher, and a nonprofit executive dedicated to telling the story of grassroots groups, Henry W. DeZutter was also a creative soul who wrote a children’s book. Mr. DeZutter passed away in Chicago on July 14. He…

Irony and its Discontents

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

by Vincent Francone 1. I once told a pro-lifer that if anyone opposes abortion they should adopt a kid or shut up. They…

Storm Takes Logan Center by Poetry Anthology

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

By Donald G. Evans From the Logan Center’s 9th floor, you can look out across Hyde Park all the way to the skyline, watch the horizon twinkle and roar and blush. But I wasn’t looking. I stationed myself in the small room outside the penthouse—a kind of vestibule with no…

Reginald Gibbons in Conversation with Alex Kotlowitz

Wednesday, June 1, 2022

This conversation is clarified from the discussion that took place at the Fuller Award ceremony to Reginald Gibbons, which took place September 21, 2021 via Zoom. Alex Kotlowitz: I wish I was seeing you in person—I miss our Furama days! I loved your talk. Everybody talks about your…

Mike Royko

Thursday, April 28, 2022

By TBD Mike Royko died 25 years ago, on April 29, 1997. It’s only right to start a remembrance of Mike Royko with a quick one-sentence lede. The swift jab of his lede was a hallmark we all appreciated, straight through to the knockout punch of his snappy conclusion. Here’s an iconic…

Shel Silverstein Gets a Stamp

Saturday, April 9, 2022

By Dmitry Samarov I get a curious email from a man named Artis. He’s writing on behalf of the United States Postal Service. It isn’t to ask me to stop harassing the post office about delayed or lost packages, as I would have surmised. He’s inviting me to take part in the unveiling…

Society of Midland Authors (SMA) Marks 107th Year in Chicago

Sunday, April 3, 2022

By R. Craig Sautter April of this year, 2022, marks the 107th anniversary of the Chicago-based Society of Midland Authors, a lively group that still flourishes with nearly 400 paid members representing book authors in 12 States of the American Midland. SMA conducts monthly meetings and literary…

Let Us All Improve Our Russian

Thursday, March 17, 2022

by Gint Aras I have deep connections to Eastern Europe. I’m a dual citizen, qualified for Lithuanian citizenship because my parents and grandparents are displaced Lithuanians. During WWII, they fled Russian occupation and the strong likelihood of execution or deportation to Siberia, where…