Chicago Books We Loved: 2025

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

by Donald G. Evans (with Michael Antman and Susan Dennison) Best Of lists are built on the false premise that the author has exhaustively consumed all the possibilities and judged the entire field on its merits. Nobody has read all the books (or seen all the movies, or tasted every pizza, or hiked…

Jā. R. Macki

Tuesday, January 6, 2026

By Jasminum McMullen Writuals explores how our city's rich literary heritage, cultural diversity, and iconic spaces inspire routines that fuel the work of local authors. Jā. R. Macki is the author of Linus Baby (Pie Face Child Press, 2023). Her essay "He & I" was nominated…

CHIRBy Awards Recognize Some of Chicago’s Best Books and Authors

Monday, January 5, 2026

by Michael Antman “Chicago lives in and on my body in ways I'll never be able to explain, no matter how many words I learn, how many dictionaries and encyclopedias I read. And I'm good with that. To belong to a place that belongs to you, that claims you eternally and always has, what…

Amy Danzer’s (Not) Farewell

Saturday, January 3, 2026

Dear Friends of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, As many of you may already know, my term on the Board of Directors of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame has come to an end. It’s been an honor over these nearly seven years — four as President and more than two as Secretary — to…

Heather Byrd

Saturday, November 1, 2025

By Jasminum McMullen Writuals explores how our city's rich literary heritage, cultural diversity, and iconic spaces inspire routines that fuel the work of local authors. Heather 'Byrd', named a Living Legacy by Brooks Permissions, is an ancestral guided international award-winning…

Chicago’s Latina and Chicano Poets: An Overview

Friday, October 31, 2025

by Carlos Cumpián While not all-inclusive, I’ve compiled a narrative index of living Chicago poets a quarter into the 21st century. These authors have solid connections to our city and have, or will have soon, published books. In listing ethnic and gender identifiers, book titles,…

Tara Betts

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

By Jasminum McMullen Writuals explores how our city's rich literary heritage, cultural diversity, and iconic spaces inspire routines that fuel the work of local authors. Tara Betts is the author of Refuse to Disappear, Break the Habit, and Arc & Hue. She is a professor in the…

A Look Ahead at Chicago Lit: October

Wednesday, October 1, 2025

by Allison Manley Start your month with Nuestros Corazones Literarios (Our Literary Hearts): A Latino and Latina Chicago Writers Showcase. Carlos Cumpián, friend to the Hall of Fame, emcees this event, which features writers Angelica Julia Dávila, Miguel Marazana, and Paul…

Printers Row Lit Fest 2025

Tuesday, September 30, 2025

By Anushka Dabhade Every fall, thousands of bookworms, writers, and inquisitive tourists gather on Chicago's South Loop's historic streets for one of the Midwest's most cherished cultural events, turning the neighborhood into a literary paradise. Now in its fifth decade, the…

Rachel DeWoskin

Friday, September 5, 2025

By Jasminum McMullen Writuals explores how our city's rich literary heritage, cultural diversity, and iconic spaces inspire routines that fuel the work of local authors. Rachel DeWoskin is the award-winning author of five novels: Someday We Will…