A Look Ahead at Chicago Lit: February

by Kayleigh McNamara

While this brutal winter drags on (and on and on) into February, fear not, the Chicago literary scene is just heating up for the year. Whether you are willing to venture into the tundra, or prefer to hibernate within your own home and keep up via Zoom, there are ample opportunities to engage. 

Join StoryStudio’s Pub Crawl for their month-long virtual publishing intensive. Your registration gives you access to bi-weekly classes, agent and editor panels, author talks, and so much more! This year’s keynote speaker is Dave Eggers, author of The Eyes and the Impossible, and founder of McSweeney’s, an independent publishing company. Reserve your ticket here!

Tuesday, February 3rd, head to Women & Children First to hear Sarah Bruni in conversation with Michael Zapata. They will be discussing Bruni’s new novel, Mass Mothering, described as “a haunting, indelible novel of collective grief, resistance, and the radical, life-affirming virtue of testimony.” The event will take place from 7:00 - 8:30 p.m. Reserve your ticket and be sure to get a copy of Mass Mothering! 

Friday, February 6th, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame will be hosting a virtual installment of our Great Chicago Books Club to celebrate Tony Fitzpatrick’s essay collection, The Sun at the End of the Road: Dispatches from an American Life. Eckhartz Press was able to publish the books just weeks before Tony passed away. Rick Kaempfer and David Stern, founders of Eckhartz Press, will moderate the discussion with special guests, Thomas Dyja, Mark Eleveld, Ann Filmer, and Dave Hoekstra. The event is free but registration is required. A zoom link will be sent out shortly before the event begins at 7:00 p.m. Register here! 

The very next day, February 7th at 4:00 p.m., Bookends & Beginnings will be hosting Janet Burroway in conversation with Miles Harvey. They will discuss their latest works; Simone in Pieces and The Registry of Forgotten Objects. The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame’s former president of the board, Amy Danzer will be moderating! RSVP here. 

Celebrate Galentines Day on Saturday, February 14th at 12:00 p.m., and see Margena A. Christian in conversation with Katara Washington Patton at Da Book Joint inside Pen & Paper. The pair will be discussing Dr. Margena A. Christian’s recent release, It’s No Wonder: The Life and Times of Motown’s Legendary Songwriter Sylvia Moy. This biography tells the story of Sylvia Moy, trailblazing female producer at Motown during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Learn more about this inspiring and previously overlooked story in Black music history. Get your tickets here!

Later, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame is excited to promote the new edition of Sherwood Anderson’s Winesburg, Ohio with Maudlin House, featuring an introduction by Kevin Maloney and illustrations by Dmitry Samarov. At 7:00 p.m., see Dmitry in conversation with Mallory Smart at Tangible Books. No sign up required. 

Sunday, February 15th, Little Black Pearl will be hosting the Soulful Chicago BLACK HISTORY Book Fair, starting at 10:00 AM. Join Asadah Kirkland and Michelle Rhnea in their mission to honor Black history and create a joyful Black future! 

The Sunday Reading Series takes place 6:30-8:30 p.m. later that same day at Hungry Brain. University of Chicago professors, David Baker and Julie Iromuanya will be reading with University of Michigan professor, Jennifer Sperry Steinorth. 

Tuesday, February 17, Writers on Writing in partnership with StoryStudio Chicago presents Edwidge Danticat in conversation with Rachel DeWoskin. Attend online or in-person at the Newberry Library’s Ruggles Hall from 6:00-7:00 p.m. with a signing to follow. The event is free but advance registration is required. 

Thursday, February 19th, head back to Women & Children First to celebrate the timely release of Daisy Hernández’s book, Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth. Daisy Hernández will be in conversation with fellow Northwestern faculty member, Sarah Schulman. Notable Chicago author, Sandra Cisneros speaks on Citizenship, saying, “How did ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free’ turn upside down to where we are today? Everyone needs to read this book, citizens and non-citizens alike. Brilliant!” The event is free but will be raising funds for the Midwest Immigration Bond Fund. Learn more and register here! 

We are thrilled to announce that our very own member of the Associate Board, Anna Hyslop is launching her first book! Thursday, February 19th, join us at Heaven Gallery from 7:30-10:30 to celebrate the release of Anna’s poetry chapbook, Bar Makeouts. Let’s thank Anna for her ongoing work with the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. Show your support! Learn more and RSVP here. 

Sunday, February 22nd, visit Haymarket Pub & Brewery at 6:00 p.m. for 2nd Story’s Show 5.  Hear stories by Layne Dixon, PJ Gray, LaTanya Lane, and Dr. S. Purchase tickets for the in-person show here or register for the free livestream here! 

2025 Chicago Literary Hall of Fame inductee, Oscar Brown Jr. is being celebrated with the American Writers Museum’s American Prophets exhibit. February 26 at 6:00 p.m., attend in person at the American Writers Museum to see Maggie and Africa Brown perform their father’s work. Learn more and purchase tickets here! 

Hide away in the Wisconsin Northwoods in Melissa Faliveno’s new novel, Hemlock. Thursday, February 26th from 6:30-7:30 p.m., City Lit Books will host Melissa Faliveno in conversation with Megan Stielstra (the judge of prose for our 2026 Randall Albers Young Writers Award). Learn more and RSVP here!

And, of course, finish the month off strong by attending the CLHOF’s annual cocktail party fundraiser: The Song of the Lush on Saturday, February 28th. Join us from 7:00-10:00 p.m. at Colvin House for food, drinks, and discussion! This year’s theme is based on Willa Cather’s novel, The Song of the Lark. Michael Burke and Robert Charles will lead the program featuring scholars John Flannigan and Jesse Raber. Ryan Prindle of Mobile Barkeeps will be crafting custom cocktails. This is an event you do not want to miss! Purchase your tickets here.

Kayleigh McNamara is a graduate student of Publishing at DePaul University. She has a B.A. in English & Creative Writing from the University of Iowa where she was nominated for the Iowa Review David Hamilton Prize. Kayleigh is currently working as an intern with the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame.