A Look Ahead at Chicago Lit: July

by Allison Manley

I’m biased, but I think the most important lit event this month is the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Induction ceremony. On Saturday, July 12 at 1 p.m. at Woodson Regional Library (9525 S Halsted St), we are adding the great writers Timuel Black, Oscar Brown, Jr., and Harriette Gillem Ribinet to the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. Every year since 2010, we add to the list of legendary Chicago writers whose work has left an enduring legacy on the city (and on American literature in general). I love the induction ceremonies because so many friendly, talented, and interesting members of the literary community who attend. I also end up learning a lot about the writers we're celebrating. Learn more about the July induction ceremony here, and please make sure to RSVP here.

I’m embarrassed to say that when I first learned about the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, I didn’t realize that it was inspired by sports institutions like the Baseball Hall of Fame. Sports have inspired many works of fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. If you’re a fan of the connection between literature and sports, then you’ll have a great time at Get Lit: Game Changers at the American Writers Museum (180 N Michigan Ave) on July 8 at 5:30 p.m. Get Lit isn’t just for book nerds – it’s also a happy hour hangout that lets you visit the fantastic museum exhibits after-hours. This month’s iteration of Get Lit is a collaboration with Read & Run Chicago, and you can participate in trivia, meet new people, and celebrate sports and literature. If you’re 21+, learn more about the event here, and purchase a ticket here. 

I’m thrilled that the Words of Wonder Literary Festival - aka WOW - is back this year! On Saturday, July 26 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., stop by the Dr. Conrad Worrill Track & Field Center (10201 S Cottage Grove Ave) for this epic event. WOW is hosted by Burst Into Books, and WOW lives up to its name with its roster of events. There will be workshops, readings, performances, food and vendors, and more. Definitely stick around to see Newbery Medal winner and best-selling author Kwame Alexander. Learn more about WOW here. 

Chicago Zine Fest is also this month, and the massive event will take place on Saturday, July 19 starting 11 a.m. at the Harold Washington Library Winter Garden (400 S State St). (Despite what the venue name might suggest, it’s also lovely in summer.) The Chicago Zine Fest is, to me, a microcosm of Chicago itself: it’s wildly creative, very independent, totally unique, and it’s so amazing because of the generous community. Learn more about Chicago Zine Fest here. 

If you don’t want to wait until Zine Fest – or if you find lit festivals overwhelming – then stop by Skunk Cabbage Books for their Touch Grass Read Zine reading and Zine Fest fundraiser on Sunday, July 13 from 5 to 7 p.m. (2826 N Milwaukee Ave). Skunk Cabbage is an Avondale-based bookstore that focuses on community, with a natural theme permeating their events and offerings. Later in July, they have a poetry workshop, a foraging event, a meeting of their nature book club, and Ask a Scientist Night - so it sounds like it’ll be a busy month for them. Learn more about Touch Grass reading here, and check out the other events at Skunk Cabbage here.

Not quite a festival - but just as festive - stop by the Grown Up Book Fair on Friday, July 18 from 5-9 PM at First Sip Cafe (1057 W Argyle St). Do you remember the fun of book fairs when you were a kid, like when the Scholastic Book Fair came to your school? Even though I usually didn’t buy anything, I enjoyed the break from class and the thrill of being surrounded by so many new books. The books are provided by Call and Response Books, and they are bringing this event back because it was so popular the last time they ran it. Don’t be surprised if you find your next favorite book at this event. Learn more about the Grown Up Book Fair, plus other Call and Response events, here.

One of my favorite things about reading single-author poetry collections is seeing the recurring images that appear from poem to poem. I’m particularly intrigued by Strange Flowers, the debut poetry collection by Chicago writer Bryan Byrdlong. From the publisher’s website, “...the poetry in this collection uses the idea of the zombie to offer an unbiased view of Black struggle, the zombie being a suit sometimes forced upon Black people and sometimes worn willingly.” The collection has been out for a few months, and you can hear from Byrdlong himself on Saturday, July 19 from 3 to 4 p.m. at Seminary Co-op Bookstore (5751 S Woodlawn Ave). Learn more about the Strange Flowers event here.

More book events take place this month. Chicago writer Daniel Kraus will celebrate his new novel Angel Down on Tuesday, July 29 at Exile in Bookville (410 S Michigan Ave). Set during World War I, a group of soldiers search for a fallen comrade - but they find something else entirely. Kraus will be in conversation with fellow Chicago author Lindsay Hunter, who frequently stops by Exile in Bookville to chat with authors in the Authors on Tap series. Learn more about and RSVP for the event with Kraus and Hunter here.

Another Chicago author, Veronica Roth, stops by Wilson Abbey (935 W Wilson Ave) on Wednesday, July 9 at 7 p.m. to chat with Sarah MacLean. MacLean will be talking about her new novel, These Summer Storms, which follows Alice Storm as she Roth continues her series Curse Bearer in September, when her novella To Clutch a Razor is released. Learn more about the These Summer Storms event here, and purchase your ticket here.  

Our friends at the Guild Literary Complex are hosting Palabra Pura: One Poet, One Poem on Thursday, July 24 at La Bruquena Restaurant (2726 W Division St). This is one of Guild’s annual traditions Learn more about One Poet, One Poem here. Bring a poem to read – you can read it in English, or Spanish, or both! If you’d rather just listen and enjoy some tasty Puerto Rican food, that works great, too. Learn more about Palabra Pura here.

We are lucky to have a variety of live lit programs in Chicago. But as a fiction writer, sometimes I want something just fiction focused. Live lit tends to fall into three categories: poetry-focused events, true-to-life storytelling (à la The Moth), or general events that are open to any genre. Fiction folks deserve a little love, and they get it in spades at UNREAL. UNREAL is an open mic live lit event focused on fiction and experimental storytelling. Chelsea Fiddyment is the host, and, like a true emcee, they react to the readings/performances and make a few jokes (not necessarily at the same time). The UNREAL 9th anniversary party is scheduled for Tuesday, July 15. Learn more about UNREAL and sign up for the newsletter here.

A first for this feature: None of the events I’ve listed here take place on the same time and date! You can attend all of these events, plus others I haven't listed here. I’m going to celebrate this achievement by getting a new book and making some chocolate chip cookies. I encourage you to do the same. 

Allison Manley writes short stories and book reviews, and works at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She has been published in The Chicago Reader, Third Coast Review, the Southern Review of Books, Oyez Review, Not Deer Magazine, and The Gateway Review. She is an Associate Board member of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. 

If you know of any literary events you’d like us to feature for August or future months, please send a note to newswire@chicagoliteraryhof.org.