Registration is now open for this day-long adventure through Chicago's South Side literary history. On this five-hour tour of Chicago, we’ll visit sites associated with events like The Great Chicago Fire and the Leopold & Loeb Murder Trial; places like “Millionaires Row” and Camp Douglas; institutions like the old The…  read more

Elise Paschen, one of Chicago's most important writers, releases her sixth poetry collection, Blood Wolf Moon, on April 10, 2025. The following night, the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame will help celebrate her new release on the occasion of the Cliff Dwellers making her an honorary member. Rachel DeWoskin, Thea Goodman and Lisa Yun Lee…  read more

On this day, we celebrate Chicago's many wonderful indie bookstores. Leading up to the day, we'll feature several bookstore profiles on our blog. On the day of, we'll report via social media on the happenings around town. There are always giveaways and special promotional items available at stores, and usually a passport book that…  read more

Registration for the April 29 screening of The Apprentice is now open. Artist Mary Livoni's short film, The Apprentice, is based on Stuart Dybek's short story by the same name. The atmospheric, vibrantly shot film tells the story of a boy and his uncle. It is the final story in Dybek's 1979 collection, Childhood and Other Neighborhoods.…  read more

The Randall Albers Young Writers Award returns for its third year. On Saturday, May 17, we will present awards to young writers of both prose and poetry and listen as they read aloud from their work. We will be joined by families, friends, teachers, and a host of notable Chicago writers. It is a touching and entertaining way to welcome our new…  read more

As part of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, Chicago Literary Hall of Fame Board Secretary Jane Hseu will host a showcase of Chicago's Asian American literary community. Kundiman Midwest and its facilitator Helene Achanzar will be participating, with Maggie Su reading from her new novel Blob. Banyan: Asian American…  read more

Registration is now open for this three-hour walking tour that takes us to the former residences of notable Chicago writers, as well as institutions and streets with literary associations. We’ll learn a bit about authors George R.R. Martin, Margaret Anderson, John D’Emilio, and Studs Terkel, as well as fictional characters Paul Whelan…  read more

The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame has selected Timuel Black, Oscar Brown, Jr., and Harriette Gillem Robinet for official induction, with a ceremony to take place on Saturday, July 12 at the Woodson Regional Library’s auditorium. The program starts at 1 p.m., with a courtyard reception to follow. Registration just opened for the free ceremony;…  read more

The 40th Annual Printers Row Lit Fest is a carnival-like weekend of authors, books, and book lovers. The Chicago Literary Hall of Fame's tent will once again include partners After Hours, Chicago Poetry Center, Chicago Quarterly Review, Contratiempo, Guild Literary Complex, Rhino, and Stories Matter…  read more

We invite you to the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame’s year-end fundraiser, which is also the start of our capital campaign to raise $1 million for the longterm sustainment of our organization. Our work focuses intensely on Chicago as a city which produces, nurtures, and cherishes authors. Our authors do the work of helping us appreciate…  read more

Join Carlos Cumpián and a host of other Latino and Latina authors as they share their stories, poems, and novel excerpts. Registration will open soon.   read more

Jackie Taylor, the author of more than 100 plays and musical bios, thousands of poems, a screenplay, and two books, has been selected as the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame’s 2025 Fuller Award recipient in honor of her lifetime achievements. Taylor will be celebrated at a ceremony on Monday, October 20, at her Black Ensemble Theater (4450 N.…  read more