May Literary License 2020

A word from our president

BY DICK SIMPSON y vote of the Midland Authors Board, we postponed our April Bprogram until October and have canceled our annual awards banquet on Lin Enger John Wasik Joyce Burns Zeiss Patrick Reardon May 12. Being over 100 years old, we have been here before when we had to cancel our annual meetings in 1918 and Coronavirus reflections: some war years. Like then, we will emerge again after the pandemic has run its course. ‘Writing has become my Our plan is to announce this year's awards for best in a variety of cate- gories on May 11. solace, as it always was’ Then at Lit Fest (pre- hile hoping everyone is well had projected to finish a book manuscript viously the Printer’s and is staying safe, Literary (for my next book Lincolnomics) by July. Row Book Fair), WLicense, as it did last month, is Now it looks like I'll have a first draft in which has moved its turning to authors to tell us how they are April. Ironically, it's a good time for being dates to Sept. 5-6, we moving forward on their book projects inside and writing. To all my fellow writ- will have a festive amid the COVID-19 social distancing and ers (and everyone else), be well – and be reception for the win- widespread suffering and grief. Here is safe. Dick Simpson ners and members. It what they say: Joyce Burns Zeiss: I am finding more will, hopefully, be a time to work on my novel. My writing celebration of the endurance and excel- Lin J. Enger: I wish everyone at the groups have gone online, including Off lence of Midwestern literature, outstand- Midland Authors good health in this sur- Campus Writers Workshop, which anyone ing and authors, and the end of the real world. If I had advice for making the can sign into for a small fee. I am also pandemic. We will send finalized plans best use of this time, I’d send it – but at keeping a journal of this time. Writing has over the summer. this point, I’m just trying to become my solace, as it Midland Authors has had a number of adapt. I can report that my always was. major achievements this year: a revised new novel, American Literary Landscape Patrick Reardon: web site, a beautiful new brochure, and, Gospel, is scheduled to be I've been coping with of course, wonderful programs showcas- published this fall by the University of this new normal by writing a lot of essays ing our members and authors. Minnesota Press. Holding my breath that about the experience – one in the Sun- The election of new officers and board by then we’ll be moving back toward Times, one in the Tribune, one on my members will be held at the September some kind of normal. Pump Don't Work blog and four in the Lit Fest reception. If you have nomina- John Wasik: In a nutshell, I'm writing online journal Third Coast Review. I'm tions or wish to volunteer, please contact as much as possible, punctuated by walks supposed to get the copy-edited manu- the nominating committee chairman, employing the proper social distancing. I Turn to Page 2 Dominic Pacyga, at [email protected]. Finally, rest assured that we are a strong, vital organization with 325 members and a sound treasury. We will be back in full Literary Life Literary Latest Literary Lore force when we no longer have to stay at Richard Lindberg New Books Robert Loerzel home. Until then, be safe. And keep writ- PAGE 7 PAGES 8-10 PAGE 5 ing. We can and will change the world. Wyatt Townley Christoph Irmscher Whitney Scott Robert Marovich Kate Hannigan Helen Lambin

write. Except that my writing is generally Continued from Page 1 about difficult transitions, and I tend to  Solace write my best when I’m upset, sad or script from Southern Illinois University searches. aggravated. And in spite of my decision Press for my Loop book at the beginning It’s a real pleasure, long forgotten, not to write, I found myself grabbing a of May, so I'm expecting to spend much although it doesn’t, of course, mitigate dilapidated notebook and making notes of that month focused on that. my acute and constant sense of grief and about a current concern non-quarantine I've also found myself doing a lot of concern for all the suffering that is going related, to add to a work I thought was and gathering research online and on. Also, my daily walks and bike rides already finished, and then. ... Well, the from my own of Chicago books have become ever more important to me. hard copy is in a notebook in the closet, for what could end up being a future book Kate Hannigan: I do better with a rou- waiting. Writing is one of my ways of about Chicago. The idea for the book is, tine, so I’m trying to push myself to write coping, so there you are. at this point, so amorphous and open- for a chunk of hours each weekday, think Robert Marovich: For me, as a grant ended that I can graze through what about new projects on weekends, and in writer and a historian, I'm used to work- research I'm able to do and I'm not ham- the other hours immerse myself in audio- ing from home. I've been using the stay- pered by an inability to do outside at-home time to accelerate my of research. While I do believe two manuscripts due this spring and my Wyatt Townley: First things first. One work on on two articles for potential pub- gift of a crisis is in discovering what’s that writing is what lication later this year. It's a way to make important – and what isn’t. For us, its “keeps me sane, I've made the best of what is a very challenging love and art – the rest just sloughs away. time. Oh yeah, and coffee. Okay, wine. We time to take two walks Whitney Scott: I have reviewed audio could do pretty well on coffee and wine, books for the American Library but chewing is important. So in descend- each day. Association's Booklist Magazine for 25 ing order: love, art, coffee, wine and food. years, and deadlines have now been loos- And toilet paper. books, ” and paper books. And ened up, but the larger change I'm experi- It’s a funny thing. Everybody talks while I do believe that writing is what encing is the need to receive books only about how much time they suddenly have. keeps me sane, I've made time to take two via download to my computer. It seems to me that these people are not walks each day. For the month of April, Former Midland Authors President writers. Book projects are sidelined while I've set a goal of trying to walk six miles Joanne Koch: Though the next produc- we’re preoccupied with learning to get per day. It's a little random, but so is the tion of my musical "Belle Barth: If I our little lives online. Today, I succeeded universe right now. embarrass you, tell your friends" (music in getting my yoga class gathered for a David Radavich: If one can mentally by Ilya Levinson, lyrics by Owen Kalt, Zoom orientation – and my computer quarantine the suffering and dying caused book by Joanne Koch) has been post- crashed. by the coronavirus, in certain respects the poned, I've been able to use some of my So, patience. That’s another gift of cri- isolation is a writer’s dream. time sheltering at home to complete with sis – and one of my biggest weaknesses. I have written some eight poems thus collaborator Fern Schumer Chapman Christoph Irmscher: In my teaching far on different aspects and moods of the our stage adaptation of Fern's acclaimed life, I have transitioned fully to virtual pandemic, and I've also had time to read nonfiction book Motherland. teaching. Precisely because I spend so books long since collecting dust on my The stage play "Motherland" will much time in front of screens, I have, in shelves, classic and new works alike. Of receive its first staged reading in my writing life, gone back to writing out course, home improvement chores nag for September as part of the Chicago Writers' drafts in longhand, in notebooks or on attention, but reaching out electronically Bloc New Play Festival at the Piven notepads. And I have started consulting has taken on new urgency and dimension. Theater in Evanston. As director of the actual reference works on my shelves Helen Lambin: At the beginning of the Writers' Bloc, working with outstanding again, dictionaries, encyclopedias, history quarantine, I felt that the challenge of area playwrights for the past 25 years, books, rather than running internet adapting was enough, without trying to Turn to Page 3

2 LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 Solace has changed. Six of my presentations in SMA member 90% sure Continued from Page 2 March and all of my I've helped to bring over 250 new plays to April presentations he had coronavirus Chicago area audiences. Many of these were canceled. On his blog, The Trunnion, plays have gone on to productions across Someone from the Midland Authors member Patrick the country, including off Broadway. Fern North/Northwest McBriarty writes he started coming and I join area playwrights and authors, Suburban Chicago down with a probable case of Cyndee Schaffer hoping that we all will be seeing our work Chapter National COVID-19 on in print and on stages by the time Organization for Women asked me to do a March 16. September rolls around. Zoom presentation of The Journey to “This heavy If any Midland Mollie's War for their April 22 meeting. I fatigue was Authors members want look forward to figuring out how to use characterized by to develop their new this technology to share my PowerPoint an inability to plays in the company and videos – definitely a learning experi- concentrate, dif- of other fine play- ence. ficulty doing wrights, they are wel- Gary W. Moore (in a tweet): much work, Patrick come to join the cur- Quarantine is what we make of it. (even reading McBriarty rently virtual meetings Amelia Cotter (See Literary Latest for for more than an hour or two Joanne Koch of the Chicago Writers' details about her latest book, This House: became a struggle) low energy, Bloc. We meet next on The True Story of a Girl and a Ghost, desire to lie down (rather than sit Monday night, May 11 at 7 p.m. on Page 10): My next projects are a third up or stand) and overall tiredness Zoom. Please email info@writers- of my children's book Breakfast and not feeling well,” wrote blocfest.org and consider submitting a with Bigfoot, also from Haunted Road McBriarty, who fortunately has scene (three to five pages) to be read from Media, and after that, a long-awaited since mostly recovered. your play with a brief synopsis. We still poetry called apparitions that is Also, Midland Authors have a few slots open for the September currently longlisted with Rhythm & Corresponding Secretary Gerard festival of staged Bones Press. I am preparing for next steps Plecki tested positive for COVID- Warm regards to the Midland Authors. as I would otherwise, without a world- 19, and is recovering. Jarice Hanson: One issue I have, is wide pandemic. It helps me stay grounded The Midland Authors wishes that while working and gives me some- every member who has touched by with McGraw-Hill on thing to look forward the virus a speedy and full recovery. an academic project, to, and to look forward the contract that to sharing with the I was expecting was world when we come John Hallwas: I now write on both held up while the com- out on the other side implications of the coronavirus epidemic pany was going of this. as well as my usual subject of Illinois- through restructuring. I have also been Midwestern history and authors. "Our At this point, I don't Jarice Hanson Amelia Cotter doing “Spooky Story Loneliness Epidemic" deals with the know when, if at all, Tuesdays” on inner (or psychological) implications of that contract may come through, and if so, Facebook Live from my personal page the pandemic, which writers may want to what that means to the deadlines that once a week, where I read or tell classic be prompted to think about. were already agreed upon. As a result, I'm scary stories for kids and adults by can- Burt Levy (from his newsletter): putting a halt to that project for now and dlelight, and I had one viewer comment Driving your spouse/significant other working on a series of essays that are that he and his wife tuned in but then they nuts? being run online in a regional publication got in bed and just listened. And that his Trust me: she (or he) feels the same called The Berkshire Edge. I retain copy- wife said to him, “This must be what life way. Good time to keep firearms, sharp right, and those essays will undoubtedly was like when people would gather objects and blunt instruments under lock work their way into other writing projects around the radio at night.” I think many and key. in the future. people are turning to books and stories Getting out of your pajamas for at least Cyndee Schaffer: March (Women's right now, and even creativity in the sense a few hours each day? History Month) is always a very busy that there is this trend at the moment of Shaving at regular (or even irregular) month for me with my presentations people baking homemade bread. I hope intervals? about The Journey to Mollie's War, my these trends continues beyond all of this, Risking the occasional trip to market? mother's story as a WAC (Women's Army and that other authors’ delayed plans or Watching way too much daytime TV? Corps) who served in Europe in WWII. projects will come to fruition with much Read a book, for gosh sakes. Preferably But due to the coronavirus, everything success. one of mine.

LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 3 Biblio File Faculty Program from the National Gotta exercise the Endowment for the Humanities. She will Note: Rescheduled program: The writing muscles use the award to complete her second Midland Authors April 14 program has “ book examining the history of residential rescheduled to the fall. See Literary Li- daily. segregation and the struggle for open cense and midlandauthors.com for updates. housing in suburbs north of Chicago from Another note: Because of Illinois’ stay- Missouri ”and into parts of Kansas, 1853 to the present. This was a highly at-home order and earlier social distanc- Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Recently, I lis- competitive funding cycle; NEH funded ing policy, our trips to the post office box tened to one of the recordings on my cell 11% of its fellowships proposals that it have been limited. If we have not respond- phone, which was fun.” ... In March, received. ... Dan Dinello recently pub- ed to something you mailed in, please David Blight received the American lished two articles on Juan Cole's contact [email protected]. Academy of Arts and Letters’ Gold Medal Informed Comment Website: for History award, given for eminence in “Trump Spreads the Germs of Racial Carl Smith has a new book coming out: an entire body of work. ... Wyatt Hatred and Xenophobia” and Chicago’s Great Fire: The Destruction Townley tells Biblio File, “Delighted to “A Malignant Contagion: Trumpism's and Resurrection of an Iconic American report I was commissioned to write a Mindlessness on Coronavirus and Albert City. It is scheduled to be published by poem for Scientific American’s December Camus' The Plague.” Atlantic Monthly Press issue. It’s on the Hubble Deep Field, ... Aaron Coleman’s on Oct. 6, two days December being the 25th anniversary of “Another Strange before the 149th its discovery by astronomer Bob Land: Downpour off anniversary of the fire. Williams. And a poem the Johnson Cape Hatteras (March, The is County Library (Kansas) commissioned 1864)" was the scheduled for a year me to write on the value of books is being Academy of American later. ... Michael set in steel and dedicated this fall at their Poets’ selection for its Fedo’s 1979 book was writers conference. Meanwhile, I’m Poem-a-Day for March the subject of a front- Carl Smith (mostly not) working on my next book of 24. ... On April 15, page story in a March poems, The Country in the Mirror. ... Robert Fieseler’s Aaron Coleman 30 Duluth News Tribune story with the Claude Walker writes to say, “Gotta debut book Tinderbox: The Untold Story headline “Author of ‘The Lynchings in exercise the writing muscles daily, so I'm of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise Duluth’ broke silence on city’s dark histo- catching up on a backlog of TripAdvisor of Gay Liberation won the Louisiana ry.” The story, citing the Minnesota reviews. (I'm at 315 reviews with 210,000 . Robert writes, “[It’s] an Historical Society Press, says The ‘reads.’) And the Sun-Times ran my honor given to one book per year by the Lynchings in Duluth is still used in high Letter-to-Ed (‘Thompson Center is a gem Louisiana Library Association and award- school and college courses. ... James – preserve it’). In November, I had a ed last year to my hero Ernest J. Gaines! Finn Garner’s short story “Final booth at the Miami Book Fair to hawk ... It's the first time in LLA history that Transmission” was published in Ahoy Drone Dogs and "Seminole Smoke, and they've honored an explicitly queer book.” Comics’ series, ran into fellow SMA- ... The April 12 New York Times Book Dragonfly & er Alex Kotlowitz! Review wrote of past Midland Authors Dragonflyman. ... The Miami Book Fair book award winner Kate DiCamillo: David L. Harrison is smaller than “Kate DiCamillo writes books for chil- writes to say: Printers' Row Lit Fest, dren. We should all be reading them.” ... “KOLR10-TV, the more ethnically Dennis Byrne writes to say, “Enjoyed Springfield, Missouri, diverse, gritty. I did Ann Durbin Keating’s thoughts on visit- CBS affiliate station, is three media interviews ing the historical sites [April 2020 and had brisk sales but James Finn making my books Literary License]. I tried to do so with my Garner available to kids via that was pre-virus. I 1812 book: From the site of the Fort their online site. The fear for this year's Lit Claude Walter Dearborn massacre to Mackinac; first four books appeared on March 25 Fest. Two projects in my pipeline. A five- Lewiston, New York; Toronto; Fort and new ones were scheduled to come in year-old manuscript, Red Line Rumble, is Henry; Bladensburg, Maryland; the next few days. Some of the dozen set on a subway car on the eve of Y2K). Queenston Heights, Canada, Alexandria, books I chose for them are oldies but, of And Paddling the Pinellas Peninsula will Virginia, and, of course, Washington D.C. course, I also included (with appropriate chronicle my 120-mile kayak circumnavi- Obviously, nothing is left at a few of requirements) the newer titles. I’m not gation of Pinellas County, Florida. (I'm these. In Bladensburg, for example, I sure when or if the station will expand to halfway there.) My "Bicentennial-by- walked through a neighborhood of homes, include books by other authors, but for Buttons" exhibit still draws eyeballs to imagining the various battle lines up the now I have the whole thing to myself. my website.” ... Mary Barr has received hill. A wonderful experience.” ... Barb The station reaches across southwest a fellowship through the Awards for Turn to Page 5

4 LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 ‘That seemed noble to me’ Biblio File This is Part 38 of the history of the Continued from Page 4 Society. don't think poems have messages, Rosenstock was among the children’s exactly. They are experiences. authors who participated in Stimola ‘I And they dramatize experience,” Literary Studio’s March 23-April 3 live poet Edward Hirsch told an audience of streams for children. ... Blue Balliett told about 100 at a Midland Authors meeting the Barnstable (Massachusetts) Patriot if on April 16, 2013, at the Cliff Dwellers. there is a silver lining So why did he decide to become a to social distancing it poet? “You could take the muck and mire is that it is an excuse of your own life. You could take the to read more. She is messy things in your own life, the diffi- reading The Museum cult experiences that you didn't under- of Contemporary stand and try to turn them into some- Things by Alice thing,” he said. “ ... If you turned them Hoffman. ... into something that you thought was Christoph Irmscher beautiful, that seemed noble to me. I recently reviewed aspired to that. And I thought this is a Adam Hochschild's Blue Balliett way to spend your life, to try to take your Rebel Cinderella: From Rags to Riches to experiences and transform them into Radical, the Epic Journey of Rose Pastor something that will stand apart from you. Stokes for the Wall Street Journal. And That will try to live alone when you are his co-authored book (with Cooper not there to explain it.” Graham) Love and Loss in Hollywood: Stuart Dybek “A tradition of the Midwest is that Florence Deshon,Max Eastman, and everyday people are really connected to “For me, including descriptions of Charlie Chaplin, a biography-in-letters of literature,” poet Marc Kelly Smith, weather is the making of mood,” Stuart the Hollywood actress Florence Deshon founder of the Uptown Poetry Slam, said Dybek said at an SMA meeting on Nov. and her relationship with both Chaplin when he emceed the 11, 2014, at the Cliff and socialist writer Max Eastman, is SMA awards dinner on Dwellers. “The writ- May 14, 2013, at the Literary ers I’ve been very Turn to Page 6 Holiday Inn. “In the attracted to in the Midwest, we write about Lore 20th century have our place – it's not high- frequently been writ- falutin’, it’s really down Robert ers who hung on to to Earth.” that whole notion of Accepting the adult Loerzel mood. … There are C 2020, Society nonfiction award that just so many great of Midland Authors evening for his book writers of place. You P.O. Box 10419, Chicago IL 60610 You Were Never in Chicago, Neil think of all the great writers Chicago is Steinberg commented: “The genius of known for. How do you evoke an urban Editor: Thomas Frisbie Chicago is ... there is something here for landscape beyond the names of the [email protected] everyone. If am I proud of one thing in streets? A lot of it is just evoking the Copy Editor: Beverly Offen this book, I didn't say this is the best urban landscape. It could be any city with Chicago, or this is the true Chicago or some of the descriptions. That fact that www.midlandauthors.com this is the only Chicago. I said this is my you have already called it Chicago and Follow the Society on Chicago. You are allowed to go out and given it Chicago street names now has Twitter@midlandauthors find your Chicagos, and you can live that kind of an effect where the reader is these wonderful lives here and find the participating. … You don't put weather in Society of Midland Authors members things that you think are interesting.” a piece unless the weather is what T.S. can now pay their membership dues, “I've always known that ... poetry could Eliot in a very academic term called the buy tickets to the annual dinner and solve, could heal, could bring truth and objective correlative. ... What Eliot says is make donations on our website with respite where some other methods could- the way a writer writes is you don't say, ‘I PayPal (there is a $1 fee to help cover n't,” said Roger Bonair-Agard, as he am so lonely.’ You make loneliness. And PayPal’s fee). To make a donation, visit accepted the Midland Authors’ poetry the way you make loneliness is you find our home page at www.midlandau- award for his book Bury My Clothes on an object that correlates to loneliness and thors.com and click on the "Donate" button in the upper right corner. May 13, 2014, at the Cliff Dwellers. you create that object.”

LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 5 Printers Row book fair postponed until Sept. his year’s Printers Row Lit Fest, deliver a better experience to us ALL than Carlson started the tradition in 2000, as, originally scheduled for June 6 and moving forward with our June dates.” Lindberg said, “a means of showcasing T7 in the South Loop has been The Midland Authors will have tent and promoting the aims of the Society rescheduled to Sept. 5 to Sept. 6. spaces available for members. Plastic and the fine work of our author members Printers Row said: “We have selected tarps will be available if it rains. for a nominal fee – far less than what Sept. 5 and 6 as our new dates for the fes- To sign up for a two-hour slot or to individuals might otherwise pay were tival. Pushing back to September allows make revisions in your plans due to the they to reserve a table on their own.” us to take advantage of the good summer postponement, contact Joseph Gustaitis at Authors should prepare for gusts of weather in Chicago (average highs are [email protected]. wind and not be surprised if it rains. similar to June!) and low average rainfall The fee is $30 (the 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. slot Authors can pay for their time slot by (great for books!). Pushing back will allow is half-price, at $15.) The other time slots sending $30 to our post office box at us all time to assess needs and abilities, are 10 a.m. to noon, noon to 2 p.m. and 2 Society of Midland Authors, P.O. Box and our hope is that we will be able to use p.m. to 4 p.m. Authors who sign up for a 10419, Chicago 60610. Or they can visit this postponement to lock in our program- time slot can sell their books during that our website at www.midlandauthors.com ming that is now in a certain amount of time. Authors are responsible for trans- and pay via PayPal, with a $1 service fee. flux due to the fluid nature of travel plans porting their books to and from the tent. Authors who have paid for the June dates that we are experiencing. In short, we are The SMA has been at Printers Row but can’t make September will be reim- confident that this postponement will since Richard Lindberg and Carol bursed.

Biblio File Midland Authors’ award winner Art Wright’s home radio network show Cullen’s Storm Lake (Iowa) Times news- “Pandemic Pirate Radio.” Eldon writes to Continued from Page 5 paper, where Cullen won a Pulitzer Prize. say, “Friday the 13th was my last day in coming out from Indiana University Press ... Jeremy T. Wilson’s short story the office, and it seems like a long time in December. ... Flint Taylor spoke on “Lessy” was selected for the 2020 Best ago that I began the whole shelter in place April 13 about the Marcus Smith case and Small Fiction Anthology. ... Keir Graff thing.” ... The April 10 Newcity Chicago the Greensboro police on the WBAI radio tweets to say, “I know lots of people like quoted from Greg Borzo’s Lost show “Law and Disorder.” ... Rich to say that books don't get proper editing Restaurants of Chicago. ... Harry Mark Cahan wrote “Thanks, Jim, for 33 years anymore, but I just turned in my second- Petrakis wrote “Years later, regretting an of calls to the kids from Santa on pass proofs for The Tiny Mansion, and I impatient, unfeeling question” for the Christmas Eve” for the April 16 Chicago am unbelievably grateful for the laser-like March 13 Chicago Sun-Times. ... Jarice Sun-Times. ... David attention of @pen- Hanson wrote “Living Through History: Quammen talked on guinkids editors, copy- Thinking About the Meaning of Time” for March 28 on NPR editors, proofreaders.” the April 15 Berkshire about his research into ... Author Suzanne (Massachusetts) Edge. animal-to-human trans- Park was quoted on ... The April 16 mission of viruses. ... April 7 saying Gloria Chicago Tribune Midland Authors Vice Chao is one of her referred to Jeannie President Marlene “go-to authors.” ... Morris’ Brian Targ Brill posted on Raymond Benson Piccolo: A Short Facebook on April 12: reviewed the new Blu- Season as an “excel- Rich Cahan “Stay safe; stay strong; ray release of Harold Gloria Chao lent” book involving and read!” ... Scott Turow wrote “There’s Becker's "Malice" (1993). ... Jim Daniels Chicago and sports. no better time to bring back the pocket co-edited Respect: The Poetry of Detroit The article also cited John Hallwas handkerchief” for the April 15 Music (Michigan State University Press, Jonathan Eig’s Ali: A Life and Ring Washington Post. ... Ann Durkin Dec 1, 2019). ... Jerry Apps wrote Lardner’s You Know Me, Al among its Keating had an online video discussion “Garden nourishes the soul in troubled “20 Chicago sports books to read during about the life of early Chicago historian times” for the April 13 Wisconsin State your quarantine.” Also, on April 14, Juliette Kinzie April 14 with Brad Hunt, Farmer. ... Eldon Ham was interviewed Channel 2 CBS Chicago quoted from a the Newberry Library’s president for by Dane Placko about the cancellation of 1984 interview Jeannie did with the late research and academic programs. Ann sports events and on March 12 Fox32 Cubs former manager Jim Frey. ... John tells Biblio File, “It was great fun – Chicago featured a short clip from that Hallwas was quoted in the McDonough around 40 minutes and had over 225 interview. Also, Eldon was scheduled to County (Illinois) Voice on March 30. ... attendees!” ... The March 31 Washington be interviewed April 20 along with his The March 24 Columbus (Ohio) Parent Post detailed how the coronavirus has lawyer-daughter Carla by Garry Lee called April Pulley Sayre’s Bloom Boom! added to the financial challenges for Wright (formerly of WGN Radio) on a “beautiful nonfiction picture book.”

6 LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 Trying not to be ‘bum of the art world’ This is the ninth part of a series reflect- ing on writing.

y experiences at Lerner and my Richard Lindberg at the Midland history degree from Authors’ annual book awards cere- MNortheastern were of little inter- mony on May 8, 2010, at the Cliff est to the editors at the Sun Times, Dwellers Club in Chicago. Tribune and Daily News where I had duti- fully sent my resumes; enough resumes to wall paper the entire wall of the city room. They did not know me. I never attended the Medill School of Journalism (could not afford to) or had a famous uncle, a mentor, or a “connected” father to sponsor me into a rewarding edi- torial job at a foundation, a museum, a escape from the boredom of retail, and a cold sterility of the impersonal world of publisher, a magazine or a newspaper. leap into the white collar world; maybe telemarketing in Schaumburg, Downers While writing for Lerner in 1978, my first even a chance to become someone of Grove and the I-88 and I-90 corridors – it published book, a curious little paperback importance. From my little office I provided a picturesque backdrop to write, titled Stuck on the Sox came out, only to observed a passing parade of BMW-driv- reflect and research. be panned by Clarence Peterson, a ing Yuppies in three-piece suits, women I hoped that the tide had finally risen reviewer for the Tribune. It was one of with big hair and shoulder pads battling for me and this would be just the start of the lowest points of my life. one another for promotions and advance- my budding editorial career. The publish- I understood at an early age that the ment. In the business argot of the 1980s er accorded me a degree of professional reality of earning a liv- everyone “pushed the respect as a fellow well traveled author ing trumps literary envelope” on one thing and I had hoped it would become a long ambition. There Literary or another. lasting and profitable association. It did seemed to be little It turned out to be a not. chance of securing a Life really crummy post- The staff and the publisher managed to rewarding career in 1970s recession beat the editorial deadline and deliver the and journal- Richard Reagan-era malaise six- desk top set to critical ism. I was only 24. But job, peddling auto club acclaim. However the seed money for the it was the mid-1970s, Lindberg membership, credit operation ran out and nearly all of the full- and America was card protection and time writers had to be let go immediately. mired in the worst eco- other worthless, I stayed on, and I agreed to work without nomic recession since the Great unwanted services to Ward’s customers salary for a period of months in the mis- Depression. I was ready to give it all up. I who were about to see their cherished old taken hope that the company could be knew I could never quit the day job to department store boarded up. Signature resuscitated with new projects. I lived off become what one sharp-eyed wag who was swallowed up and dissolved a few of my wife’s paycheck (with great shame) had known enough unemployed poets, years later. and my dwindling savings until I could no painters, musicians, actors and writers Next, I answered a blind ad in the longer survive without steady take-home refusing to accept honest work in any newspaper and was hired for a writing job pay. I feared that I was fast becoming the other field of endeavor unrelated to their that sounded so very promising. I landed dreaded “bum of the art world.” talent, to term a “bum of the art world.” with a small north suburban publisher My anxiety was unending. I barely had I would not put myself in the position producing a crime encyclopedia. It was a enough money to properly bury my moth- of living off of others. I would try to real writing job and at last a genuine er following her death in March 1993, nor move up in the world as best as I could opportunity to pursue my life’s calling. I did I ever recover the months of unpaid and advance myself professionally. I com- gave it everything I had. I churned out salary that was due me. pleted 13 years of service with Sears in voluminous amounts of copy in a short 1984 and began anew writing scripts for time. I enjoyed the frenetic, fast-paced Richard Lindberg's forthcoming books telemarketers at the Signature Group, a writing, the irreverence of my desk mates are a village history of suburban Addison, now defunct marketing firm peddling and the genteel Wilmette setting. I didn’t Illinois, and Tales of Forgotten Chicago, memberships over the phone for the make much money in those days but which relates stories roughly from the Montgomery Ward Auto Club. It was my found my calling penning true crime sto- time of the Civil War to the 1960s and is first-full time writing gig, a step up to ries. The old trees and the stately homes due out with Southern Illinois University corporate America. I thought of it as my lining leafy streets – a far cry from the Press this year.

LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 7 Literary Latest

GREAT WOMAN FICTION SET IN A REAL PLACE FOLLOW-UP NOVEL Lift As You Climb: The Story of Ella Pat Camalliere’s The Mystery at David W. Berner writes to say, “I have Baker (Simon & Schuster /McElderry, Mount Forest Island (Amika Press, a novel coming in April from Adelaide 2020, illustrated by R. Gregory Christie) March 27, 2020) is a tale of crime, deceit, Books. Things Behind the Sun (Adelaide by Patricia Hruby Powell is about the love and the value of friendship set in the Books, March 16, 2020) is a follow-up to civil rights worker Ella Baker, a contem- forests of Lemont, Illinois, in suburban my novel A Well-Respected Man, which porary of Dr. Martin Luther King, but Chicago. was honored by the Midland Authors in older than King. The book is part of Camalliere’s Cora 2019. Here is what Powell tells us about her Tozzi Historical Mystery Series. “My new book's original release was to new book: “Dr. King and Ella did not Camalliere tells Literary License, “My be at the Book Expo America and Book always see eye to eye. Ella once said to first two books were historical mysteries Con in New York City in late May. But Dr. King something along the lines of, ‘I set in the forests near with the postponements, the publisher don’t think you can run a movement Lemont, and I wanted quickly shifted gears, racing to get it out based on one charismatic personality.’ to continue those com- early, hoping to meet What happens when you’re gone? And he ponents. I had long the demand of the is supposed to have replied, ‘This is what been fascinated by an mini-surge of book I can do.’ They had huge respect for each area in the forest pre- buying and reading other. serves of Cook County during social-distanc- “I hadn’t known about Ella Baker at the where once a golf ing. Such an odd place time my friend Shelley Masar informed course existed, said to to be. Such an odd me about this great woman. In fact Pat Camalliere have been played dur- adjustment. With all Shelley named one of her children after ing Prohibition by Al this, Things Behind the Ella. When I started researching, I was Capone. The course was closed in the David W. Berner Sun will now have a immediately drawn to Ella Baker’s life 1940s when the Manhattan Project was virtual book launch on and work. My parents worked to right moved adjacent to it. Facebook Live. We will be cross-posting social injustice, so following in their foot- “During my high school years I had an the event with the Facebook pages of The steps was obvious, and writing books is Italian friend who faced challenges brave- Book Cellar in Chicago's Lincoln Square one way to help right wrongs. I’m attract- ly. Rather than telling two separate sto- and Adelaide Books, New York. It will ed to people who do good. The Civil ries, I decided to use the location and also be live on Instagram and will have a Rights Movement was such an important dramatize the friend's experiences in a Facebook Live Launch. I believe I'm fair- era in our history, and as Ella Baker said single story. ly skilled with technology, but this idea of (and is the last line in my book), “The “The book is fiction, but it is based on a launch on simultaneous platforms is struggle for rights didn’t start yesterday a real place, and some real people and brand-new. It will be an adventure, and I and has to continue until it is won.” situations are included in a fictional am hoping a rather positive experience in way.” these tough times.” Turn to Page 9

8 LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 Literary Latest about the book: “The Henrietta and Inspector Howard series, set against the Continued from Page 8 backdrop of an era often overlooked in American history – the time between the two World Wars – weaves together the stories of the wealthy Howards and the impoverished Von Harmons, two Chicago families that have more in common than they initially think. “Despite the somewhat light-hearted mysteries and the evolving romances between characters, the series is solid his- torical fiction, taking a closer look at some “Part of the on the back includes of the more pertinent issues of the day – this, from the introduction: ‘This book is, in disproportionate wealth; the plight of all a sense, about decluttering our lives: what women, regardless of their place in socie- to do with some things that have been ty; homosexuality; rampant crime; and the important to us but are no longer. This diminishing social mores of a world lost – book is more about time and space – no FIGHTING TO WRITE OWN STORIES the general crumbling away of the ‘old offense intended to Einstein. We all have order’ in America and Europe beyond. Rich only 24 allotted hours a day and so many Samira Ahmed, the 2019 Midland in imagery and smart, original dialogue, rooms in our home. Some things have to Authors Children’s Fiction Award winner, the series has won over 40 international be there, by necessity; others are there by has a new book out, Mad, Bad & Danger- awards and garnered starred reviews from choice; and a few are just taking up space ous to Know (Soho both Library Journal and Booklist. and/or time without our truly informed Teen, April 7, 2020). “In A Child Lost, consent. My previous publications From the publisher: Book 5 of the series, include: The Death of a Husband, “Told in alternating Henrietta and Clive Prayers for Difficult Times and narratives that bridge tackle not one, but Constructing a New Normal.” centuries, the latest two cases: one novel from New York involving a spiritual- Times best-selling ist who is holding author Samira Ahmed séances in an aban- traces the lives of two Samira Ahmed doned schoolhouse young women fighting on the outskirts of Michelle Cox to write their own stories and escape the Winnetka, and the pressure of cultural expectations in other leading them to the infamous worlds too long defined by men.” Dunning Asylum in Chicago, where an epileptic child has mistakenly been admitted. Once again, the story success- fully weaves together several different plot lines with a satisfying twist. “The heroine of the series, Henrietta Von Harmon, is based on a real-life Chicago resident and was the inspiration ‘LUMINOUS EMPATHY’ for the novels.” The Boston Globe wrote that Louise DECLUTTERING OUR LIVES Erdrich’s The Night Watchman (Harper, March 3, 2020) “thrills with luminous Helen Lambin writes to say, “I have a empathy.” new book out, with ACTA Publications. The novel is based on Erdrich’s grand- The title is: An A-Z Guide to Letting Go father, who worked as a night watchman (Jan. 7, 2020). As the title suggests, the and carried the fight against Native dis- SOLID HISTORICAL FICTION topics are alphabetized, beginning with possession from rural North Dakota all Anxiety, passing through such topics as the way to Washington, D.C. It explores A Child Lost (She Writes Press, April Carp per Diem, Envy, Letting Go of Car themes of love and death with lightness 28, 2020) is Michelle Cox’s latest book. Keys on through Youthiness to Zeros. It and gravity. Here’s what Cox’s tells Literary License includes Artwork by Chicago artist ISz. Turn to Page 10

LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 9 Literary Latest

Continued from Page 9

adult and child characters. Though I have lived in many places since then, that town, as it lives in my imagination, still right now when many have uncertain feels like home to me. financial futures, but I have also found ‘HEARTWARMING LESSON’ “I have two other book releases coming that my friends and followers have been up in August. happy to hear some good news and to Helen Frost’s new book, Blue Daisy “All He Knew is a novel-in-poems learn that some things are still operating (Margaret Ferguson Books) is a dog-and- about a boy who is deaf and mis-diag- as ‘business as usual’ in the world.” friendship story for ages 7-10 or so that nosed as ‘unteachable,’ resulting in his was released on March 17. Kirkus being institutionalized. Set in 1939, it is Reviews wrote, “An easy-to-read, heart- based, loosely, on a true story, though I warming lesson in trust-building.” have given it a happier ending. Marketed Frost writes to say, “Since most of the for children ages 10-14, it will also be celebratory events have been canceled, appreciated by older readers, including I’m trying to make up for that by offering adults. signed bookplates on social media and “A paperback edition of my novel-in- through my favorite independent book- poems, Crossing Stones, will be released stores. with a new cover, also in August.” “Blue Daisy began as a picture book more than 30 years ago with a different THREE BOOK RELEASES title (Blue Dog). The adults were there in earlier versions, but the “mean kids” Amelia Cotter writes to say, “I just came into the story in this form (a novel- wanted to share that last week, the 10th in-poems for early readers) as I dug into anniversary edition of my first book, This THIRD BOOK OF POETRY the motivations and feelings behind the House: The True Story of a Girl and a two main characters’ behavior. Ghost, was released by Haunted Road Willingly (Adelaide Books, Oct. 2019) This book and Applesauce Weather Media. It is one of three (hopefully!) is Marc Frazier’s third book of poetry. (2016) are both set in a place that book releases for me this year. This was a Frazier says, “It explores the ramifica- reminds me of the small town in the planned spring release that happened on tions of one’s search for identity within South with an interesting assortment of track and on time. I think my publisher is and without the bonds of a relationship. It hoping to capitalize on what might be, for is centered on the many manifestations of the time being, higher book and ‘narrative.’ For it is always, it seems, a sales. story we are telling no matter the form or “I, for one, was excited to learn that the type of poetry. book's release was still a go, because it's “One line demonstrates this: ‘One way brought a sense of normal back into my or another we make the stories fit.’ routine and quieted some anxiety and Willingly explores the idea that instead of restlessness. I have been working remote- my life having been fated, it is something ly for my regular job, but would have I’ve chosen willingly. It is the story of taken some time off anyway to celebrate one LGBTQ individual. The epigraph to and focus on the book's release, so in a the book is also indicative of one of the weird way, the timing has worked out major themes in the book: “We don’t see well for me. It has definitely been awk- things as they are. We see them as we ward asking people to spend their money are” (Anais Nin).” 10 LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020 11 Noted author will present New Members Raymond G. Ziemer’s debut novel is compelling Sept. program The Ghost of Jamie McVay (Black Rose Writing, 2019). BY GREG BORZO the Rise of Reagan; and Nixonland: The Ziemer was born and raised on the idland Authors is organizing Rise of a President and the Fracturing of South Side of Chicago and teaches com- compelling literary events for America. position at the College of DuPage in Glen Mthis fall, in the hope that we’ll Now he’s updated the story with a look Ellyn, Illinois. be able to return to our regular, public, at the right turn that American politics Ziemer also writes monthly meetings by then. Planned for took from 1976 to 1980. This book prom- short stories and poet- Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, ises to be the author- ry, and he is active in a will be a presentation itative analysis of number of writing by New York Times President Ronald groups. He also con- best-selling author Reagan’s first term tributes Rick Perlstein about and of the country’s regularly to local his forthcoming book pulse during those journals. In addition, Reaganland: America’s difficult four years. he has been a Right Turn 1976-1980 And it’s sure to featured reader at (Simon & Schuster, inform the current Raymond G. literary evenings. Aug. 4, 2020). political environ- Ziemer Of The Ghost of Rick Perlstein This event will be ment at the height of Jamie McVay, Kirkus held at 6 p.m. at the Harold Washington yet another critical presidential election Reviews wrote, “A brisk, nuanced story Library Center, downtown Chicago, so cycle. of supernatural sightings and adolescent save the date! This event will be free and open to the tribulations.” A Chicago resident, Perlstein wrote The public. Join us for an unforgettable pres- Ziemer was nominated by Pat Invisible Bridge: The Fall of Nixon and entation! Camalliere.

12 LITERARY LICENSE, MAY 2020

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