December, 2017/ January 2018

Biblio File ‘Novelists are the best liars’ Merv Block, who years ago instructed Biblio File in the finer points of journal- BY THOMAS FRISBIE ism, was presented with the The New n retrospect, Robert York Press Club President’s Award on Remer is glad he was Nov. 4. Club President Steve Scott said Iasked to introduce Cheryl Merv was selected as Reed, author of the new “the man who wrote book Poison Girls, at the the book on writing. Society of Midland Authors’ Several books, actual- Nov. 14 meeting at the Cliff ly.” ... The Chicago Dwellers in Chicago. Public Library named “I was so delighted that I Dangerous Jane (See got to do this because I got to Literary Latest, Page read a fabulous book,” said Remer, a longtime SMA book 7), Suzanne Slade’s Jane Addams new book about Jane awards judge who served on Addams, to its Best Informational Books the Society’s board with for Younger Readers of 2017 list. ...The Reed some years ago. “I Dec. 9 Chicago Tribune quoted Robert think a lot of her experience Society of Midland Authors longtime book contest judge Starks on the historic rise of Harold went into it, and I have a and former Treasurer Robert Remer introduces author Washington to the feeling there are going to be more books about this pro- Cheryl Reed at the Society of Midland Authors’ Nov. 14 mayoralty of Chicago program at the Cliff Dwellers Club in Chicago. and the political after- tagonist. Her character joins math. Back in January the pantheon of female but then I started writing a 2013, Robert helped investigators, whether they novel,” Reed said. “A novel present the Society’s be private eyes, police ser- is a completely different program on the 30th geants or investigative beast. I began this novel in anniversary of reporters, who really kick 2005 ... and I kept writing it, Robert Starks Washington’s historic the heck out of the men who and I kept writing it, and I primary election victo- think they know how to realized I needed to break ry. ... On Oct. 30, Mark Jacob wrote a investigate things.” my journalistic habits. Chicago Tribune story about a film he Reed said the book “was a “It was hard to lie, and tracked down in the National Archives difficult journey, because I novelists are the best liars.” that was taken from a dirigible over was a reporter.” To help make the transi- Chicago in 1914. He and his Tribune Reed had already written a tion, Reed next got an MFA crew also posted the video and inter- nonfiction book, Unveiled: in fiction from Northwestern spliced it with new aerial footage tracing The Hidden Lives of Nuns, but like University. the original route so well that even Biblio Patricia Skalka, a nonfiction writer who “I studied with some really great writ- File was impressed. He learned of the discussed her challenging transition to ers, and really great liars,” Reed said. existence of the film from SMA member novels at the SMA’s March 14 program, “ ... This book takes a really true case in R.J. Nelson. Also, Mark’s Tribune-spon- Reed found writing a novel was entirely the mid-2000s. One gang member killed sored book co-authored with Stephan different kind of experience. Benzkofer, 10 Things You Might Not “I thought I knew how to write a book, Turn to Page 2 Know About Nearly Everything, was re- published in a new hardcover edition with additional content and illustrations. The Literary Landscape Literary Lore Literary Latest book, published by Midway, an imprint with Jonathan Eig Robert Loerzel New Books of Agate Books, contains historical and PAGE 3 PAGE 5 PAGES 6-8 Turn to Page 2 Biblio File  Novelists Continued from Page 1 Continued from Page 1 over 250 people, and he was prose- cultural trivia that first appeared in their cuted for only one murder. That Tribune feature. ... In late October, made me think of the injustice that Cynthia Clampitt’s corn presentation one guy killed all these people and (which supports her book, Midwest they were able to get him on only Maize) was selected for the Illinois one murder. He will be getting out Humanities Council's Bicentennial edi- in about 10 years.” tion of its Road Scholars Speakers The newsroom of one of the Bureau roster. ... On Oct. 6, Amy newspapers and the city of Chicago Hassinger received a Volunteer of the itself are both “definitely” charac- Year Award for contributing to an event ters in the book, which “in its own that helped to celebrate the founding of weird way” is a love story to Prairie Rivers Network as well as its 50- Chicago, she said. year anniversary. ... The Wellfield One of the reasons that she wrote Botanical Garden in Elkhart, Indiana, the book is the news stories about Cheryl Reed reads from her book Poison Girls at made Best in Snow by April Pulley heroin victims did not get promi- the Society of Midland Authors’ Nov. 14 program. Sayre into an outdoor Story Walk nature nent coverage in the news media, trail. Also, Full of Fall, written and pho- Reed said. ple were flocking to that drug dealer tographed by April, is featured in an “The stories were very small, they were because they knew that he or she had the interesting discussion on the Horn Book usually in the back, and I started collect- real stuff,” she said. Blog, questioning why photography has ing them. Some of the suburban newspa- Getting Poison Girls (Diversion not yet won the Caldecott medal. ... pers would do stories on fentanyl-laced Publishing, Sept. 12, 2017) published was Michelle Cox’s A Ring of Truth was hon- heroin, and there would be pictures of “a long process,” Reed said. ored in three categories at the 2017 Sixth kids. And underneath were their names, and Reed had “a big agent” when she first Annual Beverly Hills Book Awards: it would say so-and-so was a cheerleader wrote the book, but the agent wanted it re- Northeast Fiction (winner), Mystery written so that the cops would be the killers. (finalist) and Cross-Genre (finalist). ... Yes, this is fiction, “This was so cliched – I’m from The Burbank International Film Festival Chicago and I am going to write a book has given its 2017 Award for an original but I needed that visceral about bad cops. She was from New York. “ I had publishers who wanted me to screen play to James Ballowe and Sara reaction to write the Coover Caldwell for the script “Bloody rewrite it and set it in New York.” Williamson.” Jim writes to say, book. Reed said she rewrote the book “the way “Incidentally, I collaborated with Gary I wanted it to be” and got a new agent. Covino, a producer, to develop a script and so-and-so” was the head of the football “It was a long process because there titled “Herrin Massacre,” which I narrat- team. ... I would literally flip through aren’t that many books about girls doing ed over WBEZ and then on “All Things these pictures to remind myself this really heroin,” she said. Considered” on Labor Day, 1997. That happened. Yes, this is fiction, but I needed But then an editor who had wanted to narration is still available on the Third that visceral reaction to write the book.” publish the book at St. Martin’s Press but Coast International Film Festival. The Unfortunately, the best advertisement was overruled by a committee jumped to radio script derived from a longer article I for heroin on the street was when some- Diversion Publishing. wrote for The Chicago Reader.” ... Lynn one overdosed, Reed said. “My book was the first one she Voedisch was the featured writer at Local “Every time someone overdosed, peo- bought,” Reed said. Author Showcase on Nov. 15 at the Skokie (Illinois) Public Library. A new Society of Midland Authors members Skokie resident, Lynn has loved the way can now pay their membership dues, the community has taken to her writing. buy tickets to the annual dinner and The showcase featured how Lynn C 2018, Society make donations on our website with researched her two Story Plant books, of Midland Authors PayPal (there is a $1 fee to help cover The God’s Wife (about ancient Egypt) and P.O. Box 10419, Chicago IL 60610 PayPal’s fee). To make a donation, visit Dateline: Atlantis (about the many leg- our home page at www.midlandau- ends and lore of the fallen continent. Editor: Thomas Frisbie thors.com and click on the "Donate" Most of Lynn’s work is about modern [email protected] button in the upper right corner. stories about magic, mysticism and spiri- Copy Editor: Beverly Offen Follow the Society on tuality. She has a new book in the works Twitter@midlandauthors about dreams, reality and past lives. ... In www.midlandauthors.com Turn to Page 3 2 LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 Book project seemed like Biblio File ‘unbelievable opportunity’ Continued from Page 2 November, Keir Graff’s The Matchstick onathan Eig is the author of five Jan. 9, 2018, program Castle was named a 2018 Illinois Reads books. He will discuss his most selection. ... Scott Turow displayed “wit, Jrecent, Ali: A Life, which has made Harold Washington Library candor and intelligence” Nov. 19 at the the New York Times best-seller list and 400 S. State St., Chicago Miami Book Fair, the local Sun Sentinel landed on the Wall Street Journal’s list of reported. ... Justify the Enemy: Becoming the year’s top 10 best nonfiction books, at 6 p.m. - Program Human in South Africa, Zakes Mda's the Society’s Jan. 9 program. Here is what Free new book, is scheduled to be published he tells Literary License: on Jan. 8. ... John Wasik (see Literary Latest, Page 6) keynoted an Oct. 18 con- Literary License: At least 50 books not easy. Ali’s brother wasn’t easy. I pre- ference at the LSU Center for Energy have been written about Muhammad Ali. tended I was Joe Frazier – I put my head Studies and also spoke about his book How much time did you spend pondering down and kept trying until I got to them. Lightning Strikes Oct. 12 at the Museum how to take a new approach? Literary License: The Sydney of American Finance on Wall Street. Jonathan Eig: About 30 seconds. As Morning-Herald called this a “literary Also, John is quoted in Rising Star, a soon as I realized no one had written a miracle” because you revealed “Ali best-seller about the early days of Barack complete, unauthorized biography it was afresh.” What was your secret? Obama. ... On Nov. 26, Rick Kogan obvious that I had to go big. It seemed wrapped up his radio show with a conver- like an unbelievable Jonathan Eig: I used mayonnaise sation with Billy McCarthy, author of opportunity – to be the instead of eggs. Just Beat Me ’Til I’m Famous (See Literary first independent writer Literary kidding. Actually, I Latest, Page 7). ... Ray E. Boomhower to tell the whole story think they were refer- talked about the war in the Pacific and his of one of the greatest Landscape ring in that review to book on World War II correspondent of all American lives, the fact that I took an Robert L. Sherrod Nov. 11 on and to tell it while so Jonathan old-fashioned approach Indianapolis' WICR-FM. ... Ruth Spiro many witnesses were to this book. It wasn’t had a title on Amazon’s Editors’ Holiday still around to talk to Eig that I decided to take a Gift Picks list. ... The New York Times me. Wow! I still can’t fresh angle on the selected The Collected Essays of believe it. story; I simply made Elizabeth Hardiwick, selected and with an Literary License: You did more than the decision to report and write this as if introduction by Darryl Pinckney, as one four years of research. What was the most every detail of his life needed to be of its Notable Books for 2017. ... After significant new information you ran checked out and nothing could be taken writing a November Literary License col- across? for granted. I conducted hundreds of umn on her new book, White Like Her, interviews. I tracked down every piece of Gail Lukasik wrote an essay for the Jonathan Eig: That’s a tough one. I paper I could think of tracking down. Washington Post headlined, “My mother discovered Ali took about 200,000 punch- That’s how I discovered, for example, that spent her life passing as white. es. I discovered he began showing signs Ali’s grandfather was a convicted murder- Discovering her secret changed my view of brain damage in 1970, at the midway er. It was fairly easy to find, but no one of race – and me.” Also, she had an arti- point of his career. I discovered he had ever looked. I don’t think Ali knew cle published in The Daily Beast, head- divorced his first wife because the Nation about it, in fact. lined: “My mother passed as white – even of Islam told him to (and it broke his to me.”... Patrick Reardon wrote “At heart). I discovered Ali had FBI inform- Literary License: Joyce Carol Oates McDonald’s, I find the small communi- ants in his training camp. I discovered he wrote that if anything in this book is likely ties that make up America” for the Dec. 8 failed a drug test after one fight. I discov- to be controversial, it is your acknowledg- Chicago Sun-Times. ... Jonathan Eig’s ered he regretted saying he never had any ment of boxing’s dark side. Is that a fair Ali: A Life was nominated for Outstand- quarrel with the Vietcong. I don’t know assessment? ing Literary Work – Biography/ what’s most significant. Jonathan Eig: I was surprised she did- Autobiography in the NAACP’s 49th Literary License: What were the hard- n’t mention Ali’s sex life, but I guess Image Awards. ... Kathy Stevenson est interviews to get, and how did you get that’s not all that controversial. It’s dis- tweets to say, “Every poem I read teaches them? turbing. It’s outrageous. It’s sordid. me something new about how to write a Jonathan Eig: Don King was probably “Controversial” ranks lower on the list of poem.” ... Fatal Throne: The Wives of my toughest get. But Ali’s wives weren’t adjectives. And, yes, I guess I do leave Henry VIII Tell All by SMA award winner easy. George Foreman wasn’t easy. Larry the reader with a pretty dark view of box- Holmes wasn’t easy. Louis Farrakhan was ing. The truth hurts. Turn to Page 4

LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 3 Biblio File cussed Jack’s new book The Goat Fish II, it was kind of the Golden Age of the Continued from Page 3 and the Lover’s Knot on therumpus.net. Midwest. You had a lot of very active Patricia also had an interview with Rick writers in the region.” ... Lori Andrews Candace Fleming and six other authors, Kogan in October on WGN about her reported in November on a study she did will come out in May. ... On Jan. 1, book, and a recent interview with Daniel with students that found that 77 percent of James Schwab will be the new chair- French of French and Friends on WCGO. diabetes apps and 69 percent of bipolar elect of the American Planning ... Richard Lindberg, Timuel Black, disorder apps share users’ information Association’s Hazard Mitigation and Craig Sautter, Dominic Pacyga and Ann with data analytics and marketing compa- Disaster Recovery Planning Division. The Durkin Keating were among the experts nies. ... On Jan. 18, Richard Cahan and chair-elect basically serves a two-year the Chicago Sun-Times consulted for its Michael Williams will present “Richard term before ascending to the chair posi- Illinois Bicentennial coverage. ... John Nickel: Dangerous Years – Architectural tion. Jim also contributed a section of Grisham said Scott Turow’s Presumed Preservation in Chicago” for the Wood- Chapter 3 in a new book from CRC Innocent inspired him to complete his stock (Illinois) Fine Arts Association’s Press, Living with Climate Change: How first novel, so he tries to be kind and Creative Living Series. ... On Nov. 19, Communities Are Surviving and Thriving encouraging to up-and-coming authors, Susan Croce Kelly wrote “Travel back in in a Changing Climate, edited by Jane A. the Oct. 31 Wichita Eagle reported. ... time along the Trail of Tears” for Lake Bullock, George D. Haddow, Kim S. This year’s annual Illinois Emerging (Lake of the Ozarks) Lifestyles magazine. Haddow and Damon P. Coppola. His Writers Competition was co-sponsored ... The Dec 9. Illinois Times referred to essay is titled, “Planning and Climate for the 13th year in a row by Kevin Stein. reporting Taylor Pensoneau had done in Change: Creating Resilience in U.S. It's one of six major initiatives he created the 1960s and ’70s. His comments on the Communities.” ... One of Craig and sustained over his 14 years as Illinois conduct of some former members of the Sautter’s short stories, “Moving Day,” Poet Laureate. He stepped down from the Illinois General Assembly were taken from appears in Chicago Quarterly Review post in December. ... Helen Frost, author transcripts of interviews with him taped in #26, Winter 2017-18. ... Megan of SALT: A Story of Friendship in a Time 2009 by Mark DePue, director of oral his- Stielstra’s The Wrong Way to Save Your of War, and Dani Tippmann, member of tory at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Life won the 2017 Chicago Review of the Miami Tribe, presented a program Library in Springfield. ... The Oct. 24 Books Award for Best Nonfiction. Also, Nov. 16 at the Alexandria-Monroe Science Magazine blog said Ted Anton’s Megan read from her work Nov. 30 at the (Indiana) Intermediate School. The stu- Planet of Microbes “shows us that, in of the College of DuPage (Illinois) dents had read SALT, and the presenters reality, science follows a circuitous path Writers Read series. ... Bonnie Jo gave them background information about and is very much affected by human Campbell is serving as a finalist judge life in Indiana in 1812. ... The Nov. 16 St. foibles.” The Oct. 11 issue of Nature for the 2018 Erma Bombeck Writing Louis Post-Dispatch did a Q&A on Meet called it “a captivating narrative.” ... The Competition, co-sponsored by the Cindy Sherman by Jan Greenberg and Nov. 23 Chicago Tribune quoted Timothy University of Dayton and the Sandra Jordan (See Literary License, Gilfoyle in an obit on architect Ed Uhlir. Washington-Centerville Public Library. September/October 2017). ... Kathie ... The University of Texas’ Daily Texan Also, the movie Giorgio’s In Grace’s Time was among the said Vi Khi Nao’s Fish in Exile is one of Once Upon a River, titles the Nov. 24 Milwaukee Journal “five books you won't be able to put based on Bonnie’s Sentinel chose for “75 books for holiday down this winter break.”... Next summer, book, was just filmed gift giving in 2017.” ... Door County Rebecca Johns-Trissler will lead DePaul in Antioch, Illinois. Magazine’s winter issue includes a short University students on a two-week Harry The director was edit- story by Patricia Skalka. ... Tyehimba Potter-themed study to England and ing it in December. ... Jess will appear in March at Seattle Arts Scotland. ... The Oct. 29 Columbia The Library Journal & Lectures and at the 2018 Virginia (Missouri) Daily Tribune profiled Steve named Kathleen Festival of the Books, also in March. ... Wiegenstein. Steve also had an article Rooney’s Lillian Mary Wisniewski Kim Scipes spent eight weeks last sum- scheduled for Dec. 18 in Publishers Boxfish Takes a Walk mer teaching at Ton Duc Thang Univer- Weekly about “the historical novelist in a a Notable Book of 2017. ... On Nov. 22, sity in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, and time of trouble.” ... Correction: In Mary Wisniewski and Rick Kogan dis- he will return this summer. ... The Nov. 8 Grace's Time is Kathie Giorgio’s fourth cussed Algren: A Life on Chicago’s Indianapolis Monthly ran a Q&A with Jon novel and seventh book overall. WGN-Radio. ... On Nov. 24, Patricia Lauck in which he said, “In the years after Follow Biblio File on Twitter Ann McNair and Jack Driscoll dis- the Civil War, up until about World War @BiblioFile_SMA.

Literary Largess needs additional money for programs Amato, Charles Billington, Ann Durkin such as the awards at the annual May Keating, Thomas J. Gradel, Cynthia Dues cover mailings and other organi- book awards banquet, which this year will Rademacher and John Raffensperger, zational expenses, but the Society always be held on May 8. Thanks to Theresa who made recent contributions. 4 LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 ‘Of course, Algren’s answer was yes’ This is Part 22 of the history of the Society. Nelson elson Algren participated in an Algren SMA debate in January 1954, revealed Nanswering the question: “Should his skepti- Authors Write About Dubious cal view of Characters?” Chicago's Of course, Algren's answer was yes, and mid-20th- he had another debater on his side, century lit- Herman Kogan. erary scene Algren began the discussion by para- in 1961, phrasing the reason mountaineer George when he Mallory had supposedly given for trying wrote a to climb Mount Everest: “Because they new after- are there,” he said. word to Here is how Fanny Butcher summed Chicago: up Algren's argument in her Tribune City on the report about the debate: Make. “Man today is harassed by the shadows within him, Algren said, and it is the part of the author to play physician to those shadows. Today Americans are confused, Books which make them the whole are, suffering from an underlying sickness of he declared, twisted and distorted concep- Man today is the time. There never tions. He believes man harassed by the shadows was a people who lived can be lured to a better “ so tidily in psychologi- Literary future and, with the within him, Algren said, cal disorder, he said, or tremendous power with such a superfluity Lore which books have, it is and it is the part of the of luxuries and such a the duty of the author author to play physician dearth of emotional Robert to present life whole.” ones. There is no Algren would reveal to those shadows. means of reporting the Loerzel his skeptical view of American century Chicago's mid-20th- “For Algren, the decision was as much without pointing to century literary scene ” a question of constitution as it was of those facts, he said.” in 1961, when he wrote a new afterward rational choice, and he paid for it dearly,” For his part, Kogan warned that objec- to Chicago: City on the Make. Alluding to Asher wrote. “America has always been tions about dubious characters could H.L. Mencken's 1920 observation that able to countenance beggars, short-con lead to censorship. every American writer of stature men, and nine-to-fivers who just can't get Facing off against Algren and came up through Chicago, Algren ahead, but we've never known what to do Kogan were Louis Binstock, wrote: “God help the poor joker with the type of person who could have author of The Power of Faith, who comes up through Old been really big but chose not to make the and Preston Bradley, a civic- Seesaw Chicago today.” concessions required." minded minister (and SMA Like so many Chicago writ- Algren lived much of his life in and member) who was known for ers before him, Algren eventu- around Chicago's Polish Triangle, at his radio broadcasts. ally left the city, moving to Division Street, Ashland Avenue and Butcher reported: “Dr. Paterson, New Jersey, in 1975 as Milwaukee Avenue. Bradley said that if he agreed he sank into obscurity. with Nelson Algren's diagnosis of “At the height of his career, A fountain in the triangle is named after man today he would have to wealth, leisure, and the lasting Algren and inscribed with a quote from Preston Bradley believe that we are all victims respect of his peers were on offer, Chicago: City on the Make: “For the of a great cosmic jest, that there but Algren shrugged at those masses who do the city's labor also keep has been and can be no progress of man. prospects and kept going his own way,” the city’s heart.” Viciousness and corruption are about us, Colin Asher wrote in The Believer in Algren was inducted into the Chicago he said, but they are not the whole of life. 2013. Literary Hall of Fame in 2010.

LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 5 Literary Latest year-old Cedar Hawk Songmaker, adopt- ed daughter of a pair of big-hearted, open-minded Minneapolis liberals, is as disturbed and uncertain as the rest of America around her. But for Cedar, this change is profound and deeply personal. She is four months pregnant. Though she

Stoltmann, who is an investor advocacy lawyer representing people who've been fleeced by brokers and agents, ‘A WONDERFUL LOOK’ approached me to do the book. Since my day job is writing about investor protec- The Language of Trees (Blank Slate tion for my popular Forbes.com blog Press, Sept. 26, 2017) is the third book by ‘Bamboozlement,’ I'd Steve Wiegenstein (See New Members, been covering the wants to tell the adoptive parents who Page 11). subject for years, but raised her from infancy, Cedar first feels From Blank Slate Press: “The inhabi- no one had actually compelled to find her birth mother, Mary tants of Daybreak, a quiet 19th century written a book telling Potts, an Ojibwe living on the reserva- utopian community, are courted by a people what to do if tion, to understand both her and her powerful lumber and mining trust and they had been ripped baby’s origins. As Cedar goes back to her must search their souls as the lure of sud- off. own biological den wealth tests ideals that to some now “So the book goes beginnings, society seem antique. And the courtship isn't just John Wasik into granular detail of around her begins to financial. Love, lust, deception, ambition, people like Bulls star disintegrate, fueled violence, repentance, and reconciliation Horace Grant who've been defrauded – by a swelling panic abound as the citizens of Daybreak try to and how they got their money back. It about the end of live out oft-scorned values in a world that also tells readers how they can avoid get-

MMEL humanity. There are is changing around them with terrifying ting taken to the cleaners on everything E rumors of martial AUL speed.” from annuities to mutual funds.” P law, of Congress con- A review by the Historical Novel fining pregnant ‘MASTERFUL’ Louise Erdrich Society called The Language of Trees “a women. Of a registry, wonderful look at human greed and love, SMA 2017 award winner Louise and rewards for those who turn these nature and progress, idealism and reali- Erdrich’s new book, Future Home of the wanted women in.” ties.” Living God (Harper Books, Nov. 14, The Chicago Tribune wrote, “A page- ADVICE ON AVOIDING SWINDLES 2017) is, wrote Booklist, “Masterful…a turner ... with lucid language and gripping breakout work of speculative fiction.” scenes. ... Among the book’s many strengths John Wasik’s 16th book is Waging The New York Times named it one of the are its urgency and suspense as well as the War on Wall Street: My Battles Suing Notable Books of 2017. immediacy of its voice. ... Erdrich’s sense Banks and Brokerage Firms – And How From Harper: “The world as we know it of humor manages to make the darkness You Can Win, Too (Alpine Press), which is ending. Evolution has reversed itself, fresh and plausible. ... She applies her he co-authored with investor advocate affecting every living creature on Earth. stinging perspective to remind readers Andrew Stoltmann. The book explores Science cannot stop the world from run- how much has happened, how much broker and agent swindles and how ning backward, as woman after woman keeps happening and how far humans investors can avoid them. gives birth to infants that appear to be have yet to go.” Wasik writes to say, “Andrew primitive species of humans. Thirty-two- Turn to Page 7

6 LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 Literary Latest artists’ addiction to ‘create.’ Taking the hits ing, I knew I had to share her story with and getting up for another round. Oddly young readers.” Continued from Page 6 for most artists those hits feel real good.” Kirkus Reviews wrote, “Slade tells the purposively inspiring story with a poetic flair.” In Astronaut Annie, Career Day is approaching, and Annie can’t wait to show her family what she’s planning to be when she grows up. But, she must keep it a secret until Friday. So curious family members each ask Annie for a clue. Convinced that she’ll be a news reporter like he once was, Grandpop gives her his old camera to use for her presentation. Grandma is sure Annie wants to be a champion baker like her, so she offers a mixing bowl and oven mitts. ‘RAW, NO-FILTER’ MEMOIR Hopeful she'll become the mountain climber he aspired to be, Dad gives Annie Billy McCarthy’s new memoir, Beat a backpack. Mom presents Annie with a Me 'Til I'm Famous (CreateSpace, July pair of high-top sneakers to pursue 20, 2017), tells how he left his south Mom's favorite sport, basketball. Annie Chicago suburb for the Sunset Strip to cleverly use all the become a rock star. gifts to create her According to the book description, Beat Career Day costume. Me 'Til I'm Famous is a “no-punches- When the big day pulled memoir that sucks you in like the arrives, Annie finally Hollywood dream it describes. ... [It’s] a reveals her out-of- raw, no-filter picture of the Hollywood this-world dream. rock scene at the height of its heyday – TWO NEW BOOKS Of Astronaut and what awaits an artist after fame Annie, Slade writes, fades.” Suzanne Slade has two new books: “Science and math Suzanne Slade McCarthy tells Literary License, “I Dangerous Jane (Peachtree Publishers, were always my wrote Beat Me 'Til I'm Famous because I Sept. 1, 2017) and Astronaut Annie favorite subjects in school. In college I knew, although this is my book, I believe (Tilbury House Publishers, March 6, studied mechanical engineering (and later this is every artist's story. 2018). worked on Delta and Titan rockets at “Beat Me ‘Til I'm Famous goes beyond Dangerous Jane is a picture book biog- McDonnell Douglas in California). Being my music and drumming days alongside raphy that shares the shocking, little- a science nerd, I know first-hand how colleagues and former bandmates in known story of how the FBI named Jane that path can be challenging for women Motley Crue, Poison, Guns N’ Roses and Addams, a member of the Society of to pursue. many other hair band maniacs in the Midland Authors, “the Most Dangerous “I decided to write Astronaut Annie to 1980s on the Sunset Strip. Woman in America,” yet she went on to encourage young readers to pursue their “It's the legendary British actor who become the first American woman to win passions and dreams, no matter what oth- was suddenly resorting to Hollywood B- the Nobel Peace Prize. ers may say. I also like how the main films. Rodney Dangerfield and his neigh- Slade writes, “Living near Chicago, I character, Annie, cleverly uses the gifts bor, author Robert Ludlum, and all at grew up knowing about Jane Addams and from her well-intentioned family mem- once I'm living in Westport, Connecticut. the wonderful work she did at Hull bers to create a costume for her dream job The Dangerfields and Ludlums would House. Recently I discovered Jane for her upcoming career day at school. play a very odd connection post my Addams was the first American woman to “I'm thrilled the book is illustrated by music days in Hollywood and lead me win the Nobel Peace Prize, and was sur- the fabulous Nicole Tadgell, who I into Austin, Texas, well into the mid '90s prised I didn't know that amazing fact. enjoyed collaborating with on previous and then eventually back to my home- Intrigued, I did a little research and found books: Friends for Freedom: The Story of town here in Chicago. out the FBI had named Jane “the Most Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglass “I would say besides the sex, drugs and Dangerous Woman in America” before (Charlesbridge) and With Books and dysfunctionality in Beat Me ’Til I'm Fa- she won her Nobel Prize. That turn of Bricks: How Booker T. Washington Built mous the underlying theme is about sur- events was so ironic, and her incredible a School (Albert Whitman). viving the addiction on a daily basis: the story of bravery and persistence so inspir- Turn to Page 8

LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 7 Literary Latest line and my grandmother had no choice but to walk home through the chaos. She Continued from Page 7 was scared out of her mind. “Flash forward to a few years ago. The ‘WELL-DOCUMENTED TEXT’ news was (and still is) filled with stories of racial tension around the country. This A Few Red Drops (Clarion Books, Jan. called up the memory of my grandmoth- 2, 2018) is Claire Hartfield’s new book. er's story. I wondered how we are the From Clarion: “On a hot day in July same, how we have made progress. As I 1919, five black youths went swimming researched what went wrong in 1919, I in Lake Michigan, unintentionally float- saw the opportunity to share with readers ing close to the ‘white’ beach. An angry a larger context for sorting through our white man began throwing stones at the current problems. I hope the book will boys, striking and killing one. Racial con- me about her experience as a young energize readers to engage in conversa- flict on the beach erupted into days of woman, recently moved from New tion and to take action toward a better urban violence that shook the city of Orleans to Chicago in summer 1919. She future.” Chicago to its foundations. This mesmer- got herself an apartment in the black Booklist wrote, “This well-documented izing narrative draws on contemporary community and a factory job in the indus- text outlines the events leading to the race accounts as it traces the roots of the trial community. One afternoon, as she riot in Chicago in the summer of 1919. ... explosion that had been building for rode the streetcar home from work, she This solid entry covers a topic not often decades in race relations, politics, busi- saw mobs of white and black men in the mentioned in YA literature, and will sup- ness, and clashes of culture.” streets, fighting and throwing rocks at the port researchers looking for balanced Hartfield tells Literary License: “I was streetcar. The driver, eager to get out of coverage for history, civil rights, and eco- inspired by a story my grandmother told danger, drove nonstop to the end of the nomics reports.”

8 LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 9 An evening of picking ‘Poison’ uthors and readers showed up for the social hour Nov. 14 at the ACliff Dwellers Club in Chicago before Cheryl Reed presented her pro- gram on her new book, Poison Girls. The Society does not present a December program, but will do so in January when the action moves to the Harold Washington Library Center, 400 S. State, Chicago. After that 6 p.m. program, which will feature Jonathan Eig, the SMA will spon- sor a free get-together with free hors d’oeurves at the nearby Plymouth Grill. From left: Regan Burke, former SMA Treasurer Robert Remer and longtime All Society members are invited to both SMA Member Shirley Haas. (Photos by Thomas Frisbie) events.

From left: SMA Archivist Walter SMA Board Member Allen Salter (left) Program presenter Cheryl Reed (left) Podrazik, Gunter Nitsch and Mary talks with Mahmoud Saeed. and Robert K. Elder, who presented Nitsch. the Society’s Jan. 10 program.

RIGHT: SMA Treasurer Jim Schwab and former SMA President Richard Frisbie. FAR RIGHT: SMA Board Member Allen Salter and Kenneth Benson.

10 LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 New Members She has a master's degree from DePaul ing, most recently, Akashic Books, The University and a Ph.D. from the Blotter, Gargoyle, The Atherton Review, James Walker is author or co-author of University of Illinois at Chicago. and skirt!magazine. Her story, “Once I five books: Crack of the Bat: A History of SMA Member Jeffrey Gusfield wrote Had a Bunch of Thyme,” won honors at Baseball on the Radio (University of of Ugly Prey, “An elegantly researched the Carnegie Center in Lexington, Nebraska Press, 2015); Center Field Shot: and beautifully written example of inves- Kentucky. The Last Cadillac is a 2017 A History of Baseball on Television (Bison tigative journalism. Sabella Nitti’s story is Eric Hoffer award winner in the memoir Books, 2008); The Broadcast Television a cracking-good mystery. It’s a monument category. Industry (Allyn and Bacon, 1997); to Jazz-era misogyny, true crime, She was nominated by Kathleen Television and the Remote Control: women’s rights, immigrant prejudice, and Rooney. Grazing on a Vast Wasteland (Guilford, the brutal inequities in the system of Wilfredo Cruz, an associate professor 1996), and The Remote jurisprudence in 1920s Chicago.” of sociology at Columbia College Control in the New She was nominated by Thomas Frisbie Chicago, is author of City of Dreams: Media Environment and Craig Sautter. Latino Immigration to Chicago (Praeger, 1993). Steve Wiegenstein is the author of the (University Press of America, 2007); Walker is a professor novels Slant of Light (Blank Slate Press, Puerto Rican Chicago (Arcadia, 2004); emeritus and former 2012), This Old World (Blank Slate Press, Chicago Latinos at Work (Arcadia, 2010), chair of the Depart- 2014) and The Language of Trees (Blank and Old Irving Park (Arcadia, 2013). He ment of Communi- Slate Press, 2017). is currently writing a book on Latino poli- cation at Saint Xavier Slant of Light was tics in Chicago. University in Chicago James Walker the runner-up for the He was honored with a Hispanic and the executive David J. Langum Prize Author’s Award Certificate of director of the International Association in American Historical Achievement from Illinois Secretary of for Communication and Sport. Fiction, and This Old State Jesse White, who also acts the head SMA Member Jonathan Eig wrote, World was a shortlist- of the Illinois State Library. “Center Field Shot is a winner. It’s smart, ed finalist for the A former reporter for the Chicago crisply written, and packed with eye- M.M. Bennetts Award Reporter, Cruz was an assistant press sec- opening research and analysis. I learned in Historical Fiction. retary for the late Chicago Mayor Harold something new on every page. Turn off Wiegenstein grew up Steve Washington, and is the former director of the TV and start reading. I guarantee in the Missouri Ozarks Wiegenstein the Office of Public Information for the you’ll be glad you did.” and worked there as a Chicago Public Library. He has published Walker was nominated by Dominic newspaper reporter before entering the numerous articles on education, health, Pacyga. field of higher education. He now lives in police brutality, politics, and community Columbia, Missouri. organizing. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi is the author He was nominated by Christine He was nominated by Dominic Pacyga. of Ugly Prey: An Innocent Woman and Taylor-Butler. the Death Sentence That Scandalized Jazz Jarice Hanson, a professor of Age Chicago (Chicago Review Press, Nancy Nau Sullivan author of The Last Communication at the University of May 1, 2017), which tells the story of a Cadillac: A Memoir (Walrus Publishing, Massachusetts, poor Italian immigrant sentenced to hang 2016) has worked as a newspaper journal- Amherst, and former in Chicago for the ist, teacher, and most recently, as a Verizon Chair in murder of her missing University English Specialist in the Peace Telecommunications at husband. Corps in Mexico. She also taught English the School of She has written in Chicago, Argentina Communications and numerous articles for and at a boys’ prison Theater at Temple the Chicago Tribune, in Florida. In 2004, University in the New York Times, she was named Philadelphia, has writ- the Los Angeles Times Teacher of the Year ten or edited 28 books Jarice Hanson and other publications. from Florida by the in the field of media. Emilie LeBeau Her work has also Correctional Education Among them are The Social Media Lucchesi appeared in Association. Revolution: An Economic Encyclopedia of CountryLiving.com, Sullivan earned a Friending, Following, Texting, and MarieClaire.com, and GoodHouse- master’s degree in Nancy Nau Connection (ABC/CLIO/Greenwood keeping.com. On. Nov. 21, she wrote a journalism from Sullivan Press, 2016); How the Internet and Cell story in the New York Times about the Marquette University. Phones Change The Way We Live, Work, psychology of a mall stampede on Black Her writing has appeared in literary jour- and Play (Westport, 2007), and Friday. nals, magazines, and newspapers, includ- Turn to Page 12

LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018 11 New Members gotten residents, and she has joined the nomics reports.” board of the Society of Midland Authors. She was nominated by Ronne Continued from Page 11 Kirkus Reviews called A Ring of Truth Hartfield. Connections: Technologies of “An engaging and effective romp rich Communication (HarperCollins, 1994). with historical details.” Susan Azar Porterfield, a distin- She earned her undergraduate degree in She was nominated by Iris Waichler. guished professor emerita of English at media studies at Northeastern Illinois Rockford College, writes poetry and University and her M.A. and Ph.D. at Claire Hartfield, author of Me and essays about poetical matters. She is Northwestern University and worked for Uncle Romie (Dial Books, 2002) and the author of Dirt, Root, Silk (Cider Press, WBBM-TV in Chicago. forthcoming A Few Red Drops: The 2016), In the Garden of Our Spines She was nominated by Bernie Chicago Race Riot of (Mayapple Press, Brommel. 1919 (Clarion Books, 2004), the chapbook 2018), received her Beirut Redux Michelle Cox, the award-winning B.A from Yale (Finishing Line Press, author of A Ring of Truth (She Writes University and her law 2008) and Kibbe Press, April 4, 2017), degree from the (Mayapple Press, A Girl Like You (She University of Chicago. 2012). Writes Press, 2016) She is a senior educa- She also edited Zen, and the forthcoming A tion consultant, served Poetry, the Art of Promise Given (She as counsel for Chicago Susan Azar Lucien Stryk (Ohio Claire Hartfield Writes Press, April 24, in school desegrega- Porterfield University Press) and 2018), holds a B.A. in tion litigation and has has written on Stryk English literature from led an education nonprofit. for Poets & Writers and AWP's The Mundelein College, Booklist said of A Few Red Drops, Writer's Chronicle. She received an Chicago. “This solid entry covers a topic not often Illinois Arts Grant for poetry and a Cider Michelle Cox Cox also writes mentioned in YA literature, and will sup- Press Review Editor's Prize. “Novel Notes of Local port researchers looking for balanced cov- She was nominated by Thomas Lore,” a blog dedicated to Chicago’s for- erage for history, civil rights, and eco- Frisbie.

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LITERARY LICENSE, DECEMBER 2017/JANUARY 2018

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