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.