Chicago Writers Podcast

Adam Morgan, Founder of the Chicago Review of Books, and Todd Van Luling, Incoming Editor-in-Chief, on writing great book reviews, bylines, getting started with cultural criticism, and how good can be better than perfect. Chicago Review of Books https://chireviewofbooks.com/ Adam Morgan on Twitter https://twitter.com/adamm0rgan Todd Van Luling on Twitter https://twitter.com/toddvanluling ChicagoWritersPodcast.com

In this special live episode, StoryStudio's Jen Coffeen and I talk with author Michael Zapata aboutexiles, finding inspiration in oral and Latin American traditions, writing books within books, publishing unconventional work, and throwing a manuscript into a volcano. Purchase THE LOST BOOK OF ADANA MOREAU at https://bookshop.org/books/the-lost-book-of-adana-moreau/9781335010124 and find Michael Zapata at http://www.michaelzapata.com/ and on Twitter @mikezapata01 You can find Jen Coffeen on Twitter at @jencoffeen and the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter at @chiwripodcast

In this episode we talk with Adam Shafer, author, and Emily Victorson, editor and publisher, about small presses, historical fiction, finding a home for your manuscript, and Allium Press rescuing Chicago from Capone. Adam Shafer can be found athttps://www.adamjshafer.com/and Alium Press can be found at https://alliumpress.com/as well as on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter as alliumpress. Follow the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter @ChiWriPodcast

In this episode, we talk with Suzy Takacs, founder of the Book Cellar, about indie bookstores, choosing what to sell, how authors can work with their local shops, deciding what stays on the shelf, and how to have a great launch event.

You can find the Book Cellar and information about their online events at https://www.bookcellarinc.com/

Follow the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter @ChiWriPodcast

In this episode, we talk with Ian Belknap, performer and essayist, on compelling yourself to write, founding Write Club, why you should speak your work aloud, respecting time, finding humor in the darkness, and being kind to yourself

You can find Ian Belknap online at ianbelknap.com and on Twitter @writeclubrules

Follow the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter @ChiWriPodcast

In this episode, we talk with local legend Rebecca Makkai about networking, building a career as an author, the role of plot in literary fiction, and why everyone should read out loud to a room full of unruly ten-year-olds. Rebecca Makkai can be found online at http://rebeccamakkai.com/and on Twitter at @rebeccamakkai Follow the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter @ChiWriPodcast

In this episode, we chat with Dr. Amina Gautier, author of three short story collections as well as over one hundred published stories. We discuss defying tropes in character descriptions, using images for inspiration, form following function, choosing scene over summary, and keeping your promises to the reader. The Loss of All Lost Thingshttps://bookshop.org/books/the-loss-of-all-lost-things-stories/9781932418569 You can find Dr. Gautier and all her other books and stories at https://aminagautier.wordpress.com/ https://www.facebook.com/aminagautierwordsmith/ Twitter @DrAminaGautier Follow the Chicago Writers Podcast on Twitter @ChiWriPodcast

This episode features a conversation with Chicago author Amelia Brunskill about the road to publication, pacing, building mysteries, selecting advice, and how to make sure this time it's (actually) personal. Find Amelia Brunskill online and order her book THE WINDOW at https://ameliabrunskill.com/

This episode features a conversation with Scott Whitehair about storytelling in Chicago, vulnerability, daydreaming, and what writers can learn from performing on the stage. Scott’s Websitehttp://www.scottwhitehair.com/ This Much is Truehttp://www.thismuchistruechicago.com/ Story Labhttp://www.storylabchicago.com/ Do Not Submithttp://www.donotsubmitchicago.com/ The Chicago Writers Podcast can be found at chicagowriterspodcast.comand on Twitter at @ChiWriPodcast.

In this episode, Michelle Falkoff, author of Playlist for the Dead, Pushing Perfect, and Questions I Want to Ask You discusses writing YA, the need for persistence in building a career, and how to find a quality support network. Michelle’s website ishttp://michellefalkoff.com/and her books can be ordered at the links below: Questions I Want to Ask You https://bookshop.org/books/questions-i-want-to-ask-you/9780062680235 Playlist for the Dead https://bookshop.org/books/playlist-for-the-dead/9780062310514 Pushing Perfect https://bookshop.org/books/pushing-perfect/9780062310545 The Chicago Writers Podcast can be found at chicagowriterspodcast.comand on Twitter at @ChiWriPodcast.