Good morning writers! For someone encouraging y’all to get out, I certainly spent a good deal of time in last week. After seeing Anne Carson perform her essay last Saturday, I skipped the concert and spent Saturday night reading her Autobiography of Red. I cannot begin to describe how much I love this book.
Last night, like most of you, I was glued to the TV. Did anyone attend Obamapolooza? McCain gave a wonderfully gracious concession speech, and the mood all across Chicago is one of relief and of hope. I was struck by the fact that when I woke up this morning, everyone seems to be cleaning. My street is being swept, and both my apartment building and office building are being power-washed today. It seems America is ready to once more be the beacon of hope we all knew she could be. It’s a whole new world children, and it’s a shiny one.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch…
Wednesday, November 5th
The Fiction Writing Department at Columbia College Chicago is calling for local writers and artists to volunteer for a MARATHON READING of On The Road on Wednesday, November 5th from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Volunteers will be asked to publicly read one section of the novel with 10-15 minute slots for each reader. Unfortunately, since each reader will need to pick up where the previous reader left off, there will be no way to assign specific sections. Contact Susan Babyk at to volunteer.
Through November 26th, the Gallery at Columbia Book & Paper Center is offering visitors the rare opportunity to see the original draft of On the Road, containing Kerouac’s own edits in pencil. This manuscript is a continuous scroll of semi-translucent paper, 120 feet long by 9 inches wide, that Kerouac created to feed through his typewriter without interruption. It was produced by Kerouac in a three-week writing marathon in April 1951.
Gallery hours have been extended for the Jack Kerouac: On the Road exhibition—Monday-Friday, 12 - 7pm and Saturday-Sunday, 12 - 5pm. The Gallery is located at 1104 S. Wabash, 2nd floor. It is free and open to the public. You can find more information here.
Also Wednesday, November 5th at Columbia College
John Murillo, Aimee Nezhukumatathil, and Robyn Schiff will read next in the Music Center Concert Hall (1014 S. Michigan) at 5:30 p.m.
Nov 7: Poetry & Chicago Convocation
12pm at Loyola University
Lake Shore Campus in Rogers Park
FEATURING TALKS & READINGS BY:
Lisa Fishman, poetry & farming
Jennifer Karmin, poetry & activism
John Keene, poetry & collaboration
Quraysh Ali Lansana, poetry & history
Robyn Schiff, poetry & publishing
Abraham Smith, poetry & performance
The event is free and open to the public
Lunch will be served between the poets’ brief talks and readings
Hosted by Loyola University Chicago
in the Multi-Purpose Room of the Simpson Living Learning Center
on Sheridan Boulevard at the corner of Winthrop & Sheridan
two blocks from the Loyola train station on the CTA Red Line
LISA FISHMAN is the author of several books, most recently Dear Read and The Happiness Experiment (both from Ahsahta Press). She lives in rural Wisconsin and Chicago and is Assistant Professor at Columbia College Chicago.
JENNIFER KARMIN’s Aaaaaaaaaaalice cantos are anthologized in A Sing Economy (Flim Forum Press). She teaches creative writing to immigrants at Truman College, works as a Poet-in-Residence for the Chicago Public Schools, and presents her public art projects nationally.
JOHN KEENE is the author of Annotations (New Directions) and Seismosis(with Christopher Stackhouse / 1913 Press). He lives in Chicago and is Associate Professor at Northwestern University.
QURAYSH ALI LANSANA is the author of several books including They Shall Run--Harriet Tubman Poems and southside rain (both from Third World Press). He directs the Gwendolyn Brooks Center and teaches at Chicago State University.
ROBYN SCHIFF is the author of Worth and Revolver (both from U of Iowa Press). She lives in Iowa City where she directs the undergraduate creative writing program a the University of Iowa.
ABRAHAM SMITH is the author of Whim Man Mammon (Action Books) and teaches at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Tuesday, November 11
QUICKIES!
A monthly reading of very short prose. Each reader has five minutes to read a complete work of prose. No excerpts. No cheating. Quickies! takes place on the second Tuesday of every month at the Innertown Pub in Chicago.
This month we are featuring an all-female line up!
featuring:
Lauren Pretnar
Marisa Plumb
Kelly Xintaris
Amy Stern
Beth Wylder
Erin Teegarden
and Jessi Lee Gaylord
7:30 pm
The Innertown Pub
1935 W Thomas
For more information contact Mary Hamilton or Lindsay Hunter at or check out their “ title="website.">website.
