This annual literary festival, presented by the Columbia College fiction-writing department and now in its seventh year, features readings, conversations, and panel discussions with local and national authors under the theme “In Search of the American Story.” Events run Saturday, March 22, through Friday, March 28, at the venues and times noted below; all are free. For more information call 312-344-7611.
Saturday, March 22
Story Workshop and Hair Trigger Birthday Bash
Columbia College’s Story Workshop turns 35 and Hair Trigger, the school’s anthology of student writing, celebrates its 25th year; followed by a reading by novelist Cris Burks (SilkyDreamGirl) and an open mike. Adventurers’ Club, 555 N. Franklin. 6 PM.
Sunday, March 23
Stephen Harrigan
Reading and conversation with the screenwriter and novelist (The Gates of the Alamo). Sulzer Regional Library, Lerner Auditorium, 4455 N. Lincoln. 2 PM.
Monday, March 24
Cris Burks
Conversation with the novelist (SilkyDreamGirl). Columbia College, 11th-floor faculty lounge, 624 S. Michigan. 11 AM.
Faculty Reading
Featuring Mort Castle (Nations of the Living, Nations of the Dead), Phyllis Eisenstein (The City in Stone), Zora Neale Hurston scholar Claire Shulman, and others. Columbia College, Hokin Annex, 623 S. Wabash. 2 PM.
Faculty Reading
Featuring fiction-writing department chair Randall Albers and professors emeriti John Schultz and Betty Shiflett. Columbia College, Hokin Annex, 623 S. Wabash. 7 PM.
Tuesday, March 25
Dennis Lehane
See Critic’s Choice. Columbia College, residence hall, 731 S. Plymouth Court. 2 PM.
“Publishing Panel”
Discussion with agent Jenny Bent, Seventeen editor Jennifer Braunschweiger, Random House senior editor Ed Kastenmeier, novelists Dennis Lehane (see Critic’s Choice) and Zak Mucha (The Beggars’ Shore), and Akashic Books publisher Johnny Temple; moderated by writer Shawn Shiflett. Columbia College, residence hall, 731 S. Plymouth Court. 3:30 PM.
Stephen Harrigan
The novelist signs The Gates of the Alamo, followed by a reading at 7 PM. Harold Washington Library Center, auditorium, 400 S. State. 6 PM.
Ray Bradbury
Video interview with the noted sci-fi writer, presented by authorized Bradbury
biographer Sam Weller. Harold Washington Library Center, auditorium, 400 S. State. 7 PM.
Wednesday, March 26
Conversation With the Authors
Featuring novelists Elizabeth Berg (Open House) and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni (The Vine of Desire). Harold Washington Library Center, multipurpose room, 400 S. State. 2 PM.
Elizabeth Berg and Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni
Book signings, followed by readings at 7 PM. Harold Washington Library Center, auditorium, 400 S. State. 6 PM.
“In Search of the American Story”
Roundtable with novelists Elizabeth Berg, Don De Grazia (American Skin), Junot Diaz (Drown), Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, Stephen Harrigan, and Irvine Welsh (Porno); moderated by John Schultz (The Chicago Conspiracy Trial). Harold Washington Library Center, auditorium, 400 S. State. 8:30 PM.
Thursday, March 27
Conversation With the Authors
Featuring novelists Junot Diaz, Antonia Logue (Shadow-Box), and Irvine Welsh; hosted by arts critic Victoria Lautman. Columbia College, residence hall, 731 S. Plymouth Court. 2 PM.
“Literary Knockouts”
Readings by Junot Diaz and Antonia Logue and a Q & A with Irvine Welsh. A celebration follows with music deejayed by Metro owner Joe Shanahan. Metro, 3730 N. Clark. 7 PM (all-ages; doors open at 6 PM).
Friday, March 28
Literary Outreach
Novelist Junot Diaz in conversation with students from the Boys and Girls Clubs; hosted by arts critic Victoria Lautman. Columbia College, Hokin Annex, 623 S. Wabash. 11:30 AM.
Open Mike
Full-time faculty readings. Columbia College, Hokin Annex, 623 S. Wabash.
2 PM.
Open Mike
Student readings. Columbia College, Hokin Annex, 623 S. Wabash. 4 PM.
“Readings in the Raw”
Columbia’s graduate student reading series. Columbia College, Hokin Annex, 623 S. Wabash. 7 PM.