Depending on who’s offering their opinion, the Kindle and iPad are either killing the publishing industry or reviving it. But if the curriculum at DePaul University is any evidence, small presses might be able to lead the way in innovation for publishing. This fall, DePaul is offering a new course as part of their continuing and professional education program. The Certificate in Publishing course covers the ins and outs of small-press publishing. Jonathan Messinger and Zach Dodson, who designed and will be teaching the course, know their small-press stuff. They founded local indie press featherproof Books five years ago. more ›

Before cracking open The Awful Possibilities, examine the cover. A parking lot is beginning to drown from a downpour of black, unfeeling faces. And even though the publisher calls this "'Pandora's Book,' because once it's opened, nothing will never be the same," you probably assume you can handle it. How much harm could a little book smaller than the width of your palm cause? But no matter how unassuming this work of fiction looks, it will make you think hard about what can happen inside a human mind. more ›

So, you think you can write? Prove it by entering The Parlor Reading Series’ second annual call for emerging writers. Now’s your chance to unleash your 3,000 to 5,000 word short work of fiction or non-fiction upon the world by submitting it via email by the end of today. more ›

Batman flew off to Hong Kong. Here's what he'll be missing: Coming up: As we’ve mentioned, Kumail Nanjiani is a funny, funny man. Now he’s ditching us for New York. Send him off Thursday night at The Hideout, where he’ll pay tribute to Jonathan Messinger and his new book. It’s your last chance to see Kumail before he gets mega-famous or chewed up by the Gotham comedy scene. The young performers at Thirteen Pocket Productions... more ›

Got a dollar? Spend it tonight at Steppenwolf's Garage Theater, where the Listening Room presents the 2007 TCF ShortDocs: Dollar Storeys. The two-headed beast child born of the union of The Dollar Store reading series and Third Coast Audio Festival, Dollar Storeys are sweet radio segments based on purchases made at dollar stores. Tonight's event features highlights from the contest, stories from Chicagoist's pal and Dollar Store mastermind Jonathan Messinger (here's some trivia: Jonathan was at our very first happy hour ever! Wowza!), and local applicants will share some of their material as well. more ›

Dollar Store's Jonathan Messinger more ›

It's the first Friday of the month which means The Dollar Store Show, a series of readings and performances based on purchases for a buck, returns to the Hideout. This month's readers include writers James Kennedy and Jonathan Messinger as well as theater performers Sarah Haskins and Diana Slickman. Hideout, Friday, 7 p.m. $1 We can't decide which under-appreciated literary group to support on Saturday so we'll list two and hopefully hop between them. First,... more ›

We like highlights, we like getting them, doing them and giving them. There’s a ton of cool stuff going on this week, check out the quick highlights, and let us know which author is going to get your attention. First off, it’s the closing night party for the Literary Gangs. They’ll finish up with a finale including Andy Ross and Jonathan Messinger. You can see the Literary Gangs on Tues., May 16th, 6:30PM, at the... more ›

Okay, we’re having fun with reading and writing this week, ‘member? So let us not waste any time and move on to The Dollar Store. The Dollar Store is the brain child of Jonathan Messinger of ThisIsGrand.org fame. He gets writers from all over the city, gives them a suggestion (something from a dollar store, get it?), then the first Friday of the month the writers read what they wrote and everyone has a beer... more ›

Wouldn't the title of this post make for the best children's book ever? more ›

We're feeling awfully artsy fartsy today, so here are three weekend activities to cure your humanities jones. If you hate books, reading, writing, authors, drama, talking, performing, microphones, or puppets, this post is not for you. But we're curious how you get through the day and if you can offer us a few tips. more ›

Yeehaw, the Perpetual Motion Roadshow is back in town! Tonight, they'll be stopping at Quimby's (1854 West North). It's the last night of roadshow #17, "Born of Secret Transit," which has been on the…well, road for a week, stopping in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, New York, Cleveland and Cincinnati. This leg of the tour features Todd Taylor, Darren O’Donnell, and Chicago's own Jonathan Messinger (of recent RedEye fame). more ›

Friends, the day has finally arrived. We've been waiting for it with baited breath, desperately Xing off days on our calendar, making special research trips to the library, scouring enormous .pdfs, and our waiting is nearly over. Today is the first CTA hearing! Yes! And we are most definitely going to be there. more ›

PISTIL's motto is "Put Your Petal to the Metal," which Chicagoist will admit, we didn't get. But lo and behold, a pistil is the "female reproductive order around which the other flower parts are arranged." Good to know. more ›