We told you Tuesday about local author Stuart Dybek's genius grant. Yesterday, he received the 2007 Rea Award for Short Story, which carries with it an extra $30,000 in change to add to his $500,000 MacArthur grant. The Rea Award, sponsored by the Dungannon Foundation, was started by Michael M. Rea in 1986 to be awarded to a living American or Canadian author who, according to their website, has made a "significant contribution in... more ›

“I promise you, this story is going some place. I’m not simply blogging,” said author Erik Larson at the Printers Row Book Fair, which was in full swing today. more ›

It’s that time of year -- leaves are falling, radiators are clunking, and the Chicago Humanities Festival is raring to go. We love the fest, we really do. Chicagoist even worked for them for a few years. We don't want to look in gift horses' mouths, but we can't help wishing they would un-stuffy it up a little bit. Maybe book some more fun guests and authors. (Neil Gaiman sold out in minutes a few... more ›

This weekend is the Midwest Literary Festival in Aurora. All kinds of cool things are going on and there are some great authors to see. Guest speakers include: Joyce Carol Oates (she was awarded the 2006 Chicago Tribune Literary Prize, she’ll accept at The Chicago Humanites Festival in November), Emily Giffen, Elizabeth Kostova, Dennis Lehane and our funny-boy crush, Harry Shearer. Some of the lectures look excellent too, here are some of the highlights, according... more ›