The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie is not about an author who dons calico and sun bonnet, escapes to a deserted log cabin and speaks to the ghost of Laura Ingalls Wilder. While Wendy McClure did try her hand at churning butter, baked long winter bread from scratch per the The Little House Cookbook: Frontier Foods from Laura Ingalls Wilder's Classic Stories recipe and did accumulate quite a few sunbonnets as she journeyed to the Laura Ingalls Wilder homesites, she wasn’t out to glorify anything about the simplicity of a time when butter and bread could not purchased from Trader Joe’s. more ›

Before Wendy McClure got sucked into rereading the Little House on the Prairie series, she was doing a lot of different writerly things. The Oak Park born-and-raised writer is a children's book editor and, in 2005, published a memoir about her experiences with Weight Watchers, I'm Not the New Me. Recently she published The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie, about her journey in the footsteps of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her family. Recently we had a chance to chat with her about how she came to write the The Wilder Life. more ›

Ugh, finally: 28 aldermen are filing a petition to U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow demanding the City release the names of the most-complained-about police officers. The Sun-Times's spot-on editorial is completely degraded by heinous illustration that accompanies it, from the same "artist" who also did yesterday's ricockulously bad Stroger drawing. The Book Cellar is hosting "Chicago’s Wittiest Women Writers" tonight. We deeply resent not being invited to participate, but cannot deny the wit of Stacey... more ›

Here’s what we missed while we were watching loud, fast planes and asthmatic midgets: Bailiwick Rep is working to expand their audience with Hogwash, a family friendly improv show, playing Saturday afternoons through November 17, and a special “Naked Night” performance of Barenaked Lads September 7 where performers and audience alike will bare it all. And it’s for a good cause. (link is NSFW, more or less) As foundation work commences for the Chicago Spire,... more ›

Aren't you glad you know how to read? Chicagoist sure is glad you do; otherwise, we'd totally miss your sunny dispositions. Tomorrow is your chance to support some fine folks promoting the literacy that so many of us take for granted and see Wendy McClure, one of our favorite Chicago writers. The funny and inimitable Wendy will be at 57th Street Books tomorrow for a reading to benefit Literacy Works, a nonprofit organization that promotes... more ›

Chicagoist is admittedly a tad bit biased when it comes to local author, blogging goddess and all-around kick-ass person, Wendy McClure of Pound. We can't help ourselves. She's been cracking our shit up for years now with her sass. So you can imagine how pleased-as-punch we were today to read McClure's brilliant retort to The Assclown Three over at the Chicago Sun-Times, in their own paper no less, in regards to ... yes. The Dove... more ›

Last night Chicagoist, along with about 40 other people, attended "Author's Roundtable: On Authorship, Blogs, and the Changing Literary Landscape" which was moderated by Andrew Huff and featured Chicagoist's own Erin J. Shea as well as Wendy McClure, Kevin Guilfoile, Kevin Smokler and Claire Zulkey. Although Chicagoist is friends with all but one of the featured authors, it was really insightful to hear the panel talk about their experiences. .. because you know, when... more ›

Looking for something fun to do tonight, but want to sound scholarly when you tell your friends where you're going? A number of our favorite Chicago-bloggers-turned-published-book authors will be at the Sulzer Public Library in Lincoln Square tonight, and you should go. Chicagoist's own Erin J. Shea will be participating in a panel hosted by Gaper's Block, along with Wendy McClure, Kevin Guilfoile, and Claire Zulkey. The "Author's Roundtable: On Authorship, Blogs, and the Changing... more ›

Hey, remember those elementary school book fairs, when you got to skip math for the day and go to the library to stock up on the Berenstain Bears and, later, Beverly Cleary and Judy Blume? Chicagoist does, which is why we’re so excited for this weekend’s Printer’s Row Book Fair. Billed as the “largest free literary event in the Midwest,” the Printer’s Row Book Fair is the ultimate book fair for grown-ups and kids... more ›

Tied for First Place: Wendy McClure more ›

Stop by the Hideout at 8pm tonight where Claire Zulkey and NPR's John Green will be hosting Funny Ha Ha II, a second night of Chicago's funniest performers and writers. more ›