This Week in Literary News
Rebecca Skloot is the author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks and is the recipient of the 21st Century Award.
Agate Publishing, which publishes book for a variety of niche markets such as cookbooks and business, is launching a new imprint that will specialize in Midwestern topics by Midwestern authors. Midway Books will launch in spring 2012 with three or four releases and its titles will focus on Chicago. (via Publishers Weekly)
Chicago Public Library and Chicago Public Library Foundation have announced Rebecca Skloot, author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lack, the story of a poor African American migrant whose cancer cells were taken without her consent and led to the beginning of the cure for polio, as the recipient of the 21st Century Award at the prestigious Carl Sandburg Literary Awards Dinner on Oct. 20. Past recipients have been Eula Biss and Patrick Somerville.
StoryStudio Chicago has a one night “Get Me Started” writing class coming up on Aug. 16. Students will write story beginnings and learn to enjoy the process of starting from a word, image or idea. The class is $40 for members and $45 for non-members.
The Poetry Foundation, publisher of Poetry magazine just released Android and iPad Editions of their free Poetry App. This updated Poetry app now offers audio versions of many of the 1,700-plus poems included in its virtual poetry library, links to biographies of poets whose work is featured in the app, and source information for each poem.
The University of Chicago purchased the building formerly known as Borders Books & Music at 1539 E. 53rd St. in Hyde Park, which has been vacant since March. They’re now seeking retail, home goods, entertainment or restaurant tenants to fill the 25,000-square foot building. It’s part of the university’s plan to seek utter dominance over the neighborhood, or, as James Hennessy, Director of Commercial Real Estate Operations said, it’s “part of the University’s ongoing strategy to strengthen a key corridor within Hyde Park.” (via UChicago News)