Shows
Chicago WritesOne Final Thought with WC TurckOn this the final episode of Chicago Writes, Time Management for the writer. Part two of my conversation with Paul Bryan Roach author of Jack's Rogues available on Amazon. The art of the Press Release and building a Media Contact List. Plus, we catch up with The Spine Bookshop owner Lindsay Schultz on her historic fight against book bans in Tennessee.
And I say so long to this great CWA audience. Visit my Substack at WCTURCK.substack.com. Classic Storytelling across the Virtual Campfire.
There are some great sources online for building a media contact l...
2025-12-011h 46Chicago WritesAuthor Paul Roach and the Fundamentals of Research for NovelistsWe spent the past couple of episodes with an exploration of the science fiction genre. Fantasy and magic are popular subgenres. Often over-looked is the spiritual sub-sub-genre. Paul Roach served twenty-seven years in the US Navy Medical Corps, with multiple combat and noncombat deployments. His memoir, Citizen-Surgeon, recounts his experiences as a combat surgeon in Afghanistan. His latest novel is the first part of the Jack’s Rogues Trilogy- Operation Agos, a supra-natural, that is, transcending the natural, a supranatural thriller. His Substack describes his genre as Fantasy - Magical Realism - Metaphysical Fiction.
The website is: pau...
2025-11-0100 minChicago WritesTalkin' SyFy with Professor Joe AustinJotham Austin, is a Research Associate Professor at the University of Chicago. He is also a Chicago Writers Association Board Member and Director of the Book of the Year Contest. Professor Austin is the author of the sci-fi psychological thriller, ‘Will You Still Love Me, If I Become Someone Else?” He is also the co-host of the Rabbit Hole of Research Podcast, which explores the science in fiction and tries to separate the “Handwavium” from the actual facts in the things we read and see in Sci-Fi, fantasy and pop culture. When he is not in the laboratory or writing...
2025-10-011h 44Chicago WritesTalkin' Science Fiction with Joe AustinJotham Austin, is a Research Associate Professor UChicago. He is also a Chicago Writers Association Board Member, Director of the Book of the Year Contest. Professor Austin is the author of the sci-fi psychological thriller, "Will You Still Love Me, If I Become Someone Else?” He is also the co-host of the Rabbit Hole of Research Podcast, which explores the science in fiction and tries to separate the “Handwavium” from the actual facts in the things we read and see in SciFi, fantasy and pop culture. When he is not in the laboratory or writing, he can be found garden...
2025-09-021h 05Chicago WritesRobert Conlon's Celtic Knot and a Chicago Story from Brad MeineckeA great city writes its own blood and spit and sweat and Chicago is a writer’s city. That muscle and toil can never be told from the outside but can only be rightfully told by those who have lived and walked the avenues and alleyways. Sinclair’s The Jungle was written here. We are at once bellicose and pious, corrupt and righteous. Chicago built its metropolis from the heartland and the heart demands incorruptible voices bearing witness...
Celtic Knot by Robert Patrick Conlon is an interesting case. The first thing that comes across, and may be more...
2025-08-012h 00Chicago WritesWriting, Workshops and Poetry with Ashley Honeysett, David W. Berner and Sharon WoodhouseFirst up, Sharon Woodhouse is a former Chicago-based indie publisher, and the current owner of a book business agency, Conspire Creative. Sharon is also the author of the new book, The Profitable Author: 1,001 Ways to Build a Business You Love Around Your Books.
Sharon is offering a free six-part writer’s workshop at indie-bookstores around Chicago, running every other Tuesday beginning July 15th through Sept 23rd, titled, Summertime and the Business Is Easy Mini-Workshop Series
The website is www.conspirecreative.com
Ashley Honeysett’s critically acclaimed, award-winning debut novel is titled, Fictions. The book is...
2025-07-011h 57Chicago WritesBOTY Hospital Heal Thy Self's Mark Taylor and Empire of the Sun's Stephen ZimmerMark Taylor is a former newspaper and trade magazine reporter who covers the business, financing and delivery of healthcare. Taylor is a former Kaiser Fellow and a co-founder of the Association of Health Care Journalists. He is the author of Hospital, Heal Thyself: A Mathematician’s Plan for Saving American Lives and Billions of Dollars, available at Amazon… Mark Taylor is also one of our book of the year winners.
Stephen Zimmer is an award-winning author, filmmaker, and broadcaster based out of Lexington, Kentucky. He specializes in the Sorcery and fantasy genres. His visual work includes the feat...
2025-06-011h 55Chicago WritesAmy Yee, Award Winning Author and Journalist, plus Adam Kaz, Jason Page and a Book Ban UpdateAdam Kaz on getting published with Zines, and a writing and organizing technique. Adam talks about beat words. Connect with Adam at thegroundisuneven.com and check out his portfolio at kazadam97.journoportfolio.com. And on Facebook and Instagram you can find him at kazadam97.
Zine World’s website, www.undergroundpress.org, has event listings, a list of zine libraries and infoshops, how-to articles, and links to many other resources.
Zinebook, www.zinebook.com, has articles on zine history, legal issues, how-to advice, and more. Templates for organizing pages for printing.
Our featured guest is Jo...
2025-05-011h 45Chicago WritesThe Art of Writing Horror with Downpour Author Christopher HawkinsOn this episode of Chicago Writes, Christopher Hawkins is an award-winning author and a current book of the year winner from the CWA. His works of short fiction have been published in numerous magazines and anthologies, including Cosmic Horror Monthly, Fusion Fragment, Underland Arcana and The Big Book of New Short Horror. He is a member the Chicagoland chapter of the Horror Writers Association. His latest novel is Downpour. The websites are: downpourbook.com (Downpour by Christopher Hawkins, is that through your publisher? And www.christopher-hawkins.com.
Don't forget to check out: A Plot Structure for Writing Te...
2025-04-011h 11Chicago WritesForces of Nature: Author Sharon Ann LaCour and Anti-Book ban Activist Lindsay SchultzLindsay Schultz owns/manages The Spine Bookshop in Smyrna, Tennessee. Lindsay is battling efforts to ban or restrict books at schools and libraries. She is also the host of The Spine Bookcast on Youtube. The website is The Spine Bookshop. com
Sharon Ann LaCour’s debut literary novel, The Meeting of Air and Water, tells the story of three generations of Cajun women.
The Meeting Of Air And Water was a novel-in-progress finalist in the William Wisdom-William Faulkner novel competition in 2019. Visit sharonannlacour.com
Ana Castillo's latest novel is, Dona Cleanwell Leaves Home: Stori...
2025-03-011h 30Chicago WritesHistorian, Author, Survivor. A conversation with Pat CamalliereFrom maximizing your local market to building in history to deepen a novel and cautionaries on dialogue in memoir writing, Pat Camalliere is a survivor in more ways than one.
Pat Camalliere is the author of The Cora Tozzi Historical Mystery Series, including The Mystery at Black Partridge Woods. Her new memoir is a remarkable story of survival, Staying Alive is a Lot of Work: Me and My Cancer now available from Eckhartz Press.
The website is www.patcamallierebooks.com
2025-02-011h 04Chicago WritesDavid Ladensohn's off-beat memoir, Fly Fishing with Leonardo da VinciDavid Ladensohn is the author of an extraordinary and truly unique perspective on the brilliance of Leonardo da Vinci, titled Fly Fishing with Leonardo da Vinci. Fly-fishing is his passion. That passion has taken him around the world.
Ladensohn is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania, he was the CEO of a manufacturing company in San Antonio. Ladensohn completed business programs at Harvard Business and Law Schools and recently spent six months completing a course of study at Oxford.
The website is flyfishleonardo.com.
A shout o...
2025-01-011h 15Chicago WritesDePaul's Blue Book and Hope for Next-gen Writing with Chris Solis GreenIn the age of AI and social media it is easy to be cynical about the future of writing. In highlighting the best high school writing, across multiple genres, Depaul's Blue Book is testimony to the timelessness and vibrancy of written self-expression.
Critically acclaimed, Chris Solís Green is the author of four books of poetry. He currently is a Distinguished Writer in Residence in the English Department at DePaul University. More information can be found at www.depaulsbluebook.com
Submissions for the 2025 edition are still open through January 31, 2025...
Submit high school literary magazi...
2024-12-0155 minChicago WritesHouse of Honor: Margaret Philbrick, A Stolen Caravaggio and a Prodigal ChildMargaret Ann Philbrick is an award-winning author and poet. she is the contributing editor of the essay and poetry collection for women, Everbloom—Stories of Deeply Rooted and Transformed Lives. Her poems and articles have been featured in numerous anthologies and publications, including her award-winning poem, A Mother’s Art. Margaret is a founding member of the Red-bud Writers Guild NFP and a member of the Door County Published Author Collective. Margaret Ann is also the author of Margaret’s Child – A Young Entrepreneur of America’s Competition Winner, 2020. Her latest novel is House of Honor. The website is margaretphil...
2024-11-011h 15Chicago WritesWriting for Educators: The Advocate Educator’s Handbook's Rebecca Kling and Vanessa FordOn this episode of Chicago Writes, the Podcast of the Chicago Writers Association, Educator and Award-winning Children's Author of Calvin, Vanessa Ford M.A.T. and Author of the Critically-acclaimed No Gender Left Behind and Educator Rebecca Kling, Authors of The Advocate Educator’s Handbook: Creating Schools Where Transgender and Non-Binary Students Thrive available on Amazon.
The websites are theadvocateeducator.com, also jrandvanessaford.com and rebeccakling.com.
Never worry about missing anything important to your writing by subscribing to the Write City Blog, and get Every new edition of the newsletter direct to your inbox at...
2024-10-011h 05
The WisMissus Podcast: Reading, Writing, & Roaming around Wisconsin, the Midwest, & BeyondPublishing & Bookish Updates - Plus a Preview of the Wisconsin Writers Association (WWA) Fall ConferenceThis is a podcast for authors by authors! (And also readers who want the scoop on what authors are REALLY thinking.) Join Valerie Biel and TK (Tracey) Sheffield as we share topics to help our fellow writers as well as fun tidbits on what we’re reading and where we’re roaming. 2024 will have 10 episodes on topics like agent searching (episode 1), indie vs traditional publishing (episode 4), book launch basics, helpful writing conferences (episode 2), why we write what we write (episode 3) and more!ABOUT US—YOUR PODCAST HOSTS:Valerie Biel is the author of the award-winning Circle...
2024-09-2036 minChicago WritesWriting to Make a Change with Tom TresserFrom CWA BOTY winner Linda Gartz' Redlined: A Memoir of Race, Change, and Fractured Community in 1960s Chicago, to Civic Lab founder Tom Tresser's NO GAMES CHICAGO How A Small Group of Citizens Derailed the City’s 2016 Olympic Bid, there are lessons writers can learn about storytelling, structure, media messaging, and marketing. The websites is nogameschicagobook.com.
CWA’s 9th Annual First Chapter Contest Opens August 10th. Visit chicagowrites.org
The Chicago Writers Association returns to Printers Row Lit Fest on September 7 and 8, 2024. Note: We have sold out all open slots for the weekend. If you'd l...
2024-09-011h 03Chicago WritesRegistry of Forgotten Objects; DePaul's Miles HarveyMiles Harvey is the author of three nonfiction books, The King of Confidence (a New York Times Book Review Editors' Choice selection), Painter in a Savage Land, and The Island of Lost Maps, a national and international bestseller. He teaches creative writing at DePaul University in Chicago, where he chairs the Department of English and is a founding editor of Big Shoulders Books, a nonprofit, social-justice publisher. The Registry of Forgotten Objects is his first work of fiction. https://www.milesharvey.com
2024-08-011h 10Chicago WritesThe Art of the Memoir with Kevin Hall and Risa AugustKevin M. Hall is a New York author. He is the author of 3 books, Ilion My Childhood My Memories, My Rosemount MN. Memories, and SIGNS - The Veil is Thinner Than We Imagine. The website is Kevin-Hall.com.
Risa August is a champion. She is the author of the award-winning memoir, or the biography of Bubba the tumor, if you like… The book is The Road Unpaved: Border to Border with a Brain Tumor and a Bike Learn more about Risa at: https://www.risaaugust.com
Chicago Writes is the podcast of the Chicago Writers Asso...
2024-07-011h 16Chicago WritesPulitzer Prize Winning Author Jonathan Eig, King: A Life and the Art of the BiographyJonathan Eig is an American journalist and biographer and the author of six books. His most recent King: A Life (2023), a biography of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was just awarded the Pulitzer Prize. Mr. Eig is also the author of…
Luckiest Man: The Life and Death of Lou Gehrig (2005). Ali: A Life. Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season. For Get Capone, Eig discovered thousands of pages of never-before-reported government documents from its case against the infamous gangster. He is also the author of The Birth of the Pill. The website is www.jonathaneig.com
2024-06-0100 minChicago WritesAnatomy of an Amazon Book PromotionHost WC Turck takes you along for a need-to-know marketing hack on Amazon for his new novel, The Assassination of Baby Hitler: A Love Story with Dan Davies from Renegade Press LLC, renegadepresspublisher.com.
Unlock a wealth of writer resources by joining the Chicago Writers Association today. Visit chicagowrites.org.
2024-05-0159 minChicago WritesMarketing and Cross Marketing for Authors with Janet Sutherland-MaddenAfter recovering from a brain aneurysm in 2004 that left her blind and paralyzed, Janet Sutherland Madden wrote an astounding book of trauma and the courage to overcome is titled “Nose Over Toes.” Her latest project is a children's book titled, "Rhett, the kind little Corgi," a No.# 1 Amazon bestseller. Janet spent a life in media, journalism and marketing and shares some lessons learned. Janet Sutherland Madden has also turned her energies towards lobbying and fundraising for the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, visit: www.bafound.org.
Plus, a sample of great literary events in and around Chicago.
Read...
2024-03-3156 minChicago WritesChicago Writes, March 2024: A Conversation with Jill Christman and Gary D. WilsonOn this episode of Chicago Writes, our remaining Book of the Year authors, Prof. Jill Christman and Gary D. Wilson discuss their award-winning books and offer advice they give their writing students.
Gary D. Wilson is a critically acclaimed novelist and writer of narrative short story fiction. His latest Book of the Year winning collection is For Those Who Favor Fire. Gary's latest novel, The Narrow Window, will be released in March 2024 by Roundfire Books, an imprint of Collective Ink. His website is www.garydwilson.com
Jill Christman's Book of the Year is titled, If Th...
2024-02-291h 15Chicago WritesBook of the year Winners, Rita Woods and Lois Hoitenga RoelofsLois Hoitenga Roelofs is one of CWAs Book of the Year winners for her moving memory, Marv in Charge: A story of Bold Love and courage, from Deep River books. An uncommonly candid book on death, dying and faith. Her website is loisroelofs.com
Rita Woods Latest novel, The Last Dreamwalker, was just named one of the Chicago Writers Association’s Book of the Year. This sumptuous mystery is destined to take its place among the very best set along the coast of South Carolina. It has the drama and deep hues of Pat Conroy’s Prince of T...
2024-02-011h 14Chicago WritesA Band of Authors: Mark Hutson, Rick Kaempfer and a Scam AlertHappy New Year! In our season 3 opener: An author scam alert, plus a conversation with one of last Year's Book of the Year award winning author Mark Hutson of the critically acclaimed "So Costly a Sacrifice," available on Amazon. Plus, a bit of WC Turck's conversation with Rick Kaempfer, author of the runaway bestseller "The Loop Files: An Oral History of the Most Outrageous Radio Station Ever," available on Amazon and Eckhartz Press.com.
Catch the full conversations at the Playtime Playcast with host WC Turck here.
Unlock a wealth of author and writer resources...
2024-01-011h 03Chicago WritesAn Award-Winning Author on Book Marketing Platforms and StrategiesDo you think of Book marketing as confusing and complex? You are hardly alone! Long time friend of the podcast and one of the most proactive authors for marketing, David W. Berner’s success doesn’t just happen but requires a bit of work and effort from the author. After speaking with Mike O’Malley from LitNuts last month, host WC Turck thought it would offer keen insights by prying open David’s bag of tricks and promotional secrets (and maybe a few scars and open wounds!).
The website is davidwberner.com
Chick out David's Substack...
2023-12-0150 minChicago WritesBook Marketing on a Budget: A conversation with LitNuts cofounder Mike O’MaryMike O'Mary knows book marketing. As an Indie publisher he produced several NYT bestsellers, including Dina Kucera's Everything I Never Wanted to Be-A Memoir of Alcoholism and Addiction, Faith and Family, Hope and Humor. Together with his daughter, Kathleen Meyer, they began an online newsletter featuring only indie authors and publishers with some 13,000 subscribers. LitNuts.com features a unique and affordable platform to get your book in front of readers. Mike also offers advice and hard-learned lessons on creating a marketing strategy for Indie authors!
Links to all of our CWA programs, events, and resources are at...
2023-11-0100 minChicago WritesChicago Writes October 2023: Ana Castillo and Michael FinneyProfessor Ana Castillo is an author, poet and visual artist. Her latest critically acclaimed book is a thought-provoking collection of short stories transcending demographics titled Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home, published by Harper Collins. Available at Amazon and all fine bookstores. Her website is anacastillo.net.
Plus, Micheal Finney, business strategy consultant focused on media and message, talks sound scaping for ebooks and his new book, How to Create a Small Business Content Marketing Strategy in 10 Steps- A branding workbook for beginners. The website is michael-finney.com.
Chicago Writes in the official podcast of the Chic...
2023-10-011h 00Chicago WritesChicago Writes Compelling Sex Scenes and Publishing CocktailsWriting compelling Sex Scenes for novelists, with author, screenwriter and Producer Dorothy Mackevich Marks. Her latest book is Les Beaux Châteaux which tells the story of father and son antique dealers amid the twilight of a romanticized legacy French culture. Visit www.dorothymackevichmarks.com. You can also keep up to date on facebook.com, at DorothyMackevichMarks
Also, in this episode of Chicago Writes, Publishing Cocktails, a meet-up for writers with Javier Ramirez from Exile in Bookville, exileinbookville.com, and author Keir Graff, keirgraff.com.
Find Les Beaux Châteaux by Dorothy Machevich Marks on Amaz...
2023-08-3100 minChicago WritesCNN’s Nora Neus on Writing Oral HistoryNora Neus is an Emmy-nominated journalist and author. Neus field-produced Anderson Cooper’s CNN coverage of the 2017 white supremacist riot in Charlottesville, Virginia. Before joining CNN, she worked as a local news reporter and fill-in anchor for the CNN affiliate in Charlottesville. Nora also co-authored Muhammad Najem, War Reporter: How One Boy Put the Spotlight on Syria, available at Amazon.
Her latest book 24 hours in Charlottesville: An Oral History of the Stand Against White Supremacy is available at Amazon. Her website is noraneus.com
Brought to you exclusively by the Chicago Writers Association. CWA is a 5...
2023-08-0150 minChicago WritesFunny Business: Writing Humor and more with Author Maggie SmithMaggie Smith founded ArtSource, a leading art consulting company. In 2017 she switched gears to pursue a dream to be a full-time writer. Her debut novel Truth and Other Lies is about truth and coming clean to yourself and about truth and honesty. It is about perseverance and second chances. Maggie is the host of the podcast Hear Us Roar for the Women’s Fiction Writers Association, and is available on Apple Podcast, Spotify, IHeartRadio, and Amazon Music. She is a frequent blogger on the topic of writing, including a recent piece title Funny Business: Incorporating Humor Into Your Novel. Her webs...
2023-07-011h 20Chicago WritesWriting Fiction for Young Adults with Kristin OakleyKristin Oakley’s latest young adult novel is “The Devil Particle”. Kristin teaches writing workshops, has critiqued manuscripts through the University of Wisconsin‘s -Madison Division of Continuing Studies, and has helped writers hone their agent pitches at the Division’s Writers’ Institute. She is also the author of The Award-winning Leo Townsend Series, as well as blogs from writing to home schooling.
Her website is Kristin Oakley.net
The Devil Particle Release Party!
Wednesday, June 7th, 6:00 p.m.
Mystery to Me Bookstore, 1863 Monroe St., Madison, WI
Tickets are free but space is limited.
...
2023-06-011h 10Chicago WritesChicago Writes Poetry and ArtbooksChristina D. Rodriguez is an award winning Latinx poet, and entrepreneur from New York, currently living in Chicago. Her poems have appeared in Tupelo Quarterly, Yes, Poetry, Rust + Moth, Satin Soulbits, and elsewhere. She is a board member of the Chicago Writers Association as the organization’s social media manager and poetry editor for CWA's The Write City Magazine. She is also a contributor to the Instagram poetry book club, Can We Discuss Poetry. Christina D. Rodriguez’s first book of poetry is a beautifully textured collection titled “Knees in the Garden” from Querencia Press, released in February 2023, is available at A...
2023-05-011h 10
The Art of Paying AttentionTAOPA #009: Kristin Oakley on Compelled to WriteIn January 2009, Kristin Oakley wrote her first words to Carpe Diem, Illinois. Five years later, Little Creek Press published the book, and it won the 2014 Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year Award! Its sequel, God on Mayhem Street, was a finalist in the 2018 Winning Writers North Brook Street Prize. Kristin Oakley is an accomplished writer, novelist, and helps other writers with their craft. Her latest series, The Devil Particle, is available June 6th. In this episode, Ryan and Kristin explore the motivation to write, how research can be fun, how to keep going, and much more...
2023-04-1152 minChicago WritesStory Structure and Story Collaboration with Author David FletcherChili Dog MVP: Dick Allen, The '72 White Sox and a Transforming Chicago, by David Fletcher, John Owens, and George Castle, was a runner up for this year’s Book of the Year Award for non-Fiction. David Fletcher speaks about the book, story structure techniques and collaboration on a writing project.
Chili Dog MVP is available at Amazon.
To register for CWA Presents with host Sandra Colbert and a conversation with the founder of the Chicago International Film Festival, Michael Kutza, about his memoir, “Starstruck: How I magically transformed Chicago into Hollywood for more than Fifty Years.” Saturday, April 15, 2023, at 1:00 p.m Co...
2023-04-011h 01Chicago WritesCritically Acclaimed Author Toya Wolfe and Last Summer on State StreetToya Wolfe scored with her debut novel, "Last Summer On State Street". This is good and necessary storytelling. Toya joins host WC Turck for a deep diving into this critically acclaimed, and CWA Book of the Year award winner for Traditional Fiction. From Faulkner to Sista Souljah and much more.
Find Last Summer on State Street on Amazon.
Check out more from Toya Wolfe at toyawolfe.com
Follow her on social media, at Facebook, on Twitter @toyawolves to keep up with all the latest author news and updates, and on Instagram.com/toyawolves.
2023-03-011h 07Chicago WritesChicago Writes: A Resource for Writers, February 2023On this episode of Chicago Writes, News about the 2023 CWA Writer's Educational Series. Also,
A reminder to register now for Let's Just Write! An Uncommon Writers Conference. March 25-26, 2023 Visit ChicagoWrites.org!
Plus, Associate professor of English and Creative Writing, Shawn Shiflett on ChatGPT and the future of writing.
Ken Korber from the Center for Functional Learning on writing books for kids.
And, Michael S. Zimmerman bears all in a stunning new memoir, Suburban Bigamy: 6 miles between truth and deceit.
A like to Playtime WC Turck on Podbean.
...
2023-01-311h 12Chicago WritesChicago Writes Celebrates the 2022 Book of the Year Award Winners!It's a brand-new year, as The Chicago Writers Association Celebrates the 2022 Book of the Year Award Winners! We talk rhythm and vulnerability in writing with the sumptuous memoir This Jade World author Ira Sukrunruang, voice and mythology with Christina Marrocco from her powerful novel Addio, Love Monster, and researching truths and character with Mark Hutson with his outstanding debut historical non-fiction work So Costly a Sacrifice. Plus, a link to the stunning debut novel from our Traditional Fiction Winner from Toya Wolfe, Last Summer on State Street. Announcements on important upcoming events from CWA. And a bit of my...
2023-01-011h 22Chicago WritesCWA December 2022, Suzy Takacs and the Art of the Book CellarThe independent bookstore means far more to their communities, as well as for authors. We thought we’d explore that relationship, how and if brick and mortar retail stores are the best option for self-published authors, as well as the challenges independent bookstores face in our ever-changing world.
In the heart of Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood, once known as Germantown for its German pubs, restaurants, the Dank House, an apothecary, and shops, is an oasis for book lovers. The Book Cellar is an independently owned, community-oriented bookstore located at 4736-38 North Lincoln Ave Chicago. They are open 10am...
2022-12-011h 01Chicago WritesWriting and Marketing Horror with Author Dan KlefstadLike love and sex, fear is instinctual. The fight or flight response to things which may cause us harm is centered in our amygdala, a roughly almond-shaped mass of gray matter inside each cerebral hemisphere, involved with the experiencing of emotions. The root of our nightmares. This is the domain of the horror writer. But there is more to horror stories in what they teach us. It is a training ground of sorts, defining how we may react, but also what we should react to. Our rational minds know the dark characters of horror tales will not harm us...
2022-10-311h 12Chicago WritesAlex Poppe on Writing with Purpose, Plus Rick and Dave talk with Scott Turow!On the October episode of Chicago Writes host WC Turck talks with author Alex Poppy on Writing with purpose, and a bit from Radio misfits hosts Rick and Dave and their conversation with bestselling author Scott Turow. Catch their full interview at radiomisfits.com. Plus, October announcements and a bit of news for writers.
Alex’s books are available on Amazon and at her website. For more on Alex Poppe, visit: ALEX POPPE.com.
Give the writer in your life the gift of a Chicago Writers Association membership for just $25/year and unlock a wealth of...
2022-10-011h 10Chicago WritesDan Davies of Renegade Press LLCDan Davies is best known as the writer, actor, and producer of the cult-film “Ed Gein- the musical.” He co-starred with Sadie Kaye in Miss Adventure meets Motörhead, which was a highly rated video on Will Ferrell/HBO's Funny or Die. He won for Best Supporting Actor (Comedy) along with Majid Michel and John Dumelo in the 2017 Golden Movie Awards for his work in A Trip to Jamaica. In 2017 he appeared in the revenge thriller Wronged and the internationally acclaimed and award-winning spiritual and Lakota western "West of Thunder". Add to that list publisher. Earlier this year Dan Davies started a bo...
2022-08-3101 minChicago WritesThe Book Doctor is in with Donald G. EvansOn this episode of Chicago Writes, a conversation with Book Doctor Donald G. Evans. Writers News in our new Around the Web segment and pushing the envelope on audio books and telling the truth in memoirs from R&B star Danny Boy Steward.
A link to Donald G. Evans.com, book doctor, author, and Founding Executive Editor of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame
For more on Stories Around the Web:
From entrepreneur.com, 3 tips for writing when you don’t feel like it: A guide to help content writers and creative writers bre...
2022-07-3159 minChicago WritesChicago Writes Talks with Two of the First Chapter Contest WinnersHost WC Turck speaks with First Chapter contest winners, Cheryl L. Reed and Mary Dean Cason about landing the right agent, characterization, story structure and more. The opening chapter to Map of My Escape by Cheryl L. Reed captured first place in this year’s very competitive first chapter contest. Cheryl was awarded a full scholarship to attend either the All-Genre Novel-In-Progress (NIP) Bookcamp & Writing Retreat held on June 12-18, 2022 near West Bend, Wisconsin
Second place went to the first chapter of Mary Dean Cason's Banished Daughters of Eve.
Plus details on CWA’s 7th Annual Firs...
2022-07-011h 07Chicago WritesStorytelling for the Writer with Chicago Story PressAnne Beall and Judi Goshen are the publishers of Chicago Story Press. Their latest book is a collection of stories expanding upon concepts of love titled Storytellers' True Stories about Love.
Chicago story press.com is the website.
For Submissions to Chicago Story Press, click HERE
Find Anne Beall's books and blog HERE
Anne is also CEO of Beall Research a Boutique full-service market research partner and consultancy.
Subscribe to our Podcast by visiting Chicago Writes.org
2022-05-3144 minChicago WritesChicago Writes on Branding, Publishing Online and the Story of LiteratureIn the May episode of Chicago Writes, a Podcast of the Chicago Writers Association, host WC Turck talks Branding with Michael Finney. Michael Finney is a Business Strategy Consultant focused on Media and Message. Find his workbook and course "How to Create a Personal Band in 10 Steps" at michael-finney.com. Back in February we heard from David W. Berner about Substack, the online publishing forum. In this two-part interview, David updates us on his experiences with Substack with some lessons learned, davidwberner.com. Plus, The Story of Literature, by WC Turck.
Help us grow to become the...
2022-04-301h 16Chicago WritesVoices from the 2022 Let’s Just Write, An Uncommon Writers ConferenceIn just 3 short years the Chicago Writers Association's Let's Just Write! An Uncommon Writer's Conference has become a must attend event for Writers and Authors. In it's first 2 years Let's Just Write earned critical accolades from Writer Magazine, calling it one of the Best conferences in America. This year's sold-out conference exceeded expectations. In this value-added Episode we bring you a few of the voices from presenters and attendees, with expert tips and advice from the conference. A list of the speakers and links to their sites are below!
Eric Charles May, Associate Professor of Creative Writing...
2022-03-311h 09Chicago WritesWriting Memoirs and Non-Fiction with the CWA 2021 Book of the Year Winners, Gary V. Johnson and Andrea Friederici RossContinuing with our spotlight on the CWA Book of the Year award winners for 2021, this episode features our outstanding authors for Indie and Traditional Non-fiction. Plus CWA announcements and upcoming events!
Edith: The Rogue Rockefeller McCormick by Andrea Friederici Ross describes the enigmatic and rebellious life of industrialist John D Rockefeller’s daughter. Andrea talks about this enigmatic personality, and discusses lessons learned in researching and writing biography.
Attorney Gary V. Johnson is the author of Luck Is A Talent: The true story of one lawyer’s experience in the Jeanine Nicarico case.” Gary talks about...
2022-03-011h 04Chicago WritesCWA Book of the Year Award Winners Talk the Art of Fiction WritingLibby Fischer Hellmann and Rachel Swearingen are the 2021 Chicago Writer's Association Book of the Year winners for Fiction. In this Episode Libby and Rachel talk about the Art and Business of Writing, Marketing and more.
Libby Fischer Hellmann's website is https://libbyhellmann.com/
Rachel Swearingen's website is https://www.rachelswearingen.com/
And don't forget to visit www.chicagowrites.org
2022-01-2041 minChicago WritesRachel Swearingen, Critically Acclaimed, award winning CWA’s Book of the Year award winner.Rachel Swearingen won this year’s award under Traditional Fiction for her latest work is “How to Walk on Water and Other Stories.” In 2019, the Guild Literary Complex named her one of 30 Writers to Watch. She lives in Chicago and teaches in Cornell College’s low-residency MFA program. www.rachelswearingen.com is the website.
2022-01-1317 minChicago WritesLibby Fischer Hellmann: 2021 Chicago Writer’s Association’s Book of the year award Winner for Indie FictionCritically acclaimed author Libby Fischer Hellman writes strong women.
From her Ellie Foreman Mysteries, to the suspenseful adventures of blond and beautiful Chicago PI, Georgia Davis. And Hellman has taken us around the world, to war, and across history through the eyes of female characters-you know, the other half of the world. She is also a 2021 Chicago Writer’s Association’s Book of the year award Winner for Indie Fiction. No spoiler alerts here. We are after the nuts and bolts of writing effective Fiction, especially strong female characters.
Find out more about Libby Hellmann at ww...
2022-01-1230 min