Don’t obambulate (wander about aimlessly); head straight down to The Book Cellar on Monday, October 17th at 7pm. This lineup of effulgent (radiant) writers and performers will put an end to your sonntagsleerung (Sunday depressions experienced before the coming workday):
Toni Nealie is the author of The Miles Between Me, an essay collection about borders, homeland, dispersal, heritage and family, published by Curbside Splendor. Recent essays have appeared in Guernica, Hobart, The Offing, The Rumpus, Entropy, Midwestern Gothic, The Prague Revue and elsewhere. Her essay “The Displeasure of the Table” was nominated for a Pushcart Prize. Originally from New Zealand, she holds an MFA from Columbia College Chicago. She currently teaches and writes in Chicago, is Literary Editor of Newcity and co-editor of The Sunday Rumpus.
Scott Stealey has worked as an editor for both Playboy and Poetry magazines, which should tell you something about the contradictions in his life. He’s published stories, essays, and journalism both online and in print, and Featherproof Books even has one story as a PDF, which is somewhere in between.
Stephanie Douglass is a performer, farmer, writer, and trainer. She is a Moth GrandSLAM Champion, and was the head writer for OLN’s “Outside Magazine’s Ultimate Top Ten.” Stephanie cohosts the story telling open mic Do Not Submit: Englewood, and will begin hosting Story Club North Side in January 2017. During the week, she serves as the Farm Enterprise Director at Growing Home, growing organic vegetables and training Chicagoans with barriers to employment for placement in permanent jobs. She is also a co-founder of Cyahafi (Cha-HA-fi) Blooms in southwestern Uganda.
Carly Oishi is the former co-producer of Solo in the 2nd City and the current co-host of Miss Spoken. She also holds a 6-1 record at Write Club and was named “Wise Woman of the Week” by WBEZ affiliate Vocalo. Before she had a kid, she did cool things like bowl in a league, day drink, and sing in a band. Now she spends her time trying to keep that dude alive when she’s not away from him all day at her awesome new job.
James Finn Garner years ago wrote Politically Correct Bedtime Stories, but always knew his baby would grow up into a monster. His most recent project is the award-winning clown noir mystery series starring Rex Koko, Private Clown. The titles in the series include Honk Honk My Darling; Double Indignity; and The Wet Nose of Danger, and are all available on the mystery shelves of the Book Cellar. He has yet to figure out how to capitalize on the current killer clown craze.
Essay Fiesta 