Chicago Writes ChicagoWrites

After 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 ”How to Write a Children’s Book,” at:

thejohnfox.com/2019/02/how-to-write-a-childrens-book/

Chicago Writes, March 2024: A Conversation with Jill Christman and Gary D. Wilson

On 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 This Were Fiction: A Love Story in Essays, a lyrical, sometimes blushing, sometimes shocking, and eminently insightful memoir. Her website is jillchristman.com

Additional Links:

Jill Christman is a producer for the podcast Indelible: Campus Sexual Violence, digitalresearch.bsu.edu/indelible/ 

Writing by hand may increase brain connectivity more than typing on a keyboard, by Deborah Pirchner, February 16, 2024. Cognitive Science, Neuroimaging.

The Books of Lorrie Moore at Amazon.

The Chicago Writer Association is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. Visit chicagowrites.org.

Book of the year Winners, Rita Woods and Lois Hoitenga Roelofs:

Lois 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 Tides, while exploring the tumultuous mystery as a daughter unravels her late mother’s life, reminiscent of Sue Monk Kidd’s, The Secret Life of Bees. Her website is ritawoodswrites.com.

The Chicago Writers Association is a 501c3 charitable organization. Like us on Facebook. Visit chicagowrites.org.

A Band of Authors: Mark Hutson, Rick Kaempfer and a Scam Alert

Happy 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: https://playtimeplaycast.podbean.com/e/the-loop-files-from-rick-kaempfer-radio-s-future-past/?fbclid=IwAR2YQW-5Bzfl01-KrWdbTlTMHdGQziw25X7zYVjeKmT5w_mburRPSlzXDBM

Unlock a wealth of author and writer resources by visiting chicagowrites.org.

The Chicago Writers Association is a charitable 501(c) 3 organization.

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An Award-Winning Author on Book Marketing Platforms and Strategies:

Do 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 page The Abundance.

The Chicago Writers association is a 501c3 charitable organization. Visit chicagowrites.org

From everyone here at CWA, we wish you a warm and happy Holiday season and a very Merry Christmas.

Book Marketing on a Budget: A conversation with LitNuts cofounder Mike O’Mary

Mike 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. 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 Chicago Writes.org. Join today!

The Chicago Writers Association is a 501(c)3 charity, open to writers anywhere in the world. Unlock a wealth of writing resources at Chicago Writes.org