Friday 8/15: Quimby’s celebrates the second printing of Jeff Zwirek’s self-published graphic novel, Burning Building Comix. Slate called it “the most inventively made comic of the year.” 7 p.m.
Saturday 8/16: Lauren Francis-Sharma is at 57th Street Books to promote her first novel, ‘Til the Well Runs Dry, featuring a 16-year-old single mother of two in north Trinidad. Chicago book critic Donna Seaman starred it in Booklist. 3 p.m.
You’re Being Ridiculous continues the August theme “Fear” at Mary’s Attic in Andersonville. Performers include David Allen, Randall Colburn, Kelly Duff, Kestutis Nakas, Jeremy Owens, Allison Shoemaker, and Steven Strafford. 7:30 p.m.
The Dollhouse Reading Series is a poetry salon at an apartment, so don’t show up expecting to be all rowdy. This month there’ll be readings by Janaka Stucky, Nuria Sheehan, Julia Cohen, and Patrick Samuel. 7 p.m.
Sunday 8/17: The Uptown Poetry Slam is at The Green Mill. Marc Kelly Smith and J.W. Basillo host a highly charged evening of great jazz, poetry, and an open mic. This is where slam poetry cut its teeth. 7 p.m.
Curbside Splendor’s live lit series is called The Marrow, and it’s hosted by Naomi Huffman and Leah Pickett. Come hear Tim Kinsella, Karen Shimmin, Dana Norris, and Darryl Holliday. Punch House, 7:30 p.m.
Monday 8/18: This month’s Essay Fiesta honors the discovery of helium with first person essays and features Kelsie Huff, Alyson Lyon, Kate Harding, Mark Schab, and David Berner. Everything Essay Fiesta does benefits 826CHI. The Book Cellar, 7 p.m.
Tuesday 8/19: South Side Story Club returns to Bridgeport and the theme “Truth or Fiction.” Three open mic slots are available, and readers have 8 minutes to tell a true story. Co-Prosperity Sphere, 7 p.m.
Wednesday 8/20: Guts & Glory presents live lit that crosses genre delineations. This month’s readers are Chris Bower, Jen Bosworth, Randall Colburn, Andrew Reilly, Katie Prout, and James Gordon. Schubas Tavern, 7 p.m.
It’s Local Author Night at The Book Cellar, featuring three writers promoting books with indie publishers. Come meet Scott Miles, Sheila Flaherty, and Jessica Vealitzek. 7 p.m.
If it’s the third Wednesday of the month, then it’s Story Lab Chicago at The Black Rock Pub & Kitchen. Scott Whitehair hosts an evening of new voices telling original stories in an intimate setting. This month’s lineup includes Madelaine Goodreau, Laura Haney, Claudia Jaccarino, Jocelyn Pinkerton, and Devin Sullivan. 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 8/21: Curbside Splendor teams with Midwestern Gothic Magazine for a reading at City Lit Books, featuring Peter Jirmu, Megan Stielstra, Sarah Carson, and Emily Ce Miller. 6:30 p.m.
Grown Folks Stories is hosted by Cara Brigandi, and it’s more of a salon than a typical live lit reading. You put your name in a jar, and the host chooses people to tell stories for five minutes apiece. The Silver Room, 7:30 p.m.
