Friday 9/12: Media powerhouse Tavis Smiley is in town to promote his newest text Death of a King: The Real Story of Dr. King Jr.’s Final Year at the Union League of Chicago. Smiley hosts a late-night program on PBS, a talk show on PRI, and a daily online show on his own network. Put on something nice and go hear him speak. There’s a dress code. 11:30 a.m.
Larry Santoro was a beloved actor, director, filmmaker, and writer. He passed away in July, and his friends have put together a memorial reading. They’ll share work that demonstrates the breadth of his literary talent. The Coffee Shop, 1135 W Sheridan, 6 p.m.
Saturday 9/13: Curbside Splendor celebrates the release of Erika T. Wurth’s first novel, Crazy Horse’s Girlfriend, in a huge way at City Lit. Lindsay Hunter, Samantha Irby, and Jac Jemc join Wurth. 5 p.m.
Challengers Comics is hosting a release party for American Nature, an anthology of graphic narrative. The evening features Greg and Fake, Dave Landsberger, Marc Koprinarov, and booze. 6 p.m.
The Dollhouse Reading Series #35 features Daniel Borzutsky, Joel Craig, and Erika L. Sanchez. Remember: this is at a private residence. If you go, no shenanigans that may upset the neighbors. 7 p.m.
Sunday 9/14: Curbside Splendor takes its stable of writers to Rainbo Club in celebration of Dmitry Samarov’s illustrated memoir, Where To?. Shay DeGrandis, Bill Hillmann, Martha Bayne, Naomi Huffman, Erika Wurth, and Irvine Welsh read selections from the book. 6 p.m.
The live lit hit That’s All She Wrote returns to Great Lakes Tattoo with stories by Karen Genelly, Karen Shimmin, Mary Roberts, and Paul Dailing. 8 p.m.
Monday 9/15: Essay Fiesta wants you to know that this month’s reading at The Book Cellar will be Gnat-Free. Andrew Marikis, Stephanie Chavara, Christine Simokaitis, Paul Whitehouse, and Kate Harding tell true stories sans gnats. Benefits the incomparable 826CHI. 7 p.m.
Tuesday 9/16: Brigid Pasulka is at Harold Washington Library to read from her latest novel, The Sun and Other Stars. 6 p.m.
Write Club brings its literary bloodbath back to The Hideout. Wyl Villacres takes on Ray Teresi. Caitlin Montanye Parrish battles Josh Zagoren, and Diana Slickman swaps haymakers with the host, Ian Belknap. 7 p.m.
Story Club South Side is back in Bridgeport at the Co-Prosperity Sphere presenting live lit on the theme “Tripping: Tales of Journeys Real or Imagined.” 7 p.m.
Wednesday 9/17: The Poets’ Club of Chicago takes over Local Author Night at The Book Cellar. Jan Ball, Susan Cherry, Maureen Flannery, Pamela Miller, Charlie Newman, Jenene Ravesloot, Tom Roby IV, and Beth Staas read their work. 7 p.m.
Palabra Pura is a bilingual poetry reading presented by the Guild Literary Complex and Poetry Foundation. The evening features Ana Castillo and Paul Martinez Pompa. 61 W Superior, 7 p.m.
Head to the Black Rock Pub & Kitchen to catch another month of Story Lab, hosted by Scott Whitehair. This month features stories from Emily Brouillette, Tyler Clark, Penny Fields, Johnnie Grozenski, Justin Sikes, and Elise Taylor. 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 9/18: Graywolf Press celebrates its 40th anniversary at Poetry Foundation. Katie Ford, Matthea Harvey, and Claudia Rankine read. 7 p.m.
