Friday 10/3: Registration for the Chicago Writers Conference is open, but ends a week from today. Writers can attend lectures, writing workshops, and have one-on-ones with editors and agents. Special Guests include Christine Sneed, Rebbeca Makkai, Sara Paretsky, Ben Tanzer, and the Conference’s director, Mare Swallow. Events held at University Center.
Saturday 10/4: Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz reads from her illustrated biography, Dr. Mütter’s Marvels, the story of an immensely talented surgeon whose life went mostly unheralded. He died at 47. Aptowicz is the real deal. She writes deftly across the genre spectrum and has been honored for it. Go see her. Quimby’s, 7 p.m.
Switchback Books hosts “Taste of Switchback 2014,” an evening of “unlimited” craft beer tastings and live readings. They actually pair the beer with poems of their authors, and while you’re drinking the beer, you’ll be hearing the poem. Readers include Kathleen Rooney and Stefania Heim. The Test Kitchen, 1511 W Cortez, 9 p.m.
The Spudnik Press Cooperative is an artists’ space, used widely by some of the best zinesters in the city. The host their 7th annual benefit to raise money and continue to support the hundreds of DIY artists in Chicago. Drinks, food, printing demonstrations, and a silent auction will keep you entertained. 7 p.m.
Sunday 10/5: Here, Chicago is back for another month of stories at Stage 773. Admission is free with a thoughtfully prepared dish. You really shouldn’t bring bags of chips and bottles of Coke anymore. This isn’t thoughtful. Readers for the evening are Mark Toland, Ladan Osman, Jessica Smith Soto, Clay Neigher, and Ranjit Souri. 7:30 p.m.
Monday 10/6: The Committee on Creative Writing at the University of Chicago presents two authors, each with first novels. Payton Marshall, author of Goodhouse, and Marcus Burke, author of Team Seven, read and discuss their work. 57th Street Books, 6 p.m.
Reggie Eldridge returns to Haymarket Pub & Brewery to defend his LitMash title against Bill Hillmann, Dana Jerman, Oba William King, and Mojdeh Stoakley. He’s going to have his hands full. Hosted by Chicago Slam Works, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday 10/7: Head over to Poetry Foundation for an interesting discussion of the power of words and music with Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Mark Strand and renowned soprano, Renée Fleming. 7 p.m.
Tuesday Funk is back at Hopleaf in Andersonville for eclectic live readings. This month come hear Paul McComas, Maya Kuper, Noël Jones, Lori Rader-Day, and Dmitry Samarov. 7:30 p.m.
Unabridged Books presents Mountain Goats frontman John Darnielle and his much-anticipated novel, Wolf in White Van. Darnielle talks with Bookslut columnist, Mairead Case. Lincoln Hall, 7 p.m.
Wednesday 10/8: James Finn Garner stops by The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square to celebrate the publication of the third book in his Rex Koko, Private Clown series, Honk Honk, My Darling. Before the reading, there’ll be a circus performance near the fountain across the street from the bookstore. 7 p.m.
Poetry Foundation presents the latest installment of the Bagley Wright Lecture Series on Poetry by welcoming Timothy Donnelly. Donnelly’s talk is on “Meaningfulness and Homesickness,” which he’ll connect to his own sensibilities as a poet. 7 p.m.
Thursday 10/9: One of the driving forces behind McSweeney’s Internet Tendency stops by City Lit Books. John Warner’s written a new collection of short stories called Tough Day for the Army, and he’ll talk about his new book, his work with McSweeney’s, and being compared to writers like Donald Barthleme, George Saunders, and Amy Hempel. 6:30 p.m.
Open Books hosts Rachel Bertsche, who’ll talk about her latest book, Jennifer, Gweneth & Me: The Pursuit of Happiness, One Celebrity at a Time. 6 p.m.
The One Book, One Chicago selection for 2014/2015 is Michael Chabon’s masterpiece The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay. Chabon appears at the Cindy Pritzker Auditorium in the Harold Washington Library to talk about his book and sign ones that you buy. Don’t miss this. 6:30 p.m.
