Holly McDowell was already a writer, an artist, a computer geek and a day trader before she moved to Chicago three months ago. Now, she's also a drinker of glögg, a frequenter of Hopleaf and, most importantly, a collector of boots and winter coats. Her serialized novel series, King Solomon's Wives, begins in 2012. Look for the first episode from Amazon.com and Coliloquy, on e-devices everywhere.

Hear Holly read on Tuesday, January 3, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at Hopleaf's upstairs bar!

Award-winning writer and narrator, Lawrence Santoro began writing dark tales at age five.

In 2001 his novella "God Screamed and Screamed, Then I Ate Him" was nominated for a Bram Stoker Award.  In 2002, his adaptation and audio production of Gene Wolfe's "The Tree Is My Hat," was also Stoker nominated.

In 2003, his Stoker-recommended "Catching" received Honorable Mention in Ellen Datlow's 17th Annual "Year's Best Fantasy and Horror" anthology.  In 2004, "So Many Tiny Mouths" was cited in the anthology's 18th edition.  In the 20th, his novella, "At Angels Sixteen," from the anthology A DARK AND DEADLY VALLEY, was similarly honored.

Larry's first novel, "Just North of Nowhere," was published in 2007.  A collection of his short fiction, DRINK FOR THE THIRST TO COME, was published in 2011.

He lives in Chicago and is working on two new novels, "Griffon and the Sky Warriors," and "A Mississippi Traveler, or Sam Clemens Tries the Water"

Stop by Larry's blog, At Home in Bluffton at: http://blufftoninthedriftless.blogspot.com/ and his audio website, Santoro Reads, at: http://www.santororeads.com/Home.html

You can friend him at: http://www.facebook.com/lawrence.santoro

Join Tuesday Funk on January 3, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at Hopleaf's upstairs bar to hear Larry read! 

This past December 6th, Patricia Ann McNair graced our podium to bring us this "Deer Story" from her new collection The Temple of Air, and it went a little like this...

If you liked that, please don't miss our next event which takes place Tuesday, January 3, 2012, and includes readings from Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Holly McDowell, Christopher Sweet, and William Shunn!

Attention, aspiring writers! We interrupt this Christmas Eve to bring you an important message about skulls and spines.

No, it's not The Nightmare Before Christmas. It's the Skull & Spine Workshop, taught by two-time Tuesday Funk reader Suzanne Clores. It takes place in Evanston on Sunday evenings from January 8th to February 12th, and this is what it's all about:

Bring an idea. We'll give it some bones.

Six sessions will be offered on Sunday evenings in Evanston, with specific focus on the first chapter of your novel/memoir and a working outline. Study of first chapters by Jonathan Franzen, Jennifer Egan, Joan Didion, Donna Tartt, Juno Diaz, Martin Amis and Patti Smith will serve as discussion topics before we workshop each other's chapters-in-progress. This is a fast moving workshop with aggressive deadlines.

Prior to each class, participants will present one or several sequential scenes belonging to the first chapter for their work in progress. Classes will begin with a 'round the circle check in on writing process and impressions of the assigned readings. Workshopping each other's submissions will be the bulk of the workshop, with attention to character, action, setting, and possible next steps.

Attendance is limited to five. Each writer will receive weekly written feedback on their scenes and revisions by all participants. The last two sessions will be devoted to crafting a working outline based on methods determined by discussion and exercises. By the end of the workshop, you should have a functioning first chapter and outline to guide you.

The cost is $225 for the full run of six sessions. Sign-up is on a first-come-first-served basis.

Suzanne Clores is the author of Memoirs of a Spiritual Outsider. She blogs for Gaiam and The Nervous Breakdown, has taught in the MA/MFA program at Northwestern University, and is currently revising her debut novel. Contact Suzanne about participating at suzanne@suzanneclores.com.

And here's a handy PDF flyer you can download and print for more info. Write on!

Christopher Sweet has been writing for more than the requisite 10,000 hours. "Yet still no word from Publisher's Clearinghouse," as the New Yorker cartoon caption read, oh, about ten years ago, I'd say.

He enjoys literary genres where the writer talks about himself in the third person. It reminds him of growing up in Kansas City, where his parents would frequently reference him as if he were absent, though he were standing between them. For example:

Father: Has he washed his hands for dinner?

Me: Who? What are you talking about?

Mother: I don't know, you'll have to ask him yourself.

Father: He ought to know what's expected of him.

Me: Hello, Dad, Mom! I'm here.

Mother: I'm sure I have no idea what he thinks he knows...

His favorite comedic rant is from the British television sitcom Coupling, the episode where the Steve goes shopping with Susan for furniture, and ends up losing his composure over cushions.

Not to fear, Chris won't rant for you at Tuesday Funk. As Steve says, "I can't have opinions in a place like this!"

Instead, Chris will read you a story about his misspent youth. He promises "something for everyone."

When not on stage reading, the writer enjoys bicycling, drinking coffee, and "jotting down notes," while waiting for Quinn The Eskimo to get here. Subtext: Godot.

Time's a whirligig.

Of the four elements, fire, earth, air, and water, he most enjoys "hey, ho, the wind and the rain," wild words and wet cheeks, laughter and tears, comedy and the other thing.

But that's all one...

Join Tuesday Funk on January 3, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at Hopleaf's upstairs bar to hear Chris read!

This past December 6th, Hanna Martine dropped by our microphone to bring us a bit of Blue's Clues–inspired erotica. No, really, we're serious. Because you never know what's going to happen "In the Doghouse"...

And if you liked that, please don't miss our next event which takes place Tuesday, January 3, 2012, and includes readings from Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Holly McDowell, Christopher Sweet, and William Shunn!

---

And if you'd like to hear another racy Blue's Clues story...

Stephen Markley is the author of "Publish This Book: The Incredible True Story of How I Wrote, Sold, and Published This Very Book," which is available wherever books are sold.

In addition, he is a regular columnist for RedEye and writes a blog for them called "Off the Markley." His fiction and non-fiction have appeared in the Chicago Reader, Perceptive Travel, RadarOnline, The Week, Cars.com's KickingTires, and Weber: A Study of the Contemporary West. He is currently at work on his second and third books and has recently sold the film rights to "Publish This Book."


Join Tuesday Funk on January 3, 2012, at 7:30 p.m. at Hopleaf's upstairs bar to hear Stephen read!

This past December 6th, Electric Velocipede mastermind and Hugo Award winner John Klima made the dangerous trek south from the Waukesha Public Library to read his short story "Life's Simple Pleasures" for us. Attend, children...

And if you liked that, be sure to pick up some back issues of the fine Electric Velocipede (the most recent of which has one of your humble co-host's stories in it).

And please don't miss our next event, which takes place Tuesday, January 3, 2012, and includes readings from Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Holly McDowell, Christopher Sweet, and William Shunn!

Just a quick reminder that your Tuesday Funk co-host William Shunn will be appearing at Essay Fiesta at The Book Cellar in Lincoln Square tonight at 7:00 pm.

This charitable monthly reading series benefits 826CHI, a Chicago non-profit writing and tutoring program. Please bring a bit of money for a donation or for the raffle, and arrive nice and early for a seat. See you there!

Strap on your snowshoes this January because Tuesday Funk is taking you on a wild winter trek. For our 41st episode you'll join us in tracking down the talents of Stephen Markley, Lawrence Santoro, Christopher Sweet, Holly McDowell, and William Shunn. And your reward? Dozens of varieties of cold beer in our warm, cozy environs, and an evening of prime entertainment.

The hunt gets underway Tuesday, January 3, 2012, 7:30 pm, in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf, 5148 N. Clark St., Chicago. Arrive early, carve yourself out some space in the upper room, and grab a beer from John at the cash-only bar. We start seating at 7:00 pm and no earlier. Admission is always free, but you must be 21 or older. And come early or stay afterward for some great Belgian-style food downstairs.

Please bring plenty of friends, and become a fan of Tuesday Funk on Facebook so you never miss an invitation to our readings. Mush!