Keith Ecker is the co-producer of Essay Fiesta, a monthly reading series at the Book Cellar. He has been invited to read at numerous shows throughout Chicago. He is also a professional freelance writer, specializing in travel, technology and law,...  read

Jenny Seay was in the third grade when she first decided to be a writer. Her pursuit of this dream has never been simple or straightforward, but she continues to follow it anyway, knowing that the journey has taken her to some...  read

Maggie Kast grew up with egg nog on Christmas morning and clambakes on the beach in summer. She learned to cook from Fannie Farmer and Julia Child, while marriage broadened her horizons to inlcude Tafelspitz and Salburger Nockerln. Her M.F.A.—Writing...  read

By the way, Funkers, there's a most excellent literary face-off coming your way tonight at The Hideout, where impressario Ian Belknap regularly hosts Write Club, a bare-knuckle brawl where words are weapons. Tonight's edition of this long-running tradition features, among...  read

Jerry Schwartz is the author of Pixels of Young Mueller, a coming-of-age tale published in 2010 by All Things That Matter Press. Visit his website at itsjerryschwartz.com. Schwartz also writes, plays, sings, and produces the music of The Jerrys, a...  read

In the grand tradition of underemployed artists, Eden Robins has been: a singing waitress, a dildo salesman, a dental assistant, an abortion clinic receptionist, a blowjob instructor, a travel writer, a pelvic model, and a Swahili teacher. She has published...  read

Julie Rosenthal is a freelance writer in Chicago. She draws ideas for her stories from the encyclopedia articles she writes for Salem Press. Her fiction has been recognized by ChiZine and has appeared in Ensorcelled. More stories are forthcoming in...  read

Brooke Wonders spent her formative years editing the voices in other peoples' heads, which perhaps explains more than you need to know. Her latest play, "Unbirthday," was recently staged in Flagstaff, Arizona, where it received rave reviews from some of...  read

Karen Skalitzky is the author of A Recipe for Hope: Stories of Transformation by People Struggling with Homelessness (ACTA Publications, 2006). An educator by trade, she works as a Reading Specialist and coaches teachers and principals in both underserved and...  read

Suzanne Clores is a writer of fiction and memoir from the New York City diaspora known as New Jersey. Her book Memoirs of a Spiritual Outsider has just celebrated its ten-year anniversary with a Kindle edition re-release. Her work has...  read