Norman Doucet hails from the den of the southern rebellion, Charleston, South Carolina. Influenced by the duality that exists there, he made some interesting decisions, starting with attending the college--founded after a slave revolt--which also has the dubious distinction of producing the two cadets who fired the first shots of the Civil War.

An English major as an undergrad, Norm decided to join the Marine Corps. He spent almost a decade there, earning his MA in English literature in the process. He loves telling stories, especially stories about those seminal moments that explain the duality that exists in most people.

Please join Norman and all our amazing readers on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, upstairs at Hopleaf at 7:30 pm. This 21-and-older event is free.

Lily Be is a momma, a nanny, and storyteller. She's a wise Mexican badass from Humboldt Park, Chicago. You can hear her tells stories everywhere and anywhere. Lily is a Moth GrandSLAM champion and the host and producer of her own storytelling show, The Stoop. A bio does not do Lily Be justice. After listening to her stories, you should talk to her and invite her over to make tamales. Experience the magic that is Lily Be.

Please join Lily and all our amazing readers on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, upstairs at Hopleaf at 7:30 pm. This 21-and-older event is free.

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's had some short stories published in magazines like Kaleidotrope, Shimmer, and Apex, and is the founding editor of the now-defunct online journal Brain Harvest. Eden is also half of the weekly podcast Should I Worry About This? as well as your Tuesday Funk co-host, in case you hadn't noticed.

Please join Eden and all our multitasking readers on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, upstairs at Hopleaf at 7:30 pm. This 21-and-older event is free.

Fred Sasaki is art director for Poetry magazine and a gallery curator for the Poetry Foundation. He also co-founded Homeroom Chicago's "School Night" info show in which artists and professionals talk about big things in slant ways in front of a drinking crowd. With his son and late father he is the author of the zine series, FRED SASAKI'S & FRED SASAKI'S FOUR-PAGER GUIDE TO: HOW TO FIX YOU.

Please join Fred and all our amazing readers on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, upstairs at Hopleaf at 7:30 pm. This 21-and-older event is free.

Erin Watson is a Southern person living in Chicago. Her poems appear in Anthology of Chicago and in the self-published chapbooks No Experiences, Instax Winter, and Nickels. Her poetry criticism appears on the Volta Blog. She was a finalist for the 2014 Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Award and one of New City's best emerging poets in Chicago in 2014. She's also read poems and essays at Miss Spoken, Story Club South Side, and the Private Reading Series, among others.

Please join Erin and all our amazing readers on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, upstairs at Hopleaf at 7:30 pm. This 21-and-older event is free.

Cool yourself with a beer and Tuesday Funk in July as we welcome guests Erin Watson, Fred Sasaki, Norman Doucet and Lily Be -- plus cohost Eden Robins with a full-length piece -- for your favorite eclectic monthly reading series. Join us Tuesday, July 7 in the upstairs lounge at Hopleaf, 5148 N. Clark St.

Doors open at 7:00 pm sharp -- no earlier, please, but get there as close to 7 as possible to grab a table, as the room fills up quickly -- and the show begins promptly at 7:30. Andrew Huff and Eden Robins co-host. Admission is free, but you must be 21 or older.

RSVP on Facebook and, as always, bring a friend. Don't forget to become a fan so you never miss an invitation to one of our readings.

The new film Mad Max: Fury Road inspired co-host Andrew Huff's topical haiku for the June 2nd edition of Tuesday Funk.

The Blackhawks came through
and won game seven last week.
Ducks scatter on ice.

Meanwhile, Riot Fest shared
its lineup for this year's show,
exciting music fans.

Elsewhere, sci-fi geeks
prep for Nebula Awards.
What thing turns you on?

Vacation notice:
I'm leaving soon, so make sure
that all hell breaks loose.

Mad Max: Fury Road.
Oh man, Mad Max: Fury Road.
Muscle care ballet. -or-
You guys, go see it. -or-
Seriously, you guys.

It was a star-studded cast at this month's Tuesday Funk, and we tried to restrain ourselves from asking for autographs. Emily Nordling set the scene with an excerpt from her historical novel about a mysterious photograph. Next up, Mary Lorenz made us laugh about her various medical misfortunes. Co-host Andrew Huff read some seasonal haiku (as well as one about Mad Max that came with several different endings), and then Christa Desir closed out the half with a compelling excerpt from her YA novel about an alcoholic girl boxer.

Fittingly, we spent our intermission with alcohol from Mark.

Co-host Eden Robins read a microessay about the lonely art of the selfie, and then it was K.B. Jensen's turn to read a story from her collection about a beloved, decrepit house. And finally, Hannah Gamble regaled us with several poems about life, love, and loss.

By now you know the drill, right? We'll be back on Tuesday, July 7th for more! Come see Erin Watson, Fred Sasaki, Norman Doucet, Lily Be, and co-host Eden Robins... or live with the foul taste of regret.

What better way to spend a brisk, autumnal June evening than checking out some great live lit! We have a hell of a lineup for you tonight - Emily Nordling, Hannah Gamble, Christa Desir, Mary Lorenz, and K.B. Jensen, PLUS your faithful co-hosts Andrew Huff and Eden Robins!

Our readings take place at Hopleaf Bar, 5148 N. Clark St. in Chicago. We get started promptly at 7:30 pm in the upstairs lounge. Arrive early if you want a seat--but no earlier than 7:00 pm. Our readings are free, but only those 21 and over will be admitted. No food can be brought in from the restaurant. See you there!

Christa Desir writes contemporary fiction for young adults. Her novels include Fault Line and Bleed Like Me and the forthcoming Other Broken Things and Love Blind. She lives with her husband, three children, and overly-enthusiastic dog outside of Chicago. She has volunteered as a rape victim activist for more than ten years, including providing direct service as an advocate in hospital ERs. She is a founding member of the Voices and Faces Project, a nonprofit organization for rape survivors that conducts an international survivor-based testimonial writing workshop.She also works as an editor at Samhain Publishing.

Please join Christa and all our amazing readers on Tuesday, June 2, 2015, upstairs at Hopleaf at 7:30 pm. This 21-and-older event is free.