Starry night in Chi-town

The Chicago Public Library Foundation honored Tom Wolfe and Theresa Schwegel at the Carl Sandburg Literary Awards gala Wednesday evening. Schwegel received the 21st Century Award for her significant achievement in writing by an author with ties to Chicago.

More coverage at the Chicago Tribune, Crain’s Chicago Business, Chicago Sun-Times, Northwest Herald and the Chicago Public Library.








































Photos from top left:
(1) The radiant author posing at the entrance
(2) Great minds meeting for lunch (editor extraordinaire Kelley Ragland, Theresa, VP of St. Martin's Minotaur Andy Martin, and DHS)
(3) Theresa with Rhona Frazin, President of the Chicago Public Library Foundation
(4) Accepting the 21st Century Award from Deborah Bricker
(5) Theresa's acceptance speech onstage
(6) A close up during her speech
(7) Author and journalist Tom Wolfe speaking to the audience after being presented the Carl Sandburg Literary Award
(8) Theresa signing a book for Maggie Daley, wife of Mayor Richard M. Daley
(9) Theresa with her parents and DHS, aka her most avid enthusiasts (Photos 1, 4, 6 and 8 by Dan Rest)


Schwegel's most recent book PERSON OF INTEREST continues to receive rave reviews:

RTE Guide, a popular Irish magazine, says PERSON OF INTEREST is "a poignant and gripping tale...This is another super example of Schwegel’s ability and portends even better things to come".

"Theresa Schwegel's first two thrillers showed a writer of great promise, which is impressively fulfilled in Person of Interest. Schwegel's story is complex and cleverly nuanced, and it succeeds mainly because her characters, even the most minor, are so brilliantly realised and wholly believable. She scarcely puts a foot wrong as she drives her narrative through a maze of deception and betrayal to its bittersweet conclusion." - The Telegraph

Razzle dazzle roll call

With Al Roker acting as sous chef on The Today Show, Chef Jon Bonnell demonstrated a succulent, grilled lobster with herb-infused olive oil.


Professor Tim Calkins' book, BREAKTHROUGH MARKETING PLANS, is "drawing raves" by top executives of major companies.

Reed Coleman's SOUL PATCH scored the 2008 Shamus Award at Bouchercon last weekend. That Moe Prager is one award-winning character!




THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON, by Nunzio DeFilippis and Christina Weir, is officially in stores. Readers, young and young at heart, will enjoy F. Scott Fitzgerald - graphic novel style.

"The impending release of a movie version starring Brad Pitt has made this humorous tale, formerly among the least known of Fitzgerald's short stories, a hot property. DeFillippis and Weir's adaptation preserves the original's straight-faced tone describing the career of a man who begins life in his 70s and grows progressively younger…there's much to enjoy in this handsome little hardbound book. Cornell's sepia watercolor panels are especially clever at showing physical and emotional changes as Benjamin moves backward through life while America rolls forward for 70 years. A useful, gracefully written afterword by Donald G. Sheehy, professor of English, completes the volume nicely." - Publishers Weekly


Sci Fi Wire picks up on Gischler's Apocalypse In A Strip Club.


Mucho congrats for Michael Koryta, who has a shiny, new deal with Michael Pietsch at Little, Brown!

"THE LOST RIVER, a thriller with a supernatural twist, in which a filmmaker hired to document a wealthy man's hidden past unleashes the buried secrets of a town that was once America's most luxurious resort, to Michael Pietsch at Little, Brown, in a major deal, for three books, for publication in 2010".


J. D. Rhoades' "BREAKING COVER is a brilliant novel. Vivid, fascinating and action packed, this is a thriller that will no doubt leave one wanting more. Those who like their thrillers to be thought provoking and with bullets flying will love it. Let's hope that we get to see much more of Tony Wolf." (Reviewing the Evidence)



Elizabeth Somer offers The Today Show viewers some helpful tips for a healthy diet through the decades. Somer's new book -- a step-by-step guide to being happy, mentally sharp, and energized, while trimming and permanently managing weight -- will be published by Deb Brody at Harlequin.


The sassy and snappy Magic Trixie is up to her mischievous antics again in MAGIC TRIXIE SLEEPS OVER. This beautifully illustrated second installment by Jill Thompson is in stores on Oct. 21.



Variety reports on the very nice film sale for Boston Teran's GOD IS A BULLET:

Film rights for the thriller have been optioned by screenwriter Ehren Kruger (The Ring, Skeleton Key), who will co-produce with Daniel Bobker (The Brothers Grimm) and Bradley Bell.

Snapshots from Bouchercon

(1) Will Dennis and Brian Azzarello present THE JOKER, a deliciously twisted standalone featuring the "clown prince of crime".

(2) Duane Swierczynski fans get in the game early on, collecting signatures from the stroller.












(3) Batman keeps watch while Jill Thompson signs at Geppi's.

(4) Brian Azzarello, Gary Phillips, and Will Dennis join forces on the DC Vertigo Crime panel.











(5) Dan Conaway, J. D. Rhoades, Sean Doolittle, and Alafair Burke relax at Mick O'Shea's, this year's bar of choice for the annual DHS "off-campus" party.

(6) Mark Sullivan is the picture of cool composure no matter where he is, be it listening to Lynn Grady at a bar or tracking prey in the woods.











(7) Here's a nice bottle of Beck's, pausing for a photo with Michael Koryta and Kelley Ragland.

(8) Sean Doolittle, Michael Koryta, and Derek Nikitas -- all smiles before climbing onboard the Coast Guard Cutter as research for future books. Allegedly.