Chicago Writes

In the May episode of Chicago Writes, a Podcast of the Chicago Writers Association, host WC Turck talks Branding with Michael Finney. Michael Finney is a Business Strategy Consultant focused on Media and Message. Find his workbook and course "How to Create a Personal Band in 10 Steps" at michael-finney.com. Back in February we heard from David W. Berner about Substack, the online publishing forum. In this two-part interview, David updates us on his experiences with Substack with some lessons learned, davidwberner.com. Plus, The Story of Literature, by WC Turck. Help us grow to become the best resource for Writers by spreading the word about the Chicago Writers Association. Did you know that membership is just $25 annually and makes a great gift for the writer in your life and is open to anyone all around the world. Chicagowrites.org. Our theme music is "Midnight Ride", from Dino Olovcic.

In just 3 short years the Chicago Writers Association's Let's Just Write! An Uncommon Writer's Conference has become a must attend event for Writers and Authors. In it's first 2 years Let's Just Write earned critical accolades from Writer Magazine, calling it one of the Best conferences in America. This year's sold-out conference exceeded expectations. In this value-added Episode we bring you a few of the voices from presenters and attendees, with expert tips and advice from the conference. A list of the speakers and links to their sites are below! Eric Charles May, Associate Professor of Creative Writing, Columbia College. Eric was the presenter of "How to get to Meaningful Memoir Material. His critically acclaimed novel is Bedrock Faith. Eric's website is ericcharlesmay.com Christina D. Rodriguez is a Latinx poet, entrepreneur, and moderated the Poetry Panel discussion. Her website is  https://crodonline.info/. Find her on Instagram at @poemlust, and on Twitter @poem_lust. Tony Tragilio at Amazon. Kathleen Rooney at Kathleen Rooney and Parneshia Jones ay parneshiajones.com Writer, Poet and author Lea Grover's website is Lea Grover.com. Connect with Lea's powerful story of grief, loss and motherhood by searching the key words, lea + grover + mike's + ashes. Internationally renown author Toneal M. Jackson presented, Editing is Not an Option, at this year's Let's Just Write Conference. She was named one of the 18 most powerful women on Chicago's South Side. Toneal is truly an A.W.E. Inspiring coach and resource. Her website is My Name is Toneal.com. For more information on Chicago Writers Association, visit Chicago Writes.org. Become a member today, or give the gift of membership to the writer and author in your life here! And don't forget to subscribe to Chicago Writes, a Podcast of the Chicago Writers Association, and receive notifications about future podcasts and programs.

Continuing with our spotlight on the CWA Book of the Year award winners for 2021, this episode features our outstanding authors for Indie and Traditional Non-fiction. Plus CWA announcements and upcoming events! Edith: The Rogue Rockefeller McCormick by Andrea Friederici Ross describes the enigmatic and rebellious life of industrialist John D Rockefeller’s daughter. Andrea talks about this enigmatic personality, and discusses lessons learned in researching and writing biography. Attorney Gary V. Johnson is the author of Luck Is A Talent: The true story of one lawyer’s experience in the Jeanine Nicarico case.” Gary talks about this seminal and heartbreaking case, and why it was written as a memoir in this important conversation. The website is Luck Is A Talent.com  Host: WC Turck Music by Dino Olovcic

Libby Fischer Hellmann and Rachel Swearingen are the 2021 Chicago Writer's Association Book of the Year winners for Fiction. In this Episode Libby and Rachel talk about the Art and Business of Writing, Marketing and more. Libby Fischer Hellmann's website is https://libbyhellmann.com/ Rachel Swearingen's website is https://www.rachelswearingen.com/ And don't forget to visit www.chicagowrites.org

Rachel Swearingen won this year’s award under Traditional Fiction for her latest work is “How to Walk on Water and Other Stories.” In 2019, the Guild Literary Complex named her one of 30 Writers to Watch. She lives in Chicago and teaches in Cornell College’s low-residency MFA program. www.rachelswearingen.com is the website.

Critically acclaimed author Libby Fischer Hellman writes strong women. From her Ellie Foreman Mysteries, to the suspenseful adventures of blond and beautiful Chicago PI, Georgia Davis. And Hellman has taken us around the world, to war, and across history through the eyes of female characters-you know, the other half of the world. She is also a 2021 Chicago Writer’s Association’s Book of the year award Winner for Indie Fiction. No spoiler alerts here. We are after the nuts and bolts of writing effective Fiction, especially strong female characters. Find out more about Libby Hellmann at www.libbyhellmann.com