The Sixth Annual Chicago Book Expo ( www.chicagobookexpo.org ) will be held at Columbia College, 1104 S. Wabash, on Sunday, October 1, 2017, noon-5pm. The event is free and open to the public. The Chicago Book Expo is the leading free literary event of the autumn in Chicago. This year includes the first-ever Chicago Architecture Book Festival, a partner event with the Chicago Architecture Biennial.
The Chicago Book Expo will feature more than 80 exhibitors, including Chicago-area publishers selling books and nonprofit literary organizations. In addition, the Book Expo will offer more than 20 free events and workshops with local authors, including:
Global politics, including a panel about Syrian refugees with Wendy Pearlman, and a panel on racism and Trump featuring Haki Madhubuti talking about his new book, Not Our President, marking his 50th anniversary of founding Third World Press, and National Book Award nominee Nancy MacLean, author of Democracy in Chains.
Chicago history and culture, including Pamela Bannos' new biography of street photographer Vivian Maier, novelist Jac Jemc, poets Eve Ewing and Nate Marshall, Liesl Olson discussing Chicago's role in literature with Fred Sasaki of the Poetry Foundation, and a discussion about the new book Rust Belt Chicago.
Numerous architecture events, including a panel with the creators of the Chicago Architecture Foundation's new graphic novel about Chicago; a discussion on Chicago's fountains and bridges; and a panel on Race, Art, and Architecture, including the authors of a new book on The Wall of Respect.
A variety of writing workshops and panels, including a workshop on dialogue led by award-winning YA author Jessie Ann Foley, a memoir-writing workshop taught by David W. Berner, an exquisite corpse workshop with CHI PRC's Elizabeth O'Connell-Thompson, and discussions on creating a career as a writer and working with independent presses.
The Chicago Book Expo is organized by Lynn Haller and John K. Wilson to celebrate Chicago's authors, publishers, and literary culture. For more information, downloadable images, and a complete schedule, go to www.chicagobookexpo.org .