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America’s leading literary critic, H.L. Mencken wrote, “Chicago is the literary capital of the United States.” That is true now as it was then. Aside from our honorees, we are also celebrating local storytellers whose voices have helped shape the world of literature with their recent
releases and projects.

See the full list of guest authors.

Jacqueline Alcántara



Brian Anderson



J. Nicole Brooks

21st Century Honoree, 2021

Susan Blumberg-Kason



Allison Buccola



Eiren Caffall



Dr. Eugenia Cheng



Forrest Claypool



Gwen Cohen



Elizabeth Crane

21st Century Honoree, 2003

Alison Cuddy



Rachel Dewoskin



Chaz Ebert



Allison Epstein



Layne Fargo



Alfredo Garcia



Amina Gautier

21st Century Honoree, 2016

Keir Graff



Melissa Harris



Dave Hoekstra



Ana Holguin



Leslé Honoré



Julie Iromuanya



Nancy Johnson



BIll Kurtis



Tod Lending



Lisa Low



Meredith Lyons



Jens Ludwig



Rebecca Makkai

21st Century Honoree, 2023

Mia P. Manansala



Nate Marshall

21st Century Honoree, 2020

Eric Charles May

21st Century Honoree, 2015

Liz McChesney



Alida Miranda-Wolff



Natalie Y. Moore

21st Century Honoree, 2017

Ambassador Carol Mosely Braun



Elise Paschen



Joseph Peterson



Ada Palmer



Renée Rosen



Erika L. Sánchez

21st Century Honoree, 2018

Peter Sagal



Mary Schmich



Laurie Gwen Shapiro



James Stewart III



Heidi Stevens



Scott Simon



Liz Taylor



Nathalie Theodore



Shermann “Dilla” Thomas

21st Century Honoree, 2022

Pamela Toler



Mark Turcotte

Illinois Poet Laureate