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2024 Chicago public library foundation awards

2024 Chicago Public Library Foundation Award Guest Authors

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.

Ben Austen



Lisa Barr



Rick Bayless

Arts Award Honoree, 2022

Rowan Beaird



J. Nicole Brooks

21st Century Honoree, 2021

Ayana Contreras



Jonathan Eig



Monica Eng



Eve L. Ewing

21st Century Honoree, 2019

Elizabeth Flock



Linda Gartz



Amina Gautier

21st Century Honoree, 2016

April Gibson



Melissa Harris



Leslé Honoré



Lindsay Hunter



Beth Uznis Johnson



James Klise



Mary Kubica



Bill Kurtis



Mia P. Manansala



Eric Charles May

21st Century Honoree, 2015

Natalie Y. Moore

21st Century Honoree, 2017

Anne Morrissy



Nami Mun

21st Century Honoree, 2012

M.K. Pritzker

First Lady of Illinois

Kathleen Rooney



Francesca T. Royster



Peter Sagal



Scott Simon



Nancy Stevenson



Ben Tanzer



Liz Taylor



Shermann “Dilla” Thomas

21st Century Honoree, 2022

Luis Alberto Urrea



Shelby Van Pelt