"Wednesdays Are for Writers" presents "An Off-White Christmas"

On Wednesday, December 4 the Eastgate Café, 102 Harrison St., Oak Park is hosting a very special holiday program especially attuned to the interests of writers, readers and those who love beautifully written and illustrated stories.

Author Donald G. Evans and illustrator Hannah Jennings will be our co-hosts and present a discussion not only on the creation of their book, An Off-White Christmas, but also share their insights on publishing literary works in the 21st Century.

Don is well-known in local literary circles as the founder and executive editor of the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. He also wrote Good Money After Bad and edited the Chicago Cubs anthology Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year. He’s been listed four times in the Newcity Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago feature and received the Chicago Writers Association's Spirit Award for lifetime achievement.

His latest book, An Off-White Christmas, received excellent reviews and is described by the publisher as “a dozen stories all set on or around Christmas, though with little to no clear religious emphasis. Instead, these stories explore life changes and choices and chaos in times of heightened drama, when family and friends and life partners merge to form cohesive units, happy or otherwise.”

The book is illustrated by Don’s good friend and Oak Park neighbor, Hannah Jennings, who has designed and illustrated countless books, websites, and signs that interpret exhibits in zoos and museums. The focus of Hannah’s MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago was her artist’s books; she now teaches design at Dominican University. She is past president of the Society for Experiential Graphic Design.

Aside from a short reading from An Off-White Christmas, Don and Hannah will share the details of what inspired the stories and how Hannah was able to create the perfect visual expression of their mood, message and plot.

They will also discuss the journey from literary and visual concept to publication in print and as a kindle book and finally, as an audio book.

Since the Eastgate is known for its delicious food and signature cocktails, it is suggested that attendees come in around 6:30 to meet Don and Hannah and join them for dinner, a drink or both. The Eastgate has even created two cocktails that are perfect for the occasion— a creamy “Eastgate Eggnog” or an original mocha-flavored hot toddy—a “Mocha Fusion.”

There is no charge for this program— but there is a suggested $10 minimum per person which can be applied to anything on the menu including drinks.