Plainfield Writer Joins Celebrity On Book Tour

PLAINFIELD, IL — Bianca Brummell is still working on getting her first book published, but the Plainfield native has already appeared on her first book tour, thanks to an offer from a famous actress/author. Brummell, 28, was chosen by "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" star Amber Tamblyn to read during her "Any Man: A Novel" book tour earlier this month in Wisconsin.

Brummell, who attended Plainfield Central for three years before graduating from Oswego East High School, said she learned Tamblyn was looking for authors to feature through the actress' Instagram page.

Brummell said she contacted Tamblyn through Instagram and got a reply a week and a half later inviting her to read during a July 13 stop at Boswell Book Company in Milwaukee.

Brummell read an excerpt from her novel, which has the working title "Bitchfield: Stuck in the Suburbs." Set in Plainfield during the early 2000s, the book deals with themes like racism, misogyny and classism, Brummell said.

Though she said she can't disclose details of the still-unpublished book, "The audience really responded to it," Brummell said. She said Tamblyn was also supportive.

"I'd never been in front of a (large) crowd before," said Brummell, who said she has also done readings at the Plainfield Public Library.

Brummell's next local appearance will be tonight — July 26 — at the Plainfield library's "Writer's 15 Minutes of Fame" open mic night, set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the large meeting room at the library, 15025 S. Illinois St.

Brummell, a Columbia College Chicago grad, also hinted another big project is in the works for her.

Photos via Bianca Brummell/submitted to Patch. Main photo: Tamblyn, left, and Brummell at a July 13 book tour stop in Milwaukee.