American Writers Museum

Get ready to turn the page on your next great read at The Great Big Book Swap at the American Writers Museum!
Join your fellow book lovers and refresh your bookshelf at the Great Big Book Swap! Bring in your gently used books and leave with some new-to-you books! Books can be of any genre and at any reading level. The
Books for donation can be dropped off at the museum's front desk during open hours beginning Thursday, September 17. Any books remaining after the swap will be donated to our nonprofit partners across the city.
Come swap, explore, and discover your next chapter at the Great Big Book Swap!
The Great Big Book Swap is part of the American Writers Museum's monthly free day progamming. Enjoy free admission to the American Writers Museum on the third Sunday of each month from 10:00 am 5:00 pm! Free admission grants you access to all our exhibits, including our special exhibit <a href="https://exhibits.americanwritersmuseum.org/exhibits/american-prophets/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture</a>. Advanced registration recommended but not required.
Interested in sponsoring a free day? <a href="https://americanwritersmuseum.org/join-give/sponsorship/#:~:text=FAMILY%20FREE%20DAYS%20%E2%80%93%20%245000" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">Click here</a> to explore how you or your company can help everyone enjoy the American Writers Museum. Free Day sponsors enjoy many benefits, including name recognition throughout the museum and on marketing materials, a private meeting area for your use, discounts on future museum rentals, and more!

Local Event: The Great Big Book Swap

Cook County

Chicago

Illinois

The Great Big Book Swap

Get ready to turn the page on your next great read at The Great Big Book Swap at the American Writers Museum!
Join your fellow...

Join us for an illuminating conversation at the AWM with writers Reyna Grande and Erika L. Sánchez. The two bestselling authors sit down to discuss Grande’s new book Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget, an ambitious memoir in essays that illuminates the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival. Books will be available for purchase and Grande will sign them following the program.
This is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed, and you can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/author-talk-migrant-heart-by-reyna-grande-online-tickets-1992447027695?aff=WebsiteListing" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">register for the link to the online broadcast here</a>.

Local Event: Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande (IN PERSON)

Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande...

Join us for an illuminating conversation at the AWM with writers Reyna Grande and Erika L. Sánchez. The two bestselling authors...

Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande (IN PERSON)

Virtual

Join us for an illuminating conversation at the AWM with writers Reyna Grande and Erika L. Sánchez. The two bestselling authors sit down to discuss Grande’s new book Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can’t Forget, an ambitious memoir in essays that illuminates the hidden cost of the American Dream and the complex journey of healing that follows survival.
This is the livestream of an in person program at the American Writers Museum. When you register for this event, you will receive access to the livestream link. If you would like to <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/author-talk-migrant-heart-by-reyna-grande-in-person-tickets-1992446334622?aff=WebsiteListing" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">attend the program in person at the AWM, get your tickets here</a>.More about Migrant Heart:
What is the true power of stories? Can they heal the jagged edges of a traumatic childhood? Is the cost of telling the story worth the price of the cure?
Reyna Grande has spent her career capturing the raw reality of life across borders. In this intricate and deeply intimate memoir-in-essays, the author of the landmark memoirs The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home again turns her gaze inward to explore the scars left by migration and the ongoing work of stitching herself back together.
With her signature blend of sophistication and raw honesty, Grande interrogates how living between two nations, two languages, and two identities has shaped the woman, mother, and writer she has become. Moving from the legacy of violence in her hometown of Iguala, Mexico, to a bittersweet family vacation in Europe spent reconciling her own impoverished past with her children’s world of abundance, she uncovers startling truths about the nature of survival.
Whether being racially profiled in the Arizona borderlands or finding unexpected wisdom from the slugs in her garden, Grande unflinchingly asks: How do we bridge the gap between who we were and who we have become? How do we turn pain into power? When memory threatens to define us, how can we use story to heal while still honoring our boundaries?
Migrant Heart is a powerful testament to Grande’s role as a storyteller and cultural witness. It expands our understanding of life in the United States and the complex people who cross and live within its borders. It is an essential read for the seekers, the dreamers, and anyone who believes in the enduring, transformative power of finding one’s voice.
Praise for Migrant Heart:
“Migrant Heart is the exact book I needed during this tumultuous time. These essays should be taught across the country. Reyna’s stories of surviving and thriving as a Brown woman in the United States are seamlessly told through her sharp, vibrant prose. This is a book I will return to again and again.” —Erika L. Sánchez, New York Times bestselling author of I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter and Crying in the Bathroom
“With heart and verve, and her own particular candor, so warm like a sun, Reyna Grande writes about writing, memory, the Ayotzinapa 43, the cruelties of the border, menopause, slug sex, and queen bees. I love Reyna’s way of seeing the world. These essays are heart-big.” —Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Pulitzer Prize finalist and author of The Man Who Could Move Clouds
“Migrant Heart is deep, gorgeous, and full of unexpected chambers that will by turns unsettle you, infuriate you, comfort you, and, if you let them, heal you. And while much darkness lies in many of these essays—of human nature, of life, of our nation—ultimately, they are illuminated with love.” —Xóchitl González, Pulitzer Prize finalist and New York Times bestselling author of Olga Dies Dreaming

Local Event: Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande (ONLINE)

Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande (ONLINE)

Join us for a special afternoon poetry reading and Q&amp;A with acclaimed Irish poet Micheal O’Siadhail, who will read from and discuss his latest collection The Essential Poems. O’Siadhail will be joined in conversation by Parneshia Jones, Director for Northwestern University Press.
Books will be available for purchase and O’Siadhail will sign them following the program. Light snacks and refreshments will also be available.About the book:
With an illustrious literary career that has spanned over fifty years, renowned poet Micheal O’Siadhail has cemented his place on the international stage. From his debut collection, The Leap Year (1978), to his latest collection, Desire (2023), O’Siadhail captures evolving struggles with love, faith, and humanity. Here, spanning the entirety of his outstanding career, is the essence of his masterful body of work.
The Essential Poems voyages through traditional and innovative poetic forms, investigating love and passion, joy and loss, world-shaping events and personal experiences. O’Siadhail sounds the depths of meaning and evokes wonder, surprise, anguish, and delight. A lyrical meditation on the relationships between humanity and nature, despair and faith, and the richness of courage in the acts of healing completes what proves to be this unforgettable and necessary collection of the inimitable Irish poet.
MICHEAL O’SIADHAIL was born in Dublin in 1947. He was educated at Trinity College Dublin and the University of Oslo. A full-time writer, he has published eighteen collections of poetry, receiving numerous awards, including the Marten Toonder Prize for Literature and the Irish American Cultural Institute prize for poetry. He has been a lecturer at Trinity College Dublin and a professor at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies and is still writing poetry, splitting his time between New York City and Dublin.
PARNESHIA JONES serves as Director for Northwestern University Press. Her acquisitions have garnered some of the highest literary honors, including the National Book Award, the Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award, Hurston/Wright Legacy Awards, NAACP Image Awards, and the LA Times Book Award, and have been finalists for the Pulitzer Prize.
The author of Vessel: Poems (Milkweed Editions, 2015), winner of the Midwest Book Award and featured as one of “12 Books to Savor” by O, The Oprah Magazine, Parneshia has been honored with the Adam Morgan Literary Leadership Award, the Gwendolyn Brooks Poetry Award, the Margaret Walker Short Story Award, and the Aquarius Press Legacy Award. Named one of the “25 Writers to Watch” by the Guild Complex and one of “Lit 50: Who Really Books in Chicago” by Newcity Magazine, her work has appeared in anthologies including She Walks in Beauty: A Woman’s Journey Through Poems and The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South. She has been featured on PBS Newshour, the Academy of American Poets, espnW, and an international poetry exchange in Seoul, South Korea, and sponsored by DreamYard.

Local Event: Micheal O’Siadhail – Poetry Reading with Q&A

Micheal O’Siadhail – Poetry Reading with Q&A

Join us for a special afternoon poetry reading and Q&A with acclaimed Irish poet Micheal O’Siadhail, who will read from and...

Join us at the American Writers Museum for a special live reading of a new play in production from Painted Pistachio Productions, Cold Was the Ground. Enjoy a full staged reading with the cast (80 mins), followed by a discussion and Q&amp;A with playwright Doug DuBrin, director Eileen Tull, and Dr. Andrew Johnston, VP of Museum Experience at the Adler Planetarium.
About Cold Was the Ground:
The play’s title is derived from the seminal early 20th-century blues artist Blind Willie Johnson’s tune “Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground.” The song itself is one of the numerous cultural ambassadors from Earth to the cosmos engraved on both Voyager spacecrafts’ Golden Record.
In the play, a boy, Tanner, shortly after enduring extraordinary trauma, starts to mumble seeming gibberish in his sleep and elsewhere. His single, similarly traumatized father, Sean, frantically, gradually, begins to decipher that the “gibberish” has a legitimate source: The Golden Record of the Voyager II. What follows is the untangling of the mystery.
CAST:
Sean: Stef Brundage Tanner: Aurie Henry Dr. Roy: Rory Jobst Monica: Amanda Winston Chad: Jonathan Crabtree
Assistant Director: Jo Hoagland

Local Event: Live Reading: “Cold Was the Ground”

Live Reading: “Cold Was the Ground”

Join us at the American Writers Museum for a special live reading of a new play in production from Painted Pistachio...

Something's bubbling in our cauldron! Join us for Get Lit: Witch Please, a spooky celebration of all things witches, magic, and the macabre!
Grab your broomstick and get ready for a night of magic, mischief, and mayhem at <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/get-lit-witch-please-tickets-1995951030261?aff=oddtdtcreator&amp;keep_tld=true" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Get Lit: Witch Please!</a> From wicked spellcasters and mysterious enchantresses to misunderstood outsiders and powerful women, witches have cast a long shadow over American stories and popular culture.

Local Event: Get Lit: Witch Please

Get Lit: Witch Please

Something's bubbling in our cauldron! Join us for Get Lit: Witch Please, a spooky celebration of all things witches, magic, and...

Longtime independent bookstore owner and AWM Founding Board Member Roberta Rubin stops by to discuss her new memoir Turning Pages: The Life and Times of a Bookseller. For more than thirty years, Rubin owned and ran The Book Stall at Chestnut Court in Winnetka, Illinois—one of the nation’s most admired independent bookstores. In this warm and inspiring memoir, she reflects on the journey that transformed a neighborhood shop into a nationally respected cultural destination and a beloved cornerstone of community life.
Rubin will be interviewed by writer Richard Reeder. Books will be available for purchase and Rubin will sign them following the program.More about Turning Pages:
A leader in independent bookselling, Rubin championed emerging and established writers, cultivated generations of passionate readers, and steered her bookstore through every challenge the shifting literary landscape presented—from big-box competition to the rise of online retail. Her story is filled with engaging anecdotes about the authors, publishers, colleagues, and customers who shaped her world, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the relationships and determination that sustained an independent bookstore through decades of change.
Both a deeply personal account of a life devoted to books and a source of inspiration for booksellers and independent shop owners, this memoir reflects the same energy, warmth, grit, and unwavering commitment to books that defined her oversight of the store. It testifies to the power of independent retailers to build community, spark curiosity, and bring people together—and to Rubin’s ongoing advocacy for the enduring value of bookstores and the written word.
ROBERTA RUBIN owned and ran The Book Stall at Chestnut Court for more than three decades, turning it into one of the most influential independent bookstores in the country. The store, in Winnetka, Illinois, won accolades including Publishers Weekly’s Bookstore of the Year in 2012. Rubin helped chart a course for indie bookstores to survive and thrive against the rise of big chain bookstores and Amazon, emphasizing author visits, community outreach and personalized service. She is also a member of the founding board of the American Writers Museum, where a room is named in her honor. She currently lives in Evanston, Illinois.RICHARD REEDER was born and raised in Chicago and continues to live in the Chicago area with his wife Anne. Educated in the Chicago public schools, he has two degrees from Roosevelt University. His multifaceted career included working as a caseworker, elementary school teacher, employment counselor, research assistant, and as an executive in both government and social service and educational organizations. Richard remains active as a consultant, writer, and adult education facilitator and instructor.

Local Event: Author Talk: “Turning Pages” by Roberta Rubin

Author Talk: “Turning Pages” by Roberta Rubin

Longtime independent bookstore owner and AWM Founding Board Member Roberta Rubin stops by to discuss her new memoir Turning...

What if you could shrink yourself down to the size of a bug? Build your own droid? Travel through space with nothing but science to keep you alive? Or use quantum physics to outsmart an eavesdropper? We’re exploring the science behind it all and having a little fun along the way. Join us for Get Lit: Weird Science, a night of trivia, hands-on activities, and experiments inspired by the strangest, silliest, and most spectacular science found in books, movies, and our wildest imaginations.
Test your science and sci-fi smarts, create your own binary-code bracelet, get quantum-entangled, explore the future of robotics, and discover the chemistry behind what’s in your glass. Explore the chemistry behind what’s in your glass with beer, wine, and our specialty cocktail,&nbsp;THE GOO. Prefer to skip the booze? Non-alcoholic options will be available, too.
In partnership with&nbsp;Argonne National Laboratory, discover how real scientists are turning seemingly impossible ideas into reality.
Whether you’re a science nerd, a sci-fi superfan, or just curious about the wonderfully weird world around us, Get Lit is the place to get curious, get creative, and get a little weird.
This is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.

Local Event: Get Lit: Weird Science

Get Lit: Weird Science

What if you could shrink yourself down to the size of a bug? Build your own droid? Travel through space with nothing but...

Minister, gospel artist, and scholar Charrise Barron visits the American Writers Museum to discuss her new book The Platinum Age of Gospel: The Years When Crossover Music Changed Everything, which tells the story of how Black gospel music crossed over, reshaped American popular music, and transformed the culture at large. Books will be available for purchase and Barron will sign them following the program.
This is an in person program at the American Writers Museum. This program will also be livestreamed, and you can&nbsp;<a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/american-prophets-the-platinum-age-of-gospel-online-tickets-1993948596929?aff=WebsiteListing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">register for the link to the online broadcast here</a>.
This program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit&nbsp;<a href="https://awmamericanprophets.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture</a>, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling.&nbsp;American Prophets&nbsp;is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.

Local Event: American Prophets: The Platinum Age of Gospel (IN PERSON)

American Prophets: The Platinum Age of Gospel...

Minister, gospel artist, and scholar Charrise Barron visits the American Writers Museum to discuss her new book The Platinum...

American Prophets: The Platinum Age of Gospel (IN PERSON)

Minister, gospel artist, and scholar Charrise Barron visits the American Writers Museum to discuss her new book The Platinum Age of Gospel: The Years When Crossover Music Changed Everything, which tells the story of how Black gospel music crossed over, reshaped American popular music, and transformed the culture at large.
This is the livestream of an in person program at the American Writers Museum. When you register for this event, you will receive access to the livestream link. If you would like to <a href="https://www.eventbrite.com/e/american-prophets-the-platinum-age-of-gospel-in-person-tickets-1993946817607?aff=WebsiteListing" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">attend the program in person at the AWM, get your tickets here</a>.
This program is presented in conjunction with the AWM’s special exhibit&nbsp;<a href="https://awmamericanprophets.org/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture</a>, a powerful new exhibit that takes you on the ultimate exploration through spirituality and storytelling.&nbsp;American Prophets&nbsp;is supported by a grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its Religion and Cultural Institutions Initiative.

Local Event: American Prophets: The Platinum Age of Gospel (ONLINE)

American Prophets: The Platinum Age of Gospel (ONLINE)

Get into the holiday spirit and jumpstart your shopping at <a href="https://americanwritersmuseum.org/program-calendar/2026-santas-book-fair/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">Get Lit: Santa’s Book Fair,</a> a holiday twist on the original grown-up book fair!
Join the American Writers Museum and local, independent Chicago bookstores for this special holiday event. Enjoy beer, wine, and the night’s specialty cocktail, The Red Nose, a delicious winter cocktail. Plus, be on the lookout for the big man in red for photos and holiday stories!
This is 21+ event. Attendees must show a valid photo ID at the door to enter.

Local Event: Get Lit: Santa's Book Fair

Get Lit: Santa's Book Fair

Get into the holiday spirit and jumpstart your shopping at Get Lit: Santa’s Book Fair, a holiday twist on the original grown-up...

Chicago Metropolitan Area

Lincoln Park

Bucktown-Wicker Park

Lakeview

North Center-Roscoe Village

Hyde Park

West Side

Lorraine Swanson

South Side

Lincoln Square

Oak Park-River Forest

Forest Park

Countryside Banquets & Conference Center - 6200 Joliet Rd, Countryside, IL, 60525 

SUNDAY Sept 20th - Chicagoland Record &amp; CD Collectibles 228th Show
This show is in it's 36th year and this Sunday will be #228!&nbsp; A HUGE thank you to Jim for making this such an amazing show for vendors and attendees! 
As of latest count there will be 78 vendors &amp; 122 tables - something for everyone!
Whether you're looking for Vinyl/CDs/45s/LPs or other music collectibles this is a great show!
Facebook link above for more info.&nbsp; &nbsp;NOTE:&nbsp;dealers will check facebook page often so feel free to post items you are looking for… or just show up and enjoy the hunt!!
Radio Ruta will be spinning vinyl from 9am-3pm
Show regular hours:&nbsp; 9am - 4pm admission $5
Early bird hours:&nbsp; 7am start admission $15

Local Event: This Sunday - Chicagoland Record & CD Collectors Show

La Grange

This Sunday - Chicagoland Record & CD...

SUNDAY Sept 20th - Chicagoland Record & CD Collectibles 228th Show
This show is in it's 36th year and this Sunday will be...

This Sunday - Chicagoland Record & CD Collectors Show

Avondale Music Hall

Experience the high-flying excitement of live lucha libre wrestling featuring an incredible lineup of stars including Hijo De Canis Lupus, Rey Mictlan, Tigre Blanco, Axel Rico, Rafael Quintero and many more. General admission is $30, VIP tickets are available for $40, and children under 11 can join the action for just $10 at the door or $13.47 online.Posted by SurgeDurango — proudly supporting independent wrestling, small businesses, and family‑friendly entertainment across the Chicagoland area. Content featured by ESPN, Joe.co.uk, and Bleacher Report. Explore more events, including AEW &amp; WWE: https://surgedurango.com/

Local Event: Galli Lucha Libre at Avondale Music Hall

Galli Lucha Libre at Avondale Music Hall

Experience the high-flying excitement of live lucha libre wrestling featuring an incredible lineup of stars including Hijo De...

Von Maur

Join Wacoal for Fit for the Cure®, a special in-person event that combines expert bra fittings with meaningful impact in the fight against breast cancer.
Receive a complimentary bra fitting. For every guest who gets fit and purchases a regular-price Wacoal or b.tempt’d bra at the event, Wacoal will donate $5 to Susan G. Komen®, supporting breast cancer research, patient services, and critical education programs.
Whether you’re overdue for a fitting, refreshing your top drawer, or simply looking for a meaningful way to give back, this is an easy way to do something good for yourself and your community.
Bring your daughters, friends, sisters, and neighbors. Make it a girls’ day with purpose!
The event runs all day; check your location for availability. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome, and the event is open to all.

Local Event: Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer...

Join Wacoal for Fit for the Cure®, a special in-person event that combines expert bra fittings with meaningful impact in the...

Free Bra Fittings to Support Breast Cancer Awareness

The Art Institute of Chicago

ProPulse 2026 is ProGlove's flagship industry event, bringing together operations leaders, IT decision makers, and innovation pioneers to explore the future of frontline work. Taking place on September 30 at the Art Institute of Chicago, the invite-only event will feature executives from companies including Gap, John Deere, Ford, McKinsey, and DPD alongside technology innovators and startup leaders.&nbsp;

Sessions will focus on AI-driven automation, workforce intelligence, supply chain transformation, leadership, and operational performance, with an emphasis on practical strategies and peer-to-peer discussion.

Local Event: ProPulse | From Industry Legacy to Workforce Intelligence

ProPulse | From Industry Legacy to Workforce...

ProPulse 2026 is ProGlove's flagship industry event, bringing together operations leaders, IT decision makers, and innovation...

ProPulse | From Industry Legacy to Workforce Intelligence

1521 S. Linn White Dr., Northerly Island, Chicago, IL 60605

FEATURING ELDERBROOK LIVE AT SUNSET
The Wellness Retreat is taking over Chicago’s Northerly Island for one unforgettable day of movement, music, mindfulness and connection.
Move alongside leading instructors. Discover fresh ways to feel your best. Recharge by the lake, connect with your people and close out the day with a live sunset performance by Elderbrook.
This isn’t wellness as usual. It’s immersive, energizing and meant to be experienced out loud—together.
AND THAT’S JUST THE BEGINNING.

For more information, <a href="https://speakeasygo.com/the-wellness-retreat/the-wellness-retreat-chicago?eid=EVE-I2830I" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">click here.&nbsp;</a>

(Photo Credit: © 2026 The Wellness Retreat. All rights reserved.)

Local Event: The Wellness Retreat: A Festival Where Mind, Body, and Music Meet

The Wellness Retreat: A Festival Where Mind,...

FEATURING ELDERBROOK LIVE AT SUNSET
The Wellness Retreat is taking over Chicago’s Northerly Island for one unforgettable day of...

Nearby Communities

State Edition

National Edition

Posting Activity

The Great Big Book Swap

SEP

20

10:00 AM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande (IN PERSON)

SEP

23

6:00 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Author Talk: “Migrant Heart” by Reyna Grande (ONLINE)

SEP

23

6:00 PM

Chicago, IL

Micheal O’Siadhail – Poetry Reading with Q&A

OCT

8

11:00 AM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Live Reading: “Cold Was the Ground”

OCT

16

6:00 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Get Lit: Witch Please

OCT

20

5:30 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Author Talk: “Turning Pages” by Roberta Rubin

NOV

3

6:00 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Get Lit: Weird Science

NOV

10

5:30 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

American Prophets: The Platinum Age of Gospel (IN PERSON)

DEC

3

6:00 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

American Prophets: The Platinum Age of Gospel (ONLINE)

DEC

3

6:00 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL

Get Lit: Santa's Book Fair

DEC

9

5:30 PM

American Writers Museum, 180 North N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL