Illinois Press Book Blog

 
Gary Cialdella discusses his new book The Calumet Region: An American Place on WGN-TV’s Midday News.

 
Larry & Alaina Kanfer discuss Barns of Illinois on WGN-TV.

Given the torrent of negative media attention enjoyed of late by the state of Illinois and its flagship university , it’s no surprise that the Onion wanted to get in on the action. No mention of pols, clout, or scandal du jour. We’ll take it.

The September 2, 2009, issue of the Chicago Tribune includes a profile of Joe McFarland and Gregory Mueller’s new book Edible Wild Mushrooms of Illinois and Surrounding States.

If you thought wild mushroom hunting ended with the spring, then perhaps you’re hallucinating.

Larry Kanfer discusses his forthcoming book Barns of Illinois on WTTW-TV’s Chicago Tonight program.

Kent Redfield, contributor to the forthcoming book Illinois Politics: A Citizen’s Guide, comments in a Chicago Tribune story on Illinois legislative scholarships.

Hey Chicagoans!  The August 26 edition of WTTW’s Chicago Tonight will include an interview with Larry Kanfer whose new photography book, Barns of Illinois, will be published in October.  Tune in at 7:00 PM.

John Hallwas, author of the book Dime Novel Desperadoes: The Notorious Maxwell Brothers, was interviewed on August 11, 2009, on WGN-TV’s Midday News program.

Inside Higher Ed blogger and local UI personality Oronte Churm has launched perhaps the first ever “Southern Illinois Rocks” online contest in celebration of the publication of his novel, A Democracy of Ghosts.

The book is set in southern Illinois, the part of our state known as Egypt (frequently confused with Little Egypt, a burlesque dancer who appeared at the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago).

Among Oronte’s many fine prizes are a couple from us: UIP’s backlist classic Bloody Williamson by Paul M. Angle and a 3-volume set of the Folksongs of Illinois CDs, hidden gems that we distribute for the Illinois Humanities Council.

Enter by July 10 for your chance to win. Support regional writers. Visit Egypt. (And if you can guess which former UIP employee is now Mrs. Churm, you’ll win a prize from me.)

A week ago today we headed north for the Printers Row Lit Fest in Chicago. 2009 turned out to be our most successful show to date, with twelve authors on panels, many more who stopped by to say hello, decent weather (no tornado this year), and record-setting sales. I hadn’t attended a Printers Row in about ten years, so it was encouraging to talk to so many people who love books and especially admired those in our display. My personal highlight was selling a book to the sister of arguably the most famous actor from southern Illinois.

Saturday morning.

Todd White with his new book Pre-Gay LA

Browsers on the first morning.

Mushroom hunter Joe McFarland with his parents.

Long view.