Stephen Sposato

I’m so honored to serve as a judge. But to serve alongside the two of you is a true thrill. Thank you!

Jeez Louise. If you want to help Chicago, support affordable healthcare and housing. Increase government funding of social services. More cops won’t help. This is basic stuff.

I subscribed to the Trib mainly for about five culture beat writers. Two of them have now left. Not sure what you’re thinking, Chicago Tribune. Soon it seems you’ll just be a local sports news outlet and I won’t be paying for that.

Opinion | Pope Leo, please give the Swiss Guard new uniforms It’s high time the Catholic Church rectified this sartorial sin.

"Because if the Catholic Church of all entities cannot get majesty, dignity and mystery right at this late date, I fear there is little hope for the bride of Christ." 😂

Why It’s So Hard To Find Small Press Books And what you can do about it.

#Businessofpublishing Interesting piece. Our books are available via DreamHaven, Magers & Quinn and any store using Bookshop. What it doesn’t address is that only way we, as a small press, make a decent return on print sales
is by selling directly. 1/2 www.persuasion.community/p/why-its-so...

Badge of honor for Carla.

From 1925 to 2024: 100 Years of Popular Books (on Goodreads) Here at Goodreads World Headquarters, we like to occasionally step back for a really high-altitude assessment of readers’ favorite books. The idea be...

Woah. Backlist gold here. This'll be great for restock lists at libraries.

www.goodreads.com/blog/show/29...

Five SFF Books Set in Chicago - Reactor Five books that highlight how magical and mysterious Chicago can be...

We've all seen fantasy and science fiction books set in New York or Los Angeles. But @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social, author of Vanishing Daughters, brings us to the Windy City. Here's 5 SFF books set in Chicago!

reactormag.com/five-sff-boo...

COVER REVEAL: Why I Love Horror Edited by Me with an Excerpt from Grady Hendrix Pre-Order now Today  CrimeReads has the cover reveal of my upcoming book.  Out 9/23/25. Click below to read the excerpt . I picked Hendrix...

COVER REVEAL: WHY I LOVE HORROR Edited by Me with an Excerpt from @gradyhendrix.bsky.social via @crimereads.bsky.social

@sagapressbooks.bsky.social
@laneheymont.bsky.social

Pre-order link in the post below

raforall.blogspot.com/2025/04/cove...

Write a Letter to the Editor to Support Libraries! Help support libraries across the country by taking action today!

A letter to the editor supporting libraries makes a powerful statement and can sway votes and protect funding. EveryLibrary made it easy to write one to your local paper! bit.ly/42hiDVn @everylibrary.bsky.social

Nice list, and just in time for National Poetry Month.

Oh #Oscars watchers, don’t hate on the winners. Art is not a competition. Open your minds, try all the nominees and winners. Think about what works for each. There is something for everyone.

This logic still holds up for me regarding the Post. Also, you can write letters criticizing specific decisions. Don’t punish the journalists for the owner’s bad decisions.

Publisher publicist job for a successful book publisher in ChiTown.

jobzone.publishersweekly.com/job/publicis...

One heck of a trick to get anyone to believe that the tradition of civil rights is somehow sicko but that ruling as a tyrant, attacking your long-held allies, and enriching the richest at the expense of the poor is a noble and brave path. I hope people are waking up.

LibraryReads Funding Options for Libraries and Library Workers I am a LibraryReads Ambassador. I say this at the outset so you know that I am affiliated  with LibraryReads . I also have had libraries  a...

Today on the blog: @libraryreads.bsky.social funding options for you to go to conferences or for your library to have Readers' Advisory CE programs.

raforall.blogspot.com/2025/02/libr...

Please keep up the support, @aldermanmattmartin.bsky.social. Thank you!

Uptown, Edgewater Neighbors Divided Over Broadway's Future As New Plan Approved For Area The city's planning department wants to change the zoning on a stretch of Broadway to attract more housing and businesses. But some neighbors are concerned about introducing more density to the area.

Yes, more density.
Yes, more housing.
Yes, more affordability.
Yes, more business.
Yes, more culture.
YIMBY says this 20-year neighborhood resident who’s still renting.

blockclubchicago.org/2025/02/24/u...

Ethan Hawke explains why 'offensive art' isn't getting made in Hollywood 'Audiences have to care': Ethan Hawke is not mincing words over his thoughts on how to get 'offensive art' made in Hollywood today.

I love this guy. Really looking forward to Blue Moon.

ew.com/ethan-hawke-...

I’m old-fashioned, I guess. I consider education to be the best way to prepare and protect kids.

NB is considered a masterpiece but I think the book is so much better. Curious to hear what you think!

You could also use comps, just saying.

(I like blurbs. They’re great tools. But I think it’s good to see some sanity about not requiring them or certain numbers if them.)

countercraft.substack.com/p/a-luminous...

Welcome to the club!

Oh, no! There goes Chicago! Godzilla finally gets to the Midwest in new comic book As if Chicago didn’t have enough problems. Here comes Godzilla, as in Gojira, the Big G, Tokyo’s Own.

For the record, I had my BlueSky profile pic in place well before the Tribune ran this piece. It is always a good day when I can stay a step ahead of the media’s culture coverage.

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/02/20/g...

Woman who gave birth to someone else’s child sues IVF clinic Krystena Murray says the error left her “emotionally broken” after she raised a boy for months before giving him up to his biological parents.

Someone will undoubtedly write a novel inspired by this. Utterly tragic.

www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...

I had never heard of Ann Patchett’s First Editions book club. Very cool. And my reading matches up 2 out of 3 so far this year.

www.parnassusbooks.net/store/catalo...

You Should Teach Weird Literature 6 Reasons Why

Stumbled upon this interesting post: "You Should Teach Weird Literature." I like that! You should read it, you should teach it.

I've never heard of this Steinbeck novel.

carterdavisjohnson.substack.com/p/you-should...

Heard Noises by Matt Berry Heard Noises by Matt Berry album reviews & Metacritic score: The latest full-length release from "What We Do in the Shadows" actor and musician Matt Berry features guest appearances by Kitty Liv and N...

On a lighter note because, you know, you gotta keep living…

I had no idea Matt Berry was a musician and a respected one. (And Natasha Lyonne is a guest vocalist on his latest.)

www.metacritic.com/music/heard-...

Sure would like to see some of those fabled check and balances about now.

PLA is on BlueSky.