September 25, 2010, KidLit 2010, I will be appearing at this new children's literature festival in Princeton, Il. They will close down more than three city blocks with food, authors (no, you can't eat the authors), storytelling and workshops celebrating children's literature.
Either Sept 4 or 5 - Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore 20th Year Celebration (they are planning events all month - I think I will be scheduled either the 4th or 5th. More info later.
Tuesday, June 15, Midlothian Library Teen Summer Reading Program, 6:30-8:00 PM, I'll be meeting and discussing writing and reading with teens at Midlothian Library at 14701 S. Kenton Ave., Midlothian, Il. contact Michelle Carnes at 708-535-2027 for more details. I suspect it's open to all teens.
June 12-13 Printers Row Lit Fest, Chicago Il. more info on tent location later (I'll be in the Echelon Press tent)
May 10-14, I will be presenting, speaking and signing the entire week at multiple junior high schoolsin the Joliet Il. junior high school district. Monday May 10 will be Dirksen Junior High, May 11 Gompers Junior High, May 12 Hufford Junior High and May 13 Washington Junior high.
April 16-18 - Missouri Writers' Guild Conference, St. Louis, MO.
Wednesday, April 15, 2010, I'll be a judge, panelist and presenter again at the Suburban Prairie Conference Literary Festival, this year at Plainfield Central/North High School (not sure which). This fair is a writing contest involving about nine regional high schools, and it's my third time being involved. More info later.
Saturday, April 10, Kankakee Public Library annual Author Fair. I'll be in Kankakee from 10-2 on the 4th floor with 45-50 other authors. come join me, 201 E. Merchant St. Kankakee Il. 815-939-4564
Monday, March 22 - Borders Educator Appreciation Week - "Readers and Writers Night" I'll be at Borders Books in Orland Park, Il. from 4-8. More details coming.
Saturday, March 13 - 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Sixth Annual Regional Author Fair, Joliet Public Library, Black Road Branch, 3395 Black Rd., Joliet, Il.
Friday, March 12, 6:00 PM, Girl Scouts, Troop 60072, Oak Forest, Il. I'll be meeting with another GS troop to discuss writing fro their writing badge. Mebbe they'll give me a cookie.
Saturday, February 20, Joliet Young Authors Conference, I'll be doing two presentations for Joliet middle school school students (Joliet School District #86)
Saturday, February 13, Boy Scouts, Meeting at All Saints Lutheran Church, 13350 S. Lagrange in Orland Park at 9:00-9:45 to discuss writing with the Boy Scouts. Not sure of the troop number or anything yet, but I think it's several, if not more.
Wednesday, February 10th I'll be returning to West Oak Middle School in Mundelein for their Scholastic Book Fair. I'm going to be there pretty much all day, hanging with the kids, trying to keep out of trouble with the librarian.
Monday, Jan. 25, 2:45-3:30, Meeting with the Martino Jr. High Book Club to discuss Fang Face.
Wed, Jan 20. Speaking to 6th, 7th and 8th graders at Byrne Middle School, Chicago Il.
Monday, Jan 18 - "Read On, Dream On" literary fair for Martin Luther King Day sponsored by the AmeriCorps group called "Project YES!" as part of the Northwestern University Settlement Assn., Chi. I'm not sure what I'm doing yet - other than eating (they promised to feed me), but I am happy to be supporting young readers. 9AM-2:00 pm, 1012 N. Noble St., Chicago
Wednesday, January 13, I will be the facillitator for NACM breakfast roundtable on the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act. I'll go anywhere for a free breakfast. Anyway, it will be somewhere in the Chicago west suburbs at a venue tbd. If it snows out, we'll meet Jan 20.
Saturday, December 19, returning for another booksigning at Borders Books in Matteson. They have me out every Christmas season since I sell a lot of books in their store. I'll be there from 2 til whenever.
Friday, December 18, speaker at West Oak Middle School, Mundelein, Il. I'll be talking with the entire school. Boo-ya!
Monday, Dec. 14, I'll be at the House of Blues in Chicago for a Western Michigan University Alumni reception at 5:30. I'm mentioning it here because WMU did an awesome two page bio on me in their alumni magazine. I'll post it when I get a chance to scan it and do all the technical stuff it takes to post stuff here.
Date TBD. I'll be speaking with the Creative Writing Club at Martino Jr. High in New Lenox, Il.
Friday, December 4, 6-9:00 PM. YCA Book Bash 2009. Egan Center at DePaul, 1 East Jackson Blvd, Chicago, Il. (Barnes & Noble State Street) Young Chicago Authors are hosting an author event. I'm not sure if the public is invited, but they will be supplying my books for me to graffiti on.
Sat/Sun, November 14 & 15. Authors Luisa Buehler, Margot Justes, Chris Verstraete and I will be selling and signing our books at the Stagg High School craft show (I'm not sure of the particulars, but Stagg High is at 8015 W. 111th in Palos Hills, Il. (I'll update this when I have more details)
Thurs, Oct 29, 6:30-7:30, I will be meeting and signing my books at Girl Scout Troop # 384. Woo-hoo!
Sun, October 25, 2:00? book signing, Borders Books, Orland Park. We agreed on this date, but it might shift a week or so. Once I have confirmation, I'll post more details. OOPS, THIS MIGHT BE RESCHEDULED. CHECK BACK SOON
Saturday, October 24, book signing, Borders Books, Matteson Il. Signing Fang Face from 2-4 ..... or whenever I sell every one of them. Borders is on the northwest corner of Cicero Ave and Rte 30 ... just a half mile off Route 57.
Monday, October 19, 7-9pm, Author Fair, Homer Township Library. I had one of my first signings ever here,so it will be fun to go back. Contact Alexandra at atyle@homerlibrary.org if you want more info.
Sunday, October 18, 7:15 a.m. . I will be a guest on Rick Kogan's radio program "The Sunday Papers" on WGN . Yeah, WGN! THE WGN ... you know, broadcast in 32 states plus Canada. Now Canada will know me!
Sunday, October 18, 2009, 2:00, OFFICIAL BOOK LAUNCH FOR FANG FACE! Woo-hoo! Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, 7419 W. Madison St., Forest Park, Il. 60130. (708) 771-7243. This will be a combination Halloween/book launch, so wear a costume! Special guest: Katharine K. Gingold, who will be signing copies of her book "Six Degrees of Abraham Lincoln."
Monday, September 21 7:00, I'll be meeting with and signing my books at New Lenox Girl Scout Troup 418. How fun is that? Hopefully the first of many.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009, I'll be doing an encore signing at Palos Heights Farmer's Market from 7:00am-1:00pm, this time I will have Fang Face! Woo-hoo. They are on the northwest corner of Harlem Ave. & College Drive in Palos Heights. contact: Donna Ondriska 708 846.8826.
Sunday, September 13, I will be manning the SCBWI booth from 5-6 at "Obama's bookstore" - the 57th Street Children's Book Fair in Hyde Park, Il. Unfortunately, I won't be selling my books at this event, but check it out at http://www.57cbf.org.
Saturday, September 12, 2009 - I will be in the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators booth from either 10-11 or 11-12 at National Lewis University's Showcase of Authors. This is an interactive event with librarians, authors and illustrators.
August 22 & 23. A bunch of authors will converge on Galena, Illinois for joint signings, general hilarity and all kinds of book fun. I know we'rll be at Fried Green Tomatoes Restaurant at 213 N. Main St., Galena from noon til 3:00 on Saturday. Then on Sunday we'll be at Brio Art Gallery at 116 S. Main St. from 11:00-2:00. There will be refreshments and a cash bar! Fun, fun, fun! (featured authors at this time: Amy Allessio, JA Konrath, Henry Perez, Margot Justes, Mary Welk, Luisa Buehler, Susan Miura, Martel Sartina, Barbra Annino ... and me!)
July 11, 9:00-11:00 am. I'll be in the SCBWI-Illinois (Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators) booth at the ALA (American Library Association) Conference. When I'm done with my stint, I'll probably be roaming around looking for free coffee. So if you're a librarian, come visit me.
June 20, 2009 11:00 am. I think this is a Saturday A bunch of the authors from the anthology "Missing" will be doing a joint signing at Centuries and Sleuths Bookstore 7419 W. Madison Street Forest Park, IL 60130 (708) 771-7243
June 6-7, Chicago Tribune's Printer's Row Literary Festival Chicago, Il. I'll be signing all of my books with Echelon Press Publishing and some of Echelon's authors. Rumor has it there will even be some pre-release copies of Fang Face!! Update: there will be! Yay!!
May 23, Saturday 1-2:30, Booksigning, Borders Books, 49 S. Waukegan Rd, Deerfield, ph 847-559-1999. This is a signing only for the anthology Missing. I'll be there with Joe Konrath, Luisa Buehler, Margot Justes and other Missing authors.
May 20, 2009 Here's something fun. Palos Heights is going to start featuring author book-signings at their Farmer's Market every Wednesday from 7:00am-1:00pm. No, I'm not a fruit or a vegetable. I'll be there May 20 signing The Adventures of Guy series and probably the antholgies Missing and The Heat of the Moment. I'm looking forward to it! They are at the northwest corner of Harlem Ave & College Drive in Palos Heights, Il. contact: Donna Ondriska 708 846 8826.
And more fun, gonna meet with 100 Girl Scout leaders ... only a quick meeting, but let's see what happens.
May 16, 2009 , graphic author Tim Broderick and I will be at the Mystery On Loan Club Library Event at the Palatine Public Library District from 2:00-4:00 pm. This will be a dual adult/young adult program in the Large Meeting room, Sat. May 16, 2009, 700 N. North Ct., Palatine Il. 847-358-5881.
April 16, 2009 (sorry, I don't have a 2009 calendar yet, so I have no idea what day of the week this is. Thursday?) Anyway, Suburban Prairie Conference Literary Festival, Morris Community High School, Morris, Il. I'll be the Keynote Speaker, a judge and will hold two humor panels at this high school regional writing conference.
April 16 This is going to be a busy day and night. After spending all day in Morris (see above), I will have to scoot to the Schaumburg District Library at 130 S. Roselle Rd for the launch party for Missing. There will be all kinds of fun, including a crime scene program with David Case and Michael Black, two cops moonlighting as authors. The program starts at 7:00 pm. Register by calling (847) 923-3347.
February 6-8, 2009 Love is Murder Writers Conference, Westin Chicago Northshore, Chicago, Il. - Echelon Press will introduce our new anthology, Missing, at this year's conference.
January 14, 2009, Wednesday, NACM something - I'm doing some kind of seminar at Temperature Equipment Corp, Melrose Park, Il. 708-418-7834. I can't remember what it's about. Lien law? Construction techniques? Ah, hopefully I'll figure it out.
Dec 21, 2008 Booksigning, Borders Books, 15260 S. LaGrange, Orland Park Il. noon-three pm (though I'll probably stick around longer if I have any books to sell) My first signing at this Borders, so I want to do well) Borders ph. 708-460-7566
Dec. 2, 2008 NACM/Chicago Midwest They've asked me to give an encore performance of my September 2008 mechanics lien seminar for the Masonry Distributor's credit group. I'm gonna bring some books to sell. At NACM's offices from 9-12.
November 29, 2008 Booksigning, Borders Books, I'll be back at my favorite Borders in Matteson Il. from 1-00 pm until I get pooped ... or sell out. They have really good coffee, so I usually sell out before I get pooped. Borders is at 4824 Lincoln Hwy, Matteson, Il.
October 4, 2008, Regional Author Fair The fifth annual author fair sponsored by Joliet, Plainfield and Shorewood Public Libraries. It will be on Saturday, Oct. 4 from 11:00 to 3:00 at Joliet Public Library's Black Road Branch at 3395 Black Road, Joliet. There will be forty or so of your favorite authors, so make sure you come!
Sept 18-19, 2008 NACM-Chi Midwest I'll be conducting a mechanics lien seminar. More info coming. I'll probably bring my Super Soaker, so consider yourselves warned.
August 2, 2008, Booksigning,Borders Books, Matteson, Il. This will be a joint signing with authors Michael Black, Sherri Scarpaci, Helen Osterman and Luisa Buehler. Borders is on the northwest corner of Rte. 30 and Cicero Ave. We'll be there from 2:00 til whenever.
July 19, 2008 Booksigning, Max & Benny's, 461 Waukegan Rd, Northbrook from 3-5. Ph. 847-272-9490. I'll be signing the Heat of the Moment with Margot Justes and other authors TBD. I'll bring a few of my other books as well.
June 7-8, ... Printer's Row Book Fair. Dearborn & Polk, Chicago 10am-6pm. I'll be in the Echelon Press Publishing tent ... (I will have all of my books in addition to Echelon's The Heat of the Moment.
April 17, 2008 Southwest Prairie Conference Literary Festival. Eight high schools will be participating in this student writing contest and I will one of the judges and awards presenters (I have to keep a lot of Feb/March clear to read manuscripts)
April 3-5, 2008, Erma Bombek Writer's Workshop, Dayton, Ohio. People like Garrison Keillor, Martha Bolton and others. More info coming.
March 15, 2008 Booksigning, Walden Books, 1:00 Orland Sq. Mall, Orland Park, Il. Another signing with my friends Sherry Scarpacci, Helen Osterman and Sandy Tartara! ph. 708-460-0345
March 1, 2008 Booksigning, Best Sellers Book Store. Five authors from the anthology The Heat of the Moment will get together to sign the books and meet readers. Come join us at 1:00 at 6509 W. 127th, Palos Heights, ph 708-371-2540. Amy Alessio, Bob Goldsborough, Margot Justes, Kevin Helmold and me!! Woo-hoo!
February 1-3, 2008, Love is Murder on Dark & Stormy Nights. Rosemont Wyndom O'Hare, Rosemont, Il. (www.loveismurder.net). Come and rub elbows with authors like Lee Child, Barry Eisler, JA Konrath. Yours truly will be on a humor panel with Joe Konrath, Libby Hellmann and others!
January 26, 2008, Booksigning, Best Sellers Book Store 6509 W. 127th, Palos Heights, Il. ph. 708-371-2540. Will be signing my books at 1:00 to whenever with fellow authors Sherry Scarpacci, Helen Osterman and Sandy Tartara, who will have their own most excellent books. Come join us.
December 22, 2007 BookSigning at Centuries and Sleuths, Forest Park Il. This is my first signing for The Heat of the Moment anthology. I'll be with at least two other authors from the book. More info coming... oh, starts at 2:00 p.m.
December 21, 2007 I'm going back to Matteson Borders for an encore performance. I think it's going to be at 2:00 again. They like me! Woo-hoo! (see add below)
December 16, 2007 BookSigning - Borders Books and Music located at 4824 W. 211th in Matteson, Il. (corner Cicero and Rte. 30). I'll be there from 2:00 until I sell every book! Heh. ph. 708-679-1835.
October 6-7th, 2007, Midwest Literary Festival, Aurora Illinois. They are closing down a couple streets in downtown Aurora for the whole weekend. I'll be signing both days, reading and serving as a panelist on Sunday. Check out their website at www.midwestliteraryfestival.com , maps, etc.
September 28-30, 2007, Baltimore Book Festival, Baltimore Md. I'll be in the Draumr Publishing tent with my publisher.
Sept 25, 2007 - Going to spend all day at Martino Jr. High to research and discuss my YA novel-in-progress. Gets to eat in the cafeteria, too! Woo-hoo!
September 15, 2007,Author Fair 2007,14921 Ravinia Ave., Orland Park, Il. 60462, ph. 708-428-5158.
June 23, 2007, Saturday, 10 am-4 pm, Gotta Write Network 2007 Author Fair.Schaumburg Twp. District Library, 130 South Roselle Road, Schaumburg, IL 60193.Click here for details. Check here for the interview!
April 14, 2007, Saturday 10:00 a.m. -2:00 p.m. Kankakee Public Library's Author Fair, ph. 815-939-4564 (check some pics here).
February 2-4, 2007, Love is Murder, writer's conference. O'Hare Wyndham, Rosemont, Il. (for more, visit www.loveismurder.net)
February 3, 2007, Author interview by Angela Wilson, Pop Syndicate at LIM writer's conference (www.popsyndicate.com) Check back for the date and time when this interview will appear on their website.
February 3, 2007 Podcast author interview by Chris Walsh Angelos of The Writer's Webcast at LIM (www.waukegan.org) Check out the interview by clicking on the "Free Pub" tab and clicking into the interview.
January 13, 2007, Saturday, 1:00 p.m. Author Talk: New Lenox Public Library. 120 Veterans Parkway, New Lenox, Il. ph. 815-485-2605
December 16, 2006, Saturday, 2:00, Booksigning, Borders Books and Music. Encore performance at Borders, located at 4824 W. 211th St in Matteson, Il. on the northwest corner of Cicero Ave. and Route 30. ph. 708-679-1835.
December 9, 2006, Saturday, 1:00-2:00 p.m. Author Talk: Mokena Public Library, 11327 W. 195th St., Mokena, Il. ph. (708) 479-9663.
December 7, 2006, Thursday 2:45 Author Talk: New Lenox High School, New Lenox, Il. Spoke to teenaged critters in their Creative Writing Class.
November 4, 2006, Joliet Public Library's third Regional Author Fair. One of approximately fifty authors whose books were on display for sale and autographing. Joliet Public Library, Black Road Branch, 3395 Black Road, Joliet, Il. 11:00 am. to 3:00 pm.. Click here for more.
October 26-27, 2006, NACM Midwest Credit Conference, 1701 Algonquin Rd., Rolling Meadows, Il. Presentation on construction collection tips and tidbits on Friday, October 27. Click here for more.
October 17, 2006, Tuesday 7:00 p.m., Homer Township Library Author Fair. 14320 W. 151st St., Homer Glen, Il. (708) 301-7908. Click here for more.
October 6, 2006, Friday 12:30-2:00, Illinois Author's Luncheon (Illinois Library Association Annual Conference.)
September 23, 2006, Saturday, 2:00 p.m. Borders Books and Music, discussion and booksigning. Borders is located at 4824 W. 211th St in Matteson, Il. on the northwest corner of Cicero Ave. and Route 30. ph. 708-679-1835. Click here for more.
July, 2006, Chicago Heating and Plumbing Distributors. Presentation on mechanics liens.
Sat. June 10, 2006, Of Dark and Stormy Nights 24. Writers Conference, sponsored by the Mystery Writers of America. Hyatt Regency, Schaumburg, Il. My books were on sale by Alibi Books, and I was introduced with other new writers as the "New Kids on the Block."
May 21-May 25, 2006. National Association of Credit Management's national conference, Nashville, TN. Was awarded the "Best Article of the Year" by NACM's publishing arm.
April, 2006, NACM Chicago Midwest. Half day seminar dealing with a detailed look at each section in the Illinois Mechanics Lien Act.
