his time it’s an interview with authors Tracey Letts and Marion Zimmerman. Check it out at Time Out Chicago’s book blog.

n occasion it’s worth emphasizing previously stated points, and this is one of those occasions:  Publish Chicago is a supporter of using technology to enhance publishing.  Do we like the Kindle?  Yes, we do.  Do we like blogs?  Yes, we do.  Are we sad that newspapers are struggling?  Yes.  But BBC news online is so much better, in so many ways.  I bring this up because what I have to say about Volunteer Vacations is that it’s a fantastic body of information that would be so much more useful if it were to be placed on the web than it is in its current, printed-book format.

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rinter’s Row this year was a success, despite the rain.  Saturday was a chilly day, with only a few brief showers in the afternoon, and Sunday featured a lot of drizzle, but the festival still saw many attendees.

The event featured a hefty amount of Chicago publishers.  The Department of Cultural Affairs Publishing Industry Programs featured a tent holding over ten Chicago-based publishers.  Among them was Stop Smiling,who was selling copies of their archived magazines for $5 for 5 or $10 for 10 packs (a deal I’m sure they’d be happy to continue after the festival for those who are interested) because they are now converting to a book press after a successful deal with Melville House/Random House.  Their next issue will be their last.  ::sniffle::  Dancing Girl Press was also there, with business booming as usual.  Switchback Books made a strong showing with several fascinating and beautifully produced titles, including Oneiromance, which I can’t wait to read.  It features poems about the author’s two weddings, one in Brazil and one in America.  I also had a great conversation with one of the Contratiempo (an all-Spanish language magazine and book publisher) editors about building solidarity among Spanish-speaking readers in Chicago.  StepSister Press had several titles I can’t wait to sink my teeth into, including Submerged: Tales from the Basin, which features short stories from women about their experiences with their hair, and how their hair has effected their lives.

Overall, the event was a great success.  Rick Hogan’s words at the last Publising Industry Programs event do have me worried, though.  If you’re a fan of Printer’s Row, you may do well to write to the Tribune and to the City of Chicago to make sure that Printer’s Row stays funded and, quite frankly, existant.

my Krouse Rosenthal, Chicago author of four books released already this year, speaks to Publishers Weekly about her busy schedule and her upcoming projects.

Into the Beautiful North, written by celebrated Chicago author Luis Urrea, has been recieving rave reviews.  He recently sat down for an interview with Jonathan Messinger over at Time Out Chicago, in which he reveals that his new novel focuses on a feminist uprising in Mexico and that he wrote this book to laugh, citing the seriousness of his earlier works.

Into the Beautiful North is currently available from Little and Brown.

ello Chicagoans.  I’m happy to say that Publish Chicago is up and running again after a brief vacation.  Japan was wonderful, for all who are interested.  A visit or extended stay there is highly recommended.

In publishing news, there are several large events to take note of.  Tonight, the Department of Cultural Affairs Literary Arts Program is sponsoring a dialogue between Jacob Weisberg and Aleksander Hemon called “The Future of the Book:  A Conversation About the Art of Writing and Publishing.”  The event will be held tonight at the Chicago Cultural Center at 6:00 pm.  Chicago bigwigs such as Mayor Daley and Bookslut’s Jessa Crispin are rumored to be attending.

This weekend is the Printer’s Row Lit Festival.  A ton of Chicago publishers will be there selling their wares.  You can see the full list here.

Finally, the Museum of Science and Industry’s exhibit on Harry Potter opened about a month ago and will stay open all summer, through September 27.  From what I’ve read, it’s definitely worth seeing.