20151210

Holiday Hours and such

Christmas Eve 10:30am - 8pm 
Christmas Day - CLOSED  
New Year's Eve - 10:30am - 8pm
New Year's Day - Noon - 7pm 
January 4th - Last day to sell books for store credit
February 21 - CLOSED for Inventory
February 22 - Store credit book buys resume

20151123

Blues Before Sunrise Film Festival Sunday, December 6th 12-7

Steve Cushing, Blues Before Sunrise, WDCB, Jazz Record Mart, Delmark Records and after-words books invite you to Steve's pre-Christmas film party.  The Screening will be held at after-words.  Next door, the Jazz Record Mart, will be open special extended Sunday hours for BBS Fans: 11:30 am - 6:30 pm.  See jazz and blues greats on the big screen.  Films include Nat King Cole, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Mills Brothers, Pigmeat Markham, Dinah Washington, Ethel Waters, Dorothy Dandridge and many, many more. 

www.jazzmart.com/ or call: 312-222-1467
after-words: 312-464-1110

20151118

November 21st - Chicago Book Expo

Join us November 21st 11am -5pm - Chicago Book Expo - Columbia College 1104 S. Wabash
This celebration of Chicago independent presses and authors will, as always, feature an expo floor where you can buy books from local presses and authors, as well as over 15 programs, readings, and workshops. after-words will be on hand to sell book from these authors.  Come joins us, admission is free!

Find out more at www.chicagobookexpo.org.

20151115

Meet Renee Rosen in Coversation with Marion Purcelli November 18th at 6pm

November 18 at 6pm - Author Renee Rosen will be in conversation with former Chicago Tribune editor Marion Purcelli, model for the lead character in Rosen’s novel, White Collar Girl
In White Collar Girl, bestselling author Renee Rosen explores the Chicago Tribune newsroom of the 1950’s.  Meet Jordan Walsh, a woman from a family of esteemed reporters—and with connections to luminaries like Mike Royko, Nelson Algren, and Ernest Hemingway.  The novel chronicles her struggles to be taken seriously as a society reporter at The Chicago Tribune.
Praised for her ability to bring history to life, Rosen’s fascinating novel captures the inner workings of a 1950’s newsroom and the essence of living in a time when career-minded women were not taken seriously and men dominated the workplace. Packed with moments of palpable tension, excitement, and a hint of romance, White Collar Girl is an extraordinary tribute to an important time in Chicago’s history and one of the Windy City’s most illustrious institutions.
Former Tribune editor Marion Purcelli was one of the employees Rosen consulted with (and was inspired by) when creating Jordan Walsh.  Rosen and Purcelli will speak about Purcelli’s experiences as a woman breaking through the glass ceiling in a male-dominated industry informed Rosen’s book.
This event is organized by the Chicago Book Expo, a free celebration of all things local and literary, with over 90 local presses and authors selling their books and over a dozen readings, workshops, and panel discussions. It happens Saturday, November 21, 2015, from 11am to 5pm at Columbia College Chicago; find out more at www.chicagobookexpo.org.
RenĂ©e Rosen is the bestselling author of What the Lady Wants and Dollface, as well as the young adult novel, Every Crooked Pot. Her acclaimed novels expertly combine Chicago’s rich history with remarkable storytelling. She lives in Chicago. Visit her online at ReneeRosen.com, Facebook.com/ReneeRosenAuthor, and @ReneeRosen1.
Marion Purcelli began working for the Chicago Tribune the day after she graduated from high school.  She spent the next 27 years there.  She started her career as a copy girl, before moving to the Radio-TV department. She began doing the program listings and soon graduated to editing the work of others.  She did the layout, design, and makeup of the Sunday TV pages, and, ultimately, all the spade work for creation of the TV Week - for which she also wrote. After her success in writing news stories for the daily paper about television coverage of the Kennedy assassination, she became an associate editor of the Sunday Magazine, focusing on entertainment stories. In the early 70s she became assistant to the Sunday Features editor, and shortly thereafter was appointed editor of the Sunday Lifestyle section. In late 1976 she left the Tribune to become vice president of corporate communications for a large real estate firm whose main business was condominium conversion.

20151108

Free Admission to a Performance of Henry IV Part I

after-words and The Commission Theatre Company invite you to a FREE performance of Henry IV Part I on Saturday, November 14th at 7 pm.  House opens at 6.

20151024

November 7th 6pm Meet author Derek Haas

What happens when an elite assassin becomes a father? Acclaimed author and screenwriter Derek Haas explores the answers in A Different Lie, a unique and thrilling twist on a family story.  Mr.  Haas will be celebrating his new novel with a reception and signing here with us from 6pm onward.

Now a new dad, Columbus, the infamous “Silver Bear,” finds himself staying up late for feedings and changing diapers—all while leading the double life of a contract killer.

The struggle is not with his conscience. He enjoys his gig. But a child forces him to weigh selfishness versus safety: continue his line of work, and he’ll always wonder if he’s putting his child’s life at risk. His wife, Risina, serves as his fence, and like Columbus, she’s good at her job and likes doing it—an unusual take on working motherhood.

When the next assignment comes in, both Columbus and Risina are surprised to find that the mark is another assassin: a brash, young killer named Castillo, an assassin on the rise. Even Columbus is impressed with Castillo’s tenacity and talent. And as he closes in on his target, Columbus realizes that Castillo is a younger version of himself. It’s almost like looking in a mirror. Castillo, for his part, has even studied Columbus’s work.

But Columbus’s assignment is clear and there is no turning back. Yet Castillo quickly learns that his hero and unwitting mentor has a family—a revelation with enormous ramifications.

Mr. Haas is currently the lead writer on “Chicago P.D.,” “Chicago Fire,” and the forthcoming “Chicago Med.” Additionally, he and his screenwriting partner Michael Brandt are the force behind such kinetic screenplays as the blockbuster hit Wanted, the critically acclaimed 3:10 to Yuma, and The Double. Haas and Brandt also created and executive produce the hit show Chicago Fire, currently airing on NBC.  He is also the author of The Assassin trilogy, the best-selling Silver Bear trilogy novels, Columbus, Dark Men, and The Right Hand, which was recently optioned by Universal Pictures. Derek currently lives in Los Angeles and is the editor of Popcornfiction.com, which promotes genre short fiction from top screenwriters and authors.

20151014

Free Screening for Emma Donoghue's ROOM, Wednesday, October 21 7:00 PM Landmark Century Centre Cinema

ROOM
Wednesday, October 21
7:00 PM
Landmark Century Centre Cinema
2828 N. Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60657


ROOM tells the extraordinary story of Jack, a spirited 5-year-old who is looked after by his loving and devoted Ma. Like any good mother, Ma dedicates herself to keeping Jack happy and safe, nurturing him with warmth and love and doing typical things like playing games and telling stories. Their life, however, is anything but typical - they are trapped - confined to a windowless, 10-by-10-foot space, which Ma has euphemistically named "Room." Ma has created a whole universe for Jack within Room, and she will stop at nothing to ensure that, even in this treacherous environment, Jack is able to live a complete and fulfilling life. But as Jack's curiosity about their situation grows, and Ma's resilience reaches its breaking point, they enact a risky plan to escape, ultimately bringing them face-to-face with what may turn out to be the scariest thing yet: the real world.
 
Website: www.roomthemovie.com/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/roomthemovie

20151007

October 9th- Adriana Trigiani – Director Talk and Signing

October 9th –Adriana Trigiani will be at after-words to give a short talk about adapting and directing her best-selling novel, Big Stone Gap (Ballantine, $16), for the big screen.  She will also be available to sign copies of her newest book, All the Stars in the Heavens (Harper Collins $26.99).

Millions of readers around the world have fallen in love with the small town of Big Stone Gap, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and the story of its self-proclaimed spinster, Ave Maria Mulligan. In the series’ enchanting debut, Ave Maria reaches her thirty-fifth year and resigns herself to the single life, filling her days with hard work, fun friends, and good books. Then, one fateful day, Ave Maria’s past opens wide with the revelation of a long-buried secret that will alter the course of her life.

All the Stars in the Heavens is a spectacular saga as radiant, thrilling, and beguiling as Hollywood itself.  Adriana Trigiani takes us back to Tinsel Town's golden age—an era as brutal as it was resplendent—and into the complex and glamorous world of a young actress hungry for fame and success.  Brimming with larger-than-life characters both real and fictional—including stars Spencer Tracy, Myrna Loy, David Niven, Hattie McDaniel and more—it is it is the unforgettable story of one of cinema's greatest love affairs during the golden age of American movie making.

Adriana Trigiani is beloved by millions of readers around the world for her fifteen bestsellers, including the blockbuster epic The Shoemaker’s Wife, the Big Stone Gap series and Lucia, Lucia. Trigiani reaches new heights with All the Stars in the Heavens. She is the award-winning filmmaker of the documentary Queens of the Big Time. Trigiani wrote and directed the major motion picture Big Stone Gap, based on her debut novel and filmed entirely on location in her Virginia hometown. She lives in Greenwich Village with her family.

20150826

Bonus on the Kaling Pre-Order and a September Event

Bonus for those that pre-order Mindy Kaling’s new book, Why Not Me?  Due out September 15, 2015.  Sign up with us and receive 25% off this new release! You can also receive a special tote bag* designed by The Mindy Project costume designer Salvador Perez with illustrator Aasha Ramdeen.  In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.

Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who’s ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who’ve never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.
Reserve your copy at after-words by August 31, 2015 and receive 25% off the publisher’s list price of $25.00.
In order to take advantage of this offer, you must pick up your book by September 30, 2015.  Starting October 1, 2015 your book will return to the shelf at full publisher price. 
This cannot be combined with any other offer.  Sorry, your birthday coupons cannot be used in conjunction with this special.  You can contact us via email with your name and phone number, bdvorkin@aol.com, phone, 312-464-1110 or just walk in.
*Available while supplies last.
Tuesday, September 15, 6:30 pm
Join us in support of Chicago Books to Women in Prison
You will hear two formerly incarcerated women speak on the importance of books during their time in prison.

− Learn how Chicago organizations are responding to prison issues
− Engage in discussion with community leaders and the formerly incarcerated
− Discover the wide range of ways you can become involved

Food and drinks will be served
For those that cannot attend please see www.chicagobwp.org for more ways to help or contact us here at after-words.

20150803

Pre-Order Why Not Me? by Mindy Kaling and get 25% off!



Pre-Order Mindy Kaling’s new book, Why Not Me?  Due out September 15, 2015.  Sign up with us and receive 25% off this new release!

In Why Not Me?, Kaling shares her ongoing journey to find contentment and excitement in her adult life, whether it’s falling in love at work, seeking new friendships in lonely places, attempting to be the first person in history to lose weight without any behavior modification whatsoever, or most important, believing that you have a place in Hollywood when you’re constantly reminded that no one looks like you.

Mindy turns the anxieties, the glamour, and the celebrations of her second coming-of-age into a laugh-out-loud funny collection of essays that anyone who’s ever been at a turning point in their life or career can relate to. And those who’ve never been at a turning point can skip to the parts where she talks about meeting Bradley Cooper.

Reserve your copy at after-words by August 31, 2015 and receive 25% off the publisher’s list price of $25.00.

In order to take advantage of this offer, you must pick up your book by September 30, 2015.  Starting October 1, 2015 your book will return to the shelf at full publisher price.  

This cannot be combined with any other offer.  Sorry, your birthday coupons cannot be used in conjunction with this special.  You can contact us via email, bdvorkin@aol.com, phone, 312-464-1110 or just walk in.

20150718

CLOSED August 2nd

Dear Customers,

Just wanted to let you know that we will be CLOSED Sunday, August 2nd.  After-words has had a death in the family.  Sorry for any inconvenience.

Thank you,
After-words

20150708

Go Set a Watchman a new novel by Harper Lee coming July 14th

An historic literary event: the publication of a newly discovered novel, the earliest known work from Harper Lee, the beloved, bestselling author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, To Kill a Mockingbird.
Originally written in the mid-1950s, Go Set a Watchman was the novel Harper Lee first submitted to her publishers before To Kill a Mockingbird. Assumed to have been lost, the manuscript was discovered in late 2014.
Go Set a Watchman features many of the characters from To Kill a Mockingbird some twenty years later. Returning home to Maycomb to visit her father, Jean Louise Finch—Scout—struggles with issues both personal and political, involving Atticus, society, and the small Alabama town that shaped her.
Exploring how the characters from To Kill a Mockingbird are adjusting to the turbulent events transforming mid-1950s America, Go Set a Watchman casts a fascinating new light on Harper Lee's enduring classic. Moving, funny and compelling, it stands as a magnificent novel in its own right.
 http://645e533e2058e72657e9-f9758a43fb7c33cc8adda0fd36101899.r45.cf2.rackcdn.com/s/1/1427289783/harpercollins_us_frontbookcovers_648H/9780062409850.jpg

July 14th!  Reserve your copy at after-words. 

20150611

Signing has been cancelled

Due to a family emergency Jeanette de Beauvoir will not be able to have a reading and signing on June 25th.  Sorry if you had planned to attend.

20150524

Free book signing for Asylum June 25th



Jeannette de Beauvoir will be at After-Words books on June 25th from 5:30 pm talking about and signing copies of her book Asylum (St. Martin’s, Hardback, $25.99).

Asylum delves back to the 1950s, when orphanages in Montreal and elsewhere were converted to asylums in order to gain more funding. The children were subjected to horrific experiments such as lobotomies, electroshock therapy, and psychotropic medication, and many of them died in the process. The survivors were supposedly compensated for their trauma by the government and the cases seem to have been settled. Ms. De Beauvoir will discuss the story and the research behind it.

Ms. De Beauvoir’s work has been translated into 12 languages and has appeared in 15 countries. She explores personal and moral questions through historical fiction, mysteries, and mainstream fiction. She grew up in Angers, France, but now divides her time between Cape Cod and MontrĂ©al. Read more at www.jeannetteauthor.com


After-Words Books is located at 23 East Illinois Street in Chicago, IL.
For more information, please contact: Beverly Dvorkin, After-Words Books 312-464-1110

20150422

Calendar, Updates and Closings...



QUICK REFERENCE CALENDAR


  • ·         April 28 & 29   CLOSED FOR NEW WINDOW INSTALLATION
  • ·         May 1    BEGIN BUYING BOOKS FOR STORE CREDIT, 25 OR LESS, ANY DAY ANY TIME 
  • ·         May 5    BEGIN ACCEPTING APPOINTMENTS FOR CASH BOOK BUYING (SMALLER QUANTITES AT A TIME PREFERRED).  ALSO, BEGIN ACCEPTING APPOINTMENTS FOR LARGER QUANTITY STORE CREDIT BOOK BUYING.


Dear after-words customers:

Thank you so much for your patience with us as we have gone through this re-modeling period.

We have now been open for about 6 weeks in our renovated space.  We still have some details to work out, but get more comfortable every day in our re-configured digs.

Unfortunately, as often happens when you do this kind of work, we hit a few bumps along the way.  We were unable to have our new front doors and windows installed during the month we were closed.  It was simply too cold outside. 

So, we will have to be closed again as our front doors and windows get the same kind of face-lift that the rest of the space got.  The good news is, this time it will only be for two days. 

We will be CLOSED on Tuesday April 28th and Wednesday April 29th for this work to be completed.  Again, my apologies.

The other bump we hit was concerning the installation of a new coffee bar by Bowtruss.  There are a lot of plumbing challenges in buildings as old as the one we occupy, so we have been working towards that goal.  But we are not there, yet.  Still, the coffee bar will be coming.  We hope it will be open sometime in June.  If it doesn’t happen by then, we look forward to welcoming them whenever the details can be sorted out.

For those of you who have sold us books in the past, you will be happy to know that we will be resuming our buying as of May 1st.  Most of our guidelines are remaining the same – in terms of what we buy and the condition we expect the books we buy to be in.  The major changes are to when we buy.

We will no longer be running our Thursday round-ups for cash book buying.  In fact, cash buying will now be by appointment only.  The good news is, there will be more appointments available than there were before.  Also, appointments will be accepted for small quantities of books as well as for larger quantities.  Smaller quantities would be our preference.  Keep in mind, if you choose to sell less books at a time, but do so more frequently, you will get in a lot faster.

As for those of you who are selling for store credit, you can still bring them in at any time during our store hours – provided that you bring in 25 books or less each time.   Again, we prefer the smaller number of books per visit.  But if you want to do more than 25 all at once, we can make appointments for you as well.

Lastly, as part of our renovations, our new shared event space has been completed.  It is run by Space by Doejo, a group that also runs the fifth floor of our building and will soon take over the second floor as well.  They have already had all kinds of events back there – everything from hack-a-thons to pop-up restaurants and conferences.  We will also be hosting authors again beginning in June, as well as doing our charity book sale and other kinds of readings and events.  So stay tuned for more on that.  If you love the new event space as much as we do, consider it for your own parties.  In conjunction with Space, we can rent it to you.  Just contact us for more information if you are interested.

By the way – we have LOTS of boxes left over from our renovation period.  Some are even unused.  Contact us for details if you are interested in buying any.

Thanks for reading all of this.  I hope you are as excited by the changes at after-words as we are.  And thanks for remaining patient while we continue to get our act together.

Beverly Dvorkin
Store Owner