20191113

Book Buying is Suspended, CLOSED Sunday


after-words will be CLOSED Sunday, February 9th for our inventory.


Book buying is suspended (you can buy from us, but we can't buy from you) from December 22, 2019 - February10, 2020.  We need to get ready for inventory.  Sorry for any inconvenience.  Thanks very much, after-words

20191015

November 5th, 2019 6 pm Book Launch




after-words is thrilled to be hosting the launch of the first full-length book by local author and friend of the store Mikki Kendall.  Artist Aster D’Amico will also be joining us.
A bold and gripping graphic history of the fight for women's rights.

The ongoing struggle for women's rights has spanned human history, touched nearly every culture on Earth, and encompassed a wide range of issues, such as the right to vote, work, get an education, own property, exercise bodily autonomy, and beyond.

Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists is a fun and fascinating graphic novel-style primer that covers the key figures and events that have advanced women's rights from antiquity to the modern era.  This compelling book illuminates the stories of notable women throughout history--from queens and freedom fighters to warriors and spies--and the progressive movements led by women that have shaped history, including abolition, suffrage, labor, civil rights, LGBTQ liberation, reproductive rights, and more.

Mikki Kendall lives and works in Chicago where she wields words and raises a family. She has a couple of degrees, a couple of kids, and one patient husbeast. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign and DePaul, Mikki Kendall has been blogging since 2003 under the pen name Karnythia.  She has written for NBC Think, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Ebony, Essence, Publishers Weekly, Global Comment, Salon – and many other online and print forums.  She had been anthologized in both fiction and non-fiction print collections, as well as graphic novel compilations.
She is also a friend, sister-at-arms, colleague, and customer of this bookstore for over two decades. 

Aster D'Amico is a Cincinnati-born illustrator who loves all things tea, costuming, and history. She graduated from the Columbus College of Art and Design with a BFA in illustration in 2016, and has been creating comics, watercolor paintings, and digital illustrations ever since.
Food and drink will be provided. 

This event is free and open to the public.  To get a free ticket for the event which will guarantee a copy of the book, please visit:

20191007

Poetry Reading October 13th from 3-5pm


We will hear from local poets, all members of Poets and Patrons, the Illinois State Poetry society or both.

Poets & Patrons evolved from earlier attempts to create a meeting ground for poets and poet enthusiasts in the Chicago area.  Established in 1954, it was set up as a non-profit outreach group for poets who wished to receive professional criticism through four workshops each year. In 1956, Poets & Patrons created a Chicagoland Poetry Contest, open to all in the area.

More recently, Poets and Patrons has expanded its outreach to offer free writing workshops at area museums (Write! Chicago), participation in the Printers Row Lit Fest, and open readings for its members. Visit their website at www.poetsandpatrons.net for further information.

The Illinois State Poetry Society (ISPS) was chartered in 1991.  The society was formed “To encourage the crafting and enjoyment of poetry in the state of Illinois.”  Equally important is the goal to offer opportunities for improving and sharing the crafting of poetry.

ISPS members meet all over Illinois to gather and critique poetry.   From its 12 charter members, ISPS has grown to more than 130 members. 

The society sponsors workshops on poetry writing for all ages.  There are also opportunities for featured readings by members throughout the year.  Monthly gatherings at a coffee house are one such example. Themed poetry displays at participating public libraries also showcase members’ work.

ISPS sponsors a poetry contest every year. Information is available on their website, www.illinoispoets.org. The society also participates in the Manningham contest for students, with a follow-up awards gathering for winners and mention of their poems on the ISPS website.