Since early man carved bison and spears on cave walls, humankind has been telling stories. Today, short personal essays are a mainstay on the airways, the web, and in theaters and bars across the country. This anthology brings the vibrant oral tradition to the page through the work of 2nd Story, a Chicago-based collective of story-makers and story-lovers working to build community through storytelling. We culled through
ten years of archived performances to select the twenty-three essays presented in this collection. Each was adapted from the stage to the page.
The twenty-three authors in this anthology cover a wide range of topics and emotions: we've got race relations in Roger's Park, teaching kids about Dr. King, a gay man falling in love with a high school girl in Godspell, sex clubs in Amsterdam, murder in Rockford, death at Sea World Ohio, shower dances with drag queens, Xena Warrior princess, kiss-off letter to major universities, Sam Weller getting propositioned by a porn star two weeks after his wedding, fairies appearing in backyards, a guy trying to replicate Thoreau's Walden cabin in his backyard, chaos at The United Skates of America, slaying the great dragon of addiction, a Korean girl realizing her identity as she puts on eye shadow for the first time, and the life and death nature of teaching creative writing.
C.P. Chang, a company member of 2nd Story, is a writer and software consultant. He received his M.F.A in fiction writing from Columbia College Chicago and was formerly an Associate Producer for Elephant Rock Productions. He is blessed to be married to Jessica Young, a teacher, performer, and writer.
Kim Morris is a writer, performer, storyteller, and editor. Check out Power Love for more: www.power-love.blogspot.com.
Andrew Reilly is 2nd Story’s Director of Publishing. His journalism, essays, photography, and fiction have appeared in a number of fine publications including ALARM, The A.V. Club, and Norman Einstein’s SPorts & Rocket Science Quarterly, among others. Visit him online at andrewreilly.org or in person in Chicago.
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
No comments:
Post a Comment