In her new book, Nigeria native Toyin Ayeni argues that her homeland is much more
than a producer of terrorists or con artists. Hoping to increase awareness of
the positive aspects of her West African country, Ayeni contends that the
problems associated with Nigeria are global in origin and that global problems
require global solutions. A past president of the Chicago chapter of
Toastmasters International, Ayeni hold a B.S. in microbiology from the
University of Ibadan and an M.S. in information systems management from Loyola
University Chicago. Join us for this special event celebrating the fiftieth
anniversary of Nigeria's independence.

This month's book is Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout

We’re having a party to celebrate the career (to date) of celebrated feminist cartoonist Nicole Hollander and the thirtieth anniversary of her most famous creation, the wise-cracking, irreverent social critic Sylvia. Nicole’s new book, The Sylvia Chronicles, looks at the formative years of our young artist as she works her way from painter to a cartoonist syndicated in hundreds of newspapers. We convinced Nicole to give us a PowerPoint presentation of her work—and then we’ll eat cake and drink champagne! We know Hollander’s friends and fans will be here; we also hope those who may not know about the iconic Sylvia will come for a slice of cultural history.

This captivating collection of new stories and essays by some of today’s best science fiction writers bears witness to the impact of the legendary writer Frederik Pohl. With stories ranging from traditional to cutting edge and from darkly serious to laugh-out-loud funny, Gateways is a must buy for science fiction readers of all tastes and a worthy homage to a pioneer of the genre. Tonight’s event will feature Pohl's wife (and Gateways' editor) Elizabeth Anne Hull, who is a Harper College professor and resident of Naperville, along with local contributors Phyllis and Alex Eisenstein and Jody Lynn Nye.

This month's book is We have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson

Mary Catherine Bateson, sociologist, daughter of Margaret Mead, and author of the groundbreaking books Peripheral Visions and Composing A Life, sees aging today as an “improvisational art form calling for imagination and the willingness to learn.” Her new book is an ardent, affirming study of the experiences of men and women—herself included—who, upon entering the period she refers to as "Adulthood II," have found new meaning and new ways to contribute to society, composing their lives in new patterns. She challenges us to approach our later lives with the full force of our imagination, curiosity, and enthusiasm. She also speaks to us as members of a larger society concerned about the world that our children and grandchildren, born and not yet born, will inherit.

An estimated 10 to 14 million children in the U.S. have at least one gay parent, and the number is growing every year. These families are often confronted with difficult situations as a result of their family makeup, from schoolyard bullying to how and when to disclose personal information to family and friends. In her new book, Fakhrid-Dean partners with COLAGE, a national support and advocacy organization that focuses on providing kids with the tools they need to combat homophobia, take pride in their families, and speak out against injustice.

Sappho’s Salon: A Provocative Night of Lesbian Diversions
Featuring Girlie-Q Burlesque and Searah Deysach from Early to Bed

$7–$10 sliding admission includes food and wine.

The latest installment of our popular salon night for lesbians may be our sexiest Sappho’s yet! Tonight’s salon features the red-hot queer burlesque by Girlie-Q Burlesque, including performances by Ms. Bea Haven, Queerella Fistalot, and other Girlie-Q favorites. Early to Bed’s Searah Deysach will introduce you to the hottest new sex toys and answer your questions about things that go buzz in the night. Special guest DJ SpinNikki will play us in and out of the evening. Door proceeds benefit the artists and the Women’s Voices Fund.

This month's book is Purity Myth by Jessica Valenti

Free, but advance registration is required.

Families are invited to join us for this very special off-site event featuring legendary musician Peter Yarrow of the internationally acclaimed musical group. Peter, Paul, and Mary. An artist and peace activist, Yarrow has written some of the most renowned folk music of our era, including Day is Done, The Great Mandala, and the family favorite Puff the Magic Dragon. Yarrow will lead audience members in a sing-along, followed by an autographing of his books Puff the Magic Dragon, Day Is Done, and the four Peter Yarrow songbooks. This event is free and open to the public, but capacity is limited and preregistration is required. Stop by Women & Children First, call 773-769-9299, or e-mail wcfbooks@gmail.com to reserve your spot.

We will be selling books at this off-site screening of the film based on the acclaimed book Living Downstream by Illinois native, ecologist, and cancer survivor Sandra Steingraber, Ph.D. This cinematic documentary follows Steingraber around North America and ultimately back to central Illinois, as she works to break the silence about the environmental links to cancer. Both director Chanda Chevannes and author Sandra Steinberger will be at this Chicago premiere screening. Tickets are $10 in advance and are available at the store (cash or check made payable to The Land Connection).

This month's book is Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof & Sheryl Wu Dunn

As a state senate candidate in Illinois in 1996, Barack Obama said he favored gay marriage. As president, he is opposed to gay marriage but favors civil unions. In her new book, veteran Chicago reporter Tracy Baim takes an in-depth look at Obama’s record on LGBTQ issues through his state and federal elections and terms in office, including his first year and a half as president. Obama and the Gays includes interviews with Obama’s Chicago and national gay supporters and contributions by prominent gay activists, bloggers, and reporters, including Lisa Keen, Chuck Colbert, John D’Emilio, and Pam Spaulding.

Tonight we celebrate two new releases by local author Margaret Hawkins (A Year of Cats and Dogs). In her novel How to Survive a Natural Disaster, Hawkins uses multiple points of view to make astute observations about family dynamics; with unflinching honesty and dark humor she chronicles the unraveling of a dysfunctional family. In her memoir How We Got Barb Back, Hawkins recalls, with hard-earned wisdom, humor, and compassion, her struggle to bring her once vivacious and talented older sister back from the depths of severe, long-untreated mental illness. Hawkins teaches writing at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and has been an art critic for the Chicago Sun-Times for more than two decades.

In her debut legal thriller, Michigan native and Harvard Law School graduate Allison Leotta introduces Anna Curtis, a newly minted prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s office in Washington, D.C. A victim of domestic violence who she is defending makes an unexpected reversal on the stand, freeing the victim's abusive boyfriend and setting into motion a series of events that causes Anna to make choices that jeopardize her career, her relationships, and her very life as she uncovers the shocking truth behind the victim’s murder.

The Thinking Girl's Treasury of Real Princesses brings lyrical storytelling to some of the most inspiring—and little known—tales in history, about real princesses who managed to do what few thought possible. Join award-winning author Shirin Yim Bridges (Ruby’s Wish, The Umbrella Queen) as she launches Goosebottom Books’ inaugural series and answers the question: How do ideas get hatched into books?

Nearly five years after her first novel, The Historian, became an instant bestseller, Elizabeth Kostova returns with a sweeping tale of historical intrigue spanning centuries and continents. The elements that the story revolves around include a beautiful woman, a mysterious painting, a secret from the depths of history, and a painter whose talent is hindered by his troubled mind. With stunning prose and dramatic storytelling, The Swan Thieves examines both the luminous talent behind great artistry and the dark, mad existence that talent can enliven.

Join us for a reading by three luminous literary talents. Bonnie Jo Campbell’s story collection American Salvage was a finalist for the National Book Award and the National Book Critic’s Circle Award. She is the author of the novel Q Road and the story collection Women & Other Animals and also teaches writing. Jennifer Richter’s book, Thresholds, was chosen by poet Natasha Tretheway as the winner of the 2009 Crab Orchard Series in Poetry. Her work has appeared in Poetry, Ploughshares, and CALYX. In 2011, she’ll be a visiting writer at Oregon State University. Diane Seuss’s second collection of poems, Wolf Lake, White Gown Blown Open was the winner of the Jupiter Prize for Poetry from the University of Massachusetts Press. She has published widely and is writer in residence at Kalamazoo College in Michigan.

Struggling songwriter Lindsey-Smith Cutter faces her greatest passion and her own rage when a Halloween wish becomes a question of Trick or Treat in this new lesbian paranormal thriller by Chicago writer Barbara Wells. Blending science, fiction, horror, and lesbian erotica genres, and liberally interpreting time, lesbian, and African-American culture, Wells creates a cold reality where wishes become an irresistible “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” proposition and Hell is becoming that which you most despise.