26th Annual Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest Announces Featured Authors

CHICAGO, June 9 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest- the largest free outdoor literary event in the Midwest – is expected to draw a record number of book lovers to the two-day festival, set in Chicago's historic Printers Row neighborhood June 12 and 13.

This outdoor festival offers the opportunity to hear authors speak and debate their works. It also features unique booksellers, poetry readings, exhibitors, kids activities, cooking demos and much more. Author programs take place at 10 locations throughout the festival.  

Among the approximately 200 authors scheduled to appear are:

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie grew up in Nigeria. Her novel, "Half of a Yellow Sun," won the Orange Broadband Prize and was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award. "The Thing Around Your Neck" is her first collection of short stories.

Jabari Asim: Jabari Asim is the author of "What Obama Means...For Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Future," "The N Word," and several books for children. "A Taste of Honey" is his debut work of fiction.

Elizabeth Berg: Elizabeth Berg's novel "Open House" was an Oprah's Book Club selection in 2000. Her novels "Durable Goods" and "Joy School" were both ALA Best Books of the Year. Her new novel, "The Last Time I Saw You," was released this year.

Jennifer Egan: Jennifer Egan was born in Chicago. Her short stories have been published in The New Yorker, Harpers among other publications. "A Visit From the Goon Squad" is Egan's fourth novel.

Barbara Ehrenreich: Barbara Ehrenreich is the celebrated author of "Nickel and Dimes." Her latest book is "Bright-Sided: How the Relentless Promotion of Positive Thinking Has Undermined America."

Bruce Feiler: Bruce Feiler is the author of nine books, including "Walking the Bible" and "America's Prophet." He is the writer-presenter of the PBS miniseries Walking the Bible. His most recent book is "The Council of Dads."

Wes Moore: Wes Moore is an Army combat veteran, former Rhodes Scholar, and youth advocate. His first book, "The Other Wes Moore," chronicles the lives of two boys with the same name growing up in the same city leading very different lives.

Rick Tramonto: In addition to his role as executive chef/partner of the four-star restaurant Tru, Rick Tramonto is an author whose seventh cookbook, "Steak with Friends," is available now. This spring he will appear as a chef contestant on "Top Chef Masters."

Christopher Hitchens is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair and a visiting professor of liberal studies at The New School. He is the author of numerous books including "God is Not Great" and his latest, "Hitch-22: A Memoir."

Sebastian Junger is the author of "The Perfect Storm." He is also the author of "Fire" and "A Death in Belmont." He is a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, and has been awarded a National Magazine Award and an SAIS Novartis Prize for journalism.

Anne Lamott, a past recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, is the author of "Grace (Eventually)," "Plan B," "Blue Shoe," and other works of fiction and nonfiction. "Imperfect Birds" is her most recent novel.

Justin Roberts: Justin Roberts plays music for children and families with his bandmates, The Not Ready for Naptime Players. His latest CD is Jungle Gym.

Christine Stansell: Christine Stansell writes widely about matters of feminism and American History in print and online. Her most recent book is "The Feminist Promise: 1792 to the Present."

T.J. Stiles: "The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt," the latest biography from T.J. Stiles, was awarded the 2009 National Book Award and 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Biography.

Peter Yarrow: As a member of Peter, Paul and Mary, Peter Yarrow earned multiple Grammys and an Emmy nomination. He is the author of the "Peter Yarrow Songbook" series, an anthology of folk music for kids.

The 2010 Lit Fest features more than 100 free literary programs and nearly 140 new, used and antiquarian booksellers.  Walter Dean Myers has been named the recipient of the 2010 Chicago Tribune Young Adult Book Prize which will be awarded at noon on Saturday, June 12 at the Harold Washington Library Center Cindy Pritzker Auditorium.  His works included "Fallen Angels," "Game," "Sunrise Over Fallujah" and "Monster."  At this year's Lil' Lit Stage presented by Navy Pier, kids and parents can enjoy storytelling, costumed characters, performances, sing-alongs and special activities.  For food fanatics, the Good Eating stage will feature appearances by Chef Rick Tramonto, executive chef at Tru restaurant in Chicago.  Also returning to the Lit Fest is the American Heritage Dictionary Define-a-Thon competition.

The Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest is presented in association with the Chicago Public Library.  Sponsors of this year's fair include Navy Pier and Acura.  CSPAN2's Book TV is scheduled to broadcast live on location during both days of the Lit Fest.  

Chicago Tribune operates Printers Row Lit Fest as part of the company's ongoing commitment to the written word and its support of literacy.  For more information about the Lit Fest and a complete list of programs and exhibitors go to www.printersrowlitfest.org.

About Chicago Tribune Media Group

Chicago Tribune Media Group publishes the Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Tribune as well as related print and interactive media serving Chicagoland like RedEye, Hoy, Triblocal, Chicago magazine, chicagotribune.com, chicagonow.com and metromix.com.

SOURCE Chicago Tribune Media Group