ABOUT LITERAGO

Literago.org is intended as a portal to news and information about literary goings-on in and around Chicago. The site features a curated calendar with a corresponding weekly newsletter, news and photos, post-event write-ups, and the occasional essay about the state of literature in Chicago.

Literago.org co-founders Gretchen Kalwinski and Eugenia Williamson are Chicago writers and editors (and former English majors) who have had their collective hands in a whole lot of local literary stuff: Barbara’s Bookstore, University of Chicago Press, The University of Chicago Department of English, Chicago Review, Centerstage Chicago, The Chicago Tribune, THE2NDHAND, American Library Association, Poetry Magazine, Poetry Foundation, Venus Zine, Chicago Reader, Time Out Chicago, UR Chicago, Stop Smiling, Guild Complex, and Punk Planet.

They created Literago in order to show the world that Chicago isn’t an illiterate sinkhole, but a city with a vibrant literary community. Furthermore, they want to provide a service to Chicagoans interested in literature: to give them a one-stop shop for noteworthy literary events, happenings, and information. While this “Porkopolis” has a vast number of literary projects – everything from small presses and magazines to giant lit organizations – the Literago editors are bugged that there is little cohesion, promotion, or community evident outside of events like Printer’s Row Book Fair and the Printer’s Ball.

In short, Literago is a website that should have existed long ago. The editors wish it had been around when they were seeking out a community and trying to find worthwhile readings to attend. They hope Literago will be a useful tool for people like them. You can contact them with feedback or info about your literary event or project at: editors [at] literago.org. For events, please send at least two weeks prior to the event.