Congratulations to Windy City authors Heather Andersen and Dick Hrebik who have recently won book awards!

Heather Andersen won an Honorable Mention from the New England Book Festival for her memoir I Never Intended to Be Brave: A Woman's Bicycle Journey Through Southern Africa. Her story chronicles her adventures exploring southern Africa alone by bicycle.

" I Never Intended to Be Brave is an inspiring story that will encourage you to dream big, overcome your fears, and strive to reach your potential… Reading [Heather's] book may inspire you to live a life of 'no regrets.'"

-Susan Heim, Chicken Soup for the Soul editor

"Heather Andersen's African bicycling adventure is a fun story of humble triumph. Her tale shows us that the things we're told to fear can often be overcome with courage, compassion, and understanding. Heather never intended to be brave but she is. A great read."

-Mike Greehan, former Publisher, Bicycling Magazine and Past Board President, League of American Bicyclists

Dick Hrebik won a Silver Medal from the Military Writers Society of America for his latest book, The Warrior Among Us. This science-fiction novel is an action packed thriller about war, politics, and terrorism that will have you thinking about America's future like never before.

Welcoming Our Latest Authors

As we continue to grow, we'd like to give a shout-out to all the authors who have recently joined the Windy City Publishers family.

Jimmy Ball - Digging for Home
Danielle Berkemeier - Highway to Love
Dale Coy - Morton's Fork
Amy Hilliard - Tap Into Your Juice
Brooke Jackson - Caring for the Skin & Hair of Your Adopted Child
Renee James - Coming Out Can Be Murder
Julie Morse - When Billy Went Bald
Ed Prence - The Last Perfect Summer
Maureen Skaggs - The Tail of Gigi

Literacy Chicago

We just participated in the 20th Anniversary celebration of Literacy Chicago's Words on the Page 2012 event held at the Chicago Cultural Center in downtown Chicago. Being involved with this wonderful organization is our way of giving back to the community and to a cause that is relevant and important - improving literacy. To listen to the student's read their essays is a humbling experience. It really reinforced the importance of never giving up on a dream, and that it's never too late to learn to read.

Upcoming Events

Windy City Publishers will have a booth at the Association of Writers & Writing Programs Conferencehttp://www.awpwriter.org/conference/

in Chicago, March 1 - March 3. If you will be attending, please stop by to say hello.

On March 6th at 7:00 pm we will be presenting a workshop on "How to Publish and Market a Book" at New Trier High School's Northfield campus. If you would like to register please click herehttp://www.newtrier.k12.il.us and download the registration form.

On March 10th at 9:30 am we will be presenting a workshop on "How to Publish and Market a Book" at the Forest View Educational Center in Arlington Heights. The class is currently full, but contact the district to be put on a waitlist.http://www.newtrier.k12.il.us

On March 11th at 11:00 am we will be presenting a workshop on "Social Media & The New Rules of Publishing" at the Milwaukee Spring Writers Festival. http://www4.uwm.edu

Once again we will be at the Creative Chicago Expo held at the Chicago Cultural Center on March 23 - 24th. Last year there was a great turnout and we look forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting new people! http://www.explorechicago.org