murder.booklocker.com

Okay, so I got it wrong. Yes, I kept saying Beverly Library to anyone who asked, but in my mind the picture that I had was of the Oak Lawn Library. Several years back I taught a class in memoir for the Chicago Department of Aging at the Southwest Center, 6117 S. Kedzie Avenue. Two of the women I met there, Virginia and Pat, had asked me to come to the Oak Lawn Library and meet with a writers’ group there. Although the writing group didn’t work out, I was really impressed with the library itself.

It was this state of the art facility that I had in my mind as Luanne and I drove down to the Beverly Branch of the Chicago Library on Saturday. And I was psyched to think that I might see Virginia and Pat again.

In reality, we drove past the Oak Lawn Library (also on 95th) to get to the renovated funeral home that would be the site of the author readings. At least I’m guessing it used to be a funeral home. Sure looked it. A picture that Luanne took of Marguerite O’Connor’s book, Griefstruck, captures that tone and illustrates why I thought the library was housed in a converted funeral home.

The Experience
The room reminded me a lot of my visit to the Des Plaines Senior Center – overly-warm, intimate; the folks in attendance were likewise as in Des Plaines – friendly, inquisitive, responsive.

I missed the opening but someone later made reference to the fact that Jennifer Brown-Banks had arranged for the Chicago Writers Association appearance (thanks, Jennifer!). Jen Wilding introduced each author. We took the podium in fifteen minute segments. See author pictures on my website.

Since I’m really still very new to CWA, Jen Wilding identified two other members in attendance: Randy Richardson & Nona Nolet.

I’m a Ham – I Admit It
I read chapter two from PARK RIDGE: A Senior Center Murder. I really got into the text describing Gordon Williams, the irrepressible booster of the trip to House on the Rock, babbling on with emphatic, enthusiastic gestures. Pinochle player Jack Buchtel’s reponse to the high-pressure sell was equally emphatic, although angrily so. Luanne says folks laughed at loud as I accompanied my reading with lots of movement and different voices for the two characters.

Photographs
Hurley Green III from the Chicago Independent Bulletin took pictures when the readings were finished.