Sampsell takes part in Pilcrow Litfest

Caption: Portland, Oregon writer Kevin Sampsell is taking part in the Pilcrow LitFest, in Chicago.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- Portland, Oregon resident Kevin Sampsell is among the more than 60 authors taking part in the Pilcrow Lit Fest, in Chicago, held between May 22-25.

Sampsell currently has a book out, titled "Creamy Bullets," published by Chiasmus Press, in Portland. This is the author's latest work, a notable previous work being "Beautiful Blemish," published by Word Riot Press, in Middletown, New Jersey.

Professionally, Sampsell works at Powell's Books, in Portland, Oregon. Sampsell also runs a micro press, called "Future Tense Books." He is 41 years old and a dad to a 14-year-old son.

He discussed the impact of being a father on his work. Sampsell said, "Being a dad has opened up the door for a lot of experiences at various emotional levels as a writer that I am much more aware of as a parent. I don't really subscribe to the whole thing where people say after you have a kid your whole life changes. But there is a certain parts of that statement is true. You do become more emotionally vulnerable as a human being. If I didn't have a child, I would probably have a more selfish outlook on life."

Sampsell just arrived yesterday, but said the festival is going well. "There are a lot if interesting panels going on. It's great seeing a bunch of friends. One of the things I do at Powell's is run the small press there. So coming to something like this I know a lot of people."

For more information about Mr. Sampsell's work, click on the headline or go to his site at: www.FutureTenseBooks.com.

Chicago hails new small press lit fair

Top: Leah Jones, at the Pilcrow Lit Fest, in Chicago. Bottom: Author Amy Guth organized the Pilcrow in her homewtown of Chicago.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS -- The Pilcrow Literature Festival is taking place in the city from May 22-25. The event gathers local and national authors, writers, poets, librarians, booksellers and publishers for three days of free workshops, panel discussions, lectures and author readings.

The director of the event is Amy Guth. She said the Pilcrow event is inspired by other literary festivals around the country. "As I city-hopped to promote my first novel, Three Fallen Women, I had the opportunity to speak at a few wonderful literary festivals -- the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival, (Downtown) Omaha Literary Fest and the Decatur Book Festival, in Atlanta. Although each festival is very different, in both focus and execution, I couldn't help but notice a certain community-building spirit about each one that I knew would translate well here in Chicago," Guth said.

In all, more than 60 writers from around the country are taking part in the event. Notables such as author/editor Kevin Sampsell, author Jonathan Messinger, and author Leah Jones, among many others, are taking part.

Today and yesterday, the event has brought out many authors and strong support from the local community. Last night, an evening event at Matilda's, in the city, was attended by more than 50 festival participants.

For more information about the festival, click on the headline, or go to: www.pilcrowlitfest.com.