ChicagoWriter

May 21, 2004

CHICAGO VOICES: An excerpt from Michael Burke’s remarks introducing Alex Kotlowitz at the Community Media Workshop’s 2004 Studs Terkel Awards

Like Studs Terkel, Alex Kotlowitz was born in New York City. Like Studs, Alex learned about Chicago and the world by walking the forgotten streets, talking to
often overlooked people. Like Studs, Alex has written books, and worked in radio and TV, as well. Unlike Studs, Alex has not yet been investigated by the House Un-American Activities Committee -- of course, that might change after he receives the Terkel award tonight! You never know who’s listening.

Alex has said, "I am at best a storyteller." And his stories have appeared everywhere from the Wall Street Journal and The New Yorker to WBEZ and Frontline. He is probably best known for two stories, his books: The Other Side of the River, which looks at racial isolation in Benton Harbor, Michigan, following the death of Eric McGinnis; and There Are No Children Here, which follows the lives of two brothers, Lafayette and Pharaoh, as they grow up in Chicago’s Henry Horner Homes. Alex’s new book -- Never a City so Real -- looks at some of the "outsiders" he has encountered in Chicago. The book will be published this summer and his "stories of money" will air on public radio this fall.

Like that other great storyteller, Studs Terkel, Alex Kotlowitz is dedicated to making our world a smaller place by helping each of us better understand what we have in common with one another -- both good and bad.

It is my honor to present this 2004 Studs Terkel Award for Journalistic Excellence to Alex Kotlowitz.

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Michael Burke's new short story collection, "What You Don't Know About Men," is now available for purchase. The book tells the funny, heartbreaking stories of 20 sometimes shy, sometimes sexy, often sentimental men who march through life as punch-drunk fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, friends and lovers. (Book design and cover photograph: Sheila Sachs)

I am the author of the short story collection, "What You Don’t Know About Men," and the plays "Wama-Wama Zing Bing" and "Let’s Spend Money." I occasionally appear as a guest lecturer in English and fiction-writing classes (most recently: Columbia College Chicago, College of DuPage and Northeastern Illinois University) and as a performer at various literary readings. I was born in Chicago’s Jefferson Park neighborhood and now live in Edgewater with my husband, the magician Robert Charles. (Author photograph: Michael Caplan) I am a past chairman of the Board of Directors at Public Narrative, which annually honors Chicago-area journalists with Studs Terkel Awards.In 2011, I served on the Nominating Committee for the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. In 2006, I was inducted into the Northern Star Hall of Fame at Northern Illinois University. Contact me at poetsknow@yahoo.com.

Watch the new book trailer for Michael Burke's short story collection, "What You Don't Know About Men." The book can now be ordered at your local bookstore -- The Book Cellar in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood is my favorite -- and online. (Many thanks to Ilene Slonoff for her careful and caring editorial suggestions for the book.) My stories, poems and essays have been published in TriQuarterly, American Way (the American Airlines in-flight magazine), Sport Literate, The Mid-American Poetry Review, Private Arts, Tartts 3, The Linking Ring, Third Wednesday, The Rockford Review, Rambunctious Review and other literary journals. My plays have been produced by Strawdog Theatre, OverBored Productions and From Page to Stage. The magician and scholar Eugene Burger was kind enough to include Robert Charles, Jack Gould, Ricardo Rosenkranz and me in a conversation with Eugene, which appears in the new, expanded second edition of Magic and Meaning, which Eugene wrote with Robert E. Neale for Hermetic Press. Chicago Tribune article on Anti-Trump protests:Chicago Tribune article. Christine Sneed blog: Q&A with Michael Burke. Christine Sneed blog. Huffington Post: Sally Duros interviews Robert Charles and me regarding President Obama's historic call for equality.Huffington Post. And here's our audio interview on Sally's website Sally Duros. Windy City Times: Tracy Baim reviews "What You Don't Know About Men." Windy City Times review. Chicago Tribune: Katie Fretland on the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame. Chicago Tribune article. Chicago Tribune: Jon Anderson on the Bloomsday reading organized by Steve Diedrich at the Cliff Dwellers Club: Bloomsday article. Demo magazine: Micki Leventhal on the Community Media Workshop: Workshop profile. Telescope: A blurb noting "What You Don't Know About Men" is a Book of the Year finalist (see pg.7). Telescope. NIU: Michael Burke inducted into Northern Star Hall of Fame: News release Third Coast Press: C.J. Laity on the future of poetry: Poetry outlook. I began posting book reviews, writing tips and social commentary at ChicagoWriter in February 2004. In addition to pieces of advice shared under "Writing Tips," special features include "Around Town," "Appreciation" and "Commentary" essays and interviews as well as "Chicago Voices" excerpts and brief "Postscript" asides. Your comments are always welcome. Founded in 1999, Polyphony Press promotes the diverse voices of emerging and established writers. Robert N. Georgalas, Joanne Pepe, Jo-Ann Ledger, Mark Wukas, David McGrath and I have so far published three Polyphony Press anthologies: "The Thing About Love Is...," "The Thing About Second Chances Is...," and our most recent release, "The Thing About Hope Is..." All Polyphony titles are available at amazon.com.