What a fantastic interview! If it inspires you to do what Rachel has done for another city, get in touch with us at @beltpublishing.bsky.social

"It was my goal to capture Rockford as it really is: flawed, yes, but full of strengths, too." @recycledgiraffe.bsky.social's interview with @rachellayown.bsky.social on editing the "The Rockford Anthology” (@beltpublishing.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/11/06/t...

Another world is possible, if we fight for it

Amy Levy and Vernon Lee are on shelves now! unnamedpress.com #smithandtaylorclassics

"We’re following our hearts and minds...finding a balance so we don’t inadvertently publish titles that are too similar.” Out now: @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with @allisonwoodnutt.bsky.social of Smith & Taylor Classics at @unnamedpress.bsky.social. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/10/31/i...

We are always very proud to be a part of the Stories Matter Foundation, but today especially.

"What I can tell you, clearly and unambiguously, is that it is not always an easy matter to settle on what is true." @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with @dianejosefowicz.bsky.social on her new book "Guardians & Saints” (Cornerstone Press) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/10/24/t...

A book that gets a proclamation from the mayor! A whole official week! How cool is this

"Once [books] are published and out in the world, I am constantly surprised by the extent of their reach and the wonderful ways they touch readers." @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with @milkweededitions.bsky.social editor Daniel Slager is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/09/15/i...

We're excited to tell you we have THREE full scholarships available for Queer Joy and Sensibilities with JP Solheim, a four-session in-person class starting 9/18. Apply here by 9/16: buff.ly/blJ7Kaq

"Resentment, infatuation, dependence, alienation and fear of loneliness work well when they’re being revealed with words and images together." @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with Lee Lai on her new book “Cannon” @dandq.bsky.social is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/09/10/t...

If you’re in the Chicago area, I’ll be in conversation with David Ambroz tomorrow at Printers Row Lit Fest about his inspiring memoir A PLACE CALLED HOME. We’ll be at the North Stage at 1pm. Hope to see you there!

HUGE congrats to @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social managing director and Novel In A Year alum @rachellayown.bsky.social on being named one of 10 Poets & Writers' 2025 Get the Word Out Fiction Fellows: www.pw.org/about-us/new...

We’re thrilled to announce the @pw.org Fall 2025 Get the Word Out Fiction Cohort. Get the Word Out is a unique publicity incubator designed to help early career authors maximize the exposure of their forthcoming books. debutiful.net/2025/09/03/a...

Woohoo!!! Go @rachellayown.bsky.social!!!! 🥳 🥳 🥳

Very grateful for this lovely review of THE ROCKFORD ANTHOLOGY!

Looking at a map of northern Illinois, you’ll find Rockford halfway between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River; this post-industrial city also represents a midpoint in my coming of age. My review of THE ROCKFORD ANTHOLOGY, @sixtyinchesfromcenter.org: sixtyinchesfromcenter.org/midway-to-ho...

Our assistant fiction editor @isleofanalia.bsky.social sold her story collection LADY OF THE GARDEN to Morissa Young at @milkweededitions.bsky.social! We're so proud of her and excited to read her work.🎉

"I want to live in a way that feels meaningful, that’ll never pay out in the rewards of fame or fortune." @adamalsirgany.bsky.social's interview with @rachellayown.bsky.social his new book "More Hell" (@whiskeytit.com) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/08/19/r...

NEW interview live! This one's with Rachel León, editor of the forthcoming collection, The Rockford Anthology. beltpublishing.com/pages/conver...

Huge shoutout to @michaelzapata.bsky.social for this well-deserved news!! Also we have a sneak peek on his next book in this article 👀

Do you know about the Indie Preorder Party? We're encouraging readers to order from indie bookstores this weekend! Lots of books are 15% off on preorders, there's a bingo, and there are prizes for readers. Find out more here: lnk.bio/authors4indi...

"The scale of the problems we face seems insurmountable but small groups can change the course of history." In the next installment in our Read Your Resistance series, Luke McGowan-Arnold writes about Terry Bisson’s “Fire on the Mountain." chireviewofbooks.com/2025/06/26/b...

📣📣 We're shouting from the rooftops (can ya hear us?) to sayyyyy: It's a great (lakes) day to pre-order the anthology @mbwwelch.bsky.social edited!!! 🌊🌊🌊🌊 (Girl math means 4 water emojis = 1 great lake. That makes sense... Right?)

Happy pub day @ericarstern.bsky.social! FRONTIER is so unique, beautiful, and chilling. So thrilled this book is officially in the world!

Happy pub day @arammrjoian.bsky.social! I just started reading and already am loving it. Such a remarkable novel.

Hi! I'm now offering one-hour writing coaching sessions over Zoom! I've done this with a few people who've taken my classes, and it's been great! Need advice, support, tips, prompts? Hit me up for some writing therapy. Message for more details and pricing. 😘 Info about me below:

@rachellayown.bsky.social has worked in child welfare on and off for over twenty years, and in that time, the limited media portrayals of foster care disheartened her. But she believes David Ambroz’s memoir is an exception. Read why: chireviewofbooks.com/2025/05/28/w...

"What makes a person good?" This time last year, we published a fascinating review of Marissa Higgins's A GOOD HAPPY GIRL by @rachellayown.bsky.social . Check it out in our archives: buff.ly/Ctlp0ri

"As a writer, your job is to pay attention...it’s emotional, internal, and also intersects with the outside world." Out now: @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with @karenebender.bsky.social on "The Words of Dr. L and Other Stories" (Counterpoint Press). chireviewofbooks.com/2025/05/06/a...

I have new work in Wigleaf. Deepest thanks to Scott Garson and the @wigleaf.bsky.social team for holding my story with such care. I wrote this piece with love for a friend and I'd be so honored if you could read it.

Our NEA grant was canceled. Here’s a letter from our development director about what’s happening.

Good morning on ACCOMPLISHMENT SUNDAY 🌞 Contributor @rachellayown.bsky.social interviewed Sarah Schulman on her book THE FANTASY AND NECESSITY OF SOLIDARITY for the @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social . Check out this conversation on what it means to unite: buff.ly/w9oOEFu

Today’s must read.

Support Midwest Immigration Bond Fund this #indiebookstoreday! We're hosting a reading & teach-in with Alejandra Oliva, Diego Báez, Daniel Borzutzky, Faisal Mohyuddin & Angelica Julia Dávila with all proceeds going to MIBF to pay immigration bonds to free individuals from ICE custody. Sat, 6:30 pm!

To all our friends, book lovers, and favorite doggos, Happy Independent Bookstore Day! The best day of the year! Our front window is beautified, we’re well rested and caffeinated, and we can’t wait to welcome all you lovely book people to the store today. Let’s have a day, Chicago!!!

“I suggest that people center their hope for positive change in expanding and maintaining their own integrity. Because that is the only thing we can control.” Wonderful, vital conversation between @rachellayown.bsky.social and Sarah Schulman here. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/04/24/t...

"Radical democracy is the acceptance of difference with a bottom line." @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with Sarah Schulman on her new book “The Fantasy and Necessity of Solidarity" (@penguinbooksusa.bsky.social) is out now! chireviewofbooks.com/2025/04/24/t...

Ah summertime...we're ready to be on the beach, with a fancy drink, and reading one of these amazing books coming out later this year!! Hop over to our IG to hear @rachellayown.bsky.social talk about these books and why she's looking forward to them in particular.

This incredible novel is the first Youssef Rakha wrote in English. You can read a mini interview with him over on Substack: pubcheerleader.substack.com/p/interview-...

Our conversation with @meganstielstra.bsky.social on her essay "Here is My Heart" is out today...and let's just say, it has allll of the feels. Shout out to Sara Cutaia for choosing the piece, and click the link below to give it a listen. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/03/31/m...

Thank you @salamandermag.bsky.social & Kevin Wilson for believing in my work ❤️ This story is about a squirrel invasion, a mysterious plant plague, but mostly about the love between a young man and his grandfather.

Looking for a modern fable? Nonfiction that weaves personal and collective history with literary criticism? What about an emotionally powerful work of fiction? Online now: our best of April book list, written and compiled by our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social. chireviewofbooks.com/2025/04/01/1...

Happy pub day @saralippmann.bsky.social! Can’t wait to read SMASHING THE TABLETS! (And if anyone needs a copy still, here’s a coupon code!)

"Who among us can’t relate to wanting to be both desired and far-flung?" This time last year, we published THIS INTERNAL WIRING: ON MARISSA HIGGINS'S A GOOD HAPPY GIRL, a review by @rachellayown.bsky.social . Revisit this interesting piece in our archives: buff.ly/BEOfpI2

"Even today, Chicago is a city of immigrant communities." Happy pub day to Chicago's own Cynthia Pelayo! Today on the site, @devibhaduri.bsky.social talks with @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social about her new novel, "Vanishing Daughters"

I'm so far behind on reading things I've bookmarked but that are not actually between covers. But when I just now got to this piece by @rachellayown.bsky.social it absolutely blew me away. Essential. READ THIS NOW! chireviewofbooks.com/2025/03/06/r...

It was absolute pleasure to talk with @rachellayown.bsky.social for @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social!

"We need to push back on the narrative that some people deserve less because of how they’re born, who they love, how they arrived here, or what they may have done in the past." @rachellayown.bsky.social writes about "Like a Hammer" @haymarketbooks.org