Welcome to Friends of American Writers
December 11th Meeting 2024 - Michel Halberstam Holiday Reading
Mr. Halberstam will entertain us with a holiday reading. Reservations for the November meeting will be due by 6:00 PM, Tuesday Dec 3, 2024. more...
BOOK EXCHANGE! Who doesn't love to share a great book. Bring a wrapped book if you would like to participate in the book exchange.
Join us for the FAW luncheon on December 11th, 12:00 noon at The Fortnightly of Chicago.
From the Fortnightly - The City of Chicago has passed legislation that requires us to publish employee schedules 14 days in advance and provides a penalty if we change the schedule with less notice. This affects our meeting reservation dates. Due to this policy we are required to have more notice for the reservations.
Luncheon reservations and cancellations are due no later than 6:00 PM Tuesday, December 3, 2024.
No reservations or cancellations will be accepted after this time. Call and check that your reservation has been placed if you are in doubt.
FAW has a new Reservation Team! Call:
(Sorry - no reservations by email!)
• Karen Klatt - 312-909-4581 or
Kathy Quaid - 708-704-2161
• $50.00 Pay by check(preferred) payable to FAW at the door. Cash is accepted also.
• Vegetarian meals may be requested at the time you make your reservation.
• You must call to cancel your reservation, otherwise you will still be charged.
• Discounted parking is available two doors west of the Fortnightly at 100 Bellevue Place
• Group reservations - please only have one person make the group request to avoid confusion.
Seating Arrangements
Please mention any special seating arrangements when you make your reservation.
--Guests
--Seated with a Friend or group
--Disability seating
Every effort will be made to honor your request.
Do you have trouble climbing stairs? For a stair-less entrance to the Fortnightly call in advance to the
Fortnightly (312-944-1330) and staff will give you instructions.
Click here for a map to The Fortnightly
The FAW 2023 - 2024 Literature Award Winners
Adult Literature Awards
A.D. NAUMAN for Down the Steep (Regal House Publishing) $2,500
THAO THAI for Banyan Moon, (Mariner Books)$2,500
LAUREL J LANDIS for Gunshots in Grudgeville and Other Stories, (Ten16 Press) Honorable Mention
Young People's Literature Awards
JACK CHENG for The Many Masks of Andy Zhou, (Dial Books for Young Readers) $1,650
SONDRA SODERBORG for Sky Ropes, (Chronicle Books) $1,650
SHARI SWANSON for The Darling Duck of WWII, (Sleeping Bear Press) $1,650
Would you like to receive the FAW Newsletter? Sign up Here .
☛ FAW Scholarship Award The Foundation Fund proudly introduced Chidera Nwume, the 2024 Friends of American Writers student scholarship winner, at the November luncheon. She is receiving $3000 from this fund towards her education this semester. She is currently enrolled in the MFA Writing program at Columbia College Chicago. More about Chidera
The FAW Foundation Fund trustees want to thank the many members who have contributed to the Foundation this year and in all previous years. Without you, our scholarship program would not exist!
Our mission shall be to encourage new, talented writers associated with the Midwest and to promote the arts, especially literature, among our members.
Friends of American Writers celebrated 100 years in 2022. Join FAW and help continue the mission of excellence in writing.
Friends of American Writers (FAW) was established in 1922 by Mrs. John Bohr of Oak Park and a group of literary minded women in the sixth district of the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs. Friends of American Writers was legally organized on April 3, 1922 at the Oak Park Library with the purpose of specifically fostering good literature. The tradition of giving awards to outstanding contemporary writers began only seven months after the founding of FAW.
Over the years, FAW has honored and celebrated the accomplishments of many authors, by recognition at a Awards Luncheon and a monetary award. Among the many emerging adult authors recognized over the years are Sara Paretsky, Jane Smiley, Toni Morrison, Harry Mark Petrakis, Carl Sandburg, Kevin Fenton, Chad Harbach, Sara Gruen, Gillian Flynn, and Ruta Sepetys. We hope to see some of our new winners added to this list of outstanding and well recognized authors.
In 1960, FAW introduced awards for Juvenile Literature authors. Clifford Hicks won the first award for First Boy on the Moon. Recent winners range from delightful picture books to edgy YA novels.
Additionally, through the FAW Foundation Fund, students pursuing advanced degrees in writing are given recognition and cash awards to offset tuition.
FAW membership
Do you enjoy reading, writing, or supporting new writers who are starting their career? Join Friends of American Writers for one of our excellent programs at The Fortnightly of Chicago. Monthly meetings features a three-course luncheon and an interesting program. We hold a book group, Readers & Reviewers, which meets to discuss a selected novel. The Literary committees which select our award winning authors are always looking for new members to participate in the selection process. Membership for the full year is $50.00 . Download the membership application and send it in today. Our programs are open to members and their guests, but if you don't know a member and would enjoy trying a meeting, contact the Membership Chairman, and we can arrange for you to attend a meeting.
Membership Chairman: Jennifer Zvi at info@fawchicago.org
| President | Karen Burnett |
| Vice President | Christine Spatara |
| Secretary | Patti Smart |
| Treasurer | Diana Adams |
| Newsletter Editor | Robin McGinnity Connelly |
| Foundation Fund Chair | Vivian Mortensen |
| Foundation Fund Trustees | Christine Spatara, Ida Hagman |
| Literature Awards | Carrie Brenner |
| Young People's Awards | Angela Gall |
| Luncheon - Social | Carol Eshaghy |
| Membership | Jennifer Zvi |
| Programs | Sean Eshaghy |
| Revisions | Beth Gross |
| Sustaining Clubs | Esther Geppert |
| Yearbook - Awards Program | Dale Davison with Barb Smith and Adrienne Bornstein |
| Phone Reservations | Karen Klatt and Kathy Quaid |
| Website Manager | Karen Baker |
Board meetings are held at The Fortnightly at 10:30 a.m. the mornings of the luncheons.
We all love a good book. We also love our local book clubs! At the next meeting of your club, urge your members to consider becoming one of the Sustaining Clubs of Friends of American Writers. We have several local groups that are Sustaining Clubs.
The process of becoming a Sustaining Club is easy, and it costs only $50 per club per year. Contact Esther Geppert at info@fawchicago.org for more information or download a membership form.
Bad Dog Book Club
The Woman's Reading Club of Riverside
Vermis Libri
