Meet Alan Hines and Me at the Book Market on July 12

Chicago author and poet Alan Hines (left) and I are both appearing at The Book Market on July 12.

This dual "Meet The Author" event will take place from 1 to 5 p.m., 2365 Plainfield Road in Crest Hill.

I first met when Alan at Calkins Day 2023, the BryonySeries official holiday in honor of Ed Calkins' birthday. 

Ed's favorite books are books by local authors. So in honor of his birthday, we invited authors to give Ed one of their books in exchange for one of his. Alan heard about the event and gave both os us one of his poetry books.

Since that time, Alan has popped into several of my events, and I've popped into several of his.

So Janet Staley, owner of The Book Market, suggested we appear together - and now we are!

Like me, Alan Hines is a prolific author and has released nearly as many titles in various genres, including a book for children, horror, urban fiction, and erotica. 

And for me, this event will be my last until after I'm recovered from sugery on July 17.

If you're not in the market for any new books, stop out anyway and purchase any BryonySeries book or any book by a WriteOn Joliet author for the WriteOners to give away from our booth on Aug. 2 at Kidz Fest.

We currently have three hundred books to give away - but we can always use more.

We'll even have some handmade BryonySeries swag as gifts with purchase.

Hope to see you there!

Alan Hines: Winner of 2024 Calkins Day Painting

Good morning! 

In between assignments last Saturday, I popped into The Book Market in Crest Hill where Chicago poet Alan Hines was having a book signing.

Alan is super supportive of the BryonySeries ever since we first met him at our 2023 Calkins Day celebration. 

Calkins Day (Feb. 13) is the BryonySeries' official holiday. It's a day to celebrate laughter, imagination, and generosity, and it just so happens to land on the birthday of Ed Calkins, Steward of Tara, BryonySeries author and character. 

Ed is a ruthless dictator/Irish vampire in this book, this book, and this book in the BryonySeries, is also an author in the series. After he published his first novel, he joined WriteOn Joliet. So on Calkins Day 2024, we were celebrating the release of "The Fifth" (Ed's latest book).

I was thrilled to learn Alan had won a beautiful painting that painter and retired art teacher Nancy Calkins (Ed's wife) created and gave away just for Calkins Day.

Alan found out when he was setting up for his book signing. So, of course, I had to get a photo of him holding it.

To check out his many, many titles, here is the Alan Hines Amazon author page.

And for those who don't know (yet), here is why we celebrate Calkins Day.

Here is how to celebrate Calkins Day.

And here is a twenty-question interview with the real Ed Calkins.

"Reflections of Love" by Alan Hines

I'm currently reading an poem (or two or three a day, depending on size) from a poetry book that was gifted to me on Calkins Day.

You could say I'm reading it like a devotional, to better focus on and appreciate each poem - and to focus on the topic of love for a few weeks.

The poet, Alan Hines of Chicago, drove down from Chicago to gift TWO copies of his book (one Ed and one to me), after learning about Calkins Day from the owner of The Book Market in Crest Hill.

Alan Hines doesn't have a website that I could find. But he does have a Facebook page. And I know it's the right page because my photo is on it and because he recently accepted my friend request.

I also found his few dozen poetry books on Amazon. If you like poetry, please check them out.

Ed's first writing love is poetry. So I'm guessing he's already read his copy.