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Remember You Will Die by Eden Robbins Acclaimed Chicago Author's "Genre-Defying Masterpiece" Will Be Celebrated on the Book Release Date–October 22 CHICAGO–Eden is a third-generation Chicagoan who grew up in the city and only briefly left for college before returning for the next 18 years. She has been very active in the Chicago literary community for decades, including hosting the Tuesday Funk live lit series for 15 years. Eden Robins will celebrate the launch of Remember You Will Die at her favorite local indie, Women & Children First, on the book’s release date (October 22). The city of Chicago has also served as a huge inspiration for her work at large; her widely acclaimed debut novel—When Franny Stands Up, a Chicago Reader Best Book of 2022—was set in Chicago in the 1950s, and several of the most consequential characters in Remember You Will Die live in Chicago as well. Remember You Will Die is a groundbreaking, genre-bending epic written entirely in obituaries about the messy tapestry of human history and the threads that connect us all, set against the desperate investigation of an AI mother grappling with the death of her human daughter. “Can the absence of words tell a story? Like a pattern in lace, the holes as important as the threads?” Remember You Will Die spans continents, centuries, and planets in an unexpected but gratifying blend of historical fiction, science fiction, and speculative fiction. The novel is an unflinching story told through centuries of obituaries that reveal a planet slowly dying, a world increasingly disconnected, and human lives entwined through blood and love and the consequences of their actions. With intricate multigenerational links reminiscent of How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu, the surprising wit and levity of Kevin Wilson, and a tangled web of mystery like The 7 ½ Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, Remember You Will Die centers a diverse mix of human experiences in a soul-stirring exploration of who we are and who we have the potential to be.

LITERARY LOCAL | Eden Robbins' New Release: Remember You Will Die, Available October 22

Remember You Will Die
by Eden Robbins

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Author of Best Mom Rockford ILLINOIS MOM PUBLISHES A FUN NEW BOOK Author Erin Sturm has a new book out – Best Mom Rockford, published by Reedy Press. Discover the best kid-friendly things to do in Rockford, Illinois. From music and nature to science and history, you’ll have plenty to explore. With Best Mom Rockford as your guidebook, you can confidently pack your day full of adventurous and educational outings for all ages. Learn what it takes to succeed in careers from astronaut to agriculture at the Discovery Center Museum, before visiting Burpee Natural History Museum and seeing the world-famous dinosaur, Jane. Camp, fish, and boat at Rock Cut State Park. Step back in time to discover what life was like at the turn of the last century at Tinker Swiss Cottage. Rev up an interest in classic cars and monster trucks at Historic Auto Attractions. Practice painting pottery, relax on a river, and indulge in Italian food and culture with one of these Rockford adventures. Best Mom Rockford includes over 200 of the best places and events to take your kids to in Rockford, and the surrounding area, throughout the year. Rockford author Erin Sturm will introduce you to all the places that, once visited, will have your kids declaring that you are the best mom! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Erin Sturm is the creator and founder of Stateline Kids, a community guide for kids events, activities, and information in the greater Rockford area. The site, statelinekids.com, launched in 2018 to help families make the most out of the resources and attractions in the Stateline area. Erin is also the owner of The Sturm Agency which offers consulting, speaking, and freelance writing services in the topics of hyperlocal marketing and social media marketing.

LITERARY LOCAL | Erin Sturm of Rockford

Author of Best Mom Rockford
ILLINOIS MOM PUBLISHES A FUN NEW BOOK

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Here’s What I’m Sayin’ by Literary Local Rick Lochner NAPERVILLE LEADER IS JUST SAYIN’ NAPERVILLE–With his latest book, Here’s What I’m Sayin’: Still More Revelations for Making Leadership a Way of Life, business owner and leadership coach, Rick Lochner, shares several quick-read concepts to lay the foundation for thinking differently and making leadership a way of life. By concisely exploring ideas like “I can explain it to you, but I can’t comprehend it for you” and “If you don’t like change, you’ll like irrelevance even less,” Lochner gives insight into becoming an effective leader by thinking like a leader. This attitudinal perspective is the key to his vision and strategy. “We believe leaders must think like leaders before they can become leaders,” Lochner says. “While this concept sounds simple and straightforward, it is anything but in practice.” “In the last five years, we’ve encountered multiple monumental events that challenged leaders at all levels … navigating a global pandemic, global supply chain issues and financial inflation to name but a few,” says Lochner. Through it all, he has continued to write about what it takes to think like a leader. Whether reading these 52 easy-to-digest ideas at random or cover to cover, this book will help you to discover how leaders think differently, why soft skills are more important than ever, what cognitive diversity is and why it matters, and much more. Lochner encourages you to not only read these but to apply them to the context of your own leadership situation. Available on Amazon.com, this book speaks to corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, non-profit leaders, and anyone who wants to be a leader because it is inspired by real interactions with some of the real people, organizations and agencies across the country whom Lochner has helped over the last three decades. For more information, visit www.RickLochner.com. Literary Local Rick Lochner and his wife, Colleen, reside in Naperville, Illinois. www.RickLochner.com

LITERARY LOCAL | Naperville Leader, Rick Lochner is Just Sayin'

Here’s What I’m Sayin’ by Rick Lochner
NAPERVILLE LEADER IS JUST SAYIN’

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A Pittie Pool Party Randi Moxi had a busy life as a former entrepreneur, marketing director, brand strategist and event producer.  She also served as Mrs. Illinois in 2014 and in 2017 she was elevated to Pageant Director.  While in her five-year tenure as Director, she helped Illinois get to top 5 in all age divisions and bring home the International crown four times. At age 44, Randi shifted from helping make others’ dreams come true to blessing children and animals through the gift of story.   During the Covid pandemic, Randi was bedridden with a repetitive injury. While being forced to focus on her health, she and her husband rescued a pit bull type dog whose rehabilitation and decompression time was mostly spent with Randi in bed.  “We healed together and wrote a book,” says Randi.  “She’s the star of the story.” They now own five pit bull mix fur children.    Although pit bulls are superior in intelligence, strength and loyalty, they are the most bullied breed of dog.  A Pittie Pool Party  is the story of a girl who rescues a pit bull type dog and establishes an understanding of how judging any person or creature before knowing them as an individual can cause harm to them and us. The book embodies the incredible power of friendship, inclusivity, acceptance and animal rescue. “The best part of the book for the kids is always the dog,” says Randi. “Seeing a dog be judged in the story engages their empathy and is relatable to them if they have ever felt judged themselves.”   Along with authoring her books, Randi is a motivational speaker and a featured school enrichment assembly presenter.  A portion of proceeds from all speaking engagements and book sales benefit animal rescue.    A Pittie Pool Party  is available online at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.   KNOW A LOCAL AUTHOR?  editorial@glancermagazine.com

LITERARY LOCAL | Randi Moxi

A Pittie Pool Party, Written by Former Mrs. Illinois Benefiting Animal Rescue

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About the Book, Vintage Chicago A collection of 300 remarkable photographs from the Chicago Tribune's subterranean photo vault, curated from the @vintagetribune Instagram. Book Overview The @vintagetribune Instagram, a beloved photography account produced by the photo editors of the Chicago Tribune, has been mining the newspaper's vast subterranean archives since 2014 and breathing new life into its most gram-worthy black-and-white images. You won't find the 300 photos in this collection in your typical time capsule. These aren't the dramatic, front-page, history-making photographs we're used to seeing from photojournalists. These are the images that would have been posted had Instagram existed in, say, 1932--the offbeat, gritty, strange, funny, rare, charming, everyday images captured in the moments that happened between the well-documented events that make up the city's official biography. This book is an unexpected, inspired portrait of one of the world's great metropolises, told through the lenses of the countless feet-on-the-street photographers from the city's hometown paper. And yes, there are cats. We are talking about Instagram, after all. About the Author The Chicago Tribune, founded in 1847, is the flagship newspaper of the Chicago Tribune Media Group. Its staff comprises dedicated, award-winning journalists who have authored many bestselling books. Available at amazon.com and target.com

LITERARY LOCAL | Vintage Chicago by Chicago Tribune

A Collection of 300 Remarkable Photographs from the Chicago Tribune's Subterranean Photo Vault

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Frankinschool 2: The Cupsnake Escape ELMHURST–Long-time Elmhurst resident Caryn Rivadeneira has worked in the writing industry as an editor since she graduated from college. Alongside editing, she writes books. The majority of her 25 published books are stories written for children, including the Helper Hounds series and Edward and Annie: A Penguin Adventure, a picture book she wrote in conjunction with the Shedd Aquarium. Her most current book, Frankinschool 2: The Cupsnake Escape, is the second (of four) in the Frankinschool Mystery Series. The inspiration for the Frankinschool series came one day when a visiting author signed a book to her son “To Frank” (not his name). “He was little then and quite upset,” says Caryn, “so we made up a funny story about why the author may have written that, and it grew into Frankinschool!” The series is about a boy named Fred, who taps into the “power of pretend” by writing What If poems, and same as her son, has an author accidentally sign his book “To Frank” which leads him into writing his first poem: What if I am Frank in School? The poem unleashes all sorts of mayhem and leads Fred and his friend, Luisa, to the mysterious school attic where they meet Frank the ghost. In The Cupsnake Escape, Fred’s power of pretend turns cupcakes into cupsnakes at a school baking competition, and once again, they put their creativity to the test to try to save the school from the snakes. Caryn’s Frankinschool Mystery Series can be found anywhere books are sold as well as all online book retailers. The third book in the series, Frankinschool 3: Gone to the Dogs is set to be released this August. KNOW A LOCAL AUTHOR?  editorial@glancermagazine.com

LITERARY LOCAL | Caryn Rivadeneira of Elmhurst

Frankinschool 2: The Cupsnake Escape

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THE ANGEL MEDIUM® SHARES HER INSPIRATION FOR WRITING HER RECENT RELEASE Angels and Awakening: How to Raise Your Vibration and Hear your Angels WHEATON–Follow your intuition. Listen to your gut. Have you ever done the opposite and found yourself saying, “Ugh. I should have listened to my gut?” Wheaton resident Julie Jancius explains this intuition as the voice of your soul guided by your spirit team on the Other Side. She is known as The Angel Medium® and regularly works with celebrities and CEO’s giving readings and personally teaching them to fine tune their intuition. In her podcast, Angels and Awakening , she interviews top spiritual teachers and thought leaders from around the world. It is ranked #5 of the top spiritual podcasts worldwide and has received up to 65,000 downloads a week. Besides Julie’s successful podcast, which is now being turned into a radio show, her multi-faceted business includes her Angel Reiki school, 1:1 readings, running retreats and currently a free 3-day angel fest available to anyone. Julie’s book, Angels and Awakening: How to Raise Your Vibration and Hear your Angels , was written to help teach anyone who is interested in knowing more about raising their vibration, connecting with their angels and following their soul’s life plan. “Your vibration is like a radio,” says Julie. “When you’re not on the right station, all you hear is static, but as soon as you fine tune it to the right station, you can hear the DJ clearly. In this case, you are able to clearly hear your angels and loved ones on the other side.” She has given over 7,000 readings and when working with a large number of people, has seen what information the majority is missing. “I wanted this book to fill in those missing pieces for them to help them connect to their angels.” Angels and Awakening is available online at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. If you would like more information about Julie, the Angel Reiki School, or the free 3-day online Angel Fest, visit www.theangelmedium.com . KNOW A LOCAL AUTHOR?  editorial@glancermagazine.com

LITERARY LOCAL | Julie Jancius of Wheaton

Introducing the Author of Angels and Awakening: How to Raise Your Vibration and Hear your Angels

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Introducing the Author of A Mark in the Road NAPERVILLE–Every time Naperville resident and English teacher Angelique Burrell saw skid marks on the road, she would try to imagine what could have caused them. “When my family started taking cross-country road trips for vacation each summer, my thoughts shifted to wondering what it would be like if someone really could see the stories behind the marks,” says Angelique. Angelique’s first young adult novel, A Mark in the Road i ntroduces Mason, an 18-year-old boy who has the ability to see the cause of every skid mark in his mind like a silent movie. When his on-again-off-again crush Addie begs him to drive her cross-country to help her move, he must face his greatest fear – the open road. Until he learns that a woman driving on The Loneliest Road in America is missing and the skid marks near her car might hold the clue to what happened. On their long road trips to and from Tahoe, Angelique’s family would stop in small towns and at various attractions along the way. “On our second trip west, we discovered the Loneliest Road in America,” says Angelique. “As we traveled, I took notes on my phone, and that became my research. It was the best kind of research.” A Mark in the Road , winner of this year’s Illinois Author Project competition, can be found at Anderson’s Book Shop in Naperville and the store’s website. It is also available for sale online, wherever books are sold. KNOW A LOCAL AUTHOR?  editorial@glancermagazine.com

LITERARY LOCAL | Angelique Burrell of Naperville

Introducing the Author of A Mark in the Road

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The Extraordinary Imagination of Jenny Figment SUGAR GROVE–Former Oswego elementary teacher and Sugar Grove resident Jennifer Hayes has stepped into the arena of her favorite reading genre – children’s books. With her first published book The Extraordinary Imagination of Jenny Figment hitting the market this month, she is already booking grade school visits to introduce Jenny, her imagination and her many adventures. “I was inspired to write the book when my grandpa passed,” says Jennifer. “I had a door in my house that would randomly close on its own, and I thought what if that was my grandpa playing tricks on me.” The idea for a book about a little girl with trickster ghost friends was born. The Extraordinary Imagination of Jenny Figment follows Jenny as she explores a magical world with these clever ghost friends. Whether she is riding her noble steed or shrinking to spider-size, her world has no limits. When her town faces trouble, it’s her imagination and a cast of remarkable characters that come to the rescue. While currently writing the second book in the Jenny Figment series, Jennifer is also following a second passion taking classes to earn her Baking and Pastry Arts Certificate. “There’s a lot of fun foods in the book, and I include the recipe at the end for Jenny’s favorite pinkerdoodle cookies.” After January 5, you will be able to find The Extraordinary Imagination of Jenny Figment at Town House Books in St. Charles, online at major booksellers, and at www.jennyfigment.com . KNOW A LOCAL AUTHOR?  editorial@glancermagazine.com

LITERARY LOCAL | Jennifer Hayes of Sugar Grove

Introducing The Extraordinary Imagination of Jenny Figment, the Author's First Published Book

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Author of Creatively Christmas Kindle Edition WEST SUBURBAN CHICAGO–If you’re looking for a creative outlet for your Christmastime craftiness, look no further! This yuletide guide was written and designed by lifestyle blogger and all- around crafty girl, Jennifer Rizzo.Sparkly doily banners, snowball jingle bells, and burlap gift bags are just some of the 35 hands-on projects featured in this holiday how-to, which will take your home to new levels of merry and bright. Readers will also find a pictorial tour of Illinois homes decorated for the holiday season, as well as some simple but inspiring decorating tips for your most festive holiday home. THE perfect hostess gift or stocking stuffer for your bff. And oh heck, buy one for yourself while you’re at it! Jennifer Rizzo is the owner of Jennifer Rizzo Design Company and has produced projects for Country Living magazine, Romantic Homes magazine, and Oprah.com. She also teaches in-person and on-line classes. Jennifer creates content at JenniferRizzo.com and shares her creative spirit all year long- not just throughout the holidays. She shares, “I believe there is an inspiration that is inside of all of us, and that we were meant to share it as a gift. I love making unique home decor and I love writing. I retail my handmade home décor on-line and in boutiques and retail stores across the United States. I teach creative hands-on workshops, in person and online. I love watching people's creativity bloom. My 30+ house online holiday house walk at Jenniferrizzo.com is still going strong, and I love seeing the different ways people decorate their homes. Jennifer lives just outside of Chicago with her husband and three children and lots of ideas waiting to be worked on! You can find her working on her current projects at www.JenniferRizzo.com. Download Creatively Christmas on Kindle at amazon.com

LITERARY LOCAL | Jennifer Rizzo of West Suburban Chicago

Author of Creatively Christmas Kindle Edition

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Meet the Author of The Memories Between Us: Love Across Parallel Universes NAPERVILLE–K.V. Peck is the author of The Memories Between Us, a speculative fiction romance set in contemporary New York City with a twist on time travel. A Bronx, New York native, K.V. Peck lives in Naperville, Illinois, with her husband. Peck loves traveling in their camper to see friends, family, and her adult children across the U.S. and Canada. Formerly a marketing executive, she holds a Masters of Writing, Editing, and Publishing from North Central College in Naperville. K.V. Peck is a lifelong lover of science fiction and has a soft spot for romantic stories. ABOUT THE BOOK Joshua is haunted by the memories of all he lost and what he doesn’t know—who took his wife, crashed her car, killed her, and what their lives could have been. Joshua knows a mere moment can change everything, and he is determined to unbind time to give him and Viv another chance at a life together. So he designs a portal—an Ouroboros—to return to the past. Perception and illusion veil the reality of his discoveries until the truth leads him to despair. When a dangerous and unpredictable time traveler implores him that together they can return to their beloveds, Joshua must decide if he can trust this man who would do anything to find the women they love—somewhere in time. The Memories Between Us takes readers on a wild ride through multiple timelines and parallel universes, crossing the line between perception and reality and holding onto faith in the transcendence of love. Available at Anderson’s Bookshop in Naperville & on Amazon

LITERARY LOCAL | K.V. Peck of Naperville

Meet the Author of The Memories Between Us: Love Across Parallel Universes

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Author of The Doxxing of Clearwater High NAPERVILLE–For the past twenty years, Michael Rossi has taught English, coached cross country, and directed theatre productions for Neuqua Valley High School. Being part of the education community was great fodder for his newest book, The Doxxing of Clearwater High. “This book is entirely a work of fiction,” says Michael. “None of the characters are based on current or past co-workers or students.” Our current world of social media and prolific instant video availability spurred Michael’s imagination to explore what would be the most interesting stories involving digital secrets. “We spend so much time creeping on one another’s profiles and private information, it is messing with how we see ourselves and others. It was fun coming up with all kinds of wacky secrets.” Clearwater is a town that has forgotten that every great teacher is first a good liar. All of that changes one day when a mysterious hacker uploads 119 private files stolen from Clearwater’s teachers. The Doxxing of Clearwater High tells the stories of the teachers and students exposed by the suburban Wikileaks. The science teacher with the shocking search history. The math teacher who made a sex tape. The English teacher concealing a hidden punk rock past. The community is forced to acknowledge that those charged with teaching the humanities are often the most fallibly human themselves. The Doxxing of Clearwater High is available at Anderson’s Bookstore in downtown Naperville. Michael would love for you to buy the book there. “If they are all sold out, write a letter to the mayor and demand they get more copies! That’s why we have a mayor!”

LITERARY LOCAL | Michael Rossi of Naperville

Author of The Doxxing of Clearwater High

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March 2024

Glancer Magazine March 2024

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