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Beyond the THC Presents Reading Series: Authors Visit from Across the Atlantic

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Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Tamale Hut Cafe hosted impromptu gatherings and readings featuring Christoph Simon and Donal McLaughlin, two European authors (and friends of dedicated open mic contributor Christopher Krazmus). Simon, a native of Switzerland whose fourth novel, Zbinden’s Progress, has been translated into English, shared several works in progress along with his poem “Dear Satan.” McLaughlin, an acclaimed short story writer and translator currently residing in Scotland, read from his story “A Trip to Carfin,” which was published in the Summer 2012 issue of The Hudson Review. Their visit and readings on November 23 and 24 constituted the eleventh stop on their North American tour–right here, at the Tamale Hut Cafe in North Riverside!

Pictured, from left to right: Chris Krazmus, photographer Jana, Matt Bieniek, Stephanie Bieniek, Donal McLaughlin, Jaime Flores, and Christoph Simon.

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THC Reading Series Presents Elsa Prado, Saturday, November 17 @ 7 PM

Author Elsa Prado

The Tamale Hut Cafe Reading Series heads into the realm of nonfiction this November with author Elsa Prado joining us as our featured reader! Ms. Prado, a child welfare and healthy relationship advocate, will share the knowledge and personal experience that she has collected in her books Heart Stomp and Dear Donor, the latter of which has also been published in Spanish as Querido Donante. Copies of her books will be available for sale, as will Tamale Hut Cafe’s usual menu of delicious food and drink. The reading begins at 7 p.m. on the 17th, so join us at 8300 W. Cermak Road in North Riverside for an educational and enlightening evening!

Elsa Prado is an author, Client Services Professional at ADP, and Spanish interpreter and translator. On Wednesdays every week she co-hosts “Hands Off Our Children,” a radio show on Internet radio station KLAV in Las Vegas, Nevada. She also writes for Successimo.com as a life coach. For years now Elsa has raised awareness on behalf of the well-being of children through her books Dear Donor and Querido Donante, (Spanish version) where she touches on the subject of artificial insemination by donor and child abuse. In her book Heart Stomp, she relates to the importance of seeking out healthy relationships.

In raising awareness Elsa has made guest appearances on:

  • Relationships 101: Dr. Beth Erickson/Web Talk radio-Moral issue struggles after artificial insemination by “sperm-donor”
  • Dr. Carole’s Couch-Beverly Hills- What to do when your father is a sperm donor?
  • Your Life Matters with Jenn and Steve-Psychological effects produced as well as moral effects to the mother, child and family
  • Talk to Cogee- Family Hidden Secrets series
  • January Jones- Book interview for Dear Donor and Heart Stomp
  • Entre Nosotras- Spanish radio- Educational tips for parents about protecting them from child sex abuse–on Zubarrio.com
  • Hands Off Our Children radio show- All episodes available on i-Tunes by going to www.handsoffourchildren.org

Please visit Ms. Prado’s website, elsaprado.com, or e-mail info@elsaprado.com for questions or feedback. Ms. Prado can also be contacted through Facebook or LinkedIn.

 

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THC Reading Series Presents Sheila Johnson, Saturday, October 20 @ 7pm

A color version of artist Wesley Wong’s illustration for the story “An Interlude.” See the original version in ‘The Book of Horrible Stories,’ available for purchase (along with prints of this image) at the reading on October 20!

If you’ve come to any of our events recently, chances are you’ve had the privilege of hearing work from open mic regular Sheila Johnson.

On this night, we’re giving Sheila the floor for an extended period, so that she can tantalize us with stories from her beautiful, hand-crafted collection, The Book of Horrible Stories.

Copies of the book will be available for purchase, and an open mic will follow Sheila’s reading.

Hope you can join us for this weird and wonderful evening!

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THC Reading Series Presents Jeanine Marie Vaughn September 22nd @ 7 p.m.


This month, the THC Reading Series puts the spotlight on one of its frequent open mic contributors, Jeanine Marie Vaughn. Jeanine will be entertaining us with a reading from her newly completed novel, Tech Forsaken. Come join us at 7 p.m. on Saturday, September 22, at 8300 W. Cermak Road in North Riverside for an evening of fiction sure to make you wonder if it’s the cool weather sending that chill across your skin–or something else….

Jeanine Marie Vaughn has been published in Antithesis, Cemetery Guardians, Heathen Ink and her novel is being considered by Black Gate Press. She has run writing workshops through Free Street Programs and with the Fiction Writing Department of Columbia College Chicago where she got her BA in Fiction Writing and minored in Theater Directing. She currently lives down the street from Al Capone’s grave (no relation) with her bestie Bek and their four kitties of doom. She also hangs out with animals… a lot!

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Switch Up for July 14th: Matt Bieniek reads The Hidden Message

Chris DeGuire had to reschedule but luckily for the Tamale Hut Cafe, and for you dear readers, Matthew Bieniek has agreed to step in on short notice. Matt is a regular at Tamale Hut Cafe, is our resident self-publishing veteran and has a new book out this July.

Matthew Bieniek’s The Hidden Message

Matthew Bieniek lives in Brookfield with his wife, Stephanie, and their dog, Kisu.  Late in October, 2010, Matt happened upon the National Novel Writing Month web site.  The NaNoWriMo.com challenge is to write a 50,000 word novel in the 30 days of November.  They want you to, as they put it, “stop being one of those people who say, ‘I’ve always wanted to write a novel,’ and become one of those people who can say, ‘Oh, a novel? It’s such a funny story-I’ve written three.'”  Thirty days later, he had written a novel, Casco Cove, which he then self-published with the help of his family, including cover art by Stephanie Bieniek, an accomplished painter who has also exhibited at the Tamale Hut Cafe.

Also during NaNoWriMo 2010, he discovered the Tamale Hut Cafe Reading Series and has since become a regular open-mike reader. In November, 2011, he wrote his second novel, The Hidden Message, which he has just self-published, again with a huge assist from his family.

About The Hidden Message:
It’s 1987, and three high school friends get more than they bargained for when a former classmate involves them in a plan to hijack a local television broadcast and put their own show on the air.  Soon they have the TV station, the police, the FBI, the FCC, and a band of Soviet spies trying to find out who they are as they work to decipher a message hidden inside the disrupted TV signal.

Copies of both Casco Cove and The Hidden Message will be available for purchase.

Same tamale time (7pm). Same tamale channel (8300 W Cermak Rd. North Riverside, IL).

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Tamale Hut Cafe Presents Artist Kate Tully Saturday June 30 @ 7pm

Refreshing by Kate Tully

“Simple Pleasures” paintings by Kate Tully premieres this Saturday at 7 pm with an opening reception.

Northwest Chicago suburban artist, Kate Tully, paints fine art, murals and decorative finishes. Food, bicycles, and nature in a semi-abstract, realistic style describe the paintings. A Graduate of Dominican University, River Forest, Illinois with a degree in Textile Design. Kate has been painting for over 30 years and studied with artists such as: Ann Ponce, Nina Weiss, Michael Latala and Margaret Tully/Nicosia

The exhibit continues through September 30th.

 

Reminder: Cermak Road is closed westbound at the train tracks before First Avenue. The Tamale Hut Cafe can still be accessed heading north bound on First Avenue at First and Cermak.