migrating people, migrating literature

This year's program examines the dichotomies of borders and cultures from the writer's perspective. Because lines on the map do not necessarily define lines on the page, this year's program is titled "Migrating People, Migrating Literature." The 2008 program presents four special foreign authors with two distinguished Chicago authors, and is moderated by one of the city's best-known experimental poets.

The Exchange builds a bridge of creative dialogue between Chicago's top critics and practitioners and some of the best emerging writers abroad, through the participation of the International Writers' Program at the University of Iowa.

From the Iowa Writers Workshop's International Writers Program, we're inviting Laila al-Atrash (novelist, journalist; Jordan), Tarek Eltayeb (novelist, fiction writer, poet, playwright; Austria), Yael Globerman (poet, fiction writer, novelist; Israel), and Gutierrez Mangansakan II (journalist, poet, essayist, filmmaker, editor; The Philippines).

From the Guild's local community of writers, we're inviting Paul Martinez Pompa (poet), and John Keene (poet). The discussion will be moderated by fellow Chicago poet Tony Trigilio.

There are only 60 seats at this special event on Saturday, November 1, 2008, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Chopin Theater, 1543 W. Division Street, Chicago, IL. To reserve your place at The Exchange, click here.