Author Gary Krist to visit Waukegan Public Library

Fans of the award-winning author Gary Krist can meet him from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on April 25 at the Waukegan Public Library, 128 N. County St, Waukegan. Having written short stories, novels and nonfiction, Krist will talk about his creative process and read from his latest book, “City of Scoundrels: 12 Days of Disaster That Gave Birth to Modern Chicago.”

Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing courtesy of Lake Forest Bookstore. This free event is open to the public as part of the library’s Writers Revealed series.

Before turning to narrative nonfiction, Krist wrote three novels and two short story collections, including “The Garden State,” which won the Sue Kaufman Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. When he isn’t writing, he’s reviewing books for publications including The New York Times Book Review, Salon and The Washington Post Book World.

Krist’s op-ed pieces have appeared in The New York Times and Newsday, and his stories, articles and travel pieces have been featured in National Geographic Traveler, The Wall Street Journal and Esquire. Krist has also received the Stephen Crane Award, a Lowell Thomas Gold Medal for Travel Journalism and a literature fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Krist decided to shift gears one day when his agent asked if he’d ever thought about writing nonfiction. Krist’s first nonfiction book, “White Cascade” was released in 2008, which will be followed by “City of Scoundrels,” to be released April 17.

“City of Scoundrels” tells the real-life account of 12 days in 1919 when the city of Chicago reeled from a hailstorm of violent events, from the crashing of a blimp to a race riot and a sensational child murder.

To register, visit waukeganpl.org. For questions about the Writers Revealed series, call Sara Teti at (847) 623-2041, ext. 292.