March 9: Writer Jessica Chiarella to present reading and workshop

Writer Jessica Chiarella will read from her debut novel "And Again" and present a writing workshop as part of the College of Lake County Reading Series on Thursday, March 9. The workshop will be held from 3-4:15 p.m. in Room D202, and the reading begins at 7 p.m. in Room A013 (A Wing Conference Center) at the College of Lake County Grayslake Campus, 19351 W. Washington. Both events are free and open to the public.

The Chicago Review of Books had high praise for the book. "Chiarella is a …pioneer as a writer, spinning a plot that's as groundbreaking as the medical procedure she explores."

In the book, three people have been given a miracle cure - genetically perfect bodies as part of a medically advanced pilot program seeking FDA approval. Their new bodies are exact replicas of their old selves, without the deadly illnesses they suffered before and without imperfections. Yet the fresh start they have been given is anything but perfect.

Kirkus Reviews wrote that "Chiarella's engaging writing creates so many haunting moments that readers will find themselves moving quickly through the story, as well as awaiting her next work. This is a novel about what it means to be human, with all the flaws and vulnerabilities that implies, and whether we can ever truly begin again."

Chiarella grew up in the Chicago area. She holds an M.A. in writing and publishing from DePaul University and an M.F.A. in creative writing from the University of California, Riverside. Read about her at www.jessica-chiarella.com/.

Robin Kacel, a CLC English instructor who invited Chiarella to be the spring Reading Series speaker, said that aspiring writers of all levels can learn from this up-and-coming novelist.

For information, contact Kacel at (847) 543-2561 or rkacel@clcillinois.edu. The events are being presented by CLC's Communication Arts, Humanities and Fine Arts division.