Donald Evans to read at Oakton's Chicago Writers Series

Join award-winning author Donald Evans as he reads selections from his collection of work starting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, at the Student Center at Oakton Community College's Des Plaines campus, 1600 E. Golf Road. Admission to this Chicago Writers Series event is free and open to the public.

Evans is the author of "Good Money After Bad" and editor of "Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year." His short story collection "An Off-White Christmas" will be released later this year. He also holds the distinction of winning the Chicago Writing Association's Spirit Award in 2016.

"Oakton is proud to host Donald because of his connection to Chicago, and he is well thought of in the literary circles, having founded the Chicago Literary Hall of Fame," Donovan Braud, Ph.D., chair of Oakton's English department, says.

"He also contributes his expertise to the American Writers Museum and helps select the winner of the annual Harold Washington Literary Award."

Evans earned his bachelor's degree in science from the University of Illinois and his master's degree in fiction writing from Syracuse University. He has been listed four times as a Newcity Lit 50.

Evans also contributes his expertise to the American Writers Museum and helps select the winner of the annual Harold Washington Literary Award. He has been awarded residencies at Cliff Dwellers Club and Saltonstall Arts Colony; served as an editor for Great Lakes Review; taught at colleges and universities; and worked as a journalist.

He has taught off and on for the last two decades, including an upcoming Newberry Library seminar on Sherwood Anderson's "Winesburg, Ohio."

He lives in Oak Park with his son, Dusty, and wife, Margaret.

Funded by the Oakton Educational Foundation and student activity fees, the Chicago Writers Series attracts award-winning fiction and nonfiction writers and poets to Oakton to perform, engage and educate.

Oakton's connection to native Chicago authors, as well as those who have called Chicago "home," allows the community to access diverse, inspiring and relevant authors in a space outside the traditional classroom.

"The Chicago Writers Series has been extremely successful in bringing celebrated authors and poets to campus for readings and discussions," Braud said. "Our goal is to get diverse speakers from a cross section of areas."

For information, contact Braud at (847) 376-7026 or dbraud@oakton.edu.