From monthly author signings to WriteOn Joliet anthology release parties, The Book Market has been the Chicagoland literary community's gathering place since 1977.
The Book Market hosts monthly author signings and regularly partners with WriteOn Joliet for book releases and community events. Our most current schedule lives on Facebook — follow us there or give us a call so you never miss one.
Follow us on Facebook or give us a call — we announce all events there as soon as they're confirmed.
The Book Market has been a gathering place for readers and writers since 1977. In partnership with WriteOn Joliet and the Joliet Public Library, here's the kind of events you can expect from us throughout the year.
Meet the authors who live and write in our community. Browse, purchase, and get your copy signed — these events are intimate, personal, and always free and open to the public.
Celebrate new anthologies from WriteOn Joliet — featuring multiple local authors, live book signings, homemade light refreshments, and readings from the collection.
A more casual sit-down with a featured author — hear about their process, inspiration, and what they're working on next. Every author who has signed here has been warm and approachable.
We're a proud partner of WriteOn Joliet. Their members — journalists, novelists, poets, screenwriters, bloggers — sign books here regularly as part of our ongoing community collaboration.
Debut a new title right here at the store. Authors read from their work, answer questions from the community, and sign first copies fresh off the press.
Some of our events go beyond books. Local authors have used their signings at The Book Market to raise funds for causes like the United Way of Will County right here in the store.
A selection of real events from The Book Market's history — verified author signings, anthology release parties, and community gatherings documented in local press.
Joliet author Bill O'Connell visited the store for a signing of the second edition of his book documenting a fascinating local Joliet crime case — updated with new material. Noted for being engaging and approachable with fans and first-time readers alike.
Joliet-area author and WriteOn Joliet member Lindsay Lake signed copies of her debut novel Flower Power — an adventurous story inspired by the 50th anniversary of 1969 and written during the pandemic. Her first novel event at the store.
Plainfield author and WriteOn Joliet co-leader Tom Hernandez signed copies of his poetry, essays, and fiction at The Book Market, donating all author proceeds to the United Way of Will County. Special discounts offered for multiple purchases.
WriteOn Joliet member Colleen Robbins — an Odyssey Fantasy Writer's Workshop alumna whose work spans literary fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and horror — signed copies of her Daraga series. Her work has appeared in numerous anthologies and genre magazines.
WriteOn Joliet co-founder and Herald-News features editor Denise Baran-Unland signed copies of her BryonySeries vampire novels and children's Cornell Dyer chapter books. Baran-Unland helped establish the ongoing Book Market–WriteOn Joliet partnership.
Twenty Chicagoland writers celebrated the release of WriteOn Joliet's third annual anthology at The Book Market with book signings, readings, and homemade refreshments. This party built on the tradition started here in 2018 with the group's second anthology release.
Other verified signings at The Book Market include: Holly Coop (poet, WriteOn Joliet — July 2019), Dale Hansen (author and community mentor — August 2019), Jennifer Russ (author of The Heart's Bone and Whitewallsville — May 2019), and the WriteOn Joliet 2nd Anthology release party — the event in November 2018 that launched the formal Book Market–WriteOn Joliet partnership under owner Jan Staley.
Are you a local author, writer group, or literary organization? We'd love to hear from you. The Book Market has been home to the Chicagoland reading community for over 47 years.