Memory Rock, 2009, benefitting the Alzheimer's Association-Greater Illinois Chapter is being held on Thursday, August 27 at Joes Sports Bar, 940 West Weed Street from 7-10.  Dr. Bombay is playing, once again, and the $30 entry fee gets you beer, wine and soda.  This is a great event.

Many shout-outs are deserved, but none more so than for those who have helped us for many years, including sponsor Bill Barry.  Michigan Plaza and our buddy Mark Buth are Gold Sponsors, too, as is yours truly.  And, of course, the Doctor himself, Lee Golub, is  a sponsor and supplies great music!  Our emcee this year is Comcast SportsNet's Sarah Kustok -a fantastic sportscaster and anchor.  You need to check out Sarah on Comcast SportsNet.  She's extremely talented and professional and I make it a point to watch her in the mornings when I'm slugging away on the elliptical trainer.

It's a fantastic night and I hope you all can make it.  Please visit the website for more info:  http://www.memoryrockchicago.com  Finally, Ed Warm and Tom DeSanto of Joes have been gracious hosts for the event since its inception three years ago.  Joe's is a great place to watch games and is the city's top concert venue.  I hit Joe's a lot and hope to see you there.

If you're up early on Sunday, August 23, listen to me on Rick Kogan's Sunday Morning Paper on WGN at 7:30 a.m.  I'll be talking about Memory Rock.

Thanks! SM

Welcome to my blog. I'm Steve Monroe, Chicagoan and author of the crime noir novels '57, Chicago and '46, Chicago.  I'm finishing the novel, Pursuit, now and hope it will be available later this year.

As I discussed on Rick Kogan's Sunday Morning Papers show on WGN a couple of weeks ago, tomorrow night is the 20th anniversary of the sports awards dinner benefitting the March of Dimes.  The Comcast SportsNet Sports Awards dinner will be televised live, on Comcast SportsNet, at 7:30 p.m.  I've run the silent auction for 15 years and tomorrow night will be the first time I've ever sat down at the dinner! I'm really looking forward to it.  Tickets are still available, so join me! Honorees include Andre Dawson, Ted Lilly, Joe Thome, Robbie Gould, and Inspirational Athlete of the Year, Ericka Jackson.  There will also be a special tribute to Bill Wirtz, whose son Rocky (who has done such an amazing job with the Blackhawks this year) will accept an award.  The emcee is Chicago radio legend Steve Dahl!!  He's a stud -he has really stepped up to the plate and is vying to become the best emcee we've ever had!

Looking forward to watching The Wire tonight on HBO.  That show has such nuanced characters and is complex but easy to follow. It is a real eye opener for storytellers.  The impact of deep characters is much more so than, say, those on 24 (which I also really enjoy).  I believe the challenge for authors such as myself is to write with a sense of urgency but also show depth to our characters through their words and actions.  Too often, we opt to use a character's history to show why they act as they do -when brief spurts of action or language can give our readers better insight.

Finally, I'm heading to Costa Rica later this week. Can't wait.  I've never zip-lined, but may do so, and if the weather is nice (uh, five days of rain forecasted) we also plan on deep sea fishing a couple of days.  Frankly, with the real estate market tanking, I simply need a few days in the sun with no cell phone or Blackberry service.  Enjoy!! SM