Annual Ray Bradbury Memorial Writer’s Lecture with Daniel Kraus
DANIEL KRAUS is a New York Times bestselling writer of novels, TV, and film. His latest novel, Whalefall, received a front-cover review in the New York Times Book Review, won the Alex Award, was an L.A. Times Book Prize Finalist, and was a Best Book of 2023 from NPR, the New York Times, Amazon, Chicago Tribune, and more.
With Guillermo del Toro, he co-authored The Shape of Water, based on the same idea the two created for the Oscar-winning film. Also with del Toro, Kraus co-authored Trollhunters, which was adapted into the Emmy-winning Netflix series. His also cowrote The Living Dead and Pay the Piperwith legendary filmmaker George A. Romero. Kraus’s The Death and Life of Zebulon Finch was named one of Entertainment Weekly‘s Top 10 Books of the Year. Kraus has won the Bram Stoker Award, Scribe Award, two Odyssey Awards (for both Rotters and Scowler), and has appeared multiple times as Library Guild selections, YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults, and more.
Kraus’s work has been translated into over 20 languages. He lives with his wife in Chicago. Visit him at danielkraus.com.
Multilingual Read Aloud – “Here There Be Monsters”
Join Us for an Evening of Storytelling and Cultural Exchange!
For centuries, Friday the 13th has been a day shrouded in mystery, with tales of bad luck and eerie encounters passed down through generations. In the spirit of this day, our readers will bring to life stories from around the world that explore the monstrous—be it in the form of mythical beasts, supernatural beings, or the darker sides of human nature.
This Friday the 13th will be an unforgettable evening where voices from diverse cultures come together to share the stories that have both frightened and fascinated us for ages. Whether it’s a creature from the depths of the sea, a specter haunting a lonely path, or the monsters that dwell within us all, these tales will remind us of the power of storytelling to connect, inspire, and challenge our understanding of the world.
This event is open to everyone—whether you’re a seasoned storyteller, a lover of folklore, or simply curious about the cultural narratives that shape our world. Come prepared to be thrilled, chilled, and captivated by the stories that have withstood the test of time.
AN UNTUCHING — A Performance by Johanna Winters and Gabe Garber
JOHANNA WINTERS
is an interdisciplinary artist whose work engages puppetry, printmaking, video, and performance to confront expressions of female pleasure and disappointment. Johanna’s work has been exhibited and performed nationally – recently at the Herron School of Art (Indianapolis, IN) H&R Block Artspace (Kansas City, MO), Drama Club (Chicago, IL), Coop Gallery (Nashville, TN), and Soo Visual Arts Center (Minneapolis, MN).
She is an Assistant Professor in Creative Core at the Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture & Design at Indiana University-Bloomington.In addition to her studio practice, Winters leads puppetry workshops across the Midwest and is one half of the collaborative duo Haag Cykell – an ongoing performance series with writer and artist Sarah Minor that explores modes of storytelling through shadow-theater and language.
GABRIEL GARBER is a multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter, and designer.
Eclectic in taste, influence, and style, his work attempts to strike a balance between seemingly paradoxical elements, weaving lush textures with angular rhythms, juxtaposing meditative patterns with abrupt dynamic shifts, conjuring minimalist melodies from maximalist arrangements.
He has recorded and performed nationally with various projects, and is currently based in Bloomington, Indiana.
