Category Archives: Upcoming Speakers

Plan to Attend BWW Upcoming Author Speakers

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In 2026, BWW is celebrating America’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence by inviting prominent authors to speak to us about the craft of writing and researching their books covering different periods of American history. Each author offers new perspectives and insights on what happened, how and why. We are grateful for this exciting lineup of speakers. All talks will be presented at Barrington’s White House. Mark your calendars!

Scott Ellsworth, Sunday, April 12

Author Scott EllsworthScott Ellsworth is author of “Midnight on the Potomac: The Last Year of the Civil War, the Lincoln Assassination, and the Rebirth of America.” Doors open at 1:00pm.

Was John Wilkes Booth working with the Confederate Secret Service? Who made up the diverse coalition that helped win the war? The book has been described by one of our BWW members as: “A real page turner. It reads like a novel.”

Currently a teacher at the University of Michigan, Scott Ellsworth’s career includes working as a historian at the Smithsonian Institution, writing for the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, as well as authoring four other books.

Patrick Griffin, Saturday, June 13

Author Patrick GriffinPatrick Griffin is author of “American Leviathan: Empire, Nation, and Revolutionary Frontier.” Doors open at 9:00am.

What did the American Revolution fundamentally change between individuals and their relationship to society? How was America’s frontier West shaped during its most formative period? Learn what your favorite cowboy movie may have gotten wrong.

Griffin is a Professor of History at the University of Notre Dame and author of four other popular history books.

Pamela Toler, Sunday, November 8

Author Pamela TolerPamela Toler is author of “The Dragon From Chicago:The Untold Story of an American Reporter in Nazi Germany.” Doors open at 1:00pm.

Toler tells the remarkable story of The Chicago Tribune’s Berlin bureau chief, Sigrid Schultz, who was one of the first reporters to warn of Hitler’s rise and the dangers of Nazism. Where did she get the courage to stand up against Hitler and tell the truth about what was happening in Germany leading up to and during WWII?

Holding a PhD in History from the University of Chicago, Toler is the author of ten popular history books. She asks her readers to look at the world today with a slightly different lens.

As mentioned above, all talks will be held at Barrington’s White House. There’s no need for BWW members to register but please let your Program Chair know if you plan to attend and if you have questions you’d like the author to address. A public event will follow each BWW talk and members are welcome to attend at no cost.

Feel free to share this post and invite friends and family and other guests to the author public event. Guests can learn more and purchase tickets through this link: https://www.barringtonswhitehouse.com/events/

Let’s Celebrate 45 Years of BWW!

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The Barrington Writers’ Workshop will be celebrating 45 years of creative community on June 17, 2023 beginning on the first floor of the White House in Barrington. Here’s what’s being planned for this fun and unforgettable event. Doors will open for BWW members and their ticketed guests at 1:00pm. BWW President Bev Ottaviano will give opening remarks at 1:30 followed with a champagne toast and appetizers. Barrington Village President Karen Darch will read a proclamation at 2:00pm honoring BWW’s history and ongoing influence in the village. This event is being held in collaboration with the Barrington Cultural Commission. Thank you, BCC.

At 2:30pm doors will open to public ticket holders for The Writing Life event to be held on the third floor of the White House. This portion of the BWW celebration will feature a panel discussion with distinguished authors and professors Vu Tran (University of Chicago), Rachel DeWoskin (University of Chicago) and Thomas Bradshaw (Northwestern University). The creative spirit in everyone will be inspired by topics including how a writer’s life constantly and unexpectedly dictates their artistic decisions, ways to be creatively brave and the role of the writer in today’s world.

Vu Tran

Vu Tran’s books include the Dragonfish and forthcoming novel, Your Origins. He teaches English and Creative Writing at the University of Chicago, where he is an Associate Professor of Practice in the Arts.

 

Author Rachel DeWoskin

Rachel DeWoskin

Rachel DeWoskin’s is a poet, former actor and author of Someday We Will Fly and Foreign Babes in Beijing. Three of her books are being developed for television. She is on the core creative writing faculty at the University of Chicago.

 

Playwright Thomas Bradshaw

Thomas Bradshaw

Thomas Bradshaw is a playwright, Guggenheim Fellowship recipient and professor in the MFA in Writing for the Screen and Stage program at Northwestern University. In addition to his several produced plays he served as a Consulting Producer on the Emmy and Peabody award winning Netflix mini-series When They See Us. He has had development deals with HBO/HARPO and FX/PLAN B, among others.

At 3:00pm the panel presentation will begin with a welcome and introductions by Rollin Potter, director of the Barrington Cultural Commission. A Question-and-Answer period will follow the presentation.

At the conclusion of the Q & A session guests will return to the first floor for a book sale and signing that will feature event speakers and BWW authors. A cash bar will be open until closing at 5:30pm.

For more information you may contact Bev Ottaviano or Mary Klest. There is no cost to BWW members. To purchase tickets for guests please visit The White House Events page at https://www.barringtonswhitehouse.com/events/ or call (224) 512-4066. Students 18 and under are FREE with paid adult admission. The White House is located at 145 West Main St in Barrington.

Enjoy the day!