We commend to you this week two pieces of writing about writing. On p. 14 our Jackie Jackson happily describes poet John Knoepfle’s new book of essays. “If you ever loved the Trout Lily Café, as so many of us did,” she writes, “this is the booklet where you can revisit what a remarkable and valuable spot it was for our community, and reminisce on your own trout lily experiences.” And on this page, James Krohe Jr. reflects on Lee Sandlin’s writing: “He was a geologist of the mundane, able to conjure lost worlds through the patient study and imaginative re-assembly of a life’s detritus.” After finishing his column, Jim commented: “Funny how writing about a good writer makes you conscious of your prose, even if he’s dead.”
This week we welcome Alan Kozeluh, our new editorial intern from the public affairs reporting master’s degree program of University of Illinois Springfield. Alan is from Homer Glen and went to high school in Lockport. He gained some life experience as a sheet metal worker before enrolling at Northern Illinois University where he was graduated in May. At NIU he was staff writer for The Northern Star as well as anchor/reporter for the campus TV station. Alan will be with IT all semester, reporting on the Statehouse and Springfield, while we put to work his photography and video skills at illinoistimes.com. Contact him at intern@illinoistimes.com. –Fletcher Farrar, editor and publisher
This article appears in Jan 8-14, 2015.
