You are a Story: Memoir and Illinois Novelists
A Road Scholar Program by Aaron Lawler
When
Jun 27, 2026
2:00pm–3:00pm
Cost
Free
The big questions we all ask at some point in our lives—Who am I? Why am I here? What does it all mean?—are often explored through philosophy, poetry, and psychology.
This workshop examines how writing memoirs, telling our own stories, and recording our lives can help us search for those same answers. Drawing inspiration from two Illinois novelists, Ray Bradbury and Ernest Hemingway, we’ll see how even fiction can be deeply autobiographical and how their approaches to storytelling can guide us in writing our own.
The presentation is divided into three interactive parts: personal identity, reflections becoming reality, and learning as transformation.
This event is Free and Open to the public. For more information, please contact Amy McNeil at amcneil@fpdwc.org.
Learn more about Aaron Lawler, this program, and how to book it here.
Venue Parking and Accessibility
Parking can be found North of the Library lawn, with the main entrance of the Library. At the south of the building is a parking lot used primarily by the Vermilion County War Museum, housed in the Carnegie Library next door; please be considerate and try to keep this parking lot open for their patrons. To request an accommodation, call 217-477-5220 ext 111 or email btruscelli@danvillepubliclibrary.org.
Host Organization
Contact
Suite 650, 125 South Clark St.
Chicago, IL 60603
312.422.5580 312.374.6787 Fax
Illinois Humanities is supported in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the Illinois General Assembly [through the Illinois Arts Council], as well as by contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporations.
Illinois Humanities respects the privacy of its audiences and will at no time sell or distribute personal information to any party not directly affiliated with Illinois Humanities and its programs.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed by speakers, program participants, or audiences do not necessarily reflect those of the NEH, Illinois Humanities, our partnering organizations, or our funders.
© Copyright 2026 Illinois Humanities