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Michael Welch

@mbwwelch.bsky.social
903 followers 410 following 164 posts

EIC at @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social. Words in Electric Lit, Prairie Schooner, Kenyon Review, North American Review, & more.

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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
It’s officially spooky season, which can only mean one thing: It’s time to find your next pulse-pounding book, our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social writes. Check out his 12 must-reads for October below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/10/01/1...
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Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
In response to that putrid Bret Stephens column, brilliant @reluctantlyjoe.bsky.social made a whole Google Doc with buy links for all of the @nationalbook.bsky.social Prize nominees. docs.google.com/document/d/1...
docs.google.com
Bret Stephens is mad at these books, you should buy them and read them
Bret Stephens is mad at these books, you should buy them and read them, not just the SCARY PR COPY that triggered him like a snowflake. No, I won’t link this fuckshit here, because I won’t drive tra...
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Want to shout out a Chicago writer you love? Nominate their essay, story, or narrative journalism piece for the 2026 CHIRBy Awards!
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StoryStudio Chicago @storystudiochicago.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
Hey Chicago! On Thursday 9/10 at 7 pm at City Lit, join @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social daily editor @celldeathvic.bsky.social and editor in chief @mbwwelch.bsky.social for a conversation about Vic's debut novel, THE BOOK OF THE JAGUAR. www.bookcellarinc.com/victor-ladis... #books #booksky #chicago
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
"Fall in the book world is a time for showmanship, where some of the most exciting new books from your favorite authors make their way to the shelves," our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social writes. Check out his must read books of September below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/09/01/1...
chireviewofbooks.com
12 Must Read Books of September 2026 - Chicago Review of Books
It’s been fun, summer! But come September, there immediately comes a hint of fall in the air (and I don’t just mean from all the Halloween candy that’s already on the shelves). Fall in the book world ...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Jake Grumbach @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
The Jungle by Upton Sinclair wasn’t supposed to be an instructional manual www.newsweek.com/biggest-fda-...
newsweek.com
Biggest FDA recalls of 2026: Taylor Farms, blueberries, eggs and more
Several recalls have been tied to multistate flurries involving cyclospora, E. coli and salmonella.
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
See you all in Chicago!
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
"When the heat begins to grind you down and the days start to blend, there’s nothing better than encountering a story that will provide a spark of excitement," our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social writes. Read his 12 Must-Read Books of August 2026 below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/08/03/1...
chireviewofbooks.com
12 Must-Read Books of August 2026 - Chicago Review of Books
Come the dog days of summer, when the heat begins to grind you down and the days start to blend, there’s nothing better than encountering a story that will provide a spark of excitement. Maybe a littl...
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Rebecca Makkai @rebeccamakkai.bsky.social · 21/07/2026
Stop 👏🏼 telling 👏🏼 children 👏🏼 they 👏🏼 can’t 👏🏼 make 👏🏼 a 👏🏼 living 👏🏼 in 👏🏼 the 👏🏼 arts 👏🏼
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Last week we ran our Favorite Books of 2026 (So Far) list, and now that we’ve looked back at all the great books the year has already brought us, it’s time to look ahead to all the great ones to come... Check those out at the link below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/07/15/o...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
The Rumpus @therumpus.net · 14/07/2026
"We carry so much fear in our bodies. We carry so much love." From "A Potion for Sadness," a new essay by @meganstielstra.bsky.social. ➡️ buff.ly/iqH5KkH
The cited information but not the quote written in black against a white background on the bottom half of the image. The top half of the image shows a whistling silver teakettle in the foreground of a forest. The full Rumpus logo is overtop the silver teakettle.
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
We’re (somehow) over halfway through 2026, so we decided it was a great time to look back at all the wonderful books we’ve read so far this year—check out our favorites below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/07/07/o...
chireviewofbooks.com
Our Favorite Book of 2026 (So Far) - Chicago Review of Books
We’re over halfway through 2026, so the Chicago Review of Books staff decided it was a great time to look back at all the wonderful books we’ve read so far this year. On Witness and RespairBy Jesmyn W...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Looking for some great outdoor reading or want to beat the heat with a good book? Well, the new releases in July are sure to satisfy, our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social writes. Check those picks below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/07/01/1...
chireviewofbooks.com
12 Must-Read Books of July 2026 - Chicago Review of Books
It’s a heat wave here in Chicago leading into the Fourth of July! Whether you’re looking for some great outdoor reading or want to beat the heat with a good book, the new releases in July are sure to ...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Tucker Legerski @tuckerleg.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
So happy to have this out the world! Thank @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social !
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
"Book Stuff is for readers and the reading curious. By my estimation, reading is still one of the most human and fun ways to spend your time these days." Read more on why @tuckerleg.bsky.social started his podcast Book Stuff below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/30/i...
chireviewofbooks.com
Introducing Book Stuff - Chicago Review of Books
Hi, I’m Tucker Legerski, and I am the host of the new podcast Book Stuff! First episode is released today! It’s a dawn, a trumpet, an alarm clock chime start to something new. I started Book Stuff bec...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Greg Zimmerman @gregzimmerman.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
At @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social today, @mbwwelch.bsky.social and I debut a new feature titled Critics in Conversation. In this first installment, we discuss @danielkraus.com's amazing Pulitzer win for Angel Down! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/25/c... #books #booksky
chireviewofbooks.com
Critics in Conversation: Two CHIRB Editors Discuss "Angel Down" - Chicago Review of Books
Critics in Conversation is a new “podcast on the page” feature in which contributors discuss a book or issue currently making headlines in the literary world. Literary prizes aren’t like sports—it wou...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 25/06/2026
Read @mbwwelch.bsky.social and @gregzimmerman.bsky.social in conversation as part of our new feature, a podcast on the page. They're talking about @danielkraus.com's ANGEL DOWN (@atriabooks.bsky.social). chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/25/c...
chireviewofbooks.com
Critics in Conversation: Two CHIRB Editors Discuss "Angel Down" - Chicago Review of Books
Critics in Conversation is a new “podcast on the page” feature in which contributors discuss a book or issue currently making headlines in the literary world. Literary prizes aren’t like sports—it wou...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
From your perfect beach read to captivating books that will carry you into the New Year, our Chicago writing community is bringing you something to enjoy through the rest of 2026 and beyond, our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social writes. Check those new books out below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/22/n...
chireviewofbooks.com
New Books from Chicago Authors in 2026 Part II - Chicago Review of Books
It’s been a busy year for Chicago authors, but there’s plenty more to look forward to. In fact, there’s so much to keep your eye out for that we had to create a whole second half of the list! From you...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 01/06/2026
@mbwwelch.bsky.social notices two trends across books coming out in June—a number of them look at the humanity and inhumanity of labor, while others look forward into what we lose and retain come the end of the world. Check out his picks at the link below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/01/1...
chireviewofbooks.com
12 Must-Read Books of June 2026 - Chicago Review of Books
Things are heating up both in Chicago and in the publishing world! Whether you’re planning summer travel or you’re staying put this month, the books below are sure to take you out of this world. Sci-f...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
"People think... you must ‘pick a cause.’ But this is a myth. It is the illusion of a monstrous future that wants to swallow you whole." Read Mike Corrao on @ucpworkersguild.bsky.social's unionization campaign. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/29/t...
chireviewofbooks.com
The Future Churns Slowly - Chicago Review of Books
Mike Corrao writes about the unionization campaign at University of Chicago Press.
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 11/05/2026
Our first Chicago Writers Showcase reader is @kathleenmrooney.bsky.social reading from his new novel MAN OVERBOARD! (Gallery Books). Kathleen is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press, as well as a founding member of Poems While You Wait 🧵 docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 08/05/2026
We're proud to celebrate 10 years uplifting writers and editors, large and independent presses, and connecting readers with their incredible work.
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 06/05/2026
The first showcase went so well we’re doing it twice a year! Join us on June 2 for your sneak peek on what’s coming from the Chicago lit community in the second half of 2026!
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 04/05/2026
I left this conversation with so much hope (a rare feeling these days!)
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Rachel León @rachellayown.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
To see my book next to Jesmyn Ward’s?!? Pinch me. Huge thanks to @mbwwelch.bsky.social for including HWSTG and for the kind words!
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Reposted by Michael Welch
Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
This month’s list features an incredible and eclectic list of new releases that range in tone and perspective, our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social writes, but they all carry a similar theme: tons and tons of style. Check out our picks for the must-read books of May! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/01/1...
chireviewofbooks.com
12 Must-Read Books of May 2026 - Chicago Review of Books
Here in Chicago, we certainly braved the April showers. Now we’re looking to some beautiful blooms come May! The beginning of summer is one of my favorite times for new books, as there’s always a surp...
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Reposted by Michael Welch
RoscoeBooks @roscoebooks.bsky.social · 01/05/2026
How would you like to host your own private 2-hour party at the bookstore? Bid now on this auction to support our friends at @storystudiochicago.bsky.social. new.biddingowl.com/item/private...
new.biddingowl.com
Private Party at RoscoeBooks
Host your own private bookstore party at RoscoeBooks! The winner of this auction will receive a two-hour party in the bookstore with their friends or
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Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Finally, some good news: workers at Hachette are unionizing, and you can sign an open letter of support. This is the way! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
docs.google.com
Sign onto our open letter in solidarity with Hachette Workers Coalition!
To the management at Hachette Book Group, We are authors, publishing professionals, readers, and union supporters, and we are proud to express our full support for the Hachette Workers Coalition (HWC...
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Oh no, where have all the book reviews gone! Maybe it would help if we stopped doing the New York & corporate media naval gazing for like one second www.nytimes.com/2026/04/27/b...
nytimes.com
Where Have All the Book Reviews Gone?
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 25/04/2026
We’re so back
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
Happy early independent bookstore day! 📚
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Belt Publishing @beltpublishing.bsky.social · 09/04/2026
Thanks to Newcity for this great recent interview/review of our Great Lakes anthology, On an Inland Sea! Editor @mbwwelch.bsky.social reminds us all of the vital environmental element that runs through most of the collection! Check it out here: lit.newcity.com/2026/04/02/w...
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
Thank you so much @elizabethniarchosneukirch.com for talking with me about "On an Inland Sea" ❤️
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O'Neill @brianoneill.bsky.social · 03/04/2026
I wrote about "On an Inland Sea," a collection of Great Lakes writing by @beltpublishing.bsky.social, edited by @mbwwelch.bsky.social. It's really a wonderful anthology, and deserves a place in the growing body of writing about the Lakes. greatlakesreview.org/shaped-by-th...
Intimacy is another theme that shapes the anthology. The Lakes as a living metaphor, or a guidepost as people struggle through their lives. In “The Bound Body,” Martha Lundin uses the terrible winter of 2014, when Lake Superior froze over, to think about her relationship with her body and identity. While it is a struggle, there is grace. She writes,  “After all, I haven’t figured out yet how people become themselves. It is because I am still becoming myself. Lake Superior and her basin had one and a half billion years to get to where she is, and she is still becoming.”

My father died in January of 2014, the morning the same record cold freeze Lundin describes hit Chicago. I remember walking with my oldest friend in a brutal blinding snowstorm to get another bottle of whiskey, and thinking not in metaphorical terms, but with the awareness that the lake and the weather and the cold had no concern for my little drama. 

It is with this awareness that I am grateful none of the pieces in On an Inland Sea stretch metaphors too far. No, the pieces Welch chose are more interesting than that. The personal stories position the Lakes as a part of life, a childhood memory, an unchanging and ceaselessly beating force that anchors even as everything in our lives changes and becomes more confusing or harder. The uncaringness of the water can become a comfort. The cover of "On an Inland Sea: Writing the Great Lakes" an anthology edited by Michael Welch
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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
This month features some of my favorite debuts of the year, our EIC @mbwwelch.bsky.social writes, including a deeply moving anthology about estrangement, and a book that turns history on its head. Check out the list below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/04/01/1...
chireviewofbooks.com
12 Must-Read Books of April 2026 - Chicago Review of Books
It’s no prank: April is officially here and so are the spring-time books! This month features some of my favorite debuts of the year, a deeply moving anthology about estrangement, and a book that turn...
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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 30/03/2026
We’re thrilled to co-host the Chicago release of THE MEMORY MUSEUM (@graywolfpress.bsky.social) by M Lin with Women and Children first in Andersonville! It’s on May 3 at 6:30pm! www.eventbrite.com/e/memory-mus...
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Tortoise Books @tortoisebooks.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Super grateful to @rachellayown.bsky.social and @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social for this lovely interview! Get a glimpse of the publisher's life...if you dare! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/03/20/i...
chireviewofbooks.com
Interview with an Editor: Gerald Brennan of Tortoise Books - Chicago Review of Books
Our interview with Gerald Brennan at Tortoise Books
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Brian Merchant @bcmerchant.bsky.social · 20/03/2026
Absolutely not. If you are using AI to write you should 100% be ashamed. Shame is one of the last bulwarks against a total slop apocalypse. www.nytimes.com/2026/03/19/b...
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
I absolutely loved curating this series ❤️ This month’s entry from Nathan Hill is on the site now!
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Maris Kreizman @maris.bsky.social · 05/03/2026
I wrote about the first national book banning bill, which effectively seeks to erase trans people. At the end I include a link to let your reps know that you oppose this bill and all it stands for. lithub.com/why-we-must-...
lithub.com
Why We Must Fight to Stop HR 7661 Before It Destroys the Lives of American Children
Lately I’ve been calling my House rep and screaming about one zillion things, and maybe you have too. But today I want to talk about one thing in particular you should add to your list: H.R. 7661 i…
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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 16/03/2026
We're so, so excited to be part of Jeff Boyd's release event for his book HARD TIMES (@flatironbooks.bsky.social) and you can join us too! We'll be at the Book Cellar on 3/31 at 6:30 and Jeff'll be in conversation with Chicago's own Rowan Beaird 🤩 Hope to see you there!
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Adam Morgan @adamm0rgan.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
I haven't panned a book in 7 years but I think novelists who've earned a $3 million advance are fair game. www.thefrontlist.org/p/yann-marte...
thefrontlist.org
Yann Martel's Unhappy Meal®
'Son of Nobody,' 'Life of Pi,' and the mass appeal of fast-food philosophical novels.
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Ruby Rosenthal @rubyprosenthal.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
Was really happy to interview @mbwwelch.bsky.social for @michiganquarterly.bsky.social about ON AN INLAND SEA (@beltpublishing.bsky.social), the amazing Great Lakes anthology he edited which everyone should check out!! sites.lsa.umich.edu/mqr/2026/03/...
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 13/03/2026
🌊🌊🌊
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 11/03/2026
Thanks to everyone who braved a literal hail storm to join us for this celebration! 🌊
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Chicago Review of Books @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
"There’s something about being in nature and being alongside something that feels so much bigger than you that makes you turn inward." Out now: @celldeathvic.bsky.social's interview with @mbwwelch.bsky.social on "On an Inland Sea” (@beltpublishing.bsky.social). chireviewofbooks.com/2026/03/10/g...
chireviewofbooks.com
Going Full Ralph Waldo Emerson: A Conversation with Michael Welch - Chicago Review of Books
A conversation with Michael Welch, editor of "On an Inland Sea"
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StoryStudio Chicago @storystudiochicago.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Happy Pub Day to @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social editor-in-chief @mbwwelch.bsky.social. If you're in Chicago, the launch party for ON AN INLAND SEA is tonight at 6:30 pm at @roscoebooks.bsky.social.
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 10/03/2026
Today’s the day! 🌊🌊🌊
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Ben Madeska @benmadeska.bsky.social · 04/03/2026
Getting my name in the @chicagoreader.com is a pretty major Chicago bucket list item for me: review of On an Inland Sea: Writing the Great Lakes chicagoreader.com/books/book-r... @beltpublishing.bsky.social @mbwwelch.bsky.social
chicagoreader.com
The edge of the world - Chicago Reader
Belt Publishing’s anthology On an Inland Sea collects 33 stories on the Great Lakes, with a focus on what the lakes mean to people now.
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Michael Welch @mbwwelch.bsky.social · 03/03/2026
Let’s all hang out at the @beltpublishing.bsky.social AWP Happy Hour!
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