Updated Feb. 21, 2012 1:30 p.m.
Forest Park fiction author Billy Lombardo, winner of the 2011 Nelson Algren Award, has had his short story “Clover” chosen for the debut edition of the Chicago Tribune’s new subscription-only Printers Row Journal book section.
The slim blue 25 page pamphlet featuring Lombardo’s piece was included within the Printers Row section in Sunday’s Tribune. This week’s version was a free sample. The special book review section begins Feb. 26 and will cost readers an additional $99 per year to have it inserted into their paper.
“I got lucky winning the Algren award the year [the Tribune] started this new business model,” said Lombardo, who has lived in Forest Park for 22 years. “It’s very rare to have a story hit that many hands, especially if you don’t have a huge name.”
“There are no more book sections left in the country,” Lombardo added. “I hope people will subscribe who consider themselves patrons of the arts. I’ll subscribe myself,” he said.
Lombardo writes for both adults and the young adult market. His forthcoming young adult novel, “The Day of the Palindrome,” will be published by Razorbill/Penguin in 2013.
Lombardo teaches literature and creative writing at Chicago Latin School and says he takes public transportation every day. “I look at everybody’s book when I’m on the train. One of my little dreams is to find somebody reading something of mine. I keep looking, but it hasn’t happened yet.”
