Bookends & Beginnings: James Stewart III in conversation with Ignatius Valentine Aloysius: "Defiant Acts"
Wed, May 21
|Evanston
This is a free event, but please register ahead.
Time & Location
May 21, 2025, 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Evanston, 1620 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201, USA
About the event
Set in 1990s suburban Chicago, James Stewart III's debut novel Defiant Acts is a testament to the complexity of human relationships and the power of family. On Wednesday, May 21 at 6:30 PM, James will discuss his new novel in conversation with Ignatius Valentine Aloysius, author, educator, and host of the Sunday Salon Chicago.
Rooted in the tradition of Black authors from Chicago and drawing on the author's own experiences, Defiant Acts documents the life of a working-class interracial couple and their children living in a Chicago suburb. Stewart places emphasis on the values that bind this tight-knit family together: solidarity, care, and hope.
James Stewart III is a Black writer and arts organizer from Chicago. His work has appeared in numerous literary journals, including Lampblack, Zone 3, Midwest Review, and others. He is a co-founder of the reading series and artist collective Exhibit B. Stewart earned an MFA from…