CELEBRATING 100 YEARS
Welcome to Friends of American Writers
FAW has concluded another excellent year culminating in celebrating our Literature Award winners. Be sure to check out the books of our FAW Literature Award Winning Authors, and join FAW for the upcoming year in September.
The FAW 2025 - 2026 Literature Award Winners
Adult Literature Awards
JENNIFER ELI BOWEN for The Book Of Kin (Milkweed Editions) $2,500
ANIKA FAJARDO for The Many Mothers Of Dolores Moore, (Simon and Schuster) $2,500
JAMES STEWART III for Defiant Acts, (Acre Books) $2,500
Young People's Literature Awards
BRIANNE FARLEY for Worm Makes a Sandwich, (G.P. Putnam’s Son) $2,500
LAURIE SCHNEIDER for Gittel, (Fitzroy Books) $2,500
T.L. SIMPSON for Cope Field, (Flux) $2,500
Would you like to join Friends of American Writers? Download, fill and send in the membership application.FAW Membership form (PDF file), or email Info@FawChicago.org .
President's Message - Karen Burnett
Friends of American Writers is a Chicago-based organization that supports and encourages writers with a tie to the Midwest. The organization was founded in 1922. The mission of the organization is to "encourage new, talented writers associated with the Midwest and to promote the arts, especially literature, among our members."
The awards ceremony has always been a highlight of the FAW year. Currently, the authors are invited to join the luncheon and receive their monetary award at the Fortnightly of Chicago scheduled on May 6. We hope you will share in congratulating our 2025-26 Award Winning Authors.
We received a heart-felt thank you with artwork from the students who received a book from the FAW Book Project, as well as a formal letter from the Juvenile Protective Association. The smiles those books created are beyond words.
Your generous contributions each year make our Literature Awards, Scholarship and Children's Book Project possible. Thank you for your membership and support of FAW. You make all this possible.
☛ The FAW Foundation Fund trustees want to thank the many members who have contributed to the Foundation this year and in all previous years. Without you, our scholarship program would not exist! Our scholarship recipient this year is Cassandra Buell, of Roosevelt University. She will be awarded at our May Award meeting.
☛ A Giant thank-you to all our members who donated so generously to the Patrons Fund. We are excited to present our award-winning authors at the May meeting. Both of our Literature Committees worked diligently to read through all the deserving book submissions. We appreciate the committee members dedication and hard work.
2026 FAW Children's Book Project
We received a heart-felt thank you with artwork from the students who received a book from the FAW Book Project, as well as a formal letter from the Juvenile Protective Association. The value of books and reading is immeasurable. Thank you for helping to spread this unique magic.
Thank you so much! ~ Angela Gall
Our mission shall be to encourage new, talented writers associated with the Midwest and to promote the arts, especially literature, among our members.
Friends of American Writers celebrated 100 years in 2022. Join FAW and help continue the mission of excellence in writing.
Friends of American Writers (FAW) was established in 1922 by Mrs. John Bohr of Oak Park and a group of literary minded women in the sixth district of the Illinois Federation of Women's Clubs. Friends of American Writers was legally organized on April 3, 1922 at the Oak Park Library with the purpose of specifically fostering good literature. The tradition of giving awards to outstanding contemporary writers began only seven months after the founding of FAW.
Over the years, FAW has honored and celebrated the accomplishments of many authors, by recognition at a Awards Luncheon and a monetary award. Among the many emerging adult authors recognized over the years are Sara Paretsky, Jane Smiley, Toni Morrison, Harry Mark Petrakis, Carl Sandburg, Kevin Fenton, Chad Harbach, Sara Gruen, Gillian Flynn, and Ruta Sepetys. We hope to see some of our new winners added to this list of outstanding and well recognized authors.
In 1960, FAW introduced awards for Juvenile Literature authors. Clifford Hicks won the first award for First Boy on the Moon. Recent winners range from delightful picture books to edgy YA novels.
Additionally, through the FAW Foundation Fund, students pursuing advanced degrees in writing are given recognition and cash awards to offset tuition.
FAW membership
Do you enjoy reading, writing, or supporting new writers who are starting their career? Join Friends of American Writers for one of our excellent programs at The Fortnightly of Chicago. Monthly meetings features a three-course luncheon and an interesting program. We hold a book group, Readers & Reviewers, which meets to discuss a selected novel. The Literary committees which select our award winning authors are always looking for new members to participate in the selection process. Membership for the full year is $100.00 , which supports our Patrons Fund and general operating costs. Download the membership application and send it in today. Our programs are open to members and their guests, but if you don't know a member and would enjoy trying a meeting, contact the Membership Chairman, and we can arrange for you to attend a meeting.
Membership Chairman: Kimberly Swartz at info@fawchicago.org
| President | Ida Hagman |
| Vice President | Elizabeth Bodie Gross |
| Secretary | Karen Pulver |
| Treasurer | Trish Ronan |
| Newsletter Editor | Open |
| Foundation Fund Chair | Vivian Mortensen |
| Foundation Fund Trustees | Ida Hagman |
| Literature Awards | Carrie Brenner |
| Young People's Awards | Angela Gall |
| Luncheon - Social | Carol Eshaghy |
| Membership & Directory | Kim Swartz |
| Programs | Sean Eshaghy |
| Phone Reservations | Karen Klatt and Kathy Quaid |
| Website Manager | Karen Baker |
| Board Member at Large | Helene Madsen |
Board meetings are held at The Fortnightly at 10:30 a.m. the mornings of the luncheons.
