11-15-2011 MHR Introduces Steve Durchslag's Lifetime Achievement Award at PMA

Again, many have asked for my remarks at the Promotion Marketing Association Law Conference honoring Steve Durchslag, with whom I practiced law for 35 years. Here you go: IT IS MY PLEASURE TODAY TO INTRODUCE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER STEPHEN P. DURCHSLAG, SPUD, TO THOSE OF US WHO KNOW HIM WELL. WHEN I STARTED PRACTICING LAW WITH STEVE, BACK IN 1976, THERE WAS NO SUCH THING AS A PMA MARKETING LAW CONFERENCE, LET ALONE A CONFERENCE THAT BOASTS 600 ATTENDEES AND A FIVE POUND BINDER OF CONFERENCE MATERIALS THAT COULD ALSO FIT ON A THUMB DRIVE. IN FACT, THE FIRST SWEEPSTAKES PROJECTS I REMEMBER DOING FOR STEVE CONSISTED OF GOING TO A SINGLE FILE DRAWER OF PAPER FILES AND TRYING TO FIND THE ANSWER TO A SIMPLE QUESTION LIKE WHETHER A 13 CENT STAMP—THAT’S RIGHT, I SAID A 13 CENT STAMP, WAS CONSIDERATION. THE FILES WERE PRETTY THIN, THE ANSWER WAS NEVER THERE, THE PHOTOCOPIES OF THE RELEVANT STATUTES WERE MURKY, THE FIRM DIDN’T OWN ALL THE STATE STATUTES, I HAD TO GO TO THE COOK COUNTY LAW LIBRARY TO FIND AN OUT OF DATE VOLUME, AND IN THE END STEVE WOULD DIRECT ME TO CALL SOMEONE AT A STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE WHOSE ANSWER WAS INEVITABLY, THEY COULDN’T ANSWER ME. IT DIDN’T MATTER. STEVE HAD ALREADY DECIDED WHAT THE ANSWER SHOULD BE AND HAD GIVEN THE ADVICE. I HATED IT. WHERE I SAW A 50-STATE SURVEY, LOST WEEKENDS AND A LOT OF FRUSTRATING GUESSWORK OVER VERY PICKY SWEEPSTAKES QUESTIONS, STEVE SAW AN OPPORTUNITY. HE SET OUT TO MASTER THE LAW OF MARKETING AND PROMOTION, AND THAT HE DID. HE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST TO CALL ON PMA TO OFFER A MARKETING LAW CONFERENCE, WHICH WAS INITIALLY A ONE-DAY AFFAIR, AND HE GAVE 30 CONSECUTIVE MAJOR ADDRESSES AT PMA MARKETING LAW CONFERENCES, CHAIRING 5 OF THEM. TRUTHFULLY, HE IS THE REASON SOME OF US DREADED NOVEMBER AND PMA. DURING THOSE YEARS, ALL YOUNG ASSOCIATES SUFFERED FOR A GOOD MONTH BEFORE PMA BECAUSE SPUD INSISTED ON MAKING SURE THAT WE HAD IN FACT FOUND EVERY DEVELOPMENT THAT HAD HAPPENED THROUGHOUT THE PREVIOUS YEAR, NO MATTER HOW TRIVIAL, AND HE WAS DETERMINED TO REPORT TO YOU ON IT. REMEMBER THIS WAS BEFORE THE INTERNET, LEXIS, WESTLAW AND GOOGLE. MANY ASSOCIATES—MANY OF YOU IN TODAY’S AUDIENCE, INCLUDING MYSELF—CONTRIBUTED TO THESE SPEECHES AND TRIED, TO NO AVAIL, TO CONVINCE HIM THAT HE COULDN’T POSSIBLY DELIVER 110 PAGES OF INFORMATION IN 45 MINUTES. HE ALWAYS TRIED, AND HIS AUDIENCES ALWAYS BEGGED FOR MORE. TO HIS CREDIT, SPUD PULLED SEVERAL ALL-NIGHTERS HIMSELF GETTING HIS SPEECHES IN ORDER, AND ANYONE WHO CROSSED HIS PATH THE WEEK BEFORE WAS LIKELY TO BE CALLED INTO HIS OFFICE TO HEAR HIM REHEARSE. WE OF COURSE NEVER HEARD MORE THAN THE FIRST COUPLE OF PAGES, BECAUSE STEVE COULDN’T RESIST PICKING UP HIS PHONE THE MINUTE IT RANG, AND IT RANG A LOT. IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, STEVE REPRESENTED A COUPLE HUNDRED ADVERTISING AND PROMOTION AGENCIES, REVIEWED COUNTLESS SETS OF RULES AND PUT OUT ANY NUMBER OF FIRES, FROM MISPRINTS TO CRACKED CODES TO OUT AND OUT FRAUD. HE SHARED EVERYTHING HE LEARNED WITH PMA, WRITING A MONTHLY COLUMN FOR PMA AND PERIODICALLY SENDING OUT CLIENT ALERTS ON A REGULAR BASIS, LONG BEFORE ANYONE HAD HEARD OF A BLOG OR A TWEET. BOTH ON BEHALF OF CLIENTS, AND THE PMA LAW COMMITTEE WHICH HE CHAIRED FOR 8 YEARS, STEVE ALSO MET WITH LEGISLATORS AND ATTORNEYS GENERAL AROUND THE COUNTRY TO REPRESENT THE BEST INTERESTS OF PRODUCT MARKETERS. MANY OF THE SWEEPSTAKES RULES WE TODAY KNOWS AS STANDARD ARE THE DIRECT RESULT OF STEVE’S INTELLECTUAL TENACITY, UNIQUE PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS, AND DEDICATION TO CLIENT SERVICE. THERE AREN’T TOO MANY PEOPLE IN THIS WORLD WHO WILL DRILL DOWN INTO THE LAWS OF BINGO WITH THE SAME LASER ANALYSIS AS THEY WOULD THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH OR DUE PROCESS, BUT IF BINGO WAS IMPORTANT TO A CLIENT, IT WAS IMPORTANT TO STEVE. LAST FEBRUARY, AFTER FIVE OR SIX YEARS OF TRYING, STEVE RETIRED, STILL AT THE TOP OF HIS GAME, AND NOW SPENDS HIS TIME PURSUING HIS LIFELONG INTEREST IN JEWISH STUDIES IN THE DIVINITY SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO. HE LEFT THE 10 OF US REMAINING IN WINSTON & STRAWN’S ADVERTISING, MARKETING AND ENTERTAINMENT LAW GROUP INSPIRED WITH THE HIGHEST AND MOST DEMANDING STANDARDS OF PROFESSIONALISM AND CLIENT SERVICE. INSTEAD OF A SINGLE FILE DRAWER, WE INHERITED A REMARKABLE 20 BY 20 ROOM WITH 100 SHELVES OF SUBJECT MATTER FILES ON EVERY CONCEIVABLE QUESTION IN PROMOTION LAW. I WOULD LIKE TO TELL YOU THAT THESE FILES ARE THOROUGHLY INDEXED, CROSS-INDEXED, AND ACCESSED THROUGH A TABLE OF CONTENTS. I WOULD BE STETCHING THE TRUTH. BUT I CAN TELL YOU THAT THEY ARE THOROUGH AND COMPREHENSIVE, AND STEVE REMEMBERS EVERYTHING THAT’S IN THEM. WHEN BRIAN HEIDELBERGER, WHO NOW CHAIRS OUR GROUP, WAS A YOUNG ASSOCIATE, STEVE DIRECTED HIM TO THESE SUBJECT MATTER FILES FOR A MEMO HE REMEMBERED ON A CLIENT’S FDA QUESTION. BRIAN FOUND THE MEMO AND BROUGHT IT TO STEVE, BUT HE HAD A FUNNY LOOK ON HIS FACE. HE HAD FOUND THE RIGHT MEMO, AND STEVE HAD REMEMBERED IT CORRECTLY, BUT, BRIAN SAID, YOU DO REALIZE, STEVE, YOU WROTE THIS MEMO BEFORE I WAS BORN? A COUPLE WEEKS AGO, TWO FORMER ASSOCIATES, NOW AT A MAJOR NATIONAL ADVERTISER, ASKED STEVE OUT TO LUNCH. HE THOUGHT MAYBE THEY HAD AN ISSUE THEY WANTED TO RUN BY HIM, AND HE WAS FLATTERED. HE WAS SURPRISED THAT THE PURPOSE OF THE LUNCH WAS SIMPLY TO THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING THEY’D LEARNED FROM HIM AS YOUNG ATTORNEYS. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT ON THE OCCASION OF THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF PMA, WE, TOO, PAUSE TO THANK AND TO HONOR SOMEONE WHO HAS GIVEN A LIFETIME TO THE STUDY AND ADVANCEMENT OF MARKETING LAW AND THE PROMOTION MARKETING ASSOCIATION, MY RETIRED PARTNER, STEPHEN DURCHSLAG.

10-25-2011 Honoring Marc Kelly Smith and the International Slam Poetry Movement

Since so many of you asked, here's the text of my speech introducing Marc Kelly Smith, winner of the Distinguished Service Award from Lawyers for the Creative Arts: It is my honor to present LCA’s Distinguished Service Award to Marc Kelly Smith. (so what?) So what? So? He’s just the guru of the Chicago poetry scene, the guy who founded the international slam poetry movement, which has been called one of the most imporant social literary arts movements of our time. Marc’s a Chicagoan through and through. He was born and grew up on the southest side and attended James H. Bowen High school. He was a construction guy for ten years, and hated it. He began writing poetry when he was 19 and sent out thousands of bad poems. He says he started writing good poetry when he discovered the stage. When construction worker Marc came on the poetry scene, the poets who controlled the places you read your poetry were, he says, pompous and pretentious people, and like any good Chicagoan, when someone stands in your way, you’re going to do it yourself. Marc hosted the first poetry slam at the Get Me High Lounge in Bucktown in 1986, and it soon migrated to Green Mill in uptown. This Sunday night event is the longest-running weekly poetry show in the counrty, and one of the longest running shows in Chicago history. Each show has three parts: an open mic, a featured poet such as Lucia Blinn, who is in our audience today or a professional touring act, and the poetry slam, and if you go—which I highly recommend—you could be selected from the audience as a judge. The poetry slam is fun, it’s nuts, it’s everything, but primarily Marc says, it is meant to be serious, bringing people together and connecting them, so that they get to know each other and know their hearts. It’s a place where people can start out, which is absolutely necessary for a thriving art form. Marc himself has performed around the world, including The Smithsonian Institute, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, the Asheville Poetry Fesival, First Night Annapolois, The Innovator’s Festival in DC, Galway’s Cruit Festival, Denmark’s Roskilde Festival, Ausburg’s ABC Brecht Festival and the Queensland Poetry Fest in Australia. He has been featured on CNN, 60 Minutes, Whadda Ya Know, Oprah, Wild Chicago, WGN Chicago’s Very Own, and Chicago Slices and is frequently listed in various publications as one of the top movers and shakers in Chicago literature. He is the author of Crowdpleaser, which celebrates Green Mill and its audiences and of Bible of Slam: The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Slam Poetry. He collaborated with Mark Eleveld to create Sourcebooks’ Spoken Word Revolution and Spoken World Revolution Redux. Marc’s poetry has been featured in Hammer’s Magazine, Chicago Magazine, The Outlaw Bible of American Poetry, Poetry Slam, Aloud! Voices from the Nuyorican Poets Café, and the PBS series and publication, The United States of Poetry. He has produced thousands of poetry slams and performed at thousands of clubs, concerts and events. He keynoted LCA’s day-long Pen to Press self-publishing seminar in 2009, and he validated the efforts of each and every author in the room, filling us with inspiration and his infectious, can-do spirit. When he finished, the audience was in tears. Really something. On the homepage of his website, Marc offers this advice to all of us, whether we are writers or lawyers: His poem says, in part: If ya need to tell the world \ ya got more to ya than the world has as of yet allowed you to be, Be it Tell it Squeeze it out of each instantaneous moment Another verse says: Grab at the moon and hold the stars hot inside your head Cause Now is all that ever was and all there ever will be So Kiss it Kick it Scream it now. For enriching the lives of so many, for nourishing the creative spark, and for being the leader of an international movement that puts people together, please help me thank Slam Papi, Marc Kelly Smith.

10-06-2011 Story, "FISHING" Named to Top 100 by Writers Digest

My story, "FISHING," won 63rd place in the Writers Digest Short Story competition. I'm told the top 100 is a fair accomplishment, given the thousands of stories received. Am always pleased when someone reads and likes one of my stories!!

10-05-2011 BEST LAWYERS ADVERTISING LAWYER OF THE YEAR

I am quite honored to tell you that I've been named Advertising Lawyer of the Year for Illinois by Best Lawyers, a peer-reviewed publication. This is their press release: PRESS RELEASE (Available for immediate release) Best Lawyers, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, has named Mary Hutchings Reed as the “Chicago Best Lawyers Advertising Law Lawyer of the Year” for 2012. After more than a quarter of a century in publication, Best Lawyers is designating “Lawyers of the Year” in high-profile legal specialties in large legal communities. Only a single lawyer in each specialty in each community is being honored as the “Lawyer of the Year.” Best Lawyers compiles its lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. The current, 18th edition of The Best Lawyers in America (2012) is based on more than 3.9 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. The lawyers being honored as “Lawyers of the Year” have received particularly high ratings in our surveys by earning a high level of respect among their peers for their abilities, professionalism, and integrity. Steven Naifeh, President of Best Lawyers, says, “We continue to believe – as we have believed for more than 25 years – that recognition by one’s peers is the most meaningful form of praise in the legal profession. We would like to congratulate Mary Hutchings Reed on being selected as the ‘Chicago Best Lawyers Advertising Law Lawyer of the Year’ for 2012.”

07-25-2011 WARMING UP SHORTLISTED FOR WM WISDOM/WM FAULKNER PRIZE

The Pirates Alley Faulkner Society named WARMING UP to the SHORT LIST for the William Wisdom/William Faulkner Prize for the Novel. SALUTING THE SUN and MARKERS were both named to the LONG LIST for the same Prize. A short story, OH, about care-taking and letting go, was named a SEMI-FINALIST in the same competition's SHORT STORY category.

04-01-2011 Tampa Review to publish one of my stories!

Just got word that next year, the TAMPA REVIEW will pubilsh "THIS CHANGE DON'T COME FROM SKY," a quirky short story about, well, about, about...

03-15-2011 Text of Speech to WBA

Many of you have asked for a copy of my remarks to the WBA on the occasion of the Rise Up Reach Back luncheon. Roughly, here they are: I am both humbled and very pleased to receive this award from the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois. I am particularly honored to be in the company of Senator Dawn Clark Netsch. I think Dawn was on the very first legal board I was on. I wasn’t good at networking then, but I admired from afar her spunk, her determination, and her grace. I was asked today to reflect on my personal journey in the law and the importance of women helping each other. I was asked to limit myself to ten minutes, which is good, because my first attempt at reflection on my career as a woman lawyer in this city resulted in a 450 page manuscript. My literary agent at the time gently suggested that I cut 150 pages, and the result is my gift to you, my first novel, Courting Kathleen Hannigan. I offer it to you because I believe it is important to know our social history as women lawyers, as a measure of where we’ve been, and where we’re headed. It would be your gift to me if you were to read it, like it and pass it on. Courting Kathleen Hannigan is NOT my personal story. It is FICTION, but it is grounded in my experience of joining a large institutional law firm in 1976, where there were only 2 women partners. They were enough older than the 5 of us women who joined the firm that year that we missed the opportunity to watch them and see how they did it. Of necessity, then, we learned from and leaned on each other. I made life-long friends in those early years who are here today—Christine Albright and Deborah Bornstein—and have been very grateful over the years for their guidance and support. We helped each other with the big questions: What to wear, how to ask a woman secretary to type for you, how not to be mistaken for a secretary for a paralegal when we were the only woman in the conference room, how to avoid being asked to get the coffee. As a group, we decided rather informally which battles to fight. If we had to go in the side doors at the Union League Club in order to go to the Firm’s parties, well, as least we were invited. And THAT was considered progress! It took a couple of years for the biggest issues to confront us, the issue of maternity leave and part-time work, and the first of our number to confront that issue left the firm when it was not yet ready to be flexible. She eventually became a partner and member of the executive committee at another firm, and a national leader in her field. Eventually the rest of us found husbands, which truthfully was my bigger concern at the time—I was 31. Because we were afraid not to, most of us made partner in due course, either at Sidley or elsewhere, and I think that at that point, we were deceived into thinking that perhaps law firms were meritocracies after all. The profession was very different then, still more of a profession rather than a big business, but by the time we were nearing 40, I think we became, as a group, painfully aware of the glass ceiling. Courting Kathleen Hannigan is about a woman who becomes partner and becomes ambitious for advancement within her own law firm, a position from which she thinks she may be of use to the women who follow her. She comes to understand that the playing field is not level, and that what she’s looking for has perhaps more to do with her own ego than with other women. The book follows Kathleen Hannigan’s career through about 1990, but it was a little disheartening for me to hear from a young associate when it came out in 2007 that she could “totally relate.” When writing the book, about ten years ago, I became rather depressed—I wasn’t on the Management Committee and I wasn’t a top rainmaker at my firm; in fact I kept bumping into my mentor and partner, Steve Durchslag, 10 years my senior, and that felt like a failure, not just personal, but also political. As a summer associate at a LaSalle Street Firm in 1974, a name partner had said to me that in his opinion women would never litigate in this city. And although I didn’t become a litigator, I felt, like many of us felt, compelled to prove him wrong. We HAD to Succeed. It could easily feel like failure today: --that only 15% of equity partners are women --that 40% of law firms have only 1 woman partner on their managing committee --that 80% of law firms have at most 2 women partners on their managing committee --that almost half of all firms report NO women partners in their top 10 rainmakers --that women partners earn 85% of what their male colleagues earn But that’s only half the story. There are successes: --that LaSalle street firm I mentioned now has 30% women in its Chicago office --half of all law school graduates are women --there are 3 women sitting on the Supreme Court --29% of Federal Appellate judges are women --25% of Federal District Court judges are women --27 % of all state court judges are women --the Chief Justice of the Supreme Courts of 20 states are women --34.4% of all lawyers are women --19% of General Counsels are women, a higher percentage than equity partners in law firms. There was then, and is now, hope in the pipeline. Women today have far more role models than we did, more institutions give at least lip service to values of diversity, and women have more choices. And this, I think, is the important thing, that every woman decide for herself what success means to her. For me, the point of choice came in the early 90’s, when I’d been practicing law for 16 years and had been recruited as a partner to Winston & Strawn to help start its IP practice. My husband Bill came home one day with a plan to buy a new sail boat, an ocean going boat. I reminded him we didn’t live on the ocean. He said, “I’d hate to die without sailing across the ocean some day.” I was stunned by such a big statement, but as some of you know, I took an unheard of 3 month sabbatical from Winston in 1992, and sailed with Bill from Norfolk, Virginia to St. Thomas in a 32 foot sailboat, a journey of 22 days and nights and 1600 miles of open ocean. That’s about 5 mph by the way. Needless to say, it was a life-changing experience, and posed the question, ‘What was it that I wanted to do before I die?” The answer was easy. I wanted to write a novel. I also wanted generally more time to pursue other interests, including more time for pro bono activities and social service. I took time off from Winston, came back after a year, and now combine writing and law on a reduced schedule. Winston had learned from younger women how to be flexible in work scheduling, and as a result, I have written eight novels, one memoir, one collection of short stories, one musical, Fairways, first produced at Steel Beam Theatre in St. Charles in 2006, directed by my creative inspiration, my sister, Donna Steele. Here’s the plug—Fairways opens next week at endpoint theatre at Second Unitarian on W. Barry. Judge Michelle Lowrance, author of The Good Karma Divorce, who also speaks about Good Karma Lawyering, reminded me the other day that giving attention to my creative life makes me a better listener, a better problem solver and therefore a better lawyer. Lawyers can get so wedded to the demands of what they do that they may give up the oboe, poetry, knitting, mamba dancing, pottery, cooking, painting or whatever it is that gives the left brain a rest and lets the right brain run the show for a while. I would hope that each of you would find time to access and cultivate your own creative side. We all have one. The writing experience has for me been soul-making, and has been made possible by the changes in law firms in the past 35 years. Have they changed as much as we’d like? No. But writing CKH taught me that that is not failure. While writing, I discovered the quote from Rienhold Niebuhr which serves as an epigram to the book, NOTHING THAT IS WORTH DOING CAN BE ACHIEVED IN A LIFETIME; THEREFORE WE MUST BE SAVED BY HOPE. NOTHING WHICH IS TRUE OR BEAUTIFUL OR GOOD MAKES COMPLETE SENSE IN ANY IMMEDIATE CONTEXT OF HISTORY, THEREFORE WE MUST BE SAVED BY FAITH NOTHING WE DO, HOWEVER VIRTUOUS, CAN BE ACCOMPLISHED ALONE; THEREFORE WE MUST BE SAVED BY LOVE. Cultures don’t change in a generation or two. Committees don’t change cultures. But, committees and associations bring us together to help each other. And you can never help someone else without being helped yourself in return. Over the years, I’ve learned from my peers, but I’ve also learned from those who might call me their mentor, especially the younger associates from my days at Sidley. (You’re not so young anymore! I thank you for being here. Knowing you were watching made me do my best.) Those younger attorneys didn’t have to PROVE that women could litigate or make partner or become a judge, and as a result they had the freedom to espouse BALANCE, and the FREEDOM TO CHOOSE A WAY OF PRACTICING law that reflects a personal definition of success. Working part-time with Winston has allowed me to act on my commitment to pro bono legal services, through Lawyers for the Creative Arts and the Legal Assistance Foundation of Metropolitan Chi ago, and I’ve been mentored in Board service and leadership by Bill Rattner and Marci Rolnik from LCA, and by Diana White and Gloria Friedman of LAF. We accomplish nothing important alone. Younger lawyers know this, and have perfected the art of networking and alliance. Where we used to rage up and against sexism, today’s feminists reach out and up and back, getting help, giving help and creating a new culture that supports choice and creativity. Women’s groups like the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois raise consciousness of women’s issues and push for the institutional changes that will support the cultural ones. MOM: Ultimate role model of a professional woman way ahead of her time, wife, mother, caregiver to 2 elderly grandparents who lived with us and FIRST TO VOLUNTEER and FIRST to CELEBRATE. I’m honored that you think that in some small way I've followed in her footsteps,but please know that I feel indebted to all women, younger and older and my contemporaries, who have reached back, reached out, and reached up to me. Together, we will accomplish something good and beautiful and true.

02-01-2011 Nice Review from Midwest Review of Books

http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/feb_10.htm#karyn Follow this link to a nice review from this online reviewer of self-published books

12-28-2010 WBAI ESTHER ROTHSTEIN RISE UP & REACH BACK AWARD

I am both humbled and pleased to announce that I will receive the Esther Rothstein Award from the Women's Bar Association of Illinois on January 21. Friends Chris Albright and Paula Holderman nominated me for this award which “recognizes women for having demonstrated visionary approaches to their professional accomplishments, while freely giving back to other women and members of the legal profession and making a contribution to the well-being and empowerment of women as a whole.” The award will be presented at the Rise Up and Reach Back Scholarship luncheon on Friday, January 21, 2011 at Petterino’s. The other awardee is Dawn Clark Netsch, someone I've admired for years for her dedication to pubilc service, spunk and grace.

12-12-2010 Fairways' Practice Range Rap on YouTube

Bill just posted the Rap from the Steel Beam Theatre production at www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgmA7r7ZAy0

09-10-2010 FAIRWAYS OPENS TONIGHT

Here's an interview in the Daily Herald about tonight's opening of Fairways at Steel Beam Theatre, St. Charles. Back by popular demand!! www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=406270

09-01-2010 New Novel in Progress Named a Finalist for William Wisdom/William Faulkner Prize

Markers, my novel-in-progress which asks the question whether you want to know if you have a genetic disease, has been named a Finalist for the William Wisdom/William Faulkner Novel-in-Progress prize given by The Pirates Alley Faulkner Society. The Society sponsors Words & Music, an annual writing festival and conference, which I have attended several times and which I will attend again this November. Winner to be announced on September 25....

07-01-2010 Interviewed on The Doug Noll Show

Here's the link to my interview with lawyer turned peacemaker Doug Noll on his webradio show. Fun to talk with him!

05-11-2010 TIME TO LISTEN by Dr. Robert Rynearson

My friend Bob Rynearson's book, Time to Listen, has been published. A fascinating memoir and discussion of his innovative techniques for insight therapy using a client's left and right profiles, I highly recommend it. Read all about it at http://robertrynearson.wordpress.com

04-19-2010 Cover of CKH a Finalist in Contest

Darlene Olivo's wonderful cover design for Courting Kathleen Hannigan is a FINALIST in a contest offered by SUSAN WHITFILED on her blog, www.susanwhitfield@blogspot.com. GO TO HER SITE and VOTE for Darlene's cover!!

04-10-2010 HONORABLE MENTION FOR MHR STORY

My stofy, FISHING, about an elderly couple naming their new dog and finally discussing something they've not talked about in more than twenty five years, was named an HONORABLE MENTION in a contest sponsored by the University of New Orleans.

03-25-2010 WARMING UP NAMED A QUARTERFINALIST IN AMAZON.COM CONTEST!

The GOOD NEWS: My newest novel, WARMING UP, made it to the QuarterFinals of the amazon.com Breathrough Novel Award competition (top 250 out of 5000--still a ways to go!) The next round is judged by Penguin editors, but they will consult with reviews you might post, based on your reading of an excerpt like the first f...ew pages. They've changed the reviewing process, however, to help them introduce their new KINDLE applications. You can use your KINDLE to "buy" WARMING UP for ZERO dollars, or you can download a KINDLE Beta to your PC, Mac, I Phone, etc. They walk you through the process. One way or another, you download, read, and then write a wildly enthusiastic review. (For those of you who've read/heard the manuscript in workshop, you might go straight to aforesaid wildly enthusiastic review. As always, I appreciate your support as we trudge this difficult path to (wherever) together. THANK YOU!! go to: http://www.amazon.com/Breakthrough-Novel-Award-Books/b?ie=UTF8&node=332264011

03-05-2010 AUTHOR SUSAN WHITFIELD'S BLOG INTERVIEW WITH MHR

Follow the link to read Susan Whitefield's interview with me. http://susanwhitfield.blogspot.com/2010/03/mary-hutchings-reed.html

02-15-2010 MIDWEST REVIEW LIKES CKH

Here's another, unsolicited (!) nice review from the Midwest Review of Books: follow the link posted under links, or paste: http://www.midwestbookreview.com/rbw/feb_10.htm#karyn

01-14-2010 ATTORNEY WORK PRODUCT BLOG CITES CKH

"It's a great read...." this attorney-blogger said, and it kept her up all one Saturday night reading it! Follow the link posted on my cite, or: http://attyworkproduct.blogspot.com/2010/01/fiction-and-nonfiction.html

01-11-2010 85 Broads Invites Mary to Speak at Power Dinner

Thank you to 85 Broads, an elite national networking group, for asking me to be the speaker at the Chicago "Power Dinner" on January 26. For info, go to www.85Broads.com

12-22-2009 Pictures from Enid Powell's Birthday Party

Carma, Pam, MHR and Randall

12-14-2009 New Links Posted on this Site

I have a new functionality on my website, thanks to Kyla Buchanan at Simply Redd Communications. Under the new tab, LINKS, I've posted links to some of my favorite writing sites, and to my friends sites, and to some others. Check them out!

11-27-2009 A CHALLENGE TO THE MINI NATION: BUY CKH AND SUPPORT THE ARTS

I am the guest blogger at http://annemini.com/?p=7504 Read this really useful website for authors, and read my guest post. I WILL GIVE ONE DOLLAR TO LAWYERS FOR THE CREATIVE ARTS AND FIFTY CENTS TO SEATTLE YWCA GIRLSFIRST FOR EVERY COPY OF COURTING KATHLEEN HANNIGAN PURCHASED FROM NOW UNTIL DECEMBER 31. IT'S A GREAT STOCKING STUFFER FOR EVERY READER ON YOUR LIST!!

10-30-2009 November National Novel Writing Month

Just joined the effort to write 50,000 words of a new novel (can't wait to find out what it's about) in November. To join us, go to www.nanowrimo.org

10-09-2009 A thrilling review from bookpleasures.com

Loved this review from bookpleasures.com: http://www.bookpleasures.com/websitepublisher/articles/1298/1/Courting-Kathleen-Hannigan--Reviewed-By-Wendy-Thomas-Of-Bookpleasurescom/Page1.html Thank you!

Bookpleasures Review by Wendy Thomas

10-01-2009 Chicago Lawyer Publishes Article on Change

The Chicago Lawyer asked me to write a column reflecting on change in the profession, from the days of Courting Kathleen Hannigan to present. See the article at: http://www.winston.com/index.cfm?contentid=34&itemid=3560 or attached.

"Change" in Chicago Lawyer

09-27-2009 PEN TO PRESS Conference a Success!

As co-chair of the Lawyers for the Creative Arts/John Marshall Law School PEN TO PRESS Conference on self-publishing, I am thrilled to report that almost a hundred people joined us for informative panels and exhibits, an inspirational luncheon presentation by Marc Kelly Smith, and collegial networking on Saturday, September 26. I moderated a panel on "The Author's Experience." My thanks to (from left to right): Jim O'Connor, O'Connor Communications Julie Weary, Getting Out of Dodge me Eric Goseer Mitchell, Born Colored Hadley Finch, Tribe of Blondes

"The Author's Experience"

08-19-2009 PEN TO PRESS CONFERENCE on SEPTEMBER 26

All authors considering Self-Publishing: Lawyers for the Creative Arts and John Marshall Law School are presenting a conference on Self Publishing on Saturday September 26. Excellent panels on copyright, publishing contracts, defamation, privacy, etc. Also an entertaining keynote by Marc Kelly Smith (Founder, International Slam Poetry Movement), and my friends Julie Weary, Erin Goseer Mitchell, Susie Isaacs and LYnda O'Connor and Hadley Finch. Call LCA, 649-4111 to register; download registration off of the John Marshall Law School event site. www/jmls/edu/events/092609pentoPress.pdf

08-12-2009 ONE FOR THE ARK A SHORT-LIST FINALIST IN NOVEL COMPETITION

ONE FOR THE ARK was just named a Short List Finalist in the William Faulkner/William Wisdom national Novel competition, sponsored by the Pirate's Alley Faulkner Society. AND!!! An earlier draft of my latest novel, WARMING UP, was named a SEMIFINALIST in that same competition. Whoohoo!! My friend Julie Weary has a new novel which also was named a Semi-Finalist. Check our her first novel, GETTING OUT OF DODGE at amazon.com

08-01-2009 Again Named to The Best Lawyers in America

It's quite an honor to be named again to The Best Lawyers in America in Advertising and Entertainment Law. Also to be included in Chambers USA and called a "superb" lawyer. Would really love to be called a superb writer!!

06-12-2009 I got a KINDLE!

For my anniversary, my dearest husband gave me a KINDLE!! I LOVE IT! Easy on the eyes for reading (even without my readers) and easy to use. Of course, my first KINDLE download? COURTING KATHLEEN HANNIGAN!!

04-27-2009 See My Guest Blog at annemini.com

One of my very favorite writers, Anne Mini, asked me to guest blog at her Author! Authors website, annemini.com. She aske me to write about censorship and strong women characters like Kathleen Hannigan. Anne is at a writer's retreat in France, hopefully completing her next novel. While at her site, explore her past posts...she offers a wealth of information, and her style is breezy, insightful and laugh-out-loud funny!

04-23-2009 CKH Publisher Sports New Website

Susie Isaacs, President of Ampersand, Inc., the publisher of Courting Kathleen Hannigan, has revised her website! See all of Ampersand's works at http://www.ampersandworks.com

04-09-2009 NEW STORY TO BE PUBLISHED

ARS Medica, The Journal of Arts, Medicine and the Humanities published by the University of Toronto Press, just accepted my story, READING BETWEEN THE LINES, for publication in the winter issue! It's a story about an aging actress with Alzheimers who finally pays her actor son an unqualified compliment!

02-08-2009 BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION GROUP GUIDE AVAILABLE

This week we're sending a mailing to Book Club Leaders encouraging them to choose CKH for their group. I included some questions to get discussions started, and some little known facts about women in buisness. Here they are: COURTING KATHLEEN HANNIGAN by Mary Hutchings Reed QUESTIONS FOR BOOK CLUB DISCUSSION 1. Did Kathleen change her basic personality in order to fit in to a man's world? Do women generally need to change their personalities in any way to accommodate the demands of the business world? Where do business norms and business cultures come from? Do men also have to conform? Is this a good thing or a bad thing? 2. Which women in the story did you most identify with? 3. What changes would a woman member of the Executive committee or the senior management of a business firm be able to effect? How could they go about making those changes? 4. Did Jill make the right decision in leaving the Firm? 5. How would you have testified in Ann Rose's discrimination suit? What would you expect to be the consequences of your testimony? 6 Was Marshall right to take Kathleen's name off of the brief they filed in the first case they filed for Anthony? 7. How do you envision the future of Kitty's and Marshall's relationship? 8. What strategies could Kathleen have utilized to neutralize Brian's taking credit for her work and career? 9. Do you think Kathleen had a drinking problem? Anthony? Jimmy? If so, at what point did you begin to think drinking was an issue for any of them? 10. If you work outside the home, were there any incidents in the book that were similar to something which has happened to you? How much do you think business culture has changed, if at all, since you began your career? What changes have you seen? What changes would you like to see in the future? DID YOU KNOW… Women lawyers earn less than their male counterparts at every level of a law firm? 4% less as associates 8% less as non-equity (junior) partners 13% less as equity (senior) partners The National Law Journal, Nov. 24, 2008 The percentage of women partners as partners (any level) in Chicago law offices was 19.31% at the end of 2007, after a three-year campaign to increase the percentage by the Chicago Bar Association's Alliance for Women? "Firms See Increase in Number of Women Partners" by Lynne Marek www. law.com Nov. 7, 2008 The median salary earned by women paralegal and legal assistants was 93% of that earned by male paralegals and legal assistants. "Being a lawyer and Male Makes you a Top Eanrner, Census Report Shows" by Debra Cassens Weiss ABA Journal Law News Now, Sept. 10, 2008; www.abajournal.com In 2006, a report by New York-based non-profit group Catalyst tallied the percentage of women on Fortune 500 corporate boards at 14.7 percent, up from 9.6 percent in 1995? "Despite Advances, Number of Women on Corporate Boards Remains Relatively Stagnant," by Anya Sostek, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Aug. 25, 2006 In 2007, women comprised 46% of the total U.S. labor force and are projected to account for 47% of the labor force in 2016? In 2007. the median weekly earnings of women who were full-time wage and salary workers were $614, or 80 percent of men’s $766? Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment and Earnings, 2007 Annual Averages and the Monthly Labor Review, November 2007. Women represent 48 percent of all EEO-1 employment, but represent only 36.4 percent of officials and managers? Women make up 80.3 percent of office and clerical workers. Glass Ceilings: The Status of Women as Officials and Managers in the Private Sector The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Mar. 4, 2004

Questions in hard copy

02-05-2009 Looking for a Speaker?

I justjoined SPEAKERSITE at Speakersite.com. If you're looking for a speaker for an event, I could join you to talk about women in law or writing, or becoming a writer "later" in life. Details on the website.

01-12-2009 HAPPY NEW YEAR! CKH NOW AVAILABLE ON KINDLE

AMAZON now has Courting Kathleen Hannigan available for your Kindle. They've posted these details: Digital List Price: $9.99 Kindle Price: $7.99 & includes wireless delivery via Amazon Whispernet You Save: $2.00 (20%)

11-05-2008 Pictures from the Grant Park celebration of Barack Obama's Election

My Fairways composer, Curt Powell and his wife, Scottie Kersta-Wilson scored the tickets for Obama's Grant Park celebration, and it was a night to remember. Inspirational! If you haven't read Liza Mundy's biography of Michelle, "Michelle," do it now! And pay special attention to the part where she refers to Courting Kathleen Hannigan!

Mary and Bill with their invitations	Mary at the Moment, 10:01 pm November 4, 2008	Grant Park, November 4, 2008

10-21-2008 The Glass Hammer Quotes MHR in Article on Work/Life Balance

An article entitled "Work/Life Balance in the Law" by Elizabeth Harrin (London) cites my experience as "Of Counsel" to Winston & Strawn, a work arrangement which has allowed me generous time to write. She quotes me as follows: I think the biggest obstacle which women face in achievuing balance is the 'I want it all/I can do it all' mentality," she adds. "As a younger lawyer, I gave much more time to practicing law than I do now; I didn't write at all then, and now I do. We also have to realize that at different times, we may have different priorities, and will be unbalanced in some way. At any given point in time, you simply cannot have it all." So, I'm saying, balance is over a period of time. We need to give ourselves the gift of time. See the story at www.theglasshammer.com/news/2008/10/21/wokrlife-balance-in-the-law/

10-05-2008 WASHINGTON POST MAGAZINE STORY CITES CKH

The Washington Post Sunday Magazine today features an excerpt from Liza Mundy's "Michelle," due out this week from Simon & Schuster. The story includes a whole paragraph on Courting Kathleen Hannigan, a novel which "explores the perils of being a woman trying to make partner in the 1980's and 1990's." The story also calls me "a good-humored and gregariousattorney who had worked hard to win advancement for women in the top echelon of the legal profession." (Michelle is said to be a bit character in CKH: Michelle Richardson, a young associate who is part of the defense team and who soon after being introduced is sent off to research an aspect of the law. The character is said to exemplify "that young associates, even highly competent ones liee Michelle, mostly were seen and worked hard, but were not heard." Read www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/26/AR2008092602856_pf.html

10-01-2008 NAMED TO BEST LAWYERS IN AMERICA!

I just received notice that I am listed in the 2009 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® in the specialties of Advertising Law and Entertainment Law. For over a quarter of a century, Best Lawyers has been regarded – by both the profession and the public – as the definitive guide to legal excellence in the United States. This isn't a book you buy your way into, so I am again deeply honored.

09-05-2008 Remembering the Summer

Sel Yackley, author of Remember the Pain, a lovely memoir about living with a husband with manic depression, sent me this picture from the summer's Printer's Row Book Fair. It was a windy day, but three of us from Enid Powell's writing group made the valiant attempt to sell books. In the middle is Erin Goseer Mitchell, whose memoir Born Colored, about growing up in Selma before Bloody Sunday, is a best-seller among self-published books.

08-12-2008 Thank you for your condolences

Thank you to so many people who wrote to me about the passing of my wonderful mother, Mary Jo Hutchings, on July 31, 2008. The Chicago Tribune had a lovely story about her in the August 5, 2008 issue. I am attaching a copy of that and a picture of her, and below is the obituary which my sister and I prepared for her funeral Mass and celebration, which was held August 6, 2008 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, where my sister Donna and I were both baptized and received our first Communions, in Crystal Lake, Illinois. MARY JO HUTCHINGS Mary Jo Hutchings loved libraries. The Director of the Mt. Prospect Public Library from 1966 to 1981, Mrs. Hutchings died July 31 at the age of 88. Born Mary Jo Calnan in Monkstown, County Cork, Ireland on December 21, 1919, she emigrated to Lake Forest in 1928 in the care of foster parents, Daniel and Margaret Calnan. She attended Holy Child Academy, Waukegan, and earned her bachelors and advanced degrees in Library Science from the University of Illinois in 1941. While the Reader's Advisor at Northwestern University Library, she met LeRoi E. Hutchings, whom she married May 21, 1949. They settled in Crystal Lake and had two daughters, Mary Hutchings Reed and Donna.C. Steele. Mrs. Hutchings was Assistant and then Head Librarian in Crystal Lake from the mid-fifties to 1963. She was well known through much of her life for her lively and dramatic book reviews. After a short time in Johnson City, Tennessee, the Hutchings moved to Mt. Prospect in 1965, where Mrs. Hutchings joined the staff of the Public Library and became Director in 1966. During her fifteen year tenure, Mrs. Hutchings transformed the Library into a lifelong learning and cultural center. It tripled its collection, nearly doubled its patrons and increased its circulation from 250,000 to 415,000. Mrs. Hutchings built up the business section and created genealogy and police science sections of the Library, and added the circulation of 8mm movies, art prints, sculpture, large-type books, videotapes, audiocassettes and magazines on microfilm. Under her leadership, the Library celebrated its first National Library Week, published its first newsletter featuring "Hutch's Corner," conducted its first story hour for deaf children, and opened on Sundays. In 1967, Mrs. Hutchings defended the library in a censorship battle, and received a citation from the Illinois Library Association for her efforts in defending the First Amendment. In 1975, following a successful referendum, Mrs. Hutchings presided over the building of a new $4 million library facility, which was dedicated in 1977. After retiring from the library in 1981, Mrs. Hutchings became active in volunteer activities, serving three terms as President of the Mt. Prospect Women's Club, and as a docent of the Mt. Prospect Historical Society and a member of the Friends of the Library. She was a devout Catholic. Separated from a sister and two brothers when she came to the United States, she was thrilled to have been reunited with her brother Paddy Calnan of Plymouth, England, at Christmas, 1983. The visited frequently until his death. Dr. and Mrs. Hutchings returned to Crystal Lake in 2004. She enjoyed tennis, golf, ping-pong, croquet, classical music, entertaining and bridge, and was proud of her Irish heritage. She loved animals, especially her tricolor collie, Brandywine Erin Beau. For the past several years, Mrs. Hutchings suffered from Alzheimer’s. She is survived by her husband, LeRoi of Crystal Lake and her daughters, Mary Hutchings Reed (Mrs. William), a Chicago lawyer and novelist who is Of Counsel to Winston & Strawn, and Donna Steele (Mrs. Tod) , an actress and the founder of Steel Beam Theatre, St. Charles, and a loving grandmother to three grandchildren, Amy Steele of Chicago, Sarah Steele of New York City and Peter Steele of St. Charles. “She read to us every night, acting out all the parts,” her daughter Mary said. “I’m sure that’s why today my sister is an actress and why I love words and stories.” Donna said, “She was a devoted mother and still managed to have a challenging and fulfilling career. She taught by example that with faith, courage and love, all things are possible." A funeral Mass for Mrs. Hutchings will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church, 453 Pierson Street, Crystal Lake, at 10:30 am on Wednesday, August 6, 2008. In lieu of flowers, the family would be grateful for memorial donations to the Mt. Prospect Library or the Freedom to Read Foundation of the American Library Association.

Mary Jo Hutchings
Mary Jo Hutchings		Chicago Tribune

05-23-2008 New Novel Shortlisted for the Paris Prize!!!

My new novel, ONE FOR THE ARK, has been shortlisted (one of 6 finalists) for the Paris Prize, given by the Paris Writers Workshop. I'm thrilled! Matt Horne, British author and himself a Booker Prize longlist finalist, is the judge. Keeping all appendages crossed!

05-06-2008 Fontana Public Library Hosts MHR

Thank you to Fontana Public Libary for hosting me on Tuesday, May 6, for a reading and discussion of Courting Kathleen Hannigan. I got a chance to help raise funds for the libary from book sales ($50 donation) and to discuss the book informally with about 20 people over refreshments. A lovely evening!

04-14-2008 Thanks to Carey and Brett August: Yale Law School Association Reading

Many thanks to Carey and Brett August for hosting a lovely book reading and discussion at their home on Sunday afternoon. A dozen people came to discuss the questions raised about Courting Kathleen Hannigan and how each individual must define "success" for him or herself. I met some younger grads and got to know some older ones as well. It was a most entertaining evening for me, and many thanks to all who bought books and promised to help spread the word with my "viral" postcard campaign.

04-14-2008 Mary to be Luncheon Speaker at Illinois State Paralegal Association Annual Meeting

I've been invited to give the luncheon speech at the ISPA's annual meeting on May 5, and to address issues surrounding women in law and balance. Email me if you have ideas on this subject!

03-31-2008 LEADING LAWYERS MAGAZINE PROFILES MHR

See the great article about me by Olivia Clarke in the March Leading Lawyers Magazine.

03-31-2008 LEADING LAWYERS PROFILES MHR

See the great article by Olivia Clarke about me in the March issue of Leading Lawyers.

03-03-2008 CKH Added to Library at Marina Cay, BVI

While cruising in the BVI, Christine Albright, Lawrence Gill, my husband Bill Reed and I presented a couple copies of CKH to the cruising library at Marina Cay, one of my very favorite places.

02-10-2008 READING CKH AT WOMEN AND CHILDREN FIRST MARCH 6

Please come to my reading of Courting Kathleen Hannigan at Women & Children First, on Thursday, Marcn 6 at 7:30. I feel honored to be invited by this landmark independent bookstore, located at 5233 N. Clark Street in Chicago. Please come if you can!

02-07-2008 YALE LAW NEWS--CHERYL AVIROM's REVEW

Thanks Cheryl, for telling my fellow Yale Law alums about Courting Kathleen Hannigan. Again, for the record, Mary Hutchings Reed is not Kathleen Hannigan, though she can certainly relate to her!

02-02-2008 BARNARD WOMEN'S WRITING GROUP

Thank you to Marsha Coleman Adebayo for inviting me to attend the Barnard Women's Writing Group while I was in DC. We had a wonderful three-hour discussion of the writing process and telling the truith in fiction and in memoir, as well as the ins and outs of privately publishing our efforts.

02-01-2008 CBA ALLIANCE FOR WOMEN NEWS

If you are a member of the Chicago Bar Association Alliance for Women, check out their winter issue, with a wonderful interview by Lisa Seilheimer with me!

02-01-2008 MHR Meets with Winston Women in D.C.

Had a most enjoyable lunch and discussion with the women of Winston & Strawn's D.C. office. Thanks to May Wall and Susan Longstreet for organizing!

01-18-2008 PLEASE HELP ME: ONE FOR THE ARK A SEMI-FINALIST IN AMAZON.COM'S BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL COMPETITION

PLEASE HELP Me MAKE THE FINALS of the AMAZON BREAKTHROUGH NOVEL COMPETITION My most recent unpublished novel, ONE FOR THE ARK, is one of 480 Semifinalists in this national contest (top 20%). TEN manuscripts will make the finals, as judged by Penguin Books. Penguin will select from those entries with the most “customer reviews.” I’m asking you to take a few minutes to read part of the first chapter of ONE FOR THE ARK, and to write a few words of your own (75-300) about how you’ve been drawn into the story, are fascinated by the characters, love the writer’s blend of humor and insight, enjoy the quirky and smart narrative voice, can’t wait to read more and see the movie, etc. etc. It’s free!!—and reviewers (you) are eligible to win one of 3 prizes. STEP BY STEP: 1. Go to AMAZON.COM/ABNA 2. In the middle, under the headline, “Discover the Next Breakthrough Novel,” you’ll see “Explore Semifinalists in Five Categories.” CLICK on GENERAL FICTION 3. Go to PAGE 9 of GENERAL FICTION 4. ONE FOR THE ARK is the first selection (far left) in the second to last row on that page. CLICK on it. 5. At the new page, ONE FOR THE ARK, CLICK on the Left, “Download for Free” 6. When the new page comes up and tells you that you have received an “AMAZON Short,” CLICK “VIEW NOW” to read on-line, or CLICK “DOWNLOAD TO MY COMPUTER.” (Both are FREE.) 7. AFTER READING, RETURN TO PREVIOUS WEBPAGE (#6) and, at the BOTTOM, CLICK on “CREATE YOUR OWN REVIEW.” This is when you say nice things, so that if I’m ever a famous author, I’ll remember you fondly and support you in your wild schemes and dreams. 8. ASK A FRIEND TO HELP A FRIEND On MARCH 2, the top TEN are announced, and you get to vote again (and again, Chicago-style) for the Grand Prize winner. THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT!! MARY maryhutchingsreed.com

01-14-2008 MHR to Meet with Women of Bell Boyd

Many thanks to the women of the law firm of Bell Boyd here in Chicago, who've invited me to speak with them on Tuesday, January 15.

01-14-2008 Chicago Women of AIPLA Invite MHR to Speak

And thanks to the women of the American Intellectual Property Association for asking me to be a guest speaker at their Chicago dinner meeting on Wednesday, January 16.

12-27-2007 BOOKLIST Reviews CKH

Just learned that the American Library Association's prestigious BOOKLIST reviewed CKH. The Review says "her novel paints a very precise picture of a place and time, showing what it meant to be a woman breaking glass ceilings. How Hannigan decides to testify in Ann Rose's case is worth the wait." Yay!!

12-23-2007 Annemini.com Features Interview with MHR

Go to www.annemini.com and read her interview with Mary and another author regarding the self-publishing and private publishing process. Anne is a wonderful writer with a truly original voice. If you haven't read her work before, trust me, you'll enjoy getting to know her and her blog, which is chock full of useful information for writers at all levels.

12-12-2007 Richardson & Mensch Host Event at Samuel Akainyah Gallery

What a wonderful evening last night at Samuel Akainyah Gallery. Julieanna Richardson and Linda Mensch outdid themselves: a beautiful spread of delicious eatables, and a wonderful crowd. Thanks to all who braved the weather to be there. It was my first chance to read (myself) to a crowd, and it was fun! Thanks for being so receptive, and for buying so many books! (Great stocking stuffers!) And, a very special thanks to Samuel Akainyah. If you haven't seen his cubist or impressionist art, make a special effort to stop by: 357 W. Erie. Vibrant colors and highly imaginative.

11-23-2007 Baker & McKenzie Law Firm to include CKH in its Benefit for the Salvation Army

The Women of Baker & McKenzie, Chicago, have invited woman-owned businesses to show and sell their wares at a holiday party at their offices on December 6, and I'll be autographing and selling CKH, with 10% of my proceeds to benefit the Salvation Army. Call Baker for information/invitation.

11-20-2007 Chicago Daily Law Bulletin Article Features MHR and CKH

The November 19 issue of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin had a wonderful article by Pat Milhizer on page 3 (with a picture of a quizzical yours truly) under the "Amicus Curious" banner. Pat really captured the flavor of the book and its attempt to tell the truth through fiction. We had a great time talking to each other, and at 28, he was amazed at some of the stories I told him--like about getting kicked out of luncheon clubs because I was female. A woman judge called me today to get a copy of the book: she told me a similar story about being allowed to take her boy-child to a meeting at a certain downtown Club. HE could go in the front door; SHE had to go in a side door! Do tell your friends about CKH, and encourage them to share their stories with me!

Daily Law Bulleting Article Reprint

11-19-2007 Michelle Obama Meets Former Law Colleagues

Mary and a group of lawyers with whom Mary and Michelle Obama worked while at Sidley & Austin, Chicago, met for a few minutes at a luncheon where Michelle Obama was the featured speaker: if you've never heard her, she is phenomenal! She's been a little busy lately and hadn't yet started CKH, but said she was looking forward to it.

Mary and fellow former Sidley attorneys with Michelle Obama

11-16-2007 Holiday Autographing Party on December 11

Julieanna Richardson and Linda Mensch are hosting a holiday aotgraphing party at Sam Akainyah's Gallery, 357 W. Erie, from 6 to 8 pm on Tuesday, December 11. The more the merrier! For more info, call The HistoryMakers, 312 674 1900

Mary and Paula Holderman, Winston's Director of Professional Development

11-14-2007 National Women's Studies Association Listing

I joined NWSA because I think CKH would be a great text for those studying women's progress in the professions. CKH is not listed on their site as a new book by a member, and if you buy through their portal to amazon.com, NWSA gets a donation from amazon.com (ou of amazon.com's share, not mine--win! win!)

10-19-2007 Autographing Party

My thanks to Marjie Rynearson and Suzie Isaacs (Ampersand) for hosting a wonderful event yesterday in honor of the publication of Courting Kathleen Hannigan. Donna Steele, the Founder, Executive and Artistic Director of Steel Beam Theatre, St. Charles, IL read from the opening chapter, bringing Kathleen, Helen Bornstein and Ann Rose to life. Thanks to all who came and bought books: I really appreciate your spreading the word. A reminder: If you enjoy CKH, write a few words on amazon.com!!

Hostess Marjie Rynearson, Mary and Publisher Susie Isaacs	Donna Steele Reads from CKH

10-07-2007 STAR Magazine Names CKH the HOT BOOK: LEADING LAWYER NAMES HOT LAWYERS!

STAR Magazine (Cover date october 15, a 160 lb Britney Spears on the cover) named COURTING KATHLEEN HANNIGAN th "HOT BOOK" on its HOT SHEET, found on page 22. How much fun is that? The day before, Leading Lawyers Network named me one of the TOP 50 WOMEN BUSINESS LAWYERS IN ILLINOIS. Not quite as much fun, but appreciated, nonetheless.

09-21-2007 I get letters

What a great letter I got today from attorney Sean McCumber of Sullivan, Taylor & Gumina in Wheaton, IL. Sean writes: "What a fantastic book you have written! Courting Kathleen Hannigan is intelligent, witty,and even-handed. There was a powerful message, but themessenger was notportrayed as a saint. That is what draws me into a book, and you have done that." Thanks, Sean. I'm so happy you enjoyed the book.

09-17-2007 DAUGHTERS OF THE LAND ANTHOLOGY TO INCLUDE MARY'S SHORT STORY

Mary's story, "Moraine Rocks" was accepted for publication in an anthology soon to be published by the Texas Tech University Press under the name, DAUGHTERS OF THE LAND. Elizabeth Cooper and Susan Wiltshire are the editors of the anthology, which is expected out soon.

09-10-2007 Women in the Legal Profession Summit

Mary will be attending the Lexis/Nexis Women in the Legal Profession Summit in Philadelphia on September 25, 2007. The Summit will focus on "Rainmaking, Negotiating and Collaborative Development." Mary will be selling and autographing Courting Kathleen Hannigan.

09-07-2007 Because you asked

Some have asked about the facts of Ann Rose's case. That part of my novel is based on some of the facts found in Price Waterhouse v. Hopkins, 490 U.S. 228 (1989)--in particular, the "make-up" and "jewelry" and "exceptional performance" facts. While the case has a long history and a number of concurring opinions by various justices, you can read it online for free at www.caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/getcase.pl?court=US&vol=490&invol=228

09-06-2007 The First 100 Books Have Been Sold!

09-04-2007 BOOKS HAVE ARRIVED!

Thanks to Susie Isaccs at Ampersand, Inc., they look gorgeous. Thanks to Kyla Buchanan at Simply Redd Communications for my new website, which went live today. Memo to self: We accomplish nothing alone!!

08-31-2007 Mary Hutchings Reed Website Now Live

Welcome to the new website of Mary Hutchings Reed. Find out all about her new musicals, books, and more.

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00-00-0000 LCA Promotion Continues

Although I'm no longer running a Facebook ad (880,000+ impressions and a .024% click-through rate), I'm still offering Lawyers for the Creative Arts $1 for each book sold in December, and $.50 to YWCA GirlsFirst in Seattle.