What's your most cherished keepsake from childhood or beyond, and what's the story behind it? During the early days of the pandemic, Glencoe residents Sharon and Steve Fiffer created storied-stuff.com, a website where fellow writers and non-writers alike could share stories and photos of their prized possessions. Five hundred stories and two hundred contributors later, the project is celebrating its fifth anniversary with the publication of the paperback Storied Stuff: Show and Tell for Grownups, a collection of 100 poignant, often humorous essays on objects ranging from bronzed baby shoes to military boots; knitting needles to sports autographs; stories of the Beatles, Elmo, and Marilyn Monroe; and much more. (What would you write about?)

Join the Fiffers and several Glencoe contributors for a show-and-tell reading and discussion. Copies of the book will be available for purchase, with all proceeds going to the library. Register for a reminder.

Alex Kotlowitz writes: "Storied Stuff is this poignant collection of the things we hold on to. But at its core it’s about family and friends and community, about connections, a reminder to hold close not only to objects but also to the people we love." 

Steve Fiffer, a Guggenheim fellow, has written some 20 nonfiction books on everything from baseball to social justice, as well as his own memoir and collaborations with civil rights icon C. T. Vivian and former Secretary of State James Baker (a New York Times bestseller).

Sharon Fiffer penned the acclaimed, eight-book Jane Wheel mystery series published by St. Martin’s Minotaur. Together they edited three collections of original essays featuring original pieces by Jane Smiley, Alex Kotlowitz, Edwidge Danticat and others.

If you like, you can opt to receive a text message reminder for this program. All links and any specific event details will still be sent via email.