ANTHOLOGIES and PROGRAM SCHEDULE

ANTHOLOGIES and STORIES

June 1, 2009 marked the recording debut of my short story “Professor Gabriel and Her 101 Posse”. It airs on The Deepening Website (World of Fiction) and is recorded by DLKeur. Go to http://thedeepening.com/ Click on "Professor Gabriel and Her 101 Posse" and my page will come up with the audio bar for my story.

The Ultimate Teacher is published by HCI Books. The anthology features my story "The Hat". Available in bookstores and at Amazon.com

My Dad Is My Hero is published by Adams Media. The anthology features my story "His Way" about my beloved father Rubin Chaplik. The book is available in bookstores and at Amazon.com

Forever Friends is an anthology of international writers by UK editor Shelagh Watkins, Mandinam Press. The anthology features my stories "The Red Pen", "The Elevator", "Mr. X and Mr. Y", and "Life 101." The book is available for purchase on Amazon.com and other online bookstores.

The Wisdom Of Old Souls is an anthology by Canadian publisher Hidden Brook Press and editor Bonnita Summers featuring my story "Grandma Lebedow." It is a book with stories about Grandmothers by Canadian, American and English authors . It is available for purchase at http://www.hiddenbrookpress.com/

My story "The Revolving Door" is featured in Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover's Soul. It is available at bookstores and at Amazon.com

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BOOK SIGNINGS

November 6, 2007 Book Signing for Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover's Soul
Barnes and Noble Old Orchard
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November 28, 2007 Book Signing for Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover's Soul
Women and Children First Bookstore
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December 15, 2007 Book Signing for Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover's Soul
The Bookstall
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September 20, 2008 Book Launch for The Wisdom of Old Souls
Chapters Bookstore Kingston, Ontario Canada
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December 20, 2008 Blog Tour for Forever Friends
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June 13, 2009 2pm Book signing for MY DAD IS MY HERO at Lincoln Park Borders Bookstore 2817 N. Clark

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2008 PERFORMANCES AND LECTURES

January 22, 2008 Wellness Center Northbrook, Il. Performance of Published Stories
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February 26, 2008 Flashpoint Academy Communication Lecture
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April 9, 2008 Women's American ORT Performance of Published Stories
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April 19, 2008 Truman College Performance of Published Stories
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June 3, 2008 Oakton College Bluestem Humanities Festival Performance of Published Stories
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August 5, 2008 YWCA Talk It Up Event Strengthening your communication survival skills! Strong communication is key to building a successful career, interpersonal relationships and self esteem. Join writer, storyteller and founding general manager of WYCC-TV/PBS, Distinguished Professor Elynne Chaplik-Aleskow to discuss communication skills. Learn how to differentiate between professional and personal communication styles and practice identifying non-verbal communication.
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November 4, 2008 Niles TWP High Schools Communication Lecture/Stories Performance
ONLY FOR NILES H.S. FACULTY/Closed to Public
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November 14, 2008 Flashpoint Academy Lecture
Closed to Public
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2009 PROGRAMS and PERFORMANCES
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April 14, 2009 Glenview Public Library
7pm Open to the Public
Performance of My Published Stories
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April 18, 2009 Guest Speaker for "A Day with Northwestern University" which is the premier alumni educational event of the Northwestern Alumni Association. Public is welcome.
Registration fee is required.
Go to
http://www.alumni.northwestern.edu/node/1194
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May 5, 2009 Men's Club of the North Shore Senior Center in Northfield, Illinois
10:30AM Performance of Published Stories
OPEN TO PUBLIC
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May 9, 2009 WBBM Radio interview of me by Regine Schlesinger
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June 1, 2009 The recording debut of my short story "Professor Gabriel and Her 101 Posse" performed by DLKeur on her website The Deepening (World of Fiction).
http://thedeepening.com/
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June 13, 2009 2pm Book signing and reading for My Dad Is My Hero at Lincoln Park Borders Bookstore 2817 N. Clark
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July 17, 2009 Humanities Treasures. Performance/Discussion of my stories.
North Shore Senior Center
10:00am-Noon
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August 9, 2009 WGN RADIO 7:30-8:00 AM
I will guest on Rick Kogan's Sunday morning radio show Sunday Papers.
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September Issue of Today's Chicago Woman Magazine will feature the anthology FOREVER FRIENDS as its book club pick with Elynne's four stories "The Red Pen", "The Elevator", "Mr. X and Mr. Y" and "Life 101".
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2010 PROGRAMS and PERFORMANCES

April 14, 2010 Chicago North Shore Hadassah Performance of my stories.

PERFORMANCE REVIEWS

Most writers are Sooooo disappointing as speakers but you are dynamite wrapped in silk.
Illene Ashkenaz

As a consultant, my firm has put us through tons of communication and presentation trainings, but I have to say that none of the sessions have been as impactful as your session yesterday for the YWCA.Your delivery of the material was excellent and very practical - I thoroughly enjoyed listening to you and I took away a lot of practical tips to help improve my communication.
Ebun Falusi

I think your beautiful smile and voice captivate the room and make your listeners immediately feel comfortable -- that makes your wonderful stories even more interesting. I know I was "hanging on your every word" when I was listening and I could visualize each story.
Sandi Topper, Special Events Director, Cancer Wellness Center

What an enjoyable evening.... you have such a passion that is refreshing just to be in your presence.
Francie Pinkwater

You are a magical storyteller.
Merle Cahan, Board Member, Cancer Wellness Center

I didn't stop grinning the entire evening. I just loved it!!!!!!!
Linda Harris

Thank you again for sharing your wonderful energy and wisdom with our Flashpoint students. You were a big hit! Thank you for your inspiring and informative presentations. Once again, you have provided our students with the "essentials" in an engaging and powerful way.

Francine Sanders
Director, Core Studies
Flashpoint - The Academy of Media Arts and Sciences

I continue to hear great things about your presentation.
Paula Froehle
Dean, Flashpoint Academy

Your writings are absolutely riveting and inspirational!
Carol Belman

In my nearly year at the Library -- I can easily say that the "Storyteller's Voice" was one of my favorite programs and what I think Library programming should be about --expressing our core mission to educate, enrich, inspire and entertain.
Your power as a writer and ability to express your writing in the spoken word is truly a gift...and that you share your gifts with friends, family, students, and strangers is a true testament to your generous spirit.
Jennifer S. Black
Public Information Officer Glenview Public Library

Your program was the best! I am looking forward to seeing you in May at NSSC. What is the date? I want to pass the word along. Thanks for doing this program. It was wonderful!!
Jack Neymark
Glenview Library Board

Congratulations. Your narrations are spellbinding and always professionally presented.
Dr. Charles Guengerich
President, Wright College

I wanted you to know that I was involved in "Reading Hour" at Niles West High School this morning, and read "The Elevator" and "Life 101" from the Forever Friends book. The students loved them! They were really impressed to know that a graduate of District 219 is a published author.
Anne Roloff, Ph.D.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction
Niles Township High School District 219

Thank you for participating in A Day with Northwestern in Evanston. Your enthusiasm and dedication to your field greatly contributed to the success of the program. I appreciate your generosity in sharing your time and expertise as the featured School of Communication alumni speaker.
Catherine Stembridge
Associate Vice President, Office of Alumni Relations and Development
Executive Director, Northwestern Alumni Association
http://www.alumni.northwestern.edu/node/1194

Just a short note to let you know how much I enjoyed your speaking engagement this morning at the North Shore Senior Center. From the moment you walked in until the time you stood on the stage, and then until you took Q & A's you exhibited warmth, cordiality, honesty, and a passion for your calling.
Thank you so much for a delightful hour.
Helen Harris

http://triblocal.com/Glenview/List_View/view.html?type=stories&action=detail&sub_id=60460

REVIEWS of PROFESSOR GABRIEL AND HER 101 POSSE

The story was full of suspense & riveting. I was mesmerized & graphically saw all the images of the main characters in my mind. Arlene Ray


Brilliant!!! Very well done. When will the next one be coming out?
~Shelagh Watkins

I enjoyed each and every word from beginning to end. It certainly held my interest and the writing seemed so smooth and enjoyable. Helen Harris


I just finished listening to your short story online. It was wonderful! I love these kind of stories - an education/teacher focus, realistic, and honest. I think you captured all of that in this story.
Anne Roloff

Very moving, touching, powerful story, Elynne. It really belongs in a prime market magazine. It's inspiring and sobering, simultaneously.
DLKeur The Deepening

I loved it. You really have a talent for writing dialogue. Very realistic phraseology. That was really a striking aspect of the piece. Gloria

It is riveting and beautifully written. Sandy Kite

This was a truly captivating story that held our interest from beginning to end.
Sue and Michael Joelson

Great story! I listened avidly the whole time. Marva Dasef

This is terrifying and riveting at the same time. It makes you sit and listen because you wonder whether or not something good can come out of it all. Amy


Elynne’s vivid and creative story touches the reader with emotion, just as Prof. Gabriel touched her students…The story of LK and the kidnapping would make an inspirational anticipatory set for any curriculum on creative writing…punctuated with chapter-like titles; ie “The Attic”, "The Billboard”, “The Conversation”, etc. the reader is held captive. I love how the story of Miguel is woven as a sub-plot to help clarify the Prof’s “mission” to help LK. The wisdom that the writer (and Professor Gabriel) imparts throughout is invaluable.. "My burden was to help him lose his arrogance..”…”She taught us how not to be afraid”…Listening to her story was a very “deepening experience”..Thank you.
CJ Breman

Compelling, beautifully written, beautifully read.. what a story–full of compassion–teacher as missionary and more! Love the title too.
Yvette Meltzer

What a neat story. It struck me as I was listening that this embodies what short story writing is all about.
Chuck B


I just finished listening to your story. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. All of the feelings of the human soul are captured in that story.
Pidge Joelson

BIO

Elynne Chaplik-Aleskow AUTHOR, PUBLIC SPEAKER, PROFESSOR OF COMMUNICATION--- Professor Elynne Chaplik-Aleskow is an expert in human communication skills and is a published writer and public speaker. Her motivational speaking specialty is "Communication Life Survival Skills." Elynne Chaplik-Aleskow is the founding General Manager of WYCC-TV/Channel 20, a PBS affiliate in Chicago. Elynne is Chicago’s first female television GM. She is the 2006-07 Distinguished Service Professor of Wright College in Chicago.

Elynne has written, produced and hosted television and radio programming. Among her PBS television credits is a production on “Missing Children” which aired nationally, the documentary “70 Years Of Being Wright” on the history of Wright College, “This Is Your College” on the City Colleges of Chicago. In addition to General Manager, Elynne served as the on-air spokesperson for WYCC-TV, Channel 20, the Chicago PBS affiliate she built. On NPR she was Supervising Producer of “The Big Onion” which was broadcast on WBEZ-FM and won the Ohio State Award in Radio.

Elynne’s story THE REVOLVING DOOR was published in “Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover’s Soul”. Her story GRANDMA LEBEDOW was published in the anthology “The Wisdom of Old Souls.” Her stories THE RED PEN, THE ELEVATOR, MR. X and MR. Y, and LIFE 101 were published in the anthology "Forever Friends". HCI Books published THE HAT in the anthology "The Ultimate Teacher". Adams Media Publisher featured her story HIS WAY in the anthology “My Dad Is My Hero.”

June 1, 2009 marks the recording debut of Elynne’s short story “Professor Gabriel and Her 101 Posse”. It airs on The Deepening Website (World of Fiction) and is recorded by DLKeur. http://thedeepening.com/

She has published her stories, essays and articles in the Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune Newspapers, Innovation Abstracts Journal, City Woman Chicago Magazine, Chicago Suburban Woman Magazine, Suburban Woman North Shore Magazine, Newcity Magazine, The Rambler Magazine, Releasing Times Magazine, Heartlands Magazine, Sasee Magazine, ESL Magazine, Parent:Wise Magazine, Gull Lake Visitor Guide Canada and several online magazines and publications including the Communication Research and Theory Network of the National Communication Association (NCA), the Blog Herald, Cafe She Ezine, Soap Opera Digest Website, Psychologies.co.uk Magazine Website, Gapers Block Website, Moondance Ezine, Bread 'n Molasses Online Magazine, TeachersCount Website, The Novelette.com and WomenBloom.com.

On WBBM Radio Elynne has been interviewed by Regine Schlesinger.
August 9, 2009 at 7:30AM on WGN Radio she will be interviewed by Rick Kogan on his morning program Sunday Papers.

Elynne is a member of Chicago's Junior Achievement Speakers Bureau.

Elynne's guest lectures include Chicago's Flashpoint Academy, Chicago's YWCA, Niles TWP High School District and other organizations and educational institutions. She has performed her nonfiction stories for the Wellness Center in Northbrook, Illinois; Women's American ORT; Oakton College's Emeritus Bluestem Humanities Festival; Truman College ESL Program; Glenview Public Library; Northwestern University's Major Alumni Event "A Day With Northwestern"; The North Shore Senior Center among other engagements.

She has had book signings at Barnes & Noble, Women & Children First, The Book Stall, Borders, Chapters in Canada and for a variety of organizations.

Elynne has won several awards for her community service in television and for her teaching. Among them she has received Wright College's Distinguished Professor and Excellence in Teaching Awards and was named Chicago's Outstanding Woman in Communication by the YWCA. She was awarded the Golden Apple by the Phi Theta Kappa Student Honor Society and the HUG Award for Mentoring by Future Teachers of America. She was named the Woman Communicator of the Year by Women’s American ORT, was cited by “Today’s Chicago Woman Magazine” as One of 100 Women Making a Difference and was a multiple recipient in "Who's Who" of America's Best Teachers. She is a 2007 recipient of the National Medallion for Excellence in Teaching from the University of Texas, Austin's NISOD Award. Elynne is a 2007 recipient of the State of Illinois Excellence in Teaching Award from the Illinois Community College Trustees Association.

Professor Chaplik-Aleskow holds a Masters Degree in Speech from Northwestern University. For Inquiries on Booking Speaking Engagements, please e-mail her at---- elynne1@attglobal.net

UNIVERSAL CRAYONS

I stared at the newspaper photo. China had suffered a major devastating earthquake. Hundreds of thousands were still trapped. Many of them were children buried in their schools by the quake.
I looked at the picture of the young girl. The article said that her school building collapsed and her teacher was killed. A chunk of the debris crushed her leg and her classmates dragged her to safety. In the hospital, her leg was amputated but she survived.
The photo of her in her hospital bed showed the fifth grader coloring with Crayola crayons. I looked closely at the picture. She was concentrating on her coloring and somehow looked peaceful in spite of what she had physically and emotionally endured and the additional tragedy that her parents were still missing after the quake.
Fifth grade. A time of life when classmates are often their meanest and show their worst cruelty. Yet this girl’s classmates were heroic in the midst of such great catastrophe. They thought of one another. They saved her.
And there she was in the hospital drawing a picture with crayons, the universal symbol of childhood. Even for this fifth grader who had suffered so much, the act of holding color in her hand and creating seemed to bring her a moment of true joy.
Crayons are ageless. From primary grades through middle school they are among our most precious possessions. As an adult, I admit to stopping in the grocery store aisle, opening a box of crayons and admiring the colors. The memories of middle school days come back to me. I can feel my desk and see my school supplies neatly arranged, treasures all of them. Always among my most valued objects were my crayons.
At a time of life when children are often at their worst toward one another, a box of crayons offers a rainbow of hope and sharing that is universal. This twelve year old Chinese quake victim was smiling in the photo, her crayon in her hand. In how many scenarios worldwide have similar scenes existed? Timeless and universal, crayons are an ambassador of childhood.

Published Chicago Sun-Times Newspaper June 2008

BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S...ALMOST

Once upon a time there was a character in a movie who was a free spirit with a love of adventure and life. Her name was Holly Golightly and she was played by the deliciously charismatic Audrey Hepburn. Her character inspired my secret plan.

This movie had a magical effect on me. I was sixteen when I saw Breakfast at Tiffany’s for the first time. By the time I took my first trip to New York, I had seen the film four times.

Of all the cities I have visited in the world, New York is my most favorite and precious. The city has an infinite rhythm of its own. The opportunities of what to do and see are endless. Day or night one can eat. There is always choice for entertainment. The city is alive. It is a life-force.

I love the anonymity of New York. There is a need I have for the quixotic sensibility New York offers me. I am renewed and inspired by my immersion into this city. One can experience any art form. It is a walking city filled with amazing neighborhoods, quaint groceries, delis, cabarets, music, museums, parks and the ultimate in theater--Broadway.

Being in the audience of a Broadway musical, I transcend the reality outside the theater building and am uplifted magically into the all encompassing talent on stage. The actors play to me beyond their potential to the ultimate of their gifts. The productions are often works of art. To be in a Broadway audience is one of the most satisfying moments of my life. It is for me existence in another dimension.

My first trip to New York was liberating. During the day I visited Central Park and the pond where Holden Caulfield watched the ducks in Catcher in the Rye. I went to New York’s museums and walked Fifth Avenue. I played at FAO Schwarz Toy Store. I awoke every morning in my own fairytale waiting to see what the day in this city would offer me.

Holly Golightly and I breathed New York in the same way. I inhaled its anticipation first feeling it in my toes as it worked its way up to my chest and made my brain almost light headed. Tonight was the night I would implement my plan. This was a private plan. I had shared it with no one. It was all mine. I was a romantic and I was fearless.

The theater performance I attended ended around ten forty-five. I walked through Times Square to one of New York’s twenty-four hour markets and bought doughnuts and milk. Carrying this sweet treasure I made my way back to my hotel through the exiting theater crowds.

Back in my room, I waited until midnight. With my package in hand I headed toward Tiffany’s on Fifth Avenue. The door to this jewelry store is recessed. In the darkness of the early morning I stepped into the doorway and put on my sunglasses that were almost identical to those Audrey Hepburn wore in the movie. I unwrapped my donut, opened my milk and proceeded to have breakfast at Tiffany’s.

Suddenly I saw a male figure pass the door in which I was standing. Almost immediately he slowly walked backwards and stopped, staring at me. I could see him more clearly now and realized he was a police officer.

“What are you doing?” he asked in a thick New York accent.
“Having breakfast at Tiffany’s, officer,” I replied suddenly feeling self-conscious.
“Oh yea?” he responded totally unconvinced. “You should know better than soliciting here.”
“Soliciting?” I repeated. “No, officer, you do not understand. I am having breakfast at Tiffany’s. Audrey Hepburn?” I stammered. “The movie?”
He just looked at me and shook his head. “Move on,” he said.

At that moment I hoped that he thought anyone wearing sunglasses and drinking milk in the middle of the night while standing in Tiffany’s doorway must be a tourist.

He had unexpectedly interrupted my fantasy but I had done it. Like my favorite movie character I was in New York having breakfast at Tiffany’s. It would always be a once upon a time moment for me.

FOUR

Perhaps the most complex relationship which exists is that of sisters. And fulfilling. And frustrating. And comforting, entertaining , loving. The relationships among sisters is consistently inconsistent and yet a life force. How can four daughters from two parents be so different and unique? It is one of life's great wonders. Your sisters bring you safety and security and a legacy of womanhood. They give your life perspective. At times they are enigmas. At other moments they are pure truths. I have been blessed with three sisters: Linda, Susan and Ivy. They are my treasures. They come from the same love from which I come. We are bound by DNA. Yet we are also connected by an invisible frame and foundation in which and upon which our lives have been shaped and implemented. What happens when one of the four sisters goes away? Dies. Devastation and longing continue always. And then the magic happens. The unspoken focus among the three of us to keep our Ivy with us in life. If someone speaks of the three of us, in an almost naturally choreographed oneness, we answer "four". "And she was the best." There will always be four. We are four. We exist as four. We loved and love as four. We are four sisters in life and death.

SLIPPERY and WATERLESS in MADRID

My husband was adamant about his decision. He said that he was tired of using so much space for underwear in packing for travel. For our trip to Spain he intended to pack four pieces of nylon underpants and four undershirts that he would hand wash each night. I stressed the part about him washing his packing choices to make sure we were clear on that point. He nodded agreement. We zipped the luggage and were off for the airport.

This was our first trip to Spain. We had very close friends in Madrid who were looking forward to giving us a personal guided tour.

As fate would have it, the Chicago Bulls were playing their championship game the first night we were in Madrid. When we awoke in the morning, I went down to the front desk to see if anyone could tell me if they had won.

“Excuse me,” I said to the young man behind the desk.. “Can you tell me please how the Bulls did last night?” “The boolz?” he asked looking at me rather puzzled. It was at that moment that I realized I was an American asking how bulls were doing in Spain. I tried to hide my embarrassment. “Michael Jordan Bulls,” I responded shyly. “Oh, Michael Jordan,” the clerk repeated. “He win!”

I headed back to our room to tell my husband the great news. Our friends were going to pick us up in an hour. We had to quickly go to the supermercado so that we could get some bottled water. Because his back was hurting him, Richard had put on his nylon back brace. We walked as fast as we could. Walking down the aisles of the supermercado in search of water was an entertaining experience. We always enjoyed looking at another country’s products and how they were displayed.

We found the water. I asked Richard for money because he was wearing the money belt. I watched my husband put his hand under his shirt searching for the money belt. As I watched, suddenly his hand moved down the inside of his trousers. He kept turning to try to find some privacy surrounded by shoppers selecting their vegetables. His hand went lower and he looked panicked.

“Honey, what are you doing?” I asked frantic that at any moment my husband would be arrested for improper public behavior.

“I can’t find my money belt.” His answer was so desperate that I did not know whether I should laugh at what I was watching or cry because I was not going to be able to purchase water. By now every shopper around us was enjoying this private moment.

When we returned to our hotel room and my husband undressed, we discovered that the money belt had slid down his thighs. His nylon underwear, his nylon brace and his nylon money belt were too slippery a combination. Luckily our friends brought extra bottled water for our Madrid tour that day.

Published Gull Lake Visitor Guide Canada June 2008

IVY

I believe in Ivy. She is my youngest sister. She died in a plane crash with my father when she was sixteen.

Ivy was born an old soul. There was something in her brown eyes that touched your core when she looked at you. When she smiled, you knew that she understood.

I lived at home for most of Ivy’s life. That was my good fortune. Our bedrooms were next to one another. We shared a common wall. Every night when we went to sleep I would call out to her through the wall “good night, love-love. Sweet dreams.”

That was my nickname for her. “Love-love” described how I felt about her. It was a double love. We were thirteen years apart in age. She was my younger sister and the daughter I would have wanted.

When Ivy was in high school, her English teacher wanted to promote her into Honors English. She came home and thought about it. As was her style she asked the family’s advice, pondered it and then came up with her own practical and clear decision.

On this issue she had decided to stay in regular level English because she felt that her teacher was excellent. She said that when he spoke, he made her want to “hug a dictionary.”
Ivy was 14 years old at the time of this particular insight.

She was the girl who befriended the underdog. If someone was sitting alone in the lunchroom and Ivy knew her, she would join her. If someone was made fun of by the group, Ivy would defend that person and protect his/her feelings. Her friends were a cross section of many different types of people.

Ivy was quiet and gentle. Often she would just observe others not missing a thing.
She was thoughtful, endearing and loyal. She was her own person, her own young woman. Unknowingly she had no time to waste. She only had sixteen years to do what she was going to do.

During a discussion with my mother, Ivy observed that there were many people who were quietly giving of themselves but who were never noticed or acknowledged for their generosity of time and their caring. After the plane crash that took her life, based on Ivy’s philosophy, my mother, sisters and I created The Ivy Lynn Chaplik Humanitarian Award at her high school. Every year we seek out a graduating senior whose actions demonstrate the principles of a humanitarian heart. This is not an academic award. Grades have no basis in our selection process.

It is in my family’s and her friends’ hearts that the beauty of Ivy lives on. It is in the new hearts of strangers each year that her being is once again touched and that her beliefs continue to inspire.

I have been blessed with three sisters: Linda, Susan and Ivy. They are my treasures. They come from the same love from which I came. We are bound by DNA. Yet we are also connected by an invisible frame and foundation in which and upon which our lives have been shaped and implemented.

What happens when one of the four sisters goes away? Dies. Devastation and longing continue always. And then the magic happens. The unspoken focus among the three of us to keep our Ivy with us in life. If someone speaks of the three of us, in an almost naturally choreographed oneness, we answer “four”. “And she was the best.”

There will always be four. We are four. We exist as four. We loved and love as four.
We are four sisters in life and in death.

PUBLISHED Moondance Ezine (Inspirations) September 2006