THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

New to Lit Fest this year is Pitchapalooza: an "American Idol"-type competition where aspiring writers get one minute to pitch their books to a panel of book professionals, with the winner receiving an introduction to an agent or publisher. Presented by the Book Doctors, aka David Henry Sterry and Arielle Eckstut ( co-authors, The Essential Guide to Getting Your Book Published ) , the Pitchapalooza panel will evaluate everything from character to plot, presentation to marketing, title to comp books, befriending booksellers to finding an agent. While the winner receives the invaluable introduction, anyone who purchases The Essential Guide receives a free 20-minute consultation with the Book Doctors ( $100 value ) .

Returning for the fifth year is the American Heritage Dictionary Define-A-Thon, the fast-paced and crowd-pleasing challenge requiring intimate knowledge of the meaning of English words. Geared towards adults, but open to teens, some 20 contestants will test their vocabulary strength as they compete for prizes.

Always popular are the Lit Fest programs geared towards engaging the youngest readers. This year, family-friendly activities include performances by Justin Roberts and the Not Ready for Naptime Players in Lil' Lit Park, sponsored by threesixty's JM Barrie's Peter Pan ( peterpantheshow.com ) . The inaugural presentation of Book Sounds by Fulcrum Point New Music Project, in partnership with Open Books, features musical selections accompanying projected images from two award-winning children's books: The Dot and the Line: A Romance in Lower Mathematics and Joseph Had A Little Overcoat.

Also an important part of the annual Lit Fest weekend is its announcement and celebration of literary prize winners. This year, the 10th Annual Chicago Tribune Young Adult Book Prize recipient winner will be named; past winners include Lois Lowry, Richard Peck, S.E. Hinton, Blue Balliett, and Neil Gaiman. The Chicago Tribune Young Adult Book Prize was established in 2002 to honor a writer whose work has special resonance with adolescents, and speaks to their role and significance in society. Further, the winner of the Nelson Algren Short Story Prize winner of 2010 ( Baird Harper, for "My Thoughts While Cooling Down on the Hotel Veranda" ) will be featured and the 2011 winners will be announced in a program celebrating the power of the short story.

Lit After Dark, a celebration of the city's social scene, returns to the Printers Row Lit Fest Main Stage at Dearborn & Harrison, Saturday, June 4, from 6-10pm. Visitors are invited to mix and mingle with Chicago's literati elite while enjoying live music, food and beer, plus a slew of special events.

Other related events to be announced shortly include panel discussions and forums, cooking demos, and poetry readings, including a Poetry Slam. The annual Chicago Tribune Printers Row Lit Fest draws more than 125,000 book lovers to the two-day showcase and attracts more than 200 booksellers from across the country displaying new, used and antiquarian books. The Festival stretches five city blocks — on Dearborn, from Congress to Polk — and takes place rain or shine from 10am — 10pm on Saturday and 10am — 6pm Sunday. For more information and specific programming, call 312-222-9317 or visit www.printersrowlitfest.org .