February 18

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Clint Cargile is the manager of public programs at the Gaylord Building Historic Site in Lockport, Illinois. He has worked as a historian, public radio producer, English instructor, freelance writer, book editor, magazine editor, academic conference coordinator, landscaper, dish washer, car washer, dog washer, and veterinary assistant. At WNIJ, Northern Public Radio, he was the creator and host of the podcast Drinkin’ with Lincoln and the series This Week in Illinois History. He is the author of two history books, Five Mile Spur Line: A Railroad History of Sycamore, Illinois (2014) and In Search of a Fair Wind: The Sea Letters of Georgia Townsend Yates, 1891-1892 (2017). He and his wife, Gillian, also publish children’s picture books about Type 1 Diabetes.

Gillian King-Cargile is passionate about helping people learn more about the world around them. She is a Communications Coordinator at Argonne National Laboratory, where she creates articles, videos, tours, events, and experiences to share how Argonne’s cutting-edge research and pivotal discoveries are shaping everything from human health to energy access to our understanding of the cosmos.    Gillian is also the author of several books and stories for adults and children. She and her husband founded Poke Prize Press, which publishes picture books for children with Type 1 Diabetes. In everything she does, Gillian seeks to use humor and creativity to kindle a love of reading and learning. 

My formative years were spent discovering life in the neighborhoods of Downers Grove and Arlington Heights.  I studied long and hard at Harper, Northern and Illinois State.Joliet became my own nest site in 1993. With the help from mama bird, provided for 3 nestlings, who have since fledged, more or less.  Main source of nest lining was derived from 30 years teaching biology at good old Joliet Junior College.  Now, semi-retired, when not busy minding my own business, I write poetry, ambulate, and yearn for fresh morning coffee and chatting with old and younger friends.  I volunteer for the local food bank, monitor the status of tall-grass prairies and facilitate better moods with Action For Happiness.  I can be found performing acts of strength and endurance at Planet Fitness too.

Sandra Vincent’s storytelling first began in college when she was featured in the University of Minnesota, Mankato, Creative Writing Journal. As an Early Childhood Educator, she enjoyed sharing fanciful tales with her students, nurturing their budding imaginations, and helping them pen adventures of their very own. In 2020 Sandra placed as a finalist, selected to perform one of her short stories at the renowned Goodman Theatre in downtown Chicago, while participating in GeNarrations, a Goodman Theatre storytelling workshop. Sandra has also been published in the Oak Park Writers Group Anthology, Key Strokes.