Behind the Scenes at ALA 2026: Promoting In These Hills in Chicago

ByTamera Alexander
17 Comments

Friday in Chicago

Last weekend I traveled to Chicago for the American Library Association’s Annual Conference (ALA), helping introduce librarians and teachers to my upcoming novel In These Hills—and I’m still smiling, even if my body is still recovering from what was, quite literally, a jam-packed 36 hours.

Best part of the whole trip? My daughter Kelsey came along, turning a work trip into such a fun adventure.

We started playing tourist the moment we landed Friday, heading straight to see The Bean and wander Millennium Park . . .

. . . only, we got caught in the rain. Get ready for the hair that ate Chicago. There was no time for a redo before dinner, so rain-frizzed we went!


We met the wonderful Lynn Austin and her husband Ken at RPM Italian for dinner and celebrated Lynn’s recent release of The Lumber Baron’s Wife. She signed copies of her novel that day, too. What a gorgeous cover. . .

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If you haven’t yet read The Lumber Baron’s Wife, please treat yourself. It’s so good. Truly one of Lynn’s best!

Lynn and I go way back together, and Kelsey and Lynn originally met in 2014 on a combined book tour in Germany with Francke (our German publisher). Kelsey served as our marketing assistant on that trip and loved visiting and meeting readers, gathering email addresses and answering questions. So it was a sweet full-circle evening catching up together.

With the fabulous LYNN AUSTIN
LOTS of laughter and fun memories shared



After dinner, Kels and I headed straight to an architectural river boat cruise with First Lady Cruises Chicago, and we glided past the skyline as the light changed over the water. Chicago’s architecture has such a rich story to tell, and seeing it from the river gave me a whole new appreciation for the history layered into every building we passed. As someone who spends her days digging into history, I couldn’t get enough of it. (Thanks, Kels, for arranging that!)

If ever you’re in Chicago, I HIGHLY recommend First Lady’s architectural cruise.


Saturday: ALA and the Tyndale Booth


Saturday started with a delicious brunch at Restoration Hardware, followed by a stop at a pop-up trunk sale at Third Coast Stitches—such a great shop, and worth the detour.

Then it was on to ALA and the reason we’d come to Chicago in the first place! I was there with the wonderful team from Tyndale House, helping introduce librarians and teachers to In These Hills (September 8, 2026).

Signing at the booth was a joy. Librarians and teachers are, hands down, some of my favorite people to spend a day with—they love books, they love story, and they spend their lives putting the right book into the right hands. That kind of passion is contagious, and I came home with a full heart.

Being in Chicago also meant getting to visit with the Tyndale folks in person, which is always a treat. There’s something special about standing shoulder to shoulder with the team who’s poured so much into this book. I’m very grateful.

Love my Tyndale Team!


Of course, I brought Jack Daniel shot glasses with me straight from Lynchburg for everyone who stood in line for a book. As I told those who stopped by, “Whether you love JD or not, take a shot glass! They’re super handy for that daily shot of collagen!”

Bottoms up with the COLLAGEN!

And what a treat to see fellow authors Colleen Coble, Katherine Reay, and Kathleen Fuller at the conference too, even briefly. It’s always a joy to cross paths with writing buddies.

With Colleen Coble
With Katherine Reay
With Kathleen Fuller



Deep Dish and Home


Before racing to the airport to head home to Nashville, we did what I’m fairly certain is required by law when you’re in Chicago: shared an absolutely delicious deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s. And we were so hungry by then we didn’t even take a picture. 🙄

It was the kind of trip that reminds me why I love what I do—the readers, the librarians, the history around every corner, old friends and new, and getting to share it all with my daughter. Chicago, you were wonderful. Thanks for the memories! And thank you, Kels, for being the best trip planner ever.

Next up? The Southern Independent Booksellers Association (recently renamed New Voices New Rooms Conference) in Baltimore in August! But before then, more words on this next book!

So have you been to the windy—and humid, LOL—city of Chicago before? Did I retrace any familiar paths? Or perhaps this trip reminds you of your own “fun girl trip” you’ve taken. I’d love to hear about it!

Much love from Nashville,

Tammy

AND THE WINNER IS . . .

Congratulations to Alicia Baehr
who is the winner of the Miss Mary Bobo’s Boarding House GIVEAWAY! I’ll send you an email today. Please respond with your snail mail address, and we’ll get your gift in the mail!

To EVERYONE else who entered, thank you!
I’ll be posting about a Goodreads Giveaway soon, so please stay tuned.

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Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist and one of today's most beloved authors of inspirational historical romance and women’s contemporary fiction. While being Gram Tam is her current favorite role, she’ll never turn down a stroll through an old cemetery or browsing through antique shops. In These Hills, her newest novel, releases September 2026.

17 Comments

  1. Me and my girlfriends have visited Chicago a couple of times. Several of the things you listed we also did. We went to the top of Willis Tower (although it’s not named that anymore) and went to a Cubs game and did a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of Wrigley Field. I’m not a big baseball fan, but it was very interesting. We also went to the Navy Pier and rode the Ferris wheel. One of the more memorable tours we did was a mobster tour. The guides were dressed up mobsters from the 1920’s and our bus had fake bullet holes on the side of it. So fun!

    Look forward to seeing you in our hometown at the Reader Rendezvous in November.

    1. Oh that mobster tour sounds so fun, Amy, as does the Wrigley Field tour. Our time there was so short and there’s so much to see. Looking forward to connecting with you in November, for sure!

  2. Tamera, what a delightful post! It felt like you took the rest of us along with you. I laughed out loud at “the hair that ate Chicago!” My mother was an elementary librarian, and I am a former elementary teacher (now a teacher educator), so libraries are among my favorite places. I hold a special place in my heart for librarians. What a joy that conference must be! Thank you for sharing.

    1. I love that your mother was an elementary librarian, Erin. My mother-in-law was a middle school librarian and oh how she loved it. Librarians are special people. Their love for story and sharing those stories is so wonderful. Bless YOU as a teacher educator and for all you do for future generations. That’s huge, my friend.

      1. Thank you for your kind words, Tamera. They mean so much. I forgot to mention that I’ve already read the Lumber Baron’s Wife too, and WOW, what a fantastic book! I actually listened to it, which I love to do. I am watching for details about your upcoming reader event. I’m not near TN, but I would love to plan a trip to attend!

          1. I must have been referring to that! Thank you for the link. Sadly, I can’t attend. I’ll be returning from a state conference on that date. The great news is that a colleague and I are taking several students to this professional conference about teaching reading, so yay! I hope you’ll be hosting or speaking at other events I may be able to attend. I thought there was one you mentioned recently that’s next year? Maybe I’m all mixed up.

    1. Yay! Glad you’ve read that one too, D’Ann. I bet the audio was great. I really loved that story.

  5. Glad you had a wonderful time!
    I’ve gone to ALA (American Library Assoc.) Annual in Chicago twice. Each year the conference rotates to a different major city around the country. It happens to be ALA’s 150th anniversary so Chicago was the place for it.
    Going through the exhibit hall in between sessions is lots of fun! Some authors will appear on panels during the conference besides an exhibit booth on the floor like you did.
    We used to have Midwinter then LibLearnX Conferences in January but those have been discontinued. Midwinter focused on committee work with a smaller exhibit.

    1. How cool that you’ve been to ALA, Elisa. And yes, there are lots of panels and meetings. Lynn Austin presented to the Christian Librarian group for a luncheon, so lots of stuff going on, as you said. The exhibit hall was crazy with activity and packed with people. It reminded me of the old days when ICRS (International Christian Retailers Show) was still a thing. That was a fun event as well. Thanks for sharing today!

  6. Has it really been that long since Francke’s book tour?? I still have fond memories of it and loved meeting you. You’re always welcome to visit us again. We’d be thrilled to have the three of you here. Unfortunately, we hardly ever have author or book events like the ones in the U.S. But I’m really looking forward to your new book.
    Sending you warm wishes from my corner of the world.

    1. Rosa! So good to hear from you and yes, isn’t it crazy that our combined German book tour was that long ago? I have very fond memories of that trip, too. In fact, during dinner Friday evening, Lynn and Kelsey and I reminisced about different things that happened on that trip and then laughed and laughed. Sweet memories. Thanks for being a part of them—and for sharing today. Blessings to you in your corner of the world. 🙂 Thanks, too, for your kind words about In These Hills.

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