Dennis Foley-a bio
![]() Born in 1960, Dennis Foley is a lifelong Chicagoan who grew up on the city's South side. Before reaching the age of 12, Foley's family had already moved nine times bouncing from one Chicago-area apartment to the next. The City of Chicago itself almost always finds its way onto Dennis' pages, becoming a distinctive character in and of itself. He often writes about the seedy side of Chicago and the strange agents who wander its streets. Dennis credits his parents, much like many children, with being the primary influences in his young life. However, he states that he was always being pulled in completely different directions by the long arms of his parents, and this constant tug, these parental battles to claim one's soul, are visible in most of his works.
Dennis' short stories, memoir pieces and freelance work have appeared in a number of literary venues including HairTrigger, Poetry Motel, The2ndHand, The Chicago Red Streak, The Beverly Review, Gravity, The Use of Personal Narratives in the Helping Profession, bluelit.com, and centerstagechicago.com. Dennis’ first book, The Street’s and San Man’s Guide To Chicago Eats, won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association Book Awards—1st Place for Humor. This guidebook sold its first print run in one month and became one of Lake Claremont Press’ best-selling titles ever. The Drunkard’s Son (Side Street Press, 2012), a memoir about growing up amidst family and neighborhood turmoil in 1960s Chicago, sold its first print run in three months and is used at various high schools in the Chicago area. Dennis' first novel, The Blue Circus, was released in September, 2018. Screenplays and films: The Blue Circus won the GOLD MEDAL for Best Original TV Pilot in the Beverly Hills Screenplay Contest in 2013. Dennis' script Not a Stranger was filmed in 2015. It won the Best DEBUT Drama at the Route 66 Film Festival in Springfield, Illinois, and was a FINALIST at the Golden Door Film Festival in Jersey City, New Jersey. Film Critic Richard Roeper gave the film THREE STARS and called it "the epitome of an independent film." The film now has distribution. Dennis holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Columbia College-Chicago and a J.D. from The John Marshall Law School. He earned a B.A. in history from Christian Brothers University in Memphis. He also founded a Southside lacrosse program, Beverly Lacrosse, and enjoys coaching various lacrosse teams each year. Over the years, Dennis has had the pleasure of holding a number of interesting jobs including: bouncer, beer line cleaner, prosecutor, criminal defense attorney, electrician, dog walker, newspaper deliveryman, teacher, and coach. Happily married to Susan, Dennis is also the proud father of Matt, Pat, and Mike. |
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