Jim Kokoris is the author of three novels, The Rich Part of Life, Sister North and the recently released The Pursuit of Other Interests, He is also a humorist. More than a dozen of his essays have appeared in The Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine and The Chicago Tribune Op/Ed page. He is a native Chicagoan, born and raised on the city’s Southwest Side. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1980 and now lives in a suburb of Chicago with his wife Anne, and their three sons.
His first book, The Rich Part of Life, won the Friends of American Writers’ Award for Best First Novel of 2001. It has been published in 15 languages and was optioned for film production by 20th Century Fox and will be directed by Academy Award winning director and writer Jim Mangold, whose most recent film was the acclaimed 3:10 to Yuma.. The Rich Part of Life was also chosen by two national book clubs, and is currently in its seventh printing.
Sister North, which depicts the journey of a middle-aged Chicago lawyer in search of divine guidance and spiritual renewal, was published in October of 2004. Publisher’s Weekly called it “touching and funny,” The New York Times said it was “hilarious” and The Chicago Tribune hailed it as “an impressive achievement.” It too has been optioned for feature film consideration.
The Pursuit of Other Interests, chronicles the life of Charlie Baker, a middle- aged, workaholic advertising executive who loses his job and does not tell his family. Lost at 50-years old and without the career that has defined him, he is forced to confront his life and face sobering – and at times humorous –realities as he desperately looks for a job during a relentless recession.
In addition to his writing career, Jim is also President and co-owner of JSH&A Public Relations, one of the country’s top boutique public relations agencies. The firm’s clients include some the best and biggest companies in American business, including McDonald’s, Jim Beam Brands, Hershey Foods, Midas International and Purina.
A guest on NPR several times, Jim is also a favorite on the book club circuit. He has appeared at more than a hundred book clubs and book events around the country, offering his uniquely humorous take on the writing business.