Recently someone asked me what our tagline—”Rescuing Chicago from Capone…one book at a time”—meant to us.

Here is my response:

I chose that tagline for our company because of the persistent perception so many people have of Chicago — that our city’s identity is inextricably linked with Al Capone. Many people have told me that when they travel to other countries and tell the locals that they are from Chicago the immediate response is, “Capone, rat-a-tat-tat,” as they hold out their hands like machine guns.

I am hoping that Allium Press—by publishing fiction that is set in Chicago during a variety of time periods, and with references to a wide range of other historical figures and aspects of the city—can help to bring a more richly nuanced voice to Chicago, as it is perceived by others.