James Stewart III is a Black writer and arts organizer from Chicago whose work centers working-class life, race, and family in the contemporary Midwest. His debut novel, Defiant Acts (Acre Books, 2025), has received significant critical recognition, including being named one of Chicago Magazine’s “Required Reading” selections, a 2025 Foreword INDIES Award finalist, and a recipient of a 2025-26 Literature Award from the Friends of American Writers, which honors emerging Midwestern authors. The novel has also been featured in the Chicago Reader and the Chicago Review of Books, and has been praised by writers including David Wright Faladé, Stuart Dybek, and Lindsay Hunter for its formally inventive structure and unflinching portrayal of a multiracial working-class family.
In recognition of his growing influence in the literary community, Stewart was named to Newcity’s 2025 Lit 50 list, highlighting the most impactful figures shaping Chicago’s literary culture, and to the Guild Literary Complex’s 2026 “35 Writers to Watch,” which spotlights emerging voices defining the future of the city’s literary arts. His writing has appeared in journals including Lampblack, The Forge, and Midwest Review, further establishing his reputation as a distinctive and urgent voice in contemporary fiction.
Beyond his writing, Stewart is deeply engaged in literary community-building and education. He is a co-founder of Exhibit B, a Chicago-based reading series and artist collective dedicated to amplifying underrepresented voices and fostering interdisciplinary exchange. He teaches in the MA/MFA Writing program at Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies, where he works with emerging writers across genres and backgrounds. His commitment to craft and community has also been supported by competitive residencies, including Ragdale, and his selection for the 2026 fiction cohort of the DISQUIET International Literary Program in Lisbon.
Stewart holds an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, an MA from North Central College, and a BA from Columbia College Chicago. Drawing on both personal experience and the rich literary traditions of the city, his work contributes to and extends the lineage of Chicago realism while experimenting with form and narrative structure. He lives with his wife and daughter at the end of DuSable Lake Shore Drive.
www.jamesstewart3.com
