In these strange and difficult times, the University of Iowa Press, with the Writing University, is reaching out to its authors to gain perspective, advice, humor and connection. We want to know how they are doing, first and foremost: we are primarily checking in. But we also want to know how they are living (or surviving, or managing) with the pandemic that surrounds all of us. We are a family here -- the press, the authors, the university -- and this is what families do: we check in.

Today's author conversation is with Jennifer Habel. Habel is the author of  The Book of Jane, published by the University of Iowa Press and Good Reason. She lives in Cincin­nati, Ohio.

Isolation music recommendation: Waxahatchee's Saint Cloud

Lastly, here's an image of the work space my (fourteen-year-old) daughter set up for herself in preparation for going to school from home. I'm aiming for "one day at a time" these days too.

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Thanks Jennifer!

Established in 1969, the University of Iowa Press serves scholars, students, and readers throughout the world with works of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. As the only university press in the state, Iowa is also dedicated to preserving the literature, history, culture, wildlife, and natural areas of the Midwest. The UI Press is a place where first-class writing matters, whether the subject is Whitman or Shakespeare, prairie or poetry, memoirs or fandom. They are committed to the vital role played by small presses as publishers of scholarly and creative works that may not attract commercial attention. For more information, please e-mail uipress@uiowa.edu.

^{Photo by Galina N on Unsplash}