Beyond the Books: Meet our Iowa Writers and Students!
Beyond the Books: Five Questions for Writers in our University of Iowa Literary Community
Welcome to the 5Q Interview series! Each year, the Writing University conducts a series of interviews with writers while they are in Iowa City participating in the various University of Iowa writing programs. We sit down with authors to ask about their work, their process and their descriptions of home.
Featured Interviews
Elisa Ferrer Molina, Spanish Creative Writing MFA
Full Collection
5Q Interview: UI Press Author Peter Mishler
Wednesday, July 24, 2024
"One morning, I got out of bed and looked out my window and saw a group of children dressed in full tactical gear."
5Q Interview: UI Press Author Lucas Mann
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
"The essays move around a lot in subject and form -- there are shorter, more lyric pieces, longer works of cultural criticism and literary journalism, some memoir work; one is about Brad Pitt eating on screen, another is about watching LeBron James's online dad content, another is about Andy Warhol's diaries"
5Q Interview: UI Press Author Nina Lohman
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
"I believe that broken bodies tell broken stories. Or, they can, at least. Mine does."
5Q Interview: Blake Kellinger, UI Screenwriting student
Friday, March 29, 2024
"Iowa was not only the best location for me, but it felt like I could focus on my work here. The campus is so beautiful here, and the program itself is so enticing, it pushes me to be the best."
5Q Interview: Gleisson Alves Santos, Literary Translation MFA
Thursday, February 15, 2024
"I am always deeply inspired by everything that surrounds me – people, songs and sounds, landscapes, books, classes, talks, and the list could easily go on."
5Q Interview: Siqi Lui, Iowa Writers' Workshop
Thursday, January 25, 2024
"Before coming to Iowa, I was living in New York City, desperately wanting to write but spending most of my waking hours in an office job."
5Q Interview: Ara Javaheri, Literary Translation MFA
Monday, January 22, 2024
"There are only a few literary translation programs at the graduate level and the University of Iowa was one of the oldest and most prominent ones."
5Q Interview: Angie Lee, Iowa Writers' Workshop
Thursday, January 4, 2024
"The sheer excitement of being at the Workshop -- and having the privilege of reading and discussing the wonderful work of my friends here -- is inspiring me every day."
5Q Interview: Jake Goldwasser, Iowa Writers' Workshop and Literary Translation
Monday, December 18, 2023
"I applied to Iowa four times before I got in. Originally I came here to study poetry at the Workshop, but then I stayed for a second degree in literary translation. They have both been helpful in their own ways."
5Q Interview: Sophie Perez, UI Screenwriting BA student
Wednesday, December 13, 2023
"...what remained constant was my love for film, my passion for telling stories, and my desire to attend a school that would help refine my craft. That’s why I chose to go to the University of Iowa and major in Screenwriting Arts."
5Q Interview: Stephen J. Dinsmore, UI Press Author of 'Iowa's Changing Wildlife'
Tuesday, December 5, 2023
5Q Interview: Tzveta Sofronieva, IWP Resident
Thursday, October 19, 2023
"There are days when I work the whole day because my text demands it. Then fellow writers supply me with a drink or a bagel late at night."
5Q Interview: Li Kotomi 李琴峰, IWP Resident
Wednesday, October 11, 2023
I believe the most important thing to do during the residency is to explore the city and the culture here, and meanwhile, to communicate with those writers from all over the world.
