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

Full Collection

 

iowa writers workshop writing university wave
Gleisson author photo

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."
siqi lui smiling

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."
author photo at river

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."
Jungin Angie Lee

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."
jake w drawing of himself very cute!

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."
photo of sophie

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."
Tzveta SOFRONIEVA  Цвета Софрониева bio pic

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."
photo of author LI Kotomi

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.

5Q Interview: Megan Lenss

Saturday, January 30, 2021

5Q Interview: Gabriela Román Fuentes

Monday, November 11, 2019

5Q Interview: Clara CHOW 赵燕芬

Monday, October 7, 2019

5Q Interview: Lava Omar Darwesh

Thursday, November 2, 2017