Join University of Iowa Arborist Andy Dahl for a tour of the Literary Grove at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, featuring trees with connections to famous authors.

The Iowa City Book Festival presents Stuart Dybek, who will read from his work. “Masterful . . . Like Proust, Dybek has a deserved reputation as a superb cartographer of memory.” ―Trevor Quirk, The Los Angeles Review of Books Dybek is the author of five books of fiction — Ecstatic Cahoots, Paper Lantern, I Sailed with Magellan, The Coast of Chicago, and Childhood and Other Neighborhoods — as well as two collections of poetry, Brass Knuckles and Streets in Their Own Ink. Dybek is the recipient...

How do politics affect what poets or novelists write, and even how they write it? How does literature inform political discourse? What is cultural diplomacy, why is it so important, and what is the UI’s role in promoting it? For this inaugural event in the Obermann Center’s new Counterpoint public conversation series, Christopher Merrill — poet, nonfiction writer, translator, editor, and director of the UI’s renowned International Writing Program — and Loren Glass, a historian of creative...

 IWP writers will lead a talk on the ethics of writing about friends and family. Location: Porchlight 1019 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240

Sit in on a one-of-a-kind evening with writer and Iowa graduate Tracy Kidder, “a master of the nonfiction narrative” (Baltimore Sun), as he reflects on his lengthy literary career and reads from some of his bestselling work. The event will feature a conversation about the power of long-form investigative writing between Kidder and renowned author Stuart Dybek (73MFA), as well as a Q&A session and book signing. Register here: https://foriowa.info/3yUJ2h8 The author of nonfiction classics such...

In this panel, writers will discuss place and setting as key in many kinds of writing. They will explore the following questions: How do you convey a sense of place or paint a unique landscape? In what ways does location contribute to your writing? Can a literary work truly be "universal," or will place always determine how a piece is understood? Featuring: Forrest Gander, Catarina Gomes (International Writing Program), Nurit Kasztelan (International Writing Program), Chris Offutt, and Pervin...

At Noon, The Iowa City Book Festival Presents Writers’ Workshop Faculty member Elizabeth Willis, who will read from Liontaming in America (New Directions, 2024), a hybrid work engaged with American belief and relationship structures, theatre, activism, and film. This work has been Longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award for Poetry. "In this vast and masterful book, Elizabeth Willis lays personal claim to the terror unleashed by John Winthrop’s prophecy ‘wee shall be made a story.’ And it’s...

Join author James Fitzmaurice in Shambaugh Auditorium in the Main Library for a conversation about his new young adult novel, Hobgoblin Gennel, moderated by Library and Information Science graduate student Theo Prineas. Light refreshments provided. In this off-beat tale of adventure, teenagers Irie and Fred are fast friends. Irie, of Afro-Caribbean heritage, was born in Sheffield where they both live. Fred is an expat American transplanted from Yuma, Arizona, with a keen interest in Sheffield’s...

With his signature crackling prose, literary master Chris Offutt has staked out his own territory in crime fiction, a place of familial allegiances, old wounds, and revenge — the code of the hills. His new book, a sharp, twisty southern noir with echoes of James Sallis and Daniel Woodrell, will force Mick to face up to the way of life he thought he’d escaped. Chris Offutt is the author of two collections of short stories, three memoirs, and six novels. His books have been translated into 12...

Cinematic Poetics Poets Hannah Bonner, Julia Anna Morrison, and Perry Janes read from their work and discuss the intersections of film and poetry. Location: Ulysses Modern Lounge at The Chauncey 2:30–3:30 p.m. Guests: Hannah Bonner, Julia Anna Morrison, Perry Janes FREE and open to the public

Poetry in Public celebrates our community’s rich literary tradition and local writing talent by displaying poems by writers of all ages. Hear from some of the 2024 Selected Poets. This event is live and in-person, and will be streamed live at: https://www.youtube.com/thelibrarychannel Featuring special guest Iowa Student Poet Ambassador Tanya Rastogi. Presenting Poets: Lucas Askelson, "Big and Small" Melodee Bashir, "A December Walk with Leo" Jacquelyn Bengfort, "The Secret Universal Order...

Free Generative writing workshop! Co-hosted with Iowa City poetry! Location: Porchlight 1019 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240

Long Project Check in at Porchlight. Location: Porchlight 1019 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240

Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop is back for the Fall Semester! Join us monthly to generate new creative writing inspired by works in the Stanley collection. Each session will be led by a different talented writer from our area, who will be offering a new prompt and a new approach to ekphrastic writing (writing inspired by visual art). Bring your own notebook and pencil or computer and leave with the beginning of a newly written piece. Co-sponsored by Iowa City Poetry. Teen...

Jenny MacBain-Stephens and Chris Eck will host a spooky reading. Location: Porchlight 1019 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240

Tuesday, Oct. 29, 7–9 p.m., IWP writer and Jenny Colville will lead a discussion on writing as curating. Location: Porchlight 1019 E Washington St. Iowa City, IA 52240

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces. Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists. Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session...

Two powerful poets perform live at The Hancher on Friday night, Nov. 8, then lead workshops on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 9. Mic Check Poetry Fest is a two-day celebration of spoken word and its power to bear witness, create community, and inspire change. The festival is packed with a variety of events, from performances by Iowa spoken word poets to a showcase highlighting nationally-acclaimed artist Rudy Francisco, making it unlike any other festival in Iowa. In the true spirit of spoken word...

Two powerful poets perform live at The Hancher on Friday night, Nov. 8, then lead workshops on Saturday afternoon, Nov. 9. Mic Check Poetry Fest is a two-day celebration of spoken word and its power to bear witness, create community, and inspire change. The festival is packed with a variety of events, from performances by Iowa spoken word poets to a showcase highlighting nationally-acclaimed artist Rudy Francisco, making it unlike any other festival in Iowa. In the true spirit of spoken word...

Write at the Stanley: A Generative Writing Workshop is back for the Fall Semester! Join us monthly to generate new creative writing inspired by works in the Stanley collection. Each session will be led by a different talented writer from our area, who will be offering a new prompt and a new approach to ekphrastic writing (writing inspired by visual art). Bring your own notebook and pencil or computer and leave with the beginning of a newly written piece. Co-sponsored by Iowa City Poetry. Teen...

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces. Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists. Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session...

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces. Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists. Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session...

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces. Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists. Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session...

Join the long, rich, historical tradition of artists creating in our spaces. Professional, aspiring, and amateur artists alike, make our museum your muse. The return of this popular program series welcomes guests into the Museum of Natural History's magical gallery spaces after-hours to work on sketching or writing projects with other campus and community artists. Tell a friend, grab a notebook, and join us on the first Friday of each month. We'll provide a new inspo prompt for each session...