Recurring

Dreamwell Theatre Presents: Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters

The James Theater 213 N Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA

Terry Pratchett takes Shakespeare’s Macbeth and then turns it up ’till the knob comes off. It’s all there – a wicked duke and duchess, the ghost of the murdered king, dim soldiers, strolling players, a land in peril. And who stands between the Kingdom and destruction? Three witches. Written by Sir Terry Pratchett, and adapted

International Writing Program Panel Discussion: On the Body

Iowa City Public Library 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA

A person’s body affects the way they navigate the world, and their experiences in it. How much power does a body (with regard to, for instance, race, gender, sexuality, physical ability) have over, or in, an artist’s work? And, with what devices can a writer affect issues their body can present-- for instance via symbolism,

John Irving in Conversation with Lan Samantha Chang

Hancher Auditorium 141 Park Rd., Iowa City, IA

Presented in collaboration with the Iowa Writers' Workshop, University Lecture Committee, Iowa City Book Festival, and Refocus Film Festival Part of Hancher's Infinite Dream festival John Irving is one of the foremost writers of the 20th and 21st centuries. He is the author of several books, including the novels The Cider House Rules, The World According to Garp, and most recently The Last Chairlift. He

Recurring

Dreamwell Theatre Presents: Terry Pratchett’s Wyrd Sisters

The James Theater 213 N Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA

Terry Pratchett takes Shakespeare’s Macbeth and then turns it up ’till the knob comes off. It’s all there – a wicked duke and duchess, the ghost of the murdered king, dim soldiers, strolling players, a land in peril. And who stands between the Kingdom and destruction? Three witches. Written by Sir Terry Pratchett, and adapted

Poetry Talks Live Iowa – Japan: A bilingual reading held simultaneously in Iowa City and Tokyo

120 Phillips Hall 16 N Clinton St, Iowa City, IA

Involving the Japanese poet YOTSUMOTO Yasuhiro (IWP 2023), the Akutagawa Prize-winning writer LI Kotomi (IWP 2023), the Japanese poet SUGA Keijiro, UI students from JPNS 3201 Workshop in Japanese Literary Translation; International Writing Program writers from Japan, Taiwan, Jamaica, Nigeria, and Kazakhstan; 10 young Japanese poets and several dozen Japanese undergraduates who will connect to

Josh Larsen: Fear Not!

Iowa City Public Library 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA

Josh Larsen is the co-host of the radio show and podcast Filmspotting and author of Movies Are Prayers. He will discuss his new book, Fear Not! A Christian Appreciation of Horror Movies. Presented in partnership with the ReFocus Film Festival.

Book Fair

MERGE 136 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA

Featuring: 508 Press earthwords  Fools Magazine Ice Cube Press Iowa City Poetry LGBTQ Iowa Archives and Library Midwest Writing Center North American Review Paper Pie PorchLight Literary Arts Center Prompt Press Public Space One snapshots The Iowa Review  University of Iowa Press Wilder Things Magazine The Book Fair is sponsored by MERGE Iowa City.

Friends Foundation Pop-up Used Book Sale

Iowa City Public Library 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA

Stop by the lobby of the Iowa City Public Library between festival events to browse for a new (to you) book.

Justin Torres: Blackouts

Iowa City Public Library 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA

Justin Torres is the author of We the Animals, which won the VCU Cabell First Novelist Award, was translated into fifteen languages, and was adapted into a feature film. A graduate of the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he will read from and discuss his new book, Blackouts. Fellow Workshop graduate Jamel Brinkley will moderate.

Daniel Kraus: Whalefall

Prairie Lights Books 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA

Daniel Kraus is a New York Times bestselling author. His collaboration with legendary filmmaker George A. Romero, The Living Dead, was acclaimed by The New York Times and The Washington Post. The Iowa native will discuss his new novel, Whalefall. 

Storytelling Across the Arts: A Conversation with Lonnie Holley & Lee Baines

Old Capitol Senate Chamber 21 N. Clinton St., Iowa City

Note: Kurt Vile will no longer be a part of this event. We are excited to present instead a conversation between Lonnie Holley, a renowned visual artist and musician, and musician and writer Lee Baines. Holley's most recent album Oh Me Oh My reflects on his difficult personal experiences growing up in the Alabama Industrial

Kristen Roupenian: Cat Person

Iowa City Public Library 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA

Kristen Roupenian holds a PhD in English from Harvard, an MFA from the Helen Zell Writers’ Program at the University of Michigan, and a BA from Barnard College. She is the author of the short story, “Cat Person,” which was published in The New Yorker. She will read from her short story collection, Cat Person.