PrairieLights – Luis Muñoz, Garth Greenwell, & Idra Novey – One Moment: Poems

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

Renowned Spanish poet Luis Muñoz will read from his debut North American poetry collection, One Moment, and will be joined by his English translators, his husband Garth Greenwell and Idra Novey. Described as "Sweet, surreal, and haunting," the poems in One Moment "examine both the frictions and elusiveness that can occur between self and others...the gentle observation of

PrairieLights – A reading with Camille T. Dungy, America, A Love Story

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

The 2024 Paul Engle Prize winner and celebrated poet Camille T. Dungy will read from her newest poetry collection, America, a Love Story. Described by publisher Wesleyan University Press as a "powerful testament to living and loving as a Black woman and mother in today's America, and her first book of poetry in almost a decade," America,

SideKick – reading and signing with Paige Towers and Sarah Elgatian

Sidekick Coffee & Books 1310 1/2 Melrose Avenue, Iowa City, IA

Join Sidekick Coffee and Books for the launch of "What they Stole: Familicide Rooted in Intercountry Adoption" by Paige Towers in conversation with Sarah Elgatian. About the book: In 1955, following the devastation of the Korean War, Bertha and Harry Holt made headlines for adopting eight Korean children. Driven by evangelical convictions and emboldened by

PrairieLights – [Virtual Event] Nancy Sowell in conv. with Melissa Febos – Internal Family Systems Health Therapy: Treating Trauma-Related Physical Illness & Toxic Stress

Find the link on PrairieLights website  Nancy Sowell, LICSW, will read from her new book co-authored with Martha Sweezy, PhD, and Richard C. Schwartz, PhD: IFS (Internal Family Systems) Health Therapy: Treating Trauma-Related Physical Illness & Toxic Stress. She will be joined in conversation by bestselling author and daughter, Melissa Febos. (Note: This will be a

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PorchLight: Write Now – Community Supported Writing Group

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

PorchLight's Write Now Writer's Group provides community, and learning opportunities for beginning to intermediate writers. At their monthly meetings, share short craft lessons, generate writing from prompts, and, on occasion, provide responses to participants' work in progress. Writers working in any genre are welcome. This is a great group for writers who have not had the

Sidekick: Conversation and signing with author Grant Faulkner

Sidekick Coffee & Books 1310 1/2 Melrose Avenue, Iowa City, IA

Join Sidekick Coffee and Books for an evening with author Grant Faulkner in conversation with Yasmina Din Madden for his new book Something Out There in the Distance on September 24th at 7 pm. One book purchase admits two people. About the book: Flash-fiction master Grant Faulkner and photographer Gail Butensky have partnered to create

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PorchLight: Writing Grief

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Grief Writing - A monthly exploration of loss and heartbreak Jennifer New leads this monthly group that uses writing as a reflective tool to explore loss. Francis Weller's Five Gates of Grief provides a backbone to consider grief from multiple angles, e.g., death of loved ones, loss of health or ability, grief for the world. This is an

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PorchLight: Queer Writers’ Check In

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Similar to their Long Project Check In, this group is for queer writers looking to build literary community together. Each session will include free writing, discussion of works in progress, and general literary support. Occasionally, there will be guests and opportunities for trading work. Visit their website to RSVP!

Sidekick – Reading and signing with Tatiana Schlote-Bonne

Sidekick Coffee & Books 1310 1/2 Melrose Avenue, Iowa City, IA

Join Sidekick Coffee and Books for a reading by author Tatiana Schlote-Bonne for her new book "What Feeds Below." Purchase of one book admits two guests. About the book: The darkness isn't empty. It's hungry. At the edge of the City of the Void, a massive chasm extends miles into the earth, its treacherous terrain

Iowa City Book Festival

Downtown Iowa City

 The Iowa City Book Festival is happening October 19–25, 2026! Join us for a week of literary events, author talks, readings, and more at various locations throughout downtown Iowa City. Mark your calendars. More information coming soon.

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PorchLight: Write Now – Community Supported Writing Group

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

PorchLight's Write Now Writer's Group provides community, and learning opportunities for beginning to intermediate writers. At their monthly meetings, share short craft lessons, generate writing from prompts, and, on occasion, provide responses to participants' work in progress. Writers working in any genre are welcome. This is a great group for writers who have not had the

An Evening with Pulitzer Prize Winner Yiyun Li

TBD

Internationally acclaimed author Yiyun Li won the 2026 Pulitzer Prize for her resonant memoir, Things in Nature Merely Grow, a deeply moving account of losing her younger son to suicide a little more than six years after her older son died in the same manner. The Princeton University professor is the author of 12 books—and was