Panel Discussion: Weirdos Writing for Weirdos: A Contemporary Approach to Speculative Fiction

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

Sci-fi, fantasy, and horror used to be the outcasts of literature, but now more than ever these speculative genres are growing in popularity--and in quality. With huge properties like Fourth Wing, Dungeon Crawler Carl, and other "weird" series running rampant across the NYT bestseller lists, it's evident that readers crave these odd genres, and more and more authors

An Evening with Pulitzer Prize Winner Yiyun Li

Levitt Center for University Advancement 1 East Park Road, Iowa City, IA

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

Book Fair

MERGE 136 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA

A diverse collection of titles, journals, magazines, and book arts from local and regional publishers and literary organizations. A unique opportunity for book lovers to discover new authors and genres. The Book Fair is sponsored by Greater Iowa City.

Writers Row – Local Author Book Fair

MERGE 136 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA

Local Author Book Fair! Join us as local authors present their latest works, answer questions, and sign books. Browse each author's table where various books will be available for purchase.   The Local Author Book Fair is sponsored by Greater Iowa City.

Poetry in Public Reading featuring Iowa Student Poet Ambassador Josie Nabhan-Warren

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

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 2026 Selected Poets. This event is live and in-person, and will be streamed live at: https://www.youtube.com/thelibrarychannel Featuring special guest, Josie Nabhan-Warren, the 2026–27 Iowa Student Poet Ambassador. If your

National Youth Poet Laureate Daniel Somtochukwu Umemezie

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

Daniel Umemezie is a Nigerian-American poet whose work explores cultural inheritance and displacement, using bodily transformation as both metaphor and form. His poetry develops a realm between interior experience and external reality. His work has appeared in the North American Review, Scholastic, Magpie Journal and many more. He is forthcoming in Polyphony Lit, and has been recognized as the Iowa

Recurring

PorchLight: The Prose Exchange

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Ready to get some eyes on your work? This group provides careful readings and positive, descriptive feedback on works-in-progress. They meet twice a month and workshop two submissions of up to 20 pages at each meeting. They are currently open to adding one or two more members. They advise sitting in on a session to

Recurring

PorchLight: Flash Forward

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Flash Forward is PorchLight's monthly studio session for writers interested in short form writing: flash fiction, micro essays, prose poetry, and more. Join them and learn more about these miniature marvels. Each session includes a discussion of short form works we love, a generative writing prompt, optional sharing, and light positive feedback. Whether you're new to

Recurring

PorchLight: The Prose Exchange

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Ready to get some eyes on your work? This group provides careful readings and positive, descriptive feedback on works-in-progress. They meet twice a month and workshop two submissions of up to 20 pages at each meeting. They are currently open to adding one or two more members. They advise sitting in on a session to

Recurring

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

Recurring

PorchLight: The Prose Exchange

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Ready to get some eyes on your work? This group provides careful readings and positive, descriptive feedback on works-in-progress. They meet twice a month and workshop two submissions of up to 20 pages at each meeting. They are currently open to adding one or two more members. They advise sitting in on a session to

Recurring

PorchLight: Flash Forward

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

Flash Forward is PorchLight's monthly studio session for writers interested in short form writing: flash fiction, micro essays, prose poetry, and more. Join them and learn more about these miniature marvels. Each session includes a discussion of short form works we love, a generative writing prompt, optional sharing, and light positive feedback. Whether you're new to