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
Poets Perry Janes, Anna Morrison and Hannah Bonner will read from and discuss their work, in partnership with Refocus Film Festival.
In this panel, writers will discuss some of their favorite writing by others, sharing the things they like to read and important books they would like to recommend. Featuring: Nicolás Medina Mora, Chris Tse (International Writing Program), Sharon Wahl, Nicolas Wong (International Writing Program), Peter Závada (International Writing Program)
Natalie Goldberg has influenced generations of aspiring creative writers with books like Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind. Her books offer down-to-earth guidance for developing a meaningful writing practice in the real world, however different that is for each of us. In her new book, Writing on Empty, she opens up about a new experience; that of losing
After performing his score for Yakov Protazanov’s pioneering sci-fi film Aelita: Queen of Mars as part of FilmScene's Refocus Film Festival, Ribot joins the Iowa City Book Festival where he will read from his book Unstrung: Rants & Stories of a Noise Guitarist. “Guitarist Marc Ribot helped Tom Waits refine a new, weird Americana on 1985's Rain Dogs, and since then he's
The Body Alone is an inquiry into the experience, meaning, and articulation of pain. It is a personal hybrid account incorporating research, scholarship, and memoir to examine chronic pain through the multi-lens of medicine, theology, and philosophy. Broken bodies tell broken stories. Nina Lohman’s pain experience is portrayed through a cyclical narrative of primers, vocabulary lessons,
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
Moving between New York City, Mexico City, and Iowa City, a young member of the Mexican elite sees his life splinter in a centuries-spanning debut that blends the Latin American traditions of Roberto Bolaño and Fernanda Melchor with the autofiction of US writers like Ben Lerner and Teju Cole. Split between the US and Mexico,
Join us for an insightful panel discussion on 'Publishing for Beginners,' where seasoned professionals share essential tips and strategies for navigating the publishing world. Whether you're aspiring to publish your first book or curious about the process, this session will provide you with practical advice and valuable insider knowledge. Panelists: Sarah Elgatian, Midwest Writing Center;
NOTE: This event is sold out. Natalie Goldberg has influenced generations of aspiring creative writers with books like Writing Down the Bones and Wild Mind. Her books offer down-to-earth guidance for developing a meaningful writing practice in the real world, however different that is for each of us. In her new book, Writing on Empty,
Students from Iowa City, fluent in 15 different languages, will present passages from Anne Frank’s diary. This event provides an opportunity for attendees to engage in meaningful dialogue, reflect on the Holocaust and other tragic global events, and foster a sense of community as the 95th anniversary of Frank’s diary is commemorated. The event will
The Fall 2024 One Community, One Book selection is Wastelands: The True Story of Farm Country on Trial by Corban Addison. This event will be hosted in person at Old Brick, 26 E. Market Street Iowa City. This event is free and open to the public and sponsored by the University of Iowa Center
