Paul Engle Day

In 2000, Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack declared Oct. 12 to be “Paul Engle Day,” in honor of the Iowa-born poet who served as head of the Writer’s Workshop from 1942

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

Iowa City Book Festival

Downtown Iowa City

 The Iowa City Book Festival is happening October 18–25, 2026! Join us for a week of literary events, author talks, readings, and more at various locations throughout downtown Iowa City.

Christopher Merrill Receives the 2026 Paul Engle Prize

Coralville Public Library 1401 5th St., Coralville, IA

Christopher Merrill has been named the 15th recipient of the Paul Engle Prize, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization. The prize, established in 2011, honors an

Paula Cisewski: The Becoming Game

PorchLight Literary Arts Center 1019 E Washington St, Iowa City

After the frightening results of the 2016 election, Paula Cisewski adopted a new writing practice and coping mechanism. She would invite a friend over for tea and a tarot reading.

Recurring

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

Marilynne Robinson and Nicholas Kristof

Macbride Auditorium 17 N. Clinton St., Iowa City, IA

Marilynne Robinson and Nicholas Kristof in Conversation Marilynne Robinson is the author of the novels Housekeeping, Gilead, Home, Lila, and Jack. Gilead won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the

Bonnie Jo Campbell: The Spirits

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

Bonnie Jo Campbell, a master of rural American fiction, brings us a hair-raising winter tale to warm us by the fireside. In this contemporary Christmas Carol, Campbell has created a gritty,

Megan Greenwell: Bad Company

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

Acclaimed journalist Megan Greenwell’s Bad Company unearths the hidden story of corporate greed and the world of private equity by examining the lives of four American workers that were devastated as private