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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 21/01/2026

Congratulations to Iowa Writers' Workshop alum Anna North! Her novel, "Bog Queen," was selected as a 2026 Science + Literature Selected Title by the National Book Foundation. She earns a $10,000 prize and will be honored at a March 11 ceremony in New York. www.nationalbook.org/national-boo...

nationalbook.org

National Book Foundation and Alfred P. Sloan Foundation Announce the 2026 Science + Literature Selected Titles

The National Book Foundation (NBF) and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation today announced selected titles for the fifth year of the Science + Literature program, which identifies three books annually that...

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 18/12/2025

On Instagram, we have been posting our usual year end #17BooksFor17SDGs selections, highlighting books with some tie back to our city or fests that address one of the UN's 2030 Strategic Development Goals in some way. Search that hashtag across social media for picks from some Cities of Literature.

An image with the text "1: No Poverty, This Other Eden by Paul Harding" and the hashtag #17BooksFor17SDGs, along with a cover image for the book.

An image with the text, "2: Zero Hunger, Barons by Austin Frerick," along with the hashtag #17BooksFor17SDGs, and a cover image for the book.

An image with the text "3: Good Health, The Natural Order of Things by Donika Kelly," along with the hashtag #17BooksFor17SDGs and a cover image for the book.

An image with the text "4: Quality Education, More Than Words by John Warner," along with the hashtag #17BooksFor17SDGs and a cover image for the book.

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

We are thrilled to welcome 10 new Cities of Literature to UNESCO's Creative Cities Network! We're glad to see a 10th U.S. city added to the network as well, with New Orleans joining as a UNESCO City of Music. So many new cities to learn about! More here: www.iowacityofliterature.org/unesco-names...

iowacityofliterature.org

UNESCO names 10 new Cities of Literature as Creative Cities Network grows - Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature

The 53 designated Creative Cities of Literature from 39 countries across the globe welcome 10 additional Cities of Literature to their literary family. UNESCO announced the designation of 58 new [...]...

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Next up for the City of Literature will be to cheer on Henry Morray as he competes in SlamoVision, the international slam poetry competition from the UNESCO Cities of Literature. Tune in at 2 PM CT to watch online as our colleagues in Dublin host the event where the scores are revealed.

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 06/10/2025

This year's festival kicked off on Sunday and continues today with two events, including a presentation by former park ranger Steve Kemp about John D. Rockefeller Jr's work to save America's natural wonders. At the Iowa City Public Library at 7 tonight. www.iowacityofliterature.org/event/steve-...

iowacityofliterature.org

Steve Kemp: An Exaltation of Parks - Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature

America’s national parks are facing unprecedented challenges. With visitation pressures mounting and the National Park Service struggling to keep up, author, former park ranger, and Iowa City native S...

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

LitHub says Teresa Dzieglewicz's "Something Small of How to See a River" is a new poetry collection to watch for in October. In it, she recounts her time at the Standing Rock Reservation. See Dzieglewicz at PorchLight at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 9, as part of the festival. lithub.com/inhabiting-t...

lithub.com

“Inhabiting the Poem.” Seven Poetry Collections to Read This October

“What was the work the poet was demanding of me? It was to inhabit the poem, to live willingly in its world.” Those sentences were written by my late teacher Helen Vendler, and arrive in the second…

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

Art Cullen is headed to Iowa City next week for the Iowa City Book Festival, appearing at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Iowa City Public Library. For a sneak preview, check out this excellent interview with IPR's Charity Nebbe. www.iowapublicradio.org/podcast/talk...

iowapublicradio.org

'We crapped in our nest' a conversation with Art Cullen

The editor and co-owner of the Storm Lake Times Pilot discusses his new book, Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest: Notes from the Edge of the World.

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 03/10/2025

We can't wait to host Donika Kelly as she launches her wonderful new collection, "The Natural Order of Things"!

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 01/10/2025

Art Cullen's new book, "Marty, We Crapped Our Nest," is getting considerable attention, including this great review from Little Village. See Cullen at 1 p.m. on Oct. 11 at the Iowa City Public Library at the Iowa City Book Festival! littlevillagemag.com/book-review-...

littlevillagemag.com

Book Review: 'Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest' by Art Cullen - Little Village

Being an Iowan has been difficult for those of us who love our home and are horrified by its policies. Art Cullen, in his new book Dear Marty, We Crapped In Our Nest (Ice Cube Press), lays bare the co...

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Happy publication week to Patricia Lockwood's new novel, "Will There Ever Be Another You." Lockwood will read from and discuss the book at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 11, at Prairie Lights Books as part of the Iowa City Book Festival. lithub.com/patricia-loc...

lithub.com

Patricia Lockwood, Kiran Desai, Ian McEwan, and more: 24 new books out today!

Another week of hell in America. Dark times shade even darker, and yet through it all, in ways both uplifting and stupefying, life goes on. At the very least, be it for edification, or self-help, e…

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

We're excited to share the lineup for the 2025 Iowa City Book Festival, a schedule of 40 free events from Oct. 5-12, including plenty of fiction, poetry, environmental issues, science fiction and much more. See the full schedule at www.iowacitybookfestival.org

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 22/04/2025

The City of Literature is producing a wonderful performance of the song cycle "Penelope" on April 26 at the James Theatre as part of its MusicIC festival. Watch this segment from this morning's "Everyday Iowa" show on KCRG for more info. Tickets at www.MusicIC.org. www.kcrg.com/video/2025/0...

kcrg.com

Everyday Iowa - MusicIC Festival presents Penelope a Song Cycle

Don’t miss MusicIC Festival’s one-night only presentation of Penelope—a multimedia song cycle with Grammy-nominee Shara Nova, 4/26 at The James Theater!

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 04/04/2025

We are excited for the return of our MusicIC festival, celebrating intersections between music and literature. This year we feature a performance of "Penelope" by Sarah Kirkland Snider, with vocals by Shara Nova (My Brightest Diamond), on April 26 at the James Theater. Tickets at www.MusicIC.org.

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

We're excited that the Iowa City Public Library's nominated book, Daniel Mason's "North Woods," made the shortlist for the 2025 Dublin Literary Award!

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

Read our full statement at www.iowacityofliterature.org/a-statement-...

A block that reads "Statement on anti-library legislation: If this legislation is enacted, the cost is immense. A significant portion of adult literature, books written by University of Iowa graduates, bestsellers, and award-winning titles, will no longer be purchased by Iowa’s public libraries and no longer accessible to Iowans. Libraries and the cities they serve will be pulled into court to defend materials that some individuals see as “obscene.” Iowa librarians will no longer share best practices and evolve their library services to better meet the needs of their communities, knowledge gained through professional organizations."

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Reposted by Iowa City of Literature

Iowa Writers’ Workshop @iowawriterswksp.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Belated congratulations to all the authors longlisted for the 2025 Joyce Carol Oates Prize by New Literary Project, including Abby Geni, Cristina Henríquez, Sarah Manguso, Andrew Porter, and Regina Porter! www.newliteraryproject.org/whats-new/jo...

newliteraryproject.org

Joyce Carol Oates Prize Longlist Announced — New Literary Project

Announcing the 2025 Longlist for the Joyce Carol Oates Prize

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

"Publishing 32 books over the course of his life, he wasn’t simply prolific, as far as former presidents go. His output also displayed an extraordinary range that included historical fiction, poetry and meditations on the meaning of faith and the splendor of nature."

nytimes.com

Jimmy Carter: Poet, Novelist, Memoirist, Philosopher

He wasn’t just prolific, publishing 32 books. His output also showed an unusual range that included memoirs and forays into historical fiction and even poetry.

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 19/12/2024

For SDG 17: Partnerships read Clubfoot by Thomas M. Cook which addresses collaboration between those carrying out the work of Dr. Ignacio Ponseti and the Iowa City Noon Rotary Club to promote clubfoot treatment. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

For SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Instinutions read "Mother: by m.s. RedCherries. Mother is a poetry collection which explores Indigenous identity and.resilience through the lens of personal and collective history. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

For SDG 15: Life on Land read Tallgrass Conversations by Cindy Crosby and Thomas Dean which discusses the importance of prairie ecosystems and our role in conserving them. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

For SDG 14: Life Below Water read the River Knows by Neil D. Hamilton, which explores the intricate relationship between humans and waterways, emphasizing the importance of protecting aquatic ecosystems for the health and sustainability of our planet. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

For SDG 13: Climate Action, read We Hold Our Breath: A Journey to Texas Between Storms by Micah Fields, graduate of the University of Iowa Nonfiction Writing Program. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

For SDG 12: Responsible Production, read A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley. A Thousand Acres explores the environmental and social impacts of modern agriculture. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 13/12/2024

For SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, read Co-Crafting the Just City by James A. Throgmorton, which received the John Friedmann Book Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. #17Booksfor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 12/12/2024

For SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, read "Co-Crafting the Just City" by former Iowa City Mayor James A. Throgmorton, which recently received the John Friedmann Book Award from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

For SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities read Unexplained Presence by TIsa Bryant. Unexplained Presence reinterprets the experiences of marginalized figures, especially black individuals within historical and cultural frameworks. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

For Goal 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, explore The Dawn of Industrial Agriculture in Iowa by E. Durrenberger. This book discusses the transformation of agriculture through innovation and infrastructure development. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

For SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth, read On Behalf of the Family Farm: Iowa Farm Women's Activism since 1945, which explores women in agriculture and their responses to economic and technological changes. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 09/12/2024

For SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy, read Tending Iowa's Land: Pathways to a Sustainable Future by Cornelia Mutel, which explores sustainable land management and renewable practices, highlighting the critical role of clean energy in building a resilient, eco-friendly future. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

For SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation read "Trophic Cascade" by Camille Dungy. Which is a collection of poems about motherhood, ecology, and the interconnectedness of life, highlighting the impact of human and environmental relationships. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

For SDG 5: Gender Equality read "The Body Alone" by Nina Lohman critiques gender inequality by revealing systematic biases which dismiss womens pain and limit their access to equitable healthcare. #17BooksFor17SDGs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

For SDG 4: Quality Education, read "Susie Clark: The Bravest Girl You've Ever Seen: Desegregating Iowa Schools in 1868" by Joshalyn Hickey-Johnson. It tells of 13-year-old Susie Clark, who became the first Black student to integrate a U.S. public school by court order. #17booksfor17sdgs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 05/12/2024

For #SDG3 Good Health and Well Being read "Roughsleepers" by Tracy Kidder, in which this UI grad follows Dr. Jim O'Connell for five years as he cares for the unhoused. #17booksfor17sdgs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

For #SDG2: Zero Hunger read Barons: Money, Power and the Corruption of America’s Food Industry by Austin Frerick of Cedar Rapids. A stark portrait of the consequences of corporate consolidation, and hope for a different path. #17booksfor17sdgs

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

For SDG1 No Poverty, read “This Other Eden” by Paul Harding. This Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduate’s novel was inspired by the story of Malaga Island where the racially integrated population faces extreme poverty. #17booksfor17sdgs Visit sdgs.un.org/goals/goal1 for more information.

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 02/12/2024

From Dec. 2 to 18, UNESCO Cities of Literature will spotlight the UN’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. We'll share book recommendations for each SDG using #17Booksfor17SDGs. This project seeks to raise awareness of the SDGs through books and highlight writers from the Cities of Literature.

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 26/11/2024

Celebrating Iowa City-related writers on year-end lists! NPR’s list includes Deborah Jackson Taffa, Gail Godwin, Kiley Reid, Jennifer Croft, Tony Tulathimutte, Claire Lombardo, Lucas Mann, Garth Greenwell, and Kaveh Akbar. NYT Notables features Akbar, Tulathimutte, Diane Oliver, and Leslie Jamison.

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Our director will be leading a discussion about literary Iowa City on Wednesday from 5-6:30 pm at the Tuesday Agency, 404 E. College St., suite 404 (at the Chauncey). Join us!

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Camille Dungy, our 2024 Paul Engle Prize winner, talks with the Gazette about how her high school years in Iowa City showed her she could be a writer. “You can’t not meet a living writer in Iowa City. It didn’t feel like I had to be Steph Curry.” www.thegazette.com/people-place...

thegazette.com

Iowa City West High alum wins the Paul Engle Prize -- and $25,000

The Paul Engle Prize from the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature represents some lofty virtues in literature. But to 2024 winner Camille Dungy, it’s also a homecoming, of sorts.

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 13/11/2024

One of our favorite collaborations is SlamoVision, a Cities of Lit slam poetry take off on the Eurovision Song Contest. Here is our Sept. 22 event where Sabur "C?ue" Muhammad was selected as Iowa City's representative. The overall winner will be revealed Dec. 12. www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlXp...

youtube.com

Slam-O-Vision Poetry Slam 2024

YouTube video by City Channel 4 - Iowa City

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Iowa City of Literature @iowacityoflit.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

Camille Dungy has been named the 13th recipient of the Paul Engle Prize, presented by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature organization. She will receive the award at a ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 14, at 7 p.m. at the Coralville Public Library. It is free and open to the public.

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