Events

Events have been submitted by libraries and other agencies that provide book related programming.

Libraries, bookstores, colleges, and others are encouraged to add literary events.

Meet the Author: Catherine Schaff-Stump & Doug Engstrom Jan 22, 2022 from 02:00 PM to 03:00 PM — Beaverdale Books,: The Wrath of Horus For Gregorius Klaereon, his trial with the god Horus isn't about winning or losing. It's about the fight. His temperament aggressive, his anger on display for all to see, Greg is a direct contrast to his brother Marcellus, the perfect Lord Klaereon, the prophet who can do no wrong. How Marc tolerates Greg is a mystery to Greg himself, especially as Greg knows deep down that he is responsible for the deaths of his parents. On the eve of the Klaereon birthday celebration, two days before Greg's trial, Greg fights with his cousin Flavia Borgia, and the two of them activate a reality shard which sends them, Marc, and others to the Abyss. There, they are judged and scattered throughout the nine circles. Greg, alone, discovers his Trial was the least of his worries as he is confronted by Set, the god of destruction, in a desolate landscape where his shadow powers no longer work. While Greg endures, certain his rightful punishment has found him, Marc and the others scramble to reunite, rescue Greg, and make their way to the Golden City of the banished Egyptian pantheon, desperate to find a way home. Corporate Gunslinger Doug Engstrom imagines a future all too terrifying--and all too possible--in this eerie, dystopic speculative fiction debut about corporate greed, debt slavery, and gun violence that is as intense and dark as Stephen King's The Long Walk. Like many Americans in the middle of the 21st century, aspiring actress Kira Clark is in debt. She financed her drama education with loans secured by a "lifetime services contract." If she defaults, her creditors will control every aspect of her life. Behind on her payments and facing foreclosure, Kira reluctantly accepts a large signing bonus to become a corporate gunfighter for TKC Insurance. After a year of training, she will take her place on the dueling fields that have become the final, lethal stop in the American legal system. About the authors... Cath Schaff-Stump writes fantasy for children and adults. She writes funny stories, dark stories, and everything in between. She is the author of the Klaereon Scroll series and the Abigail Rath Versus series. Cath lives and works in Iowa. During the day, she teaches English at a local community college. Doug Engstrom has been a farmer's son, a US Air Force officer, a technical writer, a computer support specialist, and a business analyst, as well as being a writer of speculative fiction. He lives near Des Moines, Iowa with his wife, Catherine.
Meet the Author: Julie Stone Jan 26, 2022 from 06:30 PM to 07:30 PM — Beaverdale Books,: He’s With the Band After twenty-three years of marriage to an utter jackass and beige décor as far as the eye can see, Campbell Cavett is now divorced. Officially. But how did she lose herself for all these years? Somehow, she went from being a bold, starry-eyed young groupie who followed Golden Tiger on tour to...snapping photos of snot-nosed kids for their Pinterest moms at the local Portrait Hut. But she takes her Divorce Party one bottle of Pinot Grigio too far and wakes to discover she’s quit her boring-ass job, arranged to sell her house, and has tickets to the Golden Tiger reunion show. Now Campbell’s on tour as the official photographer of her favorite band and living the life she’s always dreamed. But backstage access means that she’s about to discover a whole lot. Not just about herself, but about a blast from her past who looks way hotter than he has any right to twenty-plus years later. About the author... Julie Stone was born a child of the seventies complete with rainbow shirts, bell bottoms and a belief in unicorns. All that whim and whimsey ushered her into the wonderful world of being a teenager in the eighties, something she has a hard time letting go of most days. She graduated with a degree in English from the University of Iowa (go Hawks!) and also earned herself a husband. She embarked on all the regular, boring grown up things that come with age. Until the magical world of motherhood brought along a new chapter of joy, terror, and sleepless nights. But also, nap time. Suddenly there was time to go back to her creative calling and write. Through raising two boys, several moves around the Midwest, those stories and that keyboard kept her company and kept her, relatively sane. (Depending on who you ask.) Currently settled in Iowa, she continues to pursue her love of the written word, her cat and “sMothering” the three boys in her life.
Meet the Author: Heather Gudenkauf Feb 02, 2022 from 06:30 PM to 07:30 PM — Beaverdale Books,: The Overnight Guest A woman receives an unexpected visitor during a deadly snowstorm. She thought she was alone. True crime writer Wylie Lark doesn't mind being snowed in at the isolated farmhouse where she's retreated to write her new book. A cozy fire, complete silence. It would be perfect, if not for the fact that decades earlier, at this very house, two people were murdered in cold blood and a girl disappeared without a trace. As the storm worsens, Wylie finds herself trapped inside the house, haunted by the secrets contained within its walls -- haunted by secrets of her own. Then she discovers a small child in the snow just outside. Bringing the child inside for warmth and safety, she begins to search for answers. But soon it becomes clear that the farmhouse isn't as isolated as she thought, and someone is willing to do anything to find them. About the author... Heather was born in Wagner, South Dakota, the youngest of six children. At one month of age, her family returned to the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota where her father was employed as a guidance counselor and her mother as a school nurse. At the age of three, her family moved to Iowa, where she grew up. Having been born with a profound unilateral hearing loss (there were many evenings when Heather and her father made a trip to the bus barn to look around the school bus for her hearing aids that she often conveniently would forget on the seat beside her). Heather tended to use books as a retreat, would climb into the toy box that her father’s students from Rosebud made for the family with a pillow, blanket, and flashlight, close the lid, and escape the world around her. Heather became a voracious reader and the seed of becoming a writer was planted. Heather lives in Iowa with her family and a very spoiled German Shorthaired Pointer named Lolo. In her free time, Heather enjoys spending time with her family, reading, swimming, and hiking.
Author Visit Rachel Mans McKenny "The Butterfly Effect" Feb 12, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM — Lake Mills, IA Lake Mills Public Library,: Join us at the Lake Mills, IA Public Library on Saturday February 12th at 10 a.m. for author visit, Rachel Mans McKenny. Rachel is a writer and humorist from the Midwest, recently published in McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Elle Magazine, Electric Lit, The Rumpus, and The New York Times. The Butterfly Effect is her first novel.
Rachel Mans McKenny Author Visit Feb 12, 2022 from 12:00 PM to 01:00 PM — Mason City Public Library in the Elizabeth Muse Norris Classroom on the First Floor of the Library,: Rachel Mans McKenny is a writer and humorist from the Midwest, recently published in McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, Elle Magazine, Electric Lit, The Rumpus, and The New York Times. Rachel is the author of "The Butterfly Effect" (set in Ames, Iowa), and she will be visiting the Mason City Public Library. Please join us for a fascinating visit with Rachel to learn more about her and her debut novel.
Contemporary Books Discussion Group: The Butterfly Effect Feb 16, 2022 from 01:00 PM to 02:30 PM — Bettendorf: Bettendorf Public Library,: Please join us for a discussion of the 2022 All Iowa Reads selection: The Butterfly Effect by Rachel Mans McKenny. Greta Oto, an entomologist, prefers the company of bugs to humans, and people don't seem to like her much, with the exception of her twin brother, Danny, though they recently had a falling out. When she lands a research gig in the rainforest, she leaves them all behind. When Danny suffers an aneurysm, Greta abandons her research and hurries back to the Midwest to be there for him. Coming home means confronting what she left behind, including her lousy soon-to-be sister-in-law, her estranged mother, and her ex-boyfriend Brandon, who runs the butterfly conservatory. Dissertation woes mixed with romantic and family drama create chaos for Greta. Greta must ask herself if she has the courage to open up for the people she loves, and for those who want to love her. Rachel Mans McKenny is scheduled to join the discussion virtually through GoToMeeting. Please visit www.bettendorflibrary.com/adult-programs for more information. Books are available on a first-come basis at the Information Desk. You may also call the Library at 563-344-4179 to have a book signed out to you and placed on the Holds shelf. Remote attendance is possible; please register in order to have the login information sent to you (registration closes at 9 P.M. the evening before the discussion). This program is funded by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
Brown Bag Book Club Mar 03, 2022 from 12:10 PM to 01:00 PM — Carroll,: Heather Gudenkauf is live streaming to the Carroll Library! Last year our book clubs read Not A Sound and Before She Was Found. Heather will discuss these two and other projects she's been working on.
The Butterfly Effect with Rachel Mans McKenny Mar 15, 2022 from 06:30 PM to 07:30 PM — Carroll,: Monthly Evening Book Discussion Rachel Mans McKenny joins us as we discuss the All Iowa Reads book "The Butterfly Effect". We'll meet in the Large Meeting Room. Join us Monthly September - April as we discuss interesting books. Can't make it to the discussion? Come into the library to pick up a copy anyway. Send us your email and we'll keep you updated on the groups activities.
Contemporary Books Discussion Group: The Butterfly Effect Mar 23, 2022 from 07:00 PM to 08:30 PM — Bettendorf: Bettendorf Public Library,: Please join us for a discussion of the 2022 All Iowa Reads selection: The Butterfly Effect by Rachel Mans McKenny. Greta Oto, an entomologist, prefers the company of bugs to humans, and people don't seem to like her much, with the exception of her twin brother, Danny, though they recently had a falling out. When she lands a research gig in the rainforest, she leaves them all behind. When Danny suffers an aneurysm, Greta abandons her research and hurries back to the Midwest to be there for him. Coming home means confronting what she left behind, including her lousy soon-to-be sister-in-law, her estranged mother, and her ex-boyfriend Brandon, who runs the butterfly conservatory. Dissertation woes mixed with romantic and family drama create chaos for Greta. Greta must ask herself if she has the courage to open up for the people she loves, and for those who want to love her. Rachel Mans McKenny is scheduled to join the discussion virtually through GoToMeeting. Please visit www.bettendorflibrary.com/adult-programs for more information. Books are available on a first-come basis at the Information Desk. You may also call the Library at 563-344-4179 to have a book signed out to you and placed on the Holds shelf. Remote attendance is possible; please register in order to have the login information sent to you (registration closes at 9 P.M. the evening before the discussion). This program is funded by the Friends of the Bettendorf Public Library.
2022 All Iowa Reads Community Book Discussion at Perry Public Library Apr 19, 2022 from 07:00 PM to 08:30 PM — Perry Public Library Community Room, 1101 Willis Ave, Perry, IA,: Perry Public Library announces the 2022 All Iowa Reads community book discussion, scheduled for 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 19, in the library Community Room. The selected title is The Butterfly Effect by Rachel Mans McKenny. The annual All Iowa Reads event is an opportunity for people in the same community to gather together to discuss a single book with an Iowa or Midwest connection. This year’s event will be led by guest facilitator George Minot of Iowa City. This is a free event, and everyone is invited to participate. Books will be available to check out or to purchase for a nominal price at the library for participating readers. For more information about All Iowa Reads, visit: https://www.iowacenterforthebook.org/air/home.