Alumni Updates

Steven Willis standing outside Prairie Lights

Writers' Workshop Alumni

Our alumni work as teachers and writers across many disciplines and publish books in every genre. 6 recent U.S. Poets Laureate have been graduates of the Writers' Workshop and some of the most distinctive, celebrated voices in contemporary poetry and fiction have come through our program and used their time here to develop their work and their voice.

"I do not in fact know what I would have done, or who I would have been as an adult, if I hadn’t lived in and around Iowa City"

- Jane Smiley, Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, MFA Writers' Workshop

News, Publications, and Awards

Jamel Brinkley wins 2024 Maya Angelou Book Award Juan Felipe Herrera awarded 2024 MacArthur Genius Grant Ruthvika Rao shortlisted for the Center For Fiction First Novel Prize Elizabeth Willis and m.s. RedCherries longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award in Poetry Tony Tulathimutte longlisted for the 2024 National Book Award in Fiction V. V. Ganeshananthan wins the 2024 Carol Shields Prize for Fiction Jayne Anne Phillips wins the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Fiction Jorie Graham, Yiyun Li, and Robyn Schiff are finalists for the 2024 Pulitzer Prizes in Fiction and Poetry

Before the Mango Ripens, by Afabwaje Kurian

Before the Mango Ripens
Afabwaje Kurian
_{September 24, 2024 | Fiction}

The Goner School
Jessica Laser
_{September 27, 2024 | Poetry}

Small Rain
Garth Greenwell
_{September 3, 2024 | Fiction}

Terminal Maladies
Okwudili Nebeolisa

Browse Publications

See Prizes & Awards

The Latest Alumni Updates

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Friday, April 25, 2025

Tonight! 4/25 at 7 p.m. in Prairie Lights bookstore, Ohio-based author and Workshop alum Michelle Herman will read from her newest book, an essay collection called 'If You Say So' events.uiowa.edu/event/30661

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Friday, April 25, 2025

Today! 4/25 at noon, the Ariel Quartet will play in the Frank Conroy Reading Room at Glenn Schaeffer Library/Dey House events.uiowa.edu/event/32105

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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Thursday! April 24 at 6 p.m. in the Frank Conroy Reading Room at Glenn Schaeffer Library/Dey House, Simone White will read in the Frank Conroy Reading Room in Glenn Schaeffer Library. A Q&A will follow on Friday morning at 10:30 a.m. in the same location. events.uiowa.edu/event/32104

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Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Tonight! Wednesday, 4/23 at 7 p.m. in Prairie Lights bookstore, Karla Kelsey and Rebecca Lehmann will read from their latest books of poetry events.uiowa.edu/event/32100

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Tuesday, April 22, 2025

This Wednesday, April 23 at 4:30 PM, Prairie Lights Bookstore, will host an event to commemorate the life of Connie Brothers, Program Associate of the Writers' Workshop from 1974-2019 and friend of the store events.uiowa.edu/event/32199

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Monday, April 21, 2025

Congratulations to the 2025 O. Henry Prize for Short Fiction winners! including Indya Finch (“Shotgun Calypso”) and Anthony Marra (“Countdown”) [contains quote post or other embedded content]