Iowa Writers' Workshop alum and bestselling author Chris Offutt will read from his newest book, The Reluctant Sheriff, which is a continuation of his Mick Hardin thriller series. Praised by bestselling author Ian Rankin as “righteous Kentucky noir with top notes of Daniel Woodrell and S. A. Cosby,” The Reluctant Sheriff follows sheriff Mick Hardin as he navigates the "treacherous terrain of a town’s festering secrets and the violent forces who want to keep them hidden" (groveatlantic.com). Lesa Holstine of Library Journal calls The Reluctant Sheriff "atmospheric, exquisitely written Southern noir," while David Pitt of Booklist says, "The novel is a lovely balance of character and story, and it is, frankly, impossible to imagine anyone not falling a little bit in love with the people of Rocksalt."

Chris Offutt is the author of two collections of short stories (Kentucky Straight, and Out of the Woods), three memoirs (The Same River Twice, No Heroes, and My Father, the Pornographer), and the novels The Good Brother and Country Dark. Offut's Southern noir Mick Hardin series begins with The Killing Hills, followed by Shifty's Boys, and Code of the Hills, and new release The Reluctant Sherriff. His books have been translated into twelve languages and won four international awards in France. He wrote screenplays for True Blood, Weeds, and Treme. He is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize, a Guggenheim Fellowship, an NEA grant, and a Lannan Fellowship. He received an award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for “prose that takes risks.” His work is included in many anthologies and textbooks, including Best American Short Stories, Best American Essays, Best American Food Writing, and Modern American Memoirs. He grew up in the hills of eastern Kentucky and lives in Iowa City, Iowa.

Conversation partner Dean Bakopoulos is the author of Please Don’t Come Back from the Moon, My American Unhappiness, and Summerlong. The winner of a Guggenheim Fellowship and a NEA fellowships in both fiction and creative nonfiction, Bakopoulos is an associate professor of cinema and head of screenwriting arts at University of Iowa. A WGA screenwriter, he co-wrote the film adaptation of his first novel and is co-creator and executive producer of the HBO MAX series Made for Love. His first feature film, Don’t Come Back from the Moon, was a New York Times’ Critics Pick. Bakopoulos is currently developing several original projects for television at major studios and production companies, including an adaptation on his short story, “The Dog.”

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Readings at Prairie Lights are sponsored by the Writing University.}