
The season is in full bloom with fun literary events around the state! If you’re looking for something to do in May, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
- May 1, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Terese Svoboda
Zoom, 12:00 pm
Native of Ogallala, Terese Svoboda published her second memoir and 24th book, Hitler and My Mother-in-Law in December of 2025. Publishers Weekly gave it a star, and the New York Times Book Review gave Roxy and Coco, her eighth novel, and The Long Swim, her third story collection a full page in 2024. Theatrix: Poetry Plays, her eighth book of poetry, appeared in 2021. - May 2, 2026 Bethany in Bloom
Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Bethany in Bloom returns bringing vendors, music, poetry, local businesses, and community organizations back to N. Cotner Blvd from Holdrege to Aylesworth. With 20 vendors already signed up, this year’s festival continues to grow into a full day of neighborhood activity. Events include a Write-a-Thon, Book Sale, Slam Poetry Showcase featuring Jess Badousek, Esman R.C., Alia Hurst and Alex Hamric, and Donor Recognition. - May 2, 2026 Visiting Author: Michael Clair “We Sacrifice Everything to Baseball: How the Czech Republic’s Amateur Underdogs Became World Baseball Classic Heroes”
Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
Join us as we welcome Michael Clair an author and reporter at MLB.com specializing in international baseball and the World Baseball Classic. His new book We Sacrifice Everything to Baseball dives into the remarkable story of the Czech Republic’s national baseball team, moving from underdogs to a team on the world stage. - May 7, 2026 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Barbara Schmitz
St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St.
Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
Guests may study, write, read, relax, sit, talk, and generally socialize with friends over coffee, tea, and other beverages from opening at 5:30 pm until 6:00 pm when Barbara Schmitz will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing. - May 8, 2026 Bethany in Bloom
Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Bethany in Bloom returns bringing vendors, music, poetry, local businesses, and community organizations back to N. Cotner Blvd from Holdrege to Aylesworth. With 20 vendors already signed up, this year’s festival continues to grow into a full day of neighborhood activity. Events include a Write-a-Thon, Book Sale, Slam Poetry Showcase featuring Jess Badousek, Esman R.C., Alia Hurst and Alex Hamric, and Donor Recognition. - May 9, 2026 Poetry Office Hours with Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence Matt Mason
Cali Commons, 7023 Cass St.
Omaha, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
Drop in to talk poetry, ask a question, or bring your laptop and submit poems to literary magazines. Mason hopes to hold these on the 2nd Saturday of the month through September. - May 9, 2026 The Opera Omaha Poetry & Music Project Concert
Omaha Conservatory of Music, 518 N 40th St.
Omaha, 1:00 pm
Now in its 9th year, the Poetry & Music Project connects student poets and their words with composers to create original music and explore the connections between poetry and music. The Poetry & Music Project is a statewide program run in partnership with the Nebraska Writers Collective to amplify the voices of youth poets across Nebraska and Iowa. The project connects student poets and their words with composers to create original music and explore the connections between poetry and music. - May 12, 2026 Local Author Series: Danilo John Thomas
Joslyn Castle Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St.
Omaha, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Join us in celebrating the work of local author Danilo John Thomas. The author will be mining his debut short story collection Ore Vein with the company of banjoist Robert Schmidt. Ore Vein explores the thin spaces between hardship and heroism prevalent in small-town America. Thomas captures what it feels like to come of age among the urban decay and cracked pastoral landscapes of Southwestern Montana and a fictionalized version of the town where he was raised. - May 12, 2026 What’s Your American Story Writing Workshop with Matt Mason
St. Cecilia Cathedral Cultural Center, 3900 Webster St.
Omaha, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence Matt Mason teaches a writing workshop. Mason reprises his first What’s Your American Story workshop with writing about what brings you/your family to Omaha/Nebraska/USA. - May 13, 2026 The No Gatekeepers Poetry Night
Joslyn Castle Music Room, 3902 Davenport St.
Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
Run by Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence Matt Mason, Bring 2 poems: one of your own, one by another poet (friend, favorite song lyrics, etc.). Both poems should make us feel and/or understand some kind of experience, story, etc. You have 5 minutes, after which a horn will sound. All of us have poems that reach us, though often we don’t call them just poems, we call them song lyrics, rap lyrics, cowboy poetry, slam poetry, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein. Tonight, we give the gatekeeper the night off and welcome you to entertain us. It’s just us. - May 15, 2026 Spoken Word, Featured Reading and Open Mic
The Ellery, 1247 S 11th St.
Lincoln, 7:00 pm
A spoken word featured reading and open mic hosted by Esman Rodas Calderon. After the event, you’re invited to join Write After, a writing group that meets around the conclusion of this event, around 8:30 or 9:00. This month’s theme is “Voices and Versos: En celebración”. - May 17, 2026 Salon Reading Series: “Diamond and Bone”
Turbine Flats, Resonator Gallery, 2124 Y St.
Lincoln, 6:30 - 9:00 pm
Each Salon Reading Series event features a reading of a play followed by a moderated discussion of the play’s themes and how these themes apply to the community. The theme for 2025-26 is “Find Your Place.” This month’s feature is Diamond and Bone by Jordan Morille, a talented but tormented ballplayer fighting for his last shot at the majors while battling ghosts of family, faith, and failure. Blurring memory, dream, and reality, the play explores guilt and redemption in America’s pastime with dark humor, lyrical grit, and raw emotion. - May 21, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Maria Nazos and Saddiq Dzukogi
Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd.
Lincoln, 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Join for discussion between writers Maria Nazos and Saddiq Dzukogi. - May 28, 2026 Stories & Verse: A Spoken Word Competition
Bellevue Public Library, 2206 Longo Dr.
Bellevue, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Participants will perform original work solo with a three-minute time limit. Judges will score each performance, and one winner will be selected. Ages 18+, registration is required. - May 30, 2026 Musicality and the Long Poem with Allison Adele Hedge Coke
Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Let sound guide your pen. In this workshop, explore rhythm, tone, and improvisation to create long-form poems that sing—expanding your sense of structure, continuity, and flow. - May 30, 2026 Poetry Workshop: Blackout Poetry
Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St.
Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am
Join instructor Julie S. Paschold for a morning creating blackout poetry, a form of found poetry where a poet selects words from existing text and “blacks out” part of the page to reveal a new poem. Review examples and discuss the meaning behind this art crossing into literature. Supplies will be provided, but bring your favorite markers or Sharpie, if desired, and your imaginative mind! Pre-registration is required.
Check out the NCB Calendar to stay up to date on upcoming literary events happening near you!
*The time, date, and location of these events are subject to change.
Some of this month’s events, workshops, or conferences may require registration or charge a fee.
Feel free to contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured.




















