Upcoming Events in May

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.

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One Month Remains for Nebraska Book Awards Submissions!

What do all of these #BookFace pictures have in common? They’ve all received a Nebraska Book Award! You could join this excellent group of authors, publishers, and illustrators, but you have to submit your book for consideration. You’ll have to act fast because the deadline for entries is May 31, 2026.

The Nebraska Book Awards recognize and honor books that are written by Nebraska authors and illustrators, published by Nebraska publishers, set in Nebraska, or relate to Nebraska. Books published in 2025, as indicated by the copyright date, are eligible for nomination. They must be professionally published, have an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), and be bound. Books may be entered in one or more of the following categories: Nonfiction, Fiction, Children/Young Adult, Cover/Design/Illustration, and Poetry. The entry fee is $40 per book and per category entered. For more information about the Book Awards and how to submit visit https://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards/nebookawards.html.

Winners of the 2026 Nebraska Book Awards will be featured at the Nebraska Celebration of Books (NCOB) Literary Festival. Held on Saturday, November 14th, from 10:00am-5:30pm, this literary event will be on the second floor of the UNL City Campus Union and Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center in downtown Lincoln. For more information about the Nebraska Book Awards visit centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards/nebookawards.html.

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Nominate a Book for the 2027 One Book One Nebraska

The Nebraska Center for the Book invites recommendations for One Book One Nebraska book selection. Nominations are accepted year round, but the annual deadline is May 31. Nominations received after the deadline will be considered in the following year.

The Center for the Book will consider books written by a Nebraska author (living or dead/with current or former residence in the state,) or that have a Nebraska theme or setting. Books should have a broad appeal to readers across Nebraska and lend well to group book discussion. Books may be fiction, non-fiction, biography, memoir, or poetry. They must be in print and readily available. The Center for the Book strongly suggests that anyone who nominates a text should have read it.

Submit your nomination for the 2027 One Book One Nebraska at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/obon-nomination.asp.

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National Library Week Proclaimed & Letters About Literature Winners Honored

Governor Jim Pillen proclaimed April 19-25, 2026 National Library Week in Nebraska today at the Proclamation signing ceremony at the capitol. He also honored the student winners of the Letters About Literature writing contest with signed award certificates. These students wrote personal letters to authors explaining how his or her work changed their view of themselves or the world. They selected authors from any genre, fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic. Winners were chosen from three competition levels: upper elementary, middle school, and high school.

These students were then honored at a reception at Lincoln City Library’s Bennett Martin branch where they had the opportunity to read their letters and receive their awards. Their winning letters were then placed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln. For more information about the competition see http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/LAL.html

Level I (Grades 4-6):

  • Winner is Gabe Sowards of Tri-County Public Schools, who wrote to Evan Griffith about their book, Manatee Summer.
  • Runner-up is Emry Griesen of Lincoln’s Prescott Elementary, who wrote to Graeme Base about their book, The Eleventh Hour.

Level II (Grades 7-8):

  • Winner is Charlie Chance of Lincoln’s Scott Middle School who wrote to Gayle Forman about their book, I Have Lost My Way.
  • Runner-up is Harper Hoshaw of Omaha’s Lewis and Clark Middle School who wrote to Rainbow Rowell about their book, Carry On.

Level III (Grades 9-12):

  • Winner is Oliver Goddette of Wahoo Public High School, who wrote to Langston Hughes about their poem, Kids Who Die.
  • Runner-up is Eva Bordovsky of Wahoo Public High School, who wrote to Nicholas Sparks about their book The Notebook.
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Upcoming Events in April

Get out and about and enjoy these literary events! If you’re looking for something to do in April, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!

  • April 1-2, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Preliminary Bouts
    The Dock at Millwork Commons, 1229 Millwork Ave.
    Omaha, 5:30 & 7:30 pm
    All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These preliminary bout events run March 23-April 2 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.
  • April 2, 2026 Verse & Vibes
    Indigo Cottage Crafts, 2063 Creekside Dr.
    Papillion, 6:30 pm
    An open mic at an artsy space full of good vibes, and not just because of the coffee and liquor bar ;). Open to poets, authors, writers, musicians, anyone who has talent to share. Everyone is welcome. Free event. Jules Coral, MC.
  • April 2, 2026 Local Author Series: Amy Haddad
    Joslyn Castle Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St.
    Omaha, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
    Join us as we celebrate local Omaha poet, Amy Haddad, and her chapbook, The Most Potent Weapon. The poems in Haddad’s The Most Potent Weapon read like “enlightenments from life on the road,” to borrow from Paul Theroux, for those who journey with end-stage or chronic illness. With a rare insider’s view of the world of health care from the dual perspective of nurse and patient, Haddad reveals courage, frailty, grace, and humor in poems grounded in clinical authenticity. Following a reading of selected poems from The Most Potent Weapon there will be time for discussion/questions and a chapbook signing. Chapbooks will be available for purchase that evening.
  • April 3, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Jim Peterson
    Zoom, 12:00 pm
    Jim Peterson’s poems have won the Benjamin Saltman Award from Red Hen Press, an Academy of American Poets Award, and a Fellowship in Poetry from the Virginia Arts Commission. His newest poetry collection is Towheaded Stone Thrower, his tenth book overall, including eight collections of poetry, a novel, and a collection of short stories.
  • April 7, 2026 Todd Robinson Poetry Reading & Discussion
    Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am
    Todd Robinson’s work moves between tenderness and wit, exploring love, loss, and the beauty of the Midwest. His poems draw on pop culture, memory, and faith, revealing both humor and heart in the ordinary and extraordinary.
  • April 11, 2026 Writing About the Dead and the Dying with M. Mick Powell
    Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am
    This workshop invites writers to consider how we grieve, honor, and remember, and how we celebrate life and legacy even as violence shapes our world.
  • April 11, 2026 HOMEGROWN
    Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, 801 Third Corso
    Nebraska City, 5:00 – 7:00 pm
    Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts proudly presents HOMEGROWN with Jewel Rodgers, State Poet of Nebraska. “HOMEGROWN is a series of intimate art shares across the state of Nebraska, bringing together poets, sculptors, painters -everyone. “Open to the public and free to attend. Light refreshments will be provided by Whispering Pines.
  • April 12, 2026 Salon Reading Series: “Always a Bridesmaid”
    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 Always a Bridesmaid by Regina Hinkley, where Aris, a young college graduate, plans a surprise engagement party for her best friend.
  • April 14, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Semi-Final Bouts
    The Venue at Highlander, 2120 N 30th St.
    Omaha, 5:30 & 7:30 pm
    All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These preliminary bout events run April 14 & 16 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.
  • April 16, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Semi-Final Bouts
    The Venue at Highlander, 2120 N 30th St.
    Omaha, 5:30 & 7:30 pm
    All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These preliminary bout events run April 14 & 16 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.
  • April 17, 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 “Beginner’s Luck: Poetry slam”.
  • April 18, 2026 A Morning with Matt Mason
    Morton-James Public Library, 923 1st Corso
    Nebraska City, 10:00 – 11:00 am
    An engaging and fun poetry workshop with former Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason. Adults and teens age 15 and up, free, no registration. Open to beginning and seasoned poets and writers.
  • April 18, 2026 Visiting Author: Elizabeth Zaleski “The Trouble with Loving Poets and Other Essays on Failure”
    Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
    Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
    Join us for a visit from author Elizabeth Zaleski! She will be presenting her new book of personal essays, The Trouble with Loving Poets and Other Essays on Failure and writes about the book, “If you’ll bear with me, we’re going to get a bit technical. And then, I promise, it will all start to matter.”
  • April 23, 2026 Virtual Author Series: Tyler Jacobs and Samuel Burt
    Zoom, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
    Commemorate National Poetry Month and meet two emerging poets of the Great Plains! Join Tyler Jacobs and Samuel Burt for readings of their latest work, including poems from Jacobs’ new book The Weight of Drought, and engage in a discussion with the authors about place-based poetry, their creative processes, and building careers as writers in the 21st century. You won’t want to miss a night of beautiful and thought-provoking poetry! This event is free with registration.
  • April 25, 2026 National Youth Poet Laureate Commencement Ceremony
    Omaha Central Library, 7205 Dodge St.
    Omaha, 7:00 – 8:30 pm
    The Nebraska Writers Collective, in partnership with Urban Word, is hosts this event, marking the first time this celebration has been held in our state. Join us for an evening celebrating youth voice, literary excellence, and the announcement of the 10th National Youth Poet Laureate. The evening will feature performances from four national finalists, alongside a reading from the 2025 Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Victoria Bogatz. The program will be hosted by Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers and accompanied by DJ Errik Ejike. Seating is limited. Please register in advance.
  • April 28, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Finals
    Scott Hall at the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St.
    Omaha, 7:00 pm
    All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season.

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.

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What We’re Reading: The Correspondent

Where Nebraska Center for the Book board members share their thoughts about the books they are reading. This month’s review is by Laurie Yocom.

Review of The Correspondent by Virginia Evans.


I just finished the most remarkable book. Generally, I do not love epistolary novels but I adored this book. There is a lost art, it seems, to writing letters in this fast-paced world of ours that is slammed by emails, texts, and snaps. For Sybil Van Antwerp, a 70-something retired lawyer, it is a daily habit, sitting down with her special stationery and writing to all sorts of people, even her neighbor down the street. Throughout the book, you must pay attention to what is happening; I laughed and cried throughout. I especially enjoyed the books she was sharing with all sorts of acquaintances as well as her letters (and their responses!) from several authors as to what she thought of their tomes. The book made me want to pick up my own pen and find those just-right words to send to a multitude of people. I felt a kinship to Sybil that I find I cannot yet put into words, but definitely recommend to readers.

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2026 One Book One Nebraska Bookmarks Available!

Looking for more ways to engage readers with #OneBookOneNebraska? We now have bookmarks for 2026’s selection, “The Antidote: A Novel” by Karen Russell.

Contact us at CenterForBook@nlc.state.ne.us if you’re interested in receiving some bookmarks for your library!

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Upcoming Events in March

Spring into action and get involved! If you’re looking for something to do in February, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!

  • March 1, 2026 Salon Reading Series: “Shakespeare’s Skull”
    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 Shakespeare’s Skull by Rich Rubin, aa comedy based on a legend – a legend that may be closer to truth than to fiction.
  • March 3, 2026 Book Launch: Carolyn Zeisset “Caught in the Middle”
    Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
    Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
    Join us as we welcome back author and historian Carolyn Zeisset as she presents her newest novel for kids and adults, Caught in the Middle, a story about twelve-year-old Alice who is caught between childhood and adulthood, changing women’s roles, and World War I America and a German-speaking, peace-church heritage. The novel follows Alice as she must decide who she is.
  • March 3, 2026 Kim McNealy Sosin Poetry Reading & Discussion
    Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
    Kim McNealy Sosin’s poems evoke small-town Nebraska in the ’40s and ’50s—childhood joys, family ties, and the bittersweet truths of growing up.
  • March 4, 2026 Visiting Writer Series – Tyler Jacobs
    Northeast Community College, Union 73 Coffee Shop, 801 E Benjamin Ave.
    Norfolk, 4:00 pm
    Tyler Michael Jacobs is the author of The Weight of Drought and Building Brownville. His words have appeared in Passages NorthVariant LiteraturePlainsongsPidgeonholesSierra Nevada Review, and elsewhere. His poems have also been featured on Nebraska Public Media’s Friday LIVE. He received his MFA from Bowling Green State University.
  • March 5, 2026 Verse & Vibes
    Indigo Cottage Crafts, 2063 Creekside Dr.
    Papillion, 6:30 pm
    An open mic at an artsy space full of good vibes, and not just because of the coffee and liquor bar ;). Open to poets, authors, writers, musicians, anyone who has talent to share. Everyone is welcome. Free event. Jules Coral, MC.
  • March 6, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Katherine Wela Bogen
    Zoom, 12:00 pm
    Join Katherine Wela Bogen, who in her own words says she is “first, a storyteller; second, a scholar-activist; and third, a joyful little freak.” In her propulsive debut novel, Queering Him, Bogen chronicles the scalding-hot story of millennial enemies turned lovers Avra and Kieran.
  • March 8, 2026 Nebraska Poet Project Exhibit Grand Opening
    The John G. Neihardt State Historic Site, 306 W. Elm St.
    Bancroft, 2:00 – 4:00 pm
    Featuring Jewel Rogers, Nebraska State Poet; Matt Mason, Nebraska State Poet 2019-2024; and Zedeka Poindexter, performance poet and co-executive director of the Nebraska Writers Collective; at the grand opening of the Nebraska Poet Project exhibit by artist Stephanie Meisterling.
  • March 11 – April 15, 2026 What’s Your American Story? A Writing Workshop with Matt Mason
    La Vista Public Library, 9110 Giles Rd.
    La Vista, Wednesdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm
    Participants will examine their connections with the founding of the United States through an exploration of the written word. With the help of the instructor, participants will put pen to paper using their personal stories to create poems and other written works. At the end of the seven weeks, a public reception and reading will be held. Enrolling commits you to attending the full seven week course. Workshop is for ages 55+, registration is free. Enroll by March 7.
  • March 13, 2026 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Rasaq Malik
    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 Rasaq Malik will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
  • March 14, 2026 Poetry Writing Workshop: Spring Into Nature Through Verse
    Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St.
    Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am
    Joining the natural world with the written word is the focus of this workshop, which is a perfect time to wake up with the spring season. We will ease the greening of the world with the greening of our poetry. Bring your green thumbs, or just an appreciation of Mother Nature and all that she provides us with! Led by Julie Paschold. Pre-registration is required.
  • March 14, 2026 In Good Company: A Community Renga and Paper Art Workshop
    Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd.
    Lincoln, 1:00 – 4:00 pm
    Renga is a classical Japanese form of poetry from which the beloved and well-known haiku was derived. In the first half of this workshop, Henry Zander will introduce participants to this fascinating type of poetry and provide an experience in writing one. It’s half-game, half-poetry, and all very good community fun. We’ll cover the basics via Hiroaki Sato’s One-Hundred Frogs, get into the weeds, back out of them, and end with a paper art project to display our mutual efforts. In the second half of the workshop, Sally Cox will share techniques of folding, cutting, and glueing paper to create fun pop-up structures. Participants will make several different projects to take home, and to contribute to a community project.
  • March 14, 2026 Book Launch: Alison Pearce Stevens – “When Beavers Move In”
    Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
    Lincoln, 4:30 – 6:00 pm
    Join us as we welcome back beloved children’s author Alison Pearce Stevens as she brings hands on demonstrations to dive us into the world of her newest book When Beavers Move In!
  • March 19, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Shyla Ann Shehan and Julie McCabe-Johanning
    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 Shyla Ann Shehan and Julie McCabe-Johanning.
  • March 19, 2026 Virtual Author Series: Garrett Peck – “The Bright Edges of the World: Willa Cather and Her Archbishop”
    Zoom, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
    Deepen your understanding of one of Willa Cather’s most celebrated novels! In The Bright Edges of the World, Garrett Peck explores how Cather’s travels to the Southwest inspired her writing. She visited the Southwest six times between 1912 and 1926, and from these journeys came three novels, the last of which was Death Comes for the Archbishop. Through Cather’s letters, postcards, articles, and interviews, Peck traces how integral travel was to Cather’s imagination while highlighting the vital contribution that Cather’s longtime partner, Edith Lewis, made to the story.
  • March 19, 2026 Writes of Passage
    UNO’s Criss Library, 6401 S University Dr Rd N.
    Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
    Prepare to be moved, inspired, and electrified at the only spoken word event in Nebraska dedicated solely to the art of expression. This isn’t just another open mic night—it’s a celebration of storytelling and raw emotion, where voices from all walks of life take center stage. Hosted in the intimate and immersive setting where every performance feels personal. Whether you’re a longtime lover of spoken word or a curious newcomer, this event guarantees an unforgettable night of connection and creativity. Featuring Sam Nichols and Allen Stevenson as MCs.
  • March 20, 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 “Beginner’s Luck: Poetry slam”.
  • March 23-26, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Preliminary Bouts
    UNL City Campus, Swanson Auditorium, 1400 R St.
    Lincoln, 5:30 & 7:30
    All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These events run March 23-April 28 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.
  • March 28, 2026 The Poets’ “Little Song”: 800 Years of Sonnets from Medieval Sicily to the American Midwest with Alison Lubar
    Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am
    Travel through 800 years of sonnets in this lively history-meets-poetry workshop! From Petrarch to Terrance Hayes, explore how poets have reinvented the “little song” across centuries—and discover fresh ways to write your own sonnets that sing to today’s world.
  • March 30-31, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Preliminary Bouts
    Revive Center, 2402 Lizzie Robinson Ave.
    Omaha, 5:30 & 7:30
    All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These preliminary bout events run March 23-April 28 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.

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.

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What We’re Reading: Slow Horses

Where Nebraska Center for the Book board members share their thoughts about the books they are reading. This month’s review is by Richard Miller.

Review of Slow Horses by Mick Herron.


Slow Horses, by Mick Herron is a British fiction spy thriller about MI5 and Slough House, the agency’s dumping ground for agents who have failed in some way in their operations for the agency. The story begins with what appears to be a major blunder on the part of River Cartwright which resulted in damage done by a suicide bomber – millions in destruction, hundreds of train commuters killed, and transportation disrupted. Turns out that the explosion never occurred – it was an exercise. Nevertheless, River is blamed for the failure and is demoted to working with the other “slow horses” at Slough House.

This title is a fast read and packed with characters such as River’s grandfather known as O.B. (Old Bastard) who once was a super spy with MI5; and Jackson Lamb, the flatulent and disgusting head of Slough House. The main plot centers around a Pakistani hostage taken by a right-wing group threatening to cut off his head while online. 

A fast read indeed, gifted to me by my daughter. Apparently there is a TV movie of the book starring Gary Oldman as the disgusting Jackson Lamb. Highly recommended.

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Nominations Open for the 2026 Nebraska Book Awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 17, 2026

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Bailee Juroshek
402-471-4002
800-307-2665

Nominations Open for the 2026 Nebraska Book Awards

The 2026 Nebraska Book Awards program, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book (NCB) and Nebraska Library Commission, will recognize and honor books that are written by Nebraska authors and illustrators, published by Nebraska publishers, set in Nebraska, or relate to Nebraska.

Books published in 2025, as indicated by the copyright date, are eligible for nomination. They must be professionally published, have an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), and be bound. Books may be entered in one or more of the following categories: Nonfiction, Fiction, Children/Young Adult, Cover/Design/Illustration, and Poetry. Winners in each category will be honored at the Fall 2026 Nebraska Celebration of Book Literary Festival in Lincoln on October 24th.

The entry fee is $40 per book and per category entered. Deadline for entries is May 31, 2026. For more information, including entry forms, see http://www.centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards/nebookawards.html

Books may be entered in one of two ways, either complete the Online Entry Form and submit payment through PayPal, then mail three copies of the book to the below address. Or, mail the Entry Form [pdf], three copies of the book, and the entry fee via a check made out to the Nebraska Center for the Book to the below address.

NCB Book Awards Competition
c/o Nebraska Library Commission
The Atrium
1200 N Street, Suite 120
Lincoln, NE 68508-2023

The Nebraska Center for the Book is housed at the Nebraska Library Commission and brings together the state’s readers, writers, booksellers, librarians, publishers, printers, educators, and scholars to build the community of the book, supporting programs to celebrate and stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. The Nebraska Center for the Book is supported by the national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Nebraska Library Commission.

As the state library agency, the Nebraska Library Commission is an advocate for the library and information needs of all Nebraskans. The mission of the Library Commission is statewide promotion, development, and coordination of library and information services, “bringing together people and information.”

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The most up-to-date news releases from the Nebraska Library Commission are always available on the Library Commission Website, http://nlc.nebraska.gov/publications/newsreleases.

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