Nebraska Center for the Book

Looking to get out and explore your community? If you’re looking for something to do in August, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!

• August 1, 2026 Writing the Poem of Grief through Food with Preeti Vangani
  Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am
  Explore how food can help you write more vivid, emotionally layered poems of grief, memory, and longing. In this generative workshop, writers will use meals, cooking, and shared rituals to open new pathways into elegy, deepen personal memory, and draft new work in a supportive space.
• August 2, 2026 61st Annual Neihardt Day: Poetry Picnic
  John G. Neihardt State Historic Site, 306 W Elm St.
  Bancroft, 1:00 – 3:00 pm
  A Poetry Picnic, featuring State Poet Emeritus Matt Mason, JV Brummels, and 2025-26 Youth Poet Laureate Victoria Bogatz. Bring your own picnic food and blanket, and join us for an afternoon celebrating poetry. In fact, bring your own poetry to readas the event includes an Open Mic for 2-3 poems if you like. Free and open to all.
• August 4, 2026 Brad Aaron Modlin Poetry Reading & Discussion
  Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
  Brad Aaron Modlin’s poetry moves between humor and heartbreak, loneliness and hope. Join us for an evening of poems that are poignant, quirky, and unexpectedly warm.
• August 5, 2026 Jewel Rodgers Residency – Listening Session
  Oto HiFi Lounge, 1917 S 67th St, Suite 140,
  Omaha, 6:00 – 8:30 pm
  Be the first to hear the fresh new sounds from Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers recording residency with Swedish producer Fredrik Serholt at this one-of-a-kind listening session following Rodger’s and Serholt’s multi-day recording residency at the 2026 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival.
• August 6, 2026 “Smolder” Book Launch – Winner of the Ex Ophidia Press Poetry Contest
  Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth,
  Omaha, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
  Join us for a poetry reading celebrating the launch of Smolder by Colleen Morton Busch. Busch is the 2025 winner of the Richard-Gabriel Rummonds Poetry Prize, an annual poetry book contest by Ex Ophidia Press, an Omaha-based independent poetry press. Doors open at 5:30 PM and the reading and Q&A will take place at 6:30 PM. A book signing will end the evening. Books will be available for purchase at the event. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP is required.
• August 6, 2026 Humanities Nebraska: A Visit With the Nebraska State Poet, Jewel Rodgers
  Morton James Public Library, 923 1st Corso,
  Nebraska City, 7:00 – 8:00 pm
  Jewel Rodgers, 2025 – 2029 State Poet of Nebraska, performs work on resilience, emotional intelligence, and community. As a spoken word poet, she shares techniques to bring emotion into readings. She often leads workshops and writing exercises, inspiring others to embrace their creativity, authenticity, and multifaceted passions through self-expression. This program is free and open to the public.
• August 7, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Lisa Knopp
  Zoom, 12:00 pm
  Lisa Knopp is the author of eight books of creative nonfiction. Ravelings: Essays on Love, Loss, and Wonder, was published by the University of Nebraska Press in March of 2026. Subjects of some of the essays include: finding equilibrium in her professional life by observing the exquisitely balanced rock cairns created by a wildly unbalanced former admirer; being awakened to the common magic around her through two chance encounters with a magician in training; gaining humility and empowerment as an unpartnered, 60-year old woman in a ball room dance class filled with young couples; finding the key to momentarily slowing the passage of time while delighting in showers of confetti; exploring hunger and fullness through stories about different types of eating (ethical, disordered, mindful); comprehending her experiences with more nuance and precision through her investigations into words — those we possess; those we’ve lost; those we need but don’t have; those she created to fill the gaps.
• August 7, 2026 Visiting Author:Colleen Morton Busch in conversation with Judy Lorenzen “Smolder”
  Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
  Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
  Join us as we welcome Ex Ophidia’s 2025 winner for the Richard-Gabriel Rummonds Poetry Prize, Colleen Morton Busch, as she presents her book of poetry Smolder. Colleen will be joined in conversation by writer Judy Lorenzen.
• August 7, 2026 Local Author Series: Victoria Bogatz
  Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St.
  Omaha, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
  Join us in celebrating the work of local author and Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Victoria Bogatz on her debut chapbook This Is Not the End with readings by guest poets including Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers, former Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason, Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Mentor Angélica Perez and Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Stephany Orellana Gomez.
• August 8, 2026 Poetry Workshop: Wonder in the Garden
  Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St.
  Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am
  We experience wonder spontaneously in the presence of grandeur or mystery—think of a total solar eclipse or a starling murmuration. But wonder can also be intentionally cultivated. In this workshop we’ll explore how to grow astonishment by listening to, and even conversing with, the many non-human voices in a garden. Led by author Colleen Morton Busch. Students will receive a signed copy of Smolder during the workshop. Pre-registration required. Led by Julie S. Paschold.
• August 8, 2026 Meet Nebraska Historian Ed Zimmer – Nebraska Telephone Company History and Beyond
  Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
  Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
  Francie & Finch Bookshop is celebrating 10 years in the historic Telephone Building! Join us on August 8th as beloved local historian and author Ed Zimmer takes us on an in-depth journey through the history of our home, the Lincoln Telephone Building and the Nebraska Telephone Company! Following the talk, Ed’s publications, including all 3 volumes of Walking the Near South, will be available for purchase and signing!
• August 10, 2026 Book Launch: David Moscovich “Premieres: A Memoir in Verse”
  Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
  Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
  Francie and Finch Bookshop is pleased to welcome back author David Moscovich! Join us as we celebrate Premieres: A Memoir in Verse! Books available for purchase at the event with author signing to follow talk.
• August 11, 2026 History Unveiled: “Journey to Freedom” – Researching and Writing the Grayson Sisters’ Escape
  Sower Books, 914 N 70th St.
  Lincoln, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
  Award-winning historian and author Gail Shaffer Blankenau shares the remarkable story behind her book, Journey to Freedom: Uncovering the Grayson Sisters’ Escape from Nebraska Territory, while taking you behind the scenes of historical research and writing. Join us at the Nebraska History Museum to learn how court records, newspapers, family histories, and archival discoveries came together to reconstruct the lives of Celia and Eliza Grayson and illuminate the history of slavery and freedom seeking in Nebraska Territory. This event is free and open to the public thanks to the support of the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation.
• August 11, 2026 Writing Club at Vis Major Brewing
  Vis Major Brewing Company, 3501 Center St.
  Omaha, 6:00 – 8:30 pm
  Join us for a welcoming, in-person gathering for people who want to read, reflect, and write in community. We will begin with a poem and a short fiction or nonfiction selection, followed by conversation about what the writing is doing and how it works on the page. Together, we’ll explore craft elements such as imagery, diction, metaphor, structure, and line or sentence movement in a way that is inviting and accessible to all.
• August 14, 2026 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Kelly Madigan
  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 Kelly Madigan will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
• August 14, 2026 Author Event with Michael Bettendorf
  Sower Books, 914 N 70th St.
  Lincoln, 6:00 – 8:00 pm
  Join us to chat with Michael Bettendorf about his Book Midwestern Chrome!
• August 15, 2026 Poetry Workshop: Gathering Words
  Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St.
  Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am
  We experience wonder spontaneously in the presence of grandeur or mystery—think of a total solar eclipse or a starling murmuration. But wonder can also be intentionally cultivated. In this workshop we’ll explore how to grow astonishment by listening to, and even conversing with, the many non-human voices in a garden. Led by author Colleen Morton Busch. Students will receive a signed copy of Smolder during the workshop. Pre-registration required. Led by Julie S. Paschold.
• August 15, 2026 Author Event with Malia Emary
  Sower Books, 914 N 70th St.
  Lincoln, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
  It’s bookstore romance day and we are going to celebrate with one of our favorite local romance authors, Malia Emary! Join us for a reading, talk, & signing for Malia’s newest book The Future is Bright, a cozy, post-apocalyptic, slow-burn romance about love after loss, finding community, and choosing to embrace life. There will also be Bookstore Romance Day activities throught the day!
• August 15, 2026 Book Launch: Matt Schur “Even This is Holy Ground: Poetry”
  Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
  Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
  Join us as we welcome back Nebraska poet Matt Schur! He will be reading from his new book of poetry Even This is Holy Ground, a poetry collection rooted in Christian faith and unafraid of the world as it actually is.
• August 18, 2026 Visiting Author: Marlene Zuk “Outsider Animals: How the Creatures at the Margins of Our Lives Have the Most to Teach Us”
  Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
  Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
  Join us as we welcome author and evolutionary biologist Marlene Zuk to Francie & Finch Bookshop to sign copies of her book Outsider Animals: How the Creatures at the Margins of Our Lives Have the Most to Teach Us!
• August 20, 2026 Poetry Pause at Joslyn Castle
  Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St.
  Omaha, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
  August Poetry Pause features Tyler Michael Jacobs, author of “The Weight of Drought” and “Building Brownville,” and Nicole Stander, an Omaha poet and MFA candidate. This free Art Walk event offers an easygoing hour of poems, conversation, and audience questions.
• August 20, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Matt Mason and Sarah McKinstry-Brown
  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 Matt Mason and Sarah McKinstry-Brown.
• August 29, 2026 Visiting Author: Alexandra Hayne “What Ruth Learned”
  Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
  Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
  Join us as we welcome Omaha author Alexandra Hayne as she presents her debut novel What Ruth Learned, a novel of “secrets, reinvention, and the stories we inherit”!

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.

The sun is shining and summer is here! If you’re looking for something to do in June, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!

• June 4-6, 2026 71st Annual Willa Cather Spring Conference
  The National Willa Cather Center, 413 N Webster St.
  Red Cloud, All Day
  The Willa Cather Spring Conference returns with the theme “Memory, Myth, and Meaning: Cather in Dialogue with America 250.” This event invites readers, scholars, and artists to explore the enduring relevance of Willa Cather’s work. Centered on the publication centenary of her novella My Mortal Enemy, the program features keynote speaker Rebecca Romney, scholarly plenaries, and a mixed media exhibit by Susan Hart. Other highlights include the opening of All Aboard: West-Bound Trains in American Culture at the historic Burlington Depot and a special performance of The Bohemian by Harbor Stage Company. Set in Cather’s hometown of Red Cloud, the conference offers a rich blend of scholarship, art, and place. Please join us for a celebration of Cather’s literature in dialogue with America’s past and present.
• June 6, 2026 “Roxie In Color” Book Release & Author Signing
  Sower Books, 914 N 70th St.
  Lincoln, 2:00 pm
  Meet the authors Diane Debrovner & Stacy Cervenka and snag their brand-new book Roxie in Color! Written for ages 9–12, but packed with things everyone will love! Roxie wants to blend in at a new school, which is hard to do when your parents are blind, in this remarkable novel about friendship, misperceptions, and family—plus a dog’s view of the world.
• June 6, 2026 Shake Night Double Feature with Old School Shakespeare Omaha
  Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 S 6th St.
  Council Bluffs, IA 7:00 pm
  Opera Omaha and Old School Shakespeare Omaha come together for a unique evening of words and art. First, experience Opera Omaha’s one-act opera, UnShakeable: Three years after a mysterious epidemic has left its survivors plagued by memory loss, two actors reunite in a desolate theater using the only common language they can find: Shakespeare. As they search for sparks of their forgotten past, they’ll need the audience’s help to connect them to memories and emotions that linger just out of reach. Next, grab a drink at the bar and enjoy an immersive performance of Hamlet, presented by Old School Shakespeare Omaha. Step into a world of grief, ghosts, madness, mirrors, and the dangerous (and beautiful) duality of the human mind.
• June 8, 2026 Judy Lorenzen Poetry Reading & Discussion
  Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
  Judy Lorenzen’s poetry holds both joy and sorrow—family, forgiveness, and the quiet wonders of nature. Honest and tender, her work has been praised for the way love threads through even life’s struggles.
• June 9, 2026 Visiting Author: Visiting Author – Garrett Peck “The Bright Edges of the World: Willa Cather and Her Archbishop”
  Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
  Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
  Join us as we welcome author and historian Garrett Peck, from New Mexico, to Francie & Finch Bookshop! He will be presenting his book, The Bright Edges of the World: Willa Cather and Her Archbishop. The book explores Cather’s travels to the Southwest that inspired her to write her “best book” (her words), Death Comes for the Archbishop.
• June 9, 2026 History Unveiled: “Disparate Regimes in the United States, 1865-1965” Presented by Author Brendan Shanahan
  Nebraska History Museum, 131 Centennial Mall N.
  Lincoln, 6:00 – 7:00 pm
  Who decides the rights of immigrants? Historian Brendan A. Shanahan arrives at the Nebraska History Museum to discuss his award-winning book Disparate Regimes: Nativist Politics, Alienage Law, and Citizenship Rights in the United States, 1865–1965. This event is free and open to the public thanks to the support of the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation. This lecture is the first presentation during the museum’s summer History Unveiled program series, each month from June to August.
• June 10, 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 12, 2026 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Aliyah American Horse
  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 Aliyah American Horse will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
• June 13, 2026 Visiting Author: Visiting Author – Lisa Knopp “Ravelings: Essays on Love, Loss, and Wonder (American Lives)”
  Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
  Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
  Join us as we welcome author Lisa Knopp! She will read from her recent book of essays, Ravelings, published by the University of Nebraska Press. In Ravelings, Lisa Knopp takes up an older, opposing meaning of the verb “ravel” — “to entangle” — as she explores the deaths and departures of loved ones and the rituals by which we mourn and honor them, while contemplating her relationships with writing, spirituality, sense of home, aging, desire, and the relationship between body and mind.
• June 17, 2026 Once Upon a Time at the Castle
  Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St.
  Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm
  Once Upon a Time at the Castle is a storytime adventure featuring a youth librarian who will transport you to a world of imaginary characters. After story time, we will learn about the real creatures we read about with live wildlife interactions and activities. Each month will be a new way to engage with storytelling and nature! This is a free series for the community, best suited for children ages 2-8. Wear good shoes and BOYB (bring your own blanket) and snacks! In the case of inclement weather or heat advisories, we will move inside the Castle or Carriage House.
• June 18, 2026 Art Walk and Poetry Pause
  Joslyn Castle Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St.
  Omaha, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
  During the Castle and Cathedral Creative District’s Art Walk, the Nebraska Poetry Society features two local poets at different points in their writing lives who share their work, discuss poetry and the creative process, and answer questions. Featured June poets are Shyla Ann Shehan and Leta Iris.
• June 18, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Margaret Lukas and Claudia J. Severin
  Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd.
  Lincoln, 6:00 - 6:30 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 Margaret Lukas and Claudia J. Severin.
• June 20, 2026 Imagery and Imagination: For the Love of Objects with Hadara Bar-Nadav
  Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am
  What do your cherished objects reveal? Join us to explore imagery and imagination as we write about the objects that carry memory, meaning, and mystery in our lives.
• June 25, 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.
• June 27, 2026 Poetry Workshop: That Bloomin’ Poetry
  Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St.
  Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am
  Ever really looked at a flower as it blooms—noticed the petals, wondered what each part is called, and how the bloom plays a role in the life of the plant? What does that have to do with poetry? In this outdoor workshop, we’ll explore the many ways things “bloom,” both in nature and in our lives, using observation as a starting point for creative writing. Bring a notebook, something to write with, and come prepared to spend time outside as you find fresh inspiration in the garden. Dress for the weather, bring water, and use sun protection, if needed! Led by Julie S. Paschold.
• June 27, 2026 Poetry Office Hours with Matt Mason
  Joslyn Castle’s Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St.
  Omaha, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
  Drop in to talk with Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence Matt Mason about 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.
• June 27, 2026 Book Launch Party: “Wheel Man” by Marcia Calhoun Forecki
  Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N. Cotner Blvd.
  Lincoln, 3:00 – 5:00 pm
  Join for a book launch celebration for Marcia Calhoun Forecki, author of Wheel Man. Readings and conversation will take place and snacks will be provided. Francie & Finch Bookstore will be on premises with books to sell!
• June 30, 2026 Book of Poetry Launch: Nicole Lachat in Conversation with Ber Anena “The Red We Silk”
  Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
  Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
  Join us welcoming poet Nicole Lachat as she presents her new book of poetry The Red We Silk. Nicole will be joined in a special conversation with fellow writer, Ber Anena. The Red We Silk collects inherited migrations and the weight of familial journeys into a lyric investigation of displacement and longing. Memory abides in the body and the body in memory, propelling the speaker through geographical and spiritual landscapes, desires, and griefs toward the transformative work of discovery. Tender, attentive, and multivocal, these are poems of belonging beyond borders.

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.

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.

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.