Literary Events Upcoming in April

Posted on April 1, 2024 by Bailee Juroshek

This is no joke, April is here! If you’re looking for something to do this April, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!

  • April 2nd, 2024 Poetry Reading with Ae Hee Lee, Siwar Masannat, and Kelly Weber
    Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S 13th St.
    Lincoln, NE, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
    Francie & Finch Bookshop hosts three poets for a Tuesday night reading.
  • April 2nd, 2024 All Writes Reserved – Omaha Preliminary Bouts
    Metropolitan Community College, S. Omaha Campus, 2909 Edward Babe Gomez Ave.
    Omaha, NE, 5:30 & 7:30 pm
    All Writes Reserved is an annual youth spoken word festival and competition featuring schools from all over Nebraska and the Great Plains.
  • April 2nd, 2024 Katie Schmid Poetry Reading and Discussion
    Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
    Katie is a UNL graduate who loves to use wild imagination and linguistic play to channel suffering into creative power. Listen as she discusses her writing process.
  • April 5th, 2024 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Timothy Schaffert
    Zoom, 12:00 pm
    Join Nebraskan author Timothy Schaffert in the book talk and reading of “The Titanic Survivors’ Book Club”.
  • April 5, 2024 Observe National Nebraska Day: Book Signing with Gail Shaffer Blankenau
    National Willa Cather Center, 425 N Webster St.
    Red Cloud, NE, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
    Observe National Nebraska Day by learning more about the complex history of the state’s south central region. Author & historian Gail Shaffer Blankenau will talk about and have signings of her new book, “Journey to Freedom: Uncovering the Grayson Sisters’ Escape from Nebraska Territory.”
  • April 5, 2024 First Friday Book Launch: “The Nebraska Sandhills”
    Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S 13th St.
    Lincoln, NE, 5:30 – 6:30 pm
    Meet the editors and hear stories about the history, people, geography, geology, ecology, and conservation of the Nebraska Sandhills.
  • April 6, 2024 Write On! Writer’s Workshop with Heidi Hermanson
    AV Sorensen Community Center, 4808 Cass St.
    Omaha, NE, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
    Generate new writing, meet other writers, improve your skills, and learn new techniques! Taught by Heidi Hermanson, published author and recipient of the 2021 Nebraska Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship.
  • April 6, 2024 Book Release Celebration: Timothy Schaffert with “The Titanic Survivors Book Club”
    Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St.
    Lincoln, NE, 4:30 – 6:00 pm
    Author Timothy Schaffert discusses seeking out the books that were on board the Titanic, and other bookish obsessions, with Pat Leach, former director of Lincoln City Libraries and host of the radio show and podcast “All About Books.”
  • April 7, 2024 A Visit with Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason
    Schoolhouse Art Gallery & Nature Center, 427 Main St.
    Brownville, NE, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
    Matt will read poems with the theme of “In the Woods: Poems about Trees and Nature”.
  • April 8, 2024 Meet the Author: Tosca Lee
    Keene Memorial Library, 1030 N Broad St.
    Fremont, NE, 7:00 pm
    Tosca Lee will talk about books, writing, and the stories behind the stories. Books will be available for purchase and signing.
  • April 9, 2024 Charlie Peck Book Launch Reading: “World’s Largest Ball of Paint”
    Bookworm Bookstore, 2501 S 90th St.
    Omaha, NE, 6:00 pm
    Nebraska poet Charlie Peck will read from and sign his debut poetry collection, “World’s Largest Ball of Paint”. Nebraska State Poet, Matt Mason, will join Peck to read and sign his work.
  • April 9, 2024 On Writing with Amy Haddad
    Benson Theatre, 6054 Maple St.
    Omaha, NE, 6:00 pm
    Join us in the lobby, alongside our partner The Book Nook, and participate in an engaging live reading from Nebraska poet Amy Haddad. Peruse the curated offerings from the Book Nook, have a drink, and stay for the Q and A.
  • April 13, 2024 Writing Workshop & Reading with Matt Mason
    Espressions: Coffee & Community, 1117 M St.
    Aurora, NE,
    1:00 – 2:00 PM, Writing Workshop; 2:30 – 3:30 PM, Poetry Reading
    Matt will lead a writing workshop for those who register in advance, and then afterwards will do a free reading from five of his books at the front of the coffee shop.
  • April 16th & 18th, 2024 All Writes Reserved – Semifinals
    Benson Theatre, 6054 Maple St.
    Omaha, NE, 5:30 & 7:30 pm
    All Writes Reserved is an annual youth spoken word festival and competition featuring schools from all over Nebraska and the Great Plains.
  • April 16, 2024 Imaginary Gardens Reading Series with Bonnie Johnson Bartee and Neil Harrison
    Mister Toad’s, 1002 Howard St.
    Omaha, NE, 7:00 pm
    Join Nebraska authors for literature and conversation. Hosted by Michael Skau.
  • April 18, 2024 Writers’ Workshop with Matt Mason
    Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Ave, Platte Room
    Kearney, NE, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
    Celebrate National Poetry Month with this writing workshop led by Nebraska State Poet, Matt Mason. Matt will inspire you to experience, love, and write poetry.
  • April 18, 2024 Poetry Reading by Nebraska State Poet, Matt Mason
    Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Ave, Platte Room
    Kearney, NE, 7:00 pm
    Enjoy an evening of poetry with Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason. He will read favorites from his books and more.
  • April 30th All Writes Reserved – Finals
    Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St.
    Omaha, NE, 7:00 pm
    All Writes Reserved is an annual youth spoken word festival and competition featuring schools from all over Nebraska and the Great Plains.

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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Young Nebraskans Win Writing Competition    

Posted on March 26, 2024 by Bailee Juroshek

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
March 26, 2024

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tessa Timperley
402-471-3434
800-307-2665

Young Nebraskans Win Writing Competition    

Nebraska students competed for the twenty-fifth year in the annual Letters About Literature competition. They wrote to tell an author about how books can make a difference in a young person’s life. Young Nebraska writers who wrote winning letters in the Letters About Literature competition will attend a proclamation signing ceremony on April 11th with Gov. Jim Pillen. Letters About Literature is a state-wide reading and writing promotion program. The competition encourages young people to read, be inspired, and write back to the author (living or dead) who had an impact on their lives.

This annual contest is coordinated and sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Library Commission, Lincoln City Libraries, Humanities Nebraska, Connie Osborne, Francie & Finch Bookshop of Lincoln, and Chapters Bookstore in Seward.

Young Nebraska writers to be honored are:

Level I (Grades 4-6):
Winner is Brooklyn Green of Lincoln’s Irving Middle School, who wrote to S.E. Hinton about their book, The Outsiders.
Runner-up is Justin Kang-Shizuka of Lincoln’s Prescott Elementary, who wrote to George Takei about their book, They Called Us Enemy.

Level II (Grades 7-8):
Winner is Henry Skretta of Lincoln’s Irving Middle School who wrote to Neal Shusterman about their book, Scythe.
Runner-up is Liam Brown Kramer of Lincoln’s Irving Middle School who wrote to Robert Louis Stevenson about their book, Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.

Level III (Grades 9-12):
Winner is Chloe Kasischke of Wahoo Public High School, who wrote to Allison Britz about their book, Obsessed: A Memoir of My Life with OCD.
Runner-up is Aidan Blakely of Omaha North High School, who wrote to Amy Tan about their book The Joy Luck Club.

The 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.

The Nebraska winners will be honored at a reception at Lincoln City Library’s Bennett Martin branch and receive cash prizes and gift certificates. Their winning letters will then be 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

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 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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25th Annual Nebraska Book Awards Submissions Now Open!

Posted on March 18, 2024 by Bailee Juroshek

Entries for the 25th annual Nebraska Book Awards are now being accepted!

The competition is open to Nebraska authors, Nebraska publishers, and other authors or publishers of books set in or relating to Nebraska. Books published in 2023, as indicated by the copyright date, are eligible for nomination in 2024. They must be professionally published, have an International Standard Book Number (ISBN), and be bound.

You can submit a book to be entered in one or more of the following categories: Children/Young Adult, Cover/Design/Illustration, Fiction, Nonfiction, and Poetry. Certificates will be awarded to the winners in each category, and they will be invited out to participate as featured authors at the October 12th, 2024 Nebraska Celebration of Books in Lincoln. The event will culminate in an awards ceremony for the authors, publishers, and their families, where winning books will be displayed and authors will have the opportunity to read from and sign their books.

The entry fee is $40 per book and per category entered. Deadline for entries is May 31, 2024. For more information, including entry forms, see: http://www.centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards/nebookawards.htm

Interested in learning more about previous winners? You can find a complete list of information on all 25 years of Nebraska Book Award winners, including the title, author, publisher, and category won, here: https://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards/winners/nebook.html

To see a list of previous submissions made to enter the Nebraska Book Awards, you can see the records from 2010-2023 here: https://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/awards/nebookawards.html#submissions

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Upcoming Events in March

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Bailee Juroshek

Spring is right around the corner! If you’re looking for something to do this March, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!

  • March 2nd, 2024 Book Launch with Allen J. Beermann – “Allen J. Beermann: Nebraska’s Ambassador to the World”
    Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S 13th St.
    Lincoln, NE, 10:00 – 11:30 am
    Former Nebraska Secretary of State Allen J. Beermann tells of adventures from Brushy Bend to Beijing in his new book “Allen J. Beermann: Nebraska’s Ambassador to the World.”
  • March 2nd, 2024 Write on Writers’ Workshop with Heidi Hermanson
    AV Sorensen Community Center, 4808 Cass St.
    Omaha, NE, 12:00 – 2:00 pm
    Taught by Heidi Hermanson, Nebraska author and recipient of the 2021 Nebraska Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship. Improve your skills, meet other writers, and learn new techniques!
  • March 5, 2024 Barbara Schmitz Poetry Reading & Discussion
    Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm
    Barbara has touched many lives through her long and lustrous literary career in Nebraska. Now, she shares her poetry and her wisdom.
  • March 9, 2024 Hook, Line, & Sinker: Using Spoken Word Techniques to Capture & Hold an Audience with Caleb Rainey
    Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am
    What writing techniques does a performance poet use to hook their audience? A workshop to discuss the bait you need to hook your audience, and your reader, in the first line.
  • March 9, 2024 Poetry Out Loud State Finals
    Sheldon Museum of Art, 12th and R St.
    Lincoln, NE, 1:00 – 3:30 pm
    Poetry Out Loud is a nationwide poetry recitation contest where high school students memorize poems they choose from a list of classic and modern poems and bring them to life by how they deliver them. Seven schools have chosen a representative and the winner will represent Nebraska at the National Finals
  • March 9, 2024 Book Launch with Alison Pearce Stevens – “Animal Climate Heros”
    Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S 13th St.
    Lincoln, NE, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
    Nebraska Book Award winner Alison Pearce Stevens will be signing books, talking about her new book, and sharing her love of natural science with guests.
  • March 16, 2024 National Slam Poetry Competition Qualifying Event
    Larksong, 1600 N Cotner Blvd.
    Lincoln, NE, 3:00 pm
    The Nebraska Poetry Society is hosting the Qualifying Slam for residents for the chance to compete at the BlackBerry Peach National Slam Poetry Competition!
  • March 16, 2024 Visting Author – Chris Harding Thornton – “Little Underworld”
    Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S 13th St.
    Lincoln, NE, 4:30 – 5:30 pm
    Written by seventh-generation Nebraskan Chris Harding Thornton, “Little Underworld” is a darkly funny historical fiction that takes place in Omaha, Nebraska. She will be discussing her new book with Nebraskan author Timothy Schaffert.
  • March 17, 2024 Poetry Workshop with Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason
    Crane Trust Nature & Visitor Center, 9325 Alda Rd. S
    Wood River, NE, 2:00 – 3:00 pm
    Matt will share his new poem commissioned by Crane Trust, as well as other bird-themed poems. He will also guide a writing exercise for participants to write their own poems.

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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2024 One Book One Nebraska: Now Available on BARD!

Posted on February 21, 2024 by Tessa Timperley

“Dancing with the Octopus: A Memoir of a Crime” by Debora Harding is now available on cartridge and for download on BARD, the Braille and Audio Reading Download service. BARD is a service offered by the Nebraska Library Commission Talking Book and Braille Service and the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled at the Library of Congress.

This memoir of native Nebraskan, Debora Harding, is all about a traumatic childhood event, the aftereffects of which would change her family forever. Harding expertly weaves the past with the present in a riveting story of survival and family dynamics.

“With remarkable narrative skill, Harding untangles the lingering effects of family dysfunction and criminal trauma. This is a page-turner with a deep heart and soul, full of forgiveness but demanding of accountability.”

BookPage, “Best Books of 2020: Memoirs”

This title has been selected as the 2024 One Book One Nebraska. The program is now in its 20th year of bringing Nebraskans together for the reading and discussion of one great book written by Nebraska authors or that have a Nebraska theme or setting. Nearly every One Book One Nebraska winner is available on cartridge and for download on BARD.

The narration was done by Connie Healey, who has been volunteering for NLC’s Talking Book and Braille department for 10 years and received a Nebraska Library Association’s Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2022. The recording took over 30 hours in the studio and an additional 20 hours of post-production to prepare for our patrons. Connie has now read three One Book One Nebraska selections, the other two being “The Bones of Paradise” by Jonis Agee and “Prairie Forge” by James J. Kimble.

TBBS borrowers can request “Dancing with the Octopus: A Memoir of a Crime,” DBC02052, or download it from the National Library Service BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) website. If you have high-speed internet access, you can download books to your smartphone or tablet, or onto a flash drive for use with your player. You may also contact your reader’s advisor to have the book mailed to you on cartridge.

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Nominate Books Now for the 2024 Nebraska Book Awards

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Tessa Timperley

The 2024 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, published by Nebraska publishers, set in Nebraska, or relate to Nebraska.

Books published in 2023, 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 invited to participate as featured authors at the October 12th, 2024 Nebraska Celebration of Books in Lincoln. The event will culminate in an awards ceremony for the authors, publishers, and their families, where winning books will be displayed and authors will have the opportunity to read from and sign their books.

The entry fee is $40 per book and per category entered. Deadline for entries is May 31, 2024. 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. Together we 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.”

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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Dancing with the Octopus Proclaimed the 2024 One Book One Nebraska

Posted on January 12, 2024 by Tessa Timperley

On Jan. 8, 2024, Governor Jim Pillen signed a proclamation honoring 2024 One Book One Nebraska: Dancing with the Octopus: A Memoir of a Crime (Bloomsbury Publishing, 2020) by Debora Harding. Rod Wagner, Nebraska Center for the Book (NCB) Board member, and Nebraska Library Commission Director spoke about the program and selection. Dancing with the Octopus is a riveting and thoughtful memoir written by Nebraska native Debora Harding. Kidnapped, assaulted at the age of 14, then left abandoned by her attacker in the middle of a snow storm, Harding recounts the trauma inflicted on herself and her family in the wake of the attack. Poignant in the discussion of mental health and fraught family dynamics that Harding would carry into adulthood, she chooses to meet her attacker many years later. The full proclamation can be viewed on the One Book One Nebraska webpages at http://onebook.nebraska.gov.

The One Book One Nebraska reading program, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Library Commission, and Humanities Nebraska is entering its twentieth year. It encourages Nebraskans across the state to read and discuss one book, chosen from books written by Nebraska authors or that have a Nebraska theme or setting. Libraries across Nebraska will join other literary and cultural organizations in planning book discussions, activities, and events to encourage Nebraskans to read and discuss this book. Support materials to assist with local reading/discussion activities are available at http://onebook.nebraska.gov.

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 Nebraska Library Commission.

As Nebraska’s 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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January 2024 Literary Events

Posted on January 1, 2024 by Kayla Henzel

Happy New Year! Check out the NCB Calendar to see what literary events are happening near you and across Nebraska this coming month.

The time, date, and location of these events are subject to change.

Some events, workshops, or conferences may charge a fee or require prior registration.

Contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured on the NCB Calendar!

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Literary Events in December

Posted on November 27, 2023 by Kayla Henzel

December is on its way! Check out the NCB Calendar to see what literary events are happening near you and across Nebraska this coming month.

The time, date, and location of these events are subject to change.

Some events, workshops, or conferences may charge a fee or require prior registration.

Contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured on the NCB Calendar!

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November 2023 Literary Events

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Kayla Henzel

November is right around the corner!

Find out what literary events are happening near you and across the state by checking out the NCB Calendar!

The date, time, and location of these events are subject to change. In addition, some events may charge a fee or require prior registration.

Contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured on the NCB Calendar!

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