Fall in love with these literary events! If you’re looking for something to do in February, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
February 1, 2025 Salon Reading Series: “I’m Saving You a Seat” 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 I’m Saving You a Seat by Sarah Elizabeth Grace, a heartfelt, slice of life play that answers the question “what happens next after someone gets sober?” with searing vulnerability and many David Bowie references.
February 3, 2025 Maria Nazos Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Nazos writes toward the pulse beneath grief and joy, tracing love, loss, resilience, and the strange humor of being alive. Her poems travel widely, but always return to the body and what keeps it moving.
February 3-7, 2025 Kearney Area Storytelling Festival: Winter Tales Kearney Come see the Kearney Area Storytelling Festival, where you’re invited to come hear professional storytellers—along with area tellers—present the art of storytelling in many area venues. Featured speakers will be Lyn Ford and Paul Strickland. See the full event schedule with times and locations here.
February 5, 2025 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.
February 6, 2025 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Lee Horikoshi Roripaugh Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Join Lee Horikoshi Roripaugh, author of five volumes of poetry – most recently tsunami vs. the fukushima 50 as they read and discuss “unMothered, unTongued”, a collection of lyric essays written from the liminal space of the in-between.
February 7, 2025 The Language of Desire: Poetry and the Human Need to Be Known with Aly Acevedo Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am What does it mean to be known? In this workshop, explore how poetry expresses our need for connection and belonging through guided discussion and writing that help transform personal experience into art.
February 7, 14, & 28, 2025 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Lincoln Workshops Pius X High School Conference Room, 6000 A St. (West Entrance 11) Lincoln, 9:00 – 11:00 am A workshop designed to help veterans and active duty military personnel express their thoughts and feelings in words. Participants need only be interested in writing in any form – they do not need to have any previous writing experience to benefit from the workshops. Facilitated by professional writing instructors, the workshops consist of six to eight biweekly sessions focused on developing strategies and skills. Facilitated by Tom Seib.
February 7 & 21, 2025 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Omaha Workshops Nebraska Wildlife Rehab’s Baldwin Conference Room, 9777 M St. Omaha, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm A workshop designed to help veterans and active duty military personnel express their thoughts and feelings in words. Participants need only be interested in writing in any form – they do not need to have any previous writing experience to benefit from the workshops. Facilitated by professional writing instructors, the workshops consist of six to eight biweekly sessions focused on developing strategies and skills. Facilitated by Jen Stastny and Cindy Cronn.
February 10, 2025 Book Launch Celebration: Kristen Hoerl – “The Impossible Woman: Television, Feminism, and the Future” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 7:30 pm Join us as we celebrate the book launch of Kristen Hoerl’s new book The Impossible Woman: Television, Feminism, and the Future! The Impossible Woman examines a variety of scripted US television series across multiple genres to show how the cultural value of television’s extraordinarily talented female characters often rests upon their ability to endure—but not overcome—sexism.
February 13, 2025 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Alina Nguyên and Caroliena Cabada 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 Alina Nguyên and Caroliena Cabada will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
February 19, 2025 Beyond Adventure Speaker Series with Kevin Fedarko Swanson Auditorium, Nebraska Union, 1400 R St. Lincoln, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Hear author and adventurer Kevin Fedarko give his account of one of the toughest hikes in the world and ask him your questions about his book A Walk in the Park: The True Story of a Spectacular Misadventure in the Grand Canyon! He will be presenting for the Beyond Adventure Speaker Series and signing books.
February 13, 2025 V-day the 13th Variety Show Maravillas, 2910 K St. Suite G Omaha, 7:00 pm A night of variety with comedy, music, poetry, a mentalist act, and more as the Vaudeville Maniacs present “V-Day the 13th!” hosted by Chicken Boy and Joe Riss. There is also a “Best Jason” Costume Contest with the winner taking home a prestigious gold spray painted Hockey Mask. Poetry from Nikki J and Matt Mason. Doors open at 7, show at 8. Preshow admission: $10. $15 at the door.
February 14, 2025 Valentine’s Day Oracle Reading with Watercolor Haiku Raygun, 1108 Jackson St. Omaha, 7:00 pm Celebrate Valentine’s Day with a playful, meaningful experience designed for connection. Couples and individuals are invited to receive a short intuitive oracle card reading paired with a custom watercolor haiku, created in the moment as a keepsake. This experience offers insight, reflection, and a gentle pause capturing what’s present or possible in your relationship right now. Tina BE will invite you to with a beautiful card for inspiration, compose an inspired haiku, then paint with your overall color vibe. This is not therapy or fortune-telling; just a playful, creative way to listen, reflect, and share a moment together.
February 19, 2025 Virtual Author Series: Brad Bigelow – “Virginia Faulkner: A Life in Two Acts” Zoom, 7:00 – 8:00 pm Delve into the life and work of an important Willa Cather scholar with the return of our virtual author series! Brad Bigelow will share passages from his new book, Virginia Faulkner: A Life in Two Acts, a biography that chronicles Virginia Faulkner’s career as a promising writer once compared to Dorothy Parker, who eventually returns to her hometown of Lincoln and becomes an editor who is free to nurture what author Timothy Schaffert calls “mad devotion to Willa Cather.” Spend an evening with Bigelow as he discusses his research, his expertise about Faulkner’s life, and how she contributed to Cather’s enduring legacy as an American author. This event is free with registration.
February 19, 2025 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. Featured set by Sultry Tha Poet.
February 20, 2025 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 “Love and Heartbreak: Romance”.
February 21, 2025 Poetry Workshop: Writing Pain Into Your Poetry Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am Sometimes we write because it hurts, whatever “it” is. Bring your hurt, your pain, your sorrow. We will turn it into healing words. We will discuss why sometimes we turn to the pen when things seem down or hopeless, and what that brings us when we write the pain on paper. Led by Julie Paschold.
February 21, 2025 Visiting Authors: Lexi Rodriguez and Kelsi Kautz – “The Big Little Dream” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Join author and volleyball player Lexi Rodriguez and her co-author Kelsi Kautz as they present their new children’s book, The Big Little Dream. The story dives into the life of Little Mia and her big dream – to find her sense of belonging through sport.
February 22, 2025 Poetry Gathering at St. Cecilia Cathedral’s Parish Center St. Cecilia Cathedral’s Parish Center, 701 N 40th St. Omaha, 2:00 – 4:00 pm Readers are invited to bring original poems or work by a favorite author on themes of Black History or Valentines Day (Or any other favorite). Refreshments and live music at intermission.
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.
Ring in the new year with some literary events! If you’re looking for something to do in January, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
January 1, 2025 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.
January 6, 2025 Gene Fendt Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Gene Fendt’s poetry wrestles with the physical world while reaching for the divine. Join us for an evening of reading and conversation with a poet whose work celebrates heritage, questions mortality, and seeks grace in the everyday.
January 9, 2025 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Greg Kosmicki 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 Greg Kosmicki will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
January 15, 2025 Third Thursday Artist Talk at the KHN Center for the Arts Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, 801 Third Corso Nebraska City, 5:00 – 7:00 pm Meet KHN resident artists and get a glimpse of their creative work. We begin in the KHN Gallery dining room with light refreshments followed by presentations. Resident artists present for eight minutes each with additional time for questions.
January 15, 2025 Vocal Fry 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.
January 17, 2025 Poetry Writing Workshop: The Ekphrastic Poem Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am Beat the winter blues with Julie S. Paschold, by diving into ekphrastic poetry, a form of poetry where the topic is based off of a work of art. Have your favorite piece in mind, or find inspiration from one of the artworks we bring and get ready to write! Pre-registration is required.
January 17, 2025 Book Launch: Carole Levin & Marguerite A. Tassi “Creatively Expanding the Premodern: Historical and Literary Afterlives” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we celebrate the release of Creatively Expanding the Premodern: Historical and Literary Afterlives by Carole Levin, Marguerite A.Tassi, Christine Stewart-Nuñez and Julia Griffin. Co-authors Carole Levin and Marguerite A.Tassi will read from the book with Q&A and booksigning to follow. Their book highlights the stories of women from premodern history and literature through models of adaptations, retellings, and criticism such as poems, plays, and essays. In reviving these voices from the background, it widens the appeal and accessibility of scholarship in the humanities.
January 24, 2025 Visiting Author: Brad Bigelow “Virginia Faulkner: A Life in Two Acts” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Join us as we welcome writer Brad Bigelow to Lincoln! He will be presenting his upcoming book Virginia Faulkner: A Life in Two Acts. Published by the University of Nebraska Press, this new book tells the story of writer and editor Virginia Falkner. You don’t want to miss this fascinating history!
January 31, 2025 Excavating the Self: Poetics and Memory with Tatiana Johnson-Boria Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Unearth the stories that live beneath the surface. In this generative workshop, writers will explore memory, emotion, and truth through guided exercises that help transform buried experiences into powerful new 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.
Fill your winter days with some literary fun! If you’re looking for something to do in December, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
December 2, 2025 Allison Adelle Hedge Coke Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Hedge Coke’ poems form a taxonomy of threatened lives — human, plant, and animal — in a century marked by climate emergency. Her ecopoetry insists upon a reckoning and resistance with and redress of America’s continuing violence toward Earth and its peoples.
December 4, 2025 Visiting Author: Susan Bruzas “Turning on the Light: My Mysterious Illness and the Year that Transformed Me” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Welcome Nebraskamemoirist Susan Bruzas to Francie & Finch Bookshop. She will be reading from her new book Turning on the Light: My Mysterious Illness and the Year that Transformed Me. “This powerful new memoir shines a light on the silent struggle of a life-threatening, unexplained illness—and the resilience it takes to reclaim your life when the odds are against you.” –Kirk House Publishers.
December 4, 2025 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.
December 5, 2025 First Friday Book Talk & Reading w/ Abby E. Murray Zoom, 12:00 pm Abby E. Murray is the editor of Collateral, a literary journal concerned with the impact of violent conflict and military service beyond the combat zone. They’ve spent their adult life writing and researching conflict, contradiction, and the necessity of voice. Their first book, Hail and Farewell, won the Perugia Press Poetry Prize and was a finalist for the Washington State Book Award, and their second book, Recovery Commands, won the Richard-Gabriel Rummonds Prize from Ex Ophidia Press and has been nominated for the National Book Award. Abby served as the 2019-2021 poet laureate for the city of Tacoma, Washington, and currently teaches writing to Army War College fellows at the University of Washington.
December 6, 2025 Writing Autobiographical Poetry with Todd Robinson Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Turn your life into art. In this workshop, we will explore how autobiographical poetry can honor both your magnificence and your messy humanity. You will leave with new ways to tell your story with beauty and depth.
December 6, 2025 25th Annual Teen Poetry Bash Omaha Public Library, Milton R. Abrahams Branch, 5111 N. 90th St. Omaha, 1:00 – 4:00 pm Whether you’re a poet or you just appreciate poetry, join us in celebrating this milestone! All Writes Reserved coaches from Nebraska Writers Collective will serve as the judges and host. Interested in competing for the prize? Contestants must be in grades 8-12 and be a resident of Douglas County, Nebraska, or its surrounding Metro area. Check out the official rules for complete details!
December 7, 2025 The Poet as Historian: John G. Neihardt and Gerard M. Hopkins The John G. Neihardt State Historic Site, 306 W. Elm St. Bancroft, 2:00 – 4:00 pm The last “Sunday at the Museum” of the year will features a popular Humanities Nebraska speaker and one of our favorite historians, Nancy Gillis, with The Poet as Historian: John G. Neihardt and Gerard M. Hopkins. This presentation provides a look at how a poet writes of an historical event differently than an academic historian by comparing the work of two contemporary poets, the American John G. Neihardt and the English Anglican Priest Gerard M. Hopkins, and how each relates a tragic historical event. Gillis believes “if you want to learn the facts, read the textbooks, but if you want to feel them, read the poets.” Admission is free. A light reception will follow.
December 10, 2025 Visiting Author: Tom Chorneau “Mrs. Cook and the Klan: Booze, Bloodshed, and Bigotry in America’s Heartland” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Tom Chorneau will discuss his book Mrs. Cook and the Klan, a true crime investigation that not only sheds new light on Myrtle Underwood Cook’s unsolved killing but also explores the confluence of the social, political, and economic forces that brought the Klan, lawless street gangs, a local mob boss, and the temperance movement together in a small American town.
December 12, 2025 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Stephen Buhler, Reading from Ted Kooser’s Poetry 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 Steve Buhler reading for Ted Kooser will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
December 13, 2025 BookFest Omaha 2025 IBEW Hall, 13306 Stevens St. Omaha, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm Mark this event on your calendar! BookFest Omaha will host a variety of local authors and craft vendors. This is the perfect festival to complete your holiday shopping, with truly special products created by local writers and crafters: affordable gifts that can be personalized for your loved one.
December 17, 2025 Book Launch: Carole Levin “The Reign and Life of Queen Elizabeth I: Politics, Culture, and Society” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we celebrate the release of Carole Levin’s latest book The Reign and Life of Queen Elizabeth I: Politics, Culture, and Society! “A result of Levin’s nonpareil archival research and decades of her seminal scholarship on Queen Elizabeth I, this book situates meticulously researched facts about Elizabeth’s queenship within broader political, religious, social, and cultural issues, developments, and events. The Reign and Life of Queen Elizabeth I is both an encyclopedia and textbook, and it will serve as an invaluable asset for teachers, students, and scholars alike. This book is a treasury of new information that clarifies and illuminates the historical record and brings Elizabeth’s world to life like never before.” –Anna Riehl Bertolet, Auburn University, USA.
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.
Cozy up and enjoy these autumn festivities! If you’re looking for something to do in November, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
November 2, 2025 Visiting Publication: Meet the Flatwater Free Press Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 2:00 – 4:00 pm Join us at Francie & Finch Bookshop as we welcome our friends from the Flatwater Free Press! Lincoln reporter Emily Wolf and Managing Editor Ryan Hoffman will be here to let us know what they’ve been working on, listen to guests share what stories they think FFP should work on next, and to hand out their 2025 Commemorative Edition newspaper!
November 4, 2025 Charles Fort Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Fort’s poetry demonstrates, unequivocally, that he is a master of his craft. By turns surreal, tender, terrifying, absurd, and soulful, Fort’s work churns with passionate, forceful expression.
November 5, 2025 UNO Writer’s Workshop Fall 2025 Reading Series with Jonathan Lethem University of Nebraska Omaha, Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom, 6203 S University Dr Rd N. Omaha, 7:30 pm Jonathan is a novelist, essayist, and short story writer. The “bard of Brooklyn” (LitHub) is the author of more than a dozen books—including the much-lauded novels The Fortress of Solitude and Motherless Brooklyn, which was adapted into a full-length film. He is the winner of a MacArthur Foundation Genius Grant, and a Guggenheim Fellowship. In 2021, Lethem was named a Library Lion by the New York Public Library, an honor that recognizes individuals who make significant cultural and educational contributions. He holds an honorary doctorate by the Pratt Institute and is the second-ever Roy E. Disney Chair in Creative Writing at Pomona College, succeeding David Foster Wallace. Lethem’s writing has appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s, Rolling Stone, Esquire, New York Times, TheParis Review, The Believer, Granta, and McSweeney’s. He also served as a guest director at the 45th Telluride Film Festival.
November 6, 2025 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.
November 7, 2025 First Friday Book Talk & Reading w/ Theodore Wheeler Zoom, 12:00 pm Theodore Wheeler is the award-winning author of four books of fiction, notably the USA Today bestseller The War Begins in Paris and the Amazon bestseller Kings of Broken Things, both of which won Nebraska Book Awards. He has won fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, Nebraska Arts Council, and Akademie Schloss Solitude in Stuttgart, Germany. For fourteen years Wheeler worked as a journalist and he now teaches creative writing in the English Department at Creighton University.
November 7, 2025 Youth Laureate Poetry Party Sozo Coffeehouse, 1314 Jones St Omaha, 6:00 – 8:00 pm This event features a writing workshop on connecting the abstract and the concrete as well as readings by current and former Youth Poets Laureate and finalists. Free food and drinks, all youth poets (ages 13-19) and parents are welcome.
November 8, 2025 Pop Culture Poems with Courtney LeBlanc Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am What can your favorite band, movie, or childhood toy reveal about your inner world? Join poet Courtney LeBlanc to explore pop culture as a poetic lens in this fun, generative workshop.
November 10, 2025 Visiting Author: John Stevens Berry “Second Comings, Final Tour” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join Berry Law founder and Pulitzer nominated poet, John Stevens Berry as he presents his newest book of poetry Second Comings, Final Tour. Berry is a decorated Vietnam Veteran, Fellow of the American Board of Criminal Lawyers, and a Baker Street Irregular. His poetry reflects on service, justice, and the human condition — a powerful commentary on a life of meaning and impact.
November 12, 2025 Visiting Author: Ilana Masad “Beings: A Novel” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join Max Perry Mueller in conversation with Gabriel Bruguier of the Yankton Sioux Tribe about Mueller’s new book Wakara’s America: The Life and Legacy of a Native Founder of the American West. The book discusses the forgotten life and complex legacies of Wakara, the mighty, once-notorious Native leader whose battles and conquests shaped the American West.
November 13, 2025 Visiting Author: Max Perry Mueller in conversation with Gabriel Bruguier “Wakara’s America” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm From the celebrated author of All My Mother’s Lovers, comes a new novel based on true events asks whether extraterrestrial life might be what ties us to one another, to history, and to reality itself. Join author Ilana Masad as she presents her new novel Beings!
November 14, 2025 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Tyler Michael Jacobs and Kiara Letcher 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 Tyler Michael Jacobs and Kiara Letcher will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
November 14, 2025 Literary Trivia Night White Elm Brewing’s Tap Room, 720 Van Dorn St. Lincoln, 5:30 pm Join us for a pre-festival event for the Nebraska Celebration of Books. This event will feature Nebraska themed book, author, and literary trivia and $4 pints for triva participants.
ONovember 14, 2025 Author Event with Kailee Pedersen and “Sacrificial Animals” Sower Books, 914 N 70th St. Lincoln, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Join Nebraska Book Award Winner Kailee Pedersen at Sower Books to discuss her brand novel, Sacrificial Animals.
November 15, 2025 Nebraska Celebration of Books UNL Union and Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center, 1400 R St. Lincoln, 10:00 am – 5:30 pm The Nebraska Celebration of Books (N.COB) aims to celebrate Nebraska’s literary heritage and contemporary authors, the festival will honor the 2025 Nebraska Book Award authors, and will feature the State Poet Jewel Rodgers and past State Poet Matt Mason, 2025 One Book One Nebraska author Tosca Lee, writing workshops, book vendors, publishers, independent authors, presentation of the Nebraska Center for the Book’s Nebraska Book Awards, Mildred Bennett Award and Jane Geske Award, and announcement of the 2026 One Book One Nebraska selection.
November 15, 2025 Poetry Writing Workshop: To Verse or Not to Verse? Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am When do you know whether to keep a freeform poem all together or to break it up into verses or stanzas? When to add shape, or a tab or two? Explore final touches of freeform poetry with Julie S. Paschold in this poetry writing workshop. Bring a poem you are currently working on, or choose to write from one of our prompts. Pre-registration is required. Cost: $20 | Garden members: $15.
November 17, 2025 Poetry Writing Workshop: The Ekphrastic Poem? Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am Beat the winter blues with Julie S. Paschold, by diving into ekphrastic poetry, a form of poetry where the topic is based off of a work of art. Have your favorite piece in mind, or find inspiration from one of the artworks we bring and get ready to write! Pre-registration is required. Cost: $20 | Garden members: $15.
Novemberv 17, 2025 Tosca Lee at Seward Memorial Library Seward Memorial Library, 233 S 5th St. Seward, 6:30 pm Join Tosca Lee at the library for a discussion of the research and writing of The Long March Home, 2025’s One Book One Nebraska! Books will be available for sale from Chapters Books & Gifts.
November 19, 2025 UNO Writer’s Workshop Fall 2025 Reading Series with Nebraska Film Initiative Benson Theatre, 6054 Maple St. Omaha, 7:30 pm Short films by MJ Atyai and Sam Dubas, produced by the Nebraska Film Initiative with support by BeWildReWild.org. MJ, also known as Kamari, is a screenwriter currently residing in Omaha. They graduated from UNO with a degree in Journalism, Creative Media concentration, and minored in screenwriting and Black Studies. They have worked on two film sets and are excited to continue working in the film industry and explore different roles. Outside of screenwriting, they are a photographer and dungeon master for a wonderful D&D party. Born and raised in Bellevue, Sam is currently pursuing a Bachelors Degree at UNO. He has recently begun pursuing writing as a more defined role for his career, and is actively working toward a minor in screenwriting.
November 20, 2025 Vocal Fry 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. Tonight Featuring Nathan B. Wise, with Sam Nichols and Allen Stevenson as MCs.
November 22, 2025 Visiting Author: John T. Price “Goethe’s Oak: A Holocaust Story” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Join as author John T. Price reads from his newest work of non-fiction, Goethe’s Oak: A Holocaust Story. Writing from the perspective of the legendary Goethe’s Oak, John T. Price reimagines and honors the life of an extraordinary tree. Drawing on centuries of human remembrances, from the tree’s namesake, writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, to prisoners at Buchenwald in the 1940s, Price intertwines their stories with recent scientific research into the underground communication networks of trees.
November 23, 2025 Larksong’s 5th Birthday Celebration Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 3:00 – 5:00 pm Larksong Writers Place is turning five years old, and we want to celebrate with the community that made it all possible! Join us for an afternoon of bubbly, sweet treats, and great conversation as we raise a glass to five wonderful years of writing, creativity, and connection. Whether you’ve been here since the beginning or you’re just discovering Larksong, we’d love to see you.
November 27, 2025 NEWISH Poetry Slam North Omaha Music and Arts – NOMA, 2510 N 24th St. Omaha, 7:00 – 10:00 pm NEWISH is presented by the Nebraska Writers Collective and hosted by Zedeka Poindexter at NOMA. We invite you to take risks, say what hasn’t been said. This is a curated space & environment for you to express yourself and grow amongst your community. Enjoy the poetry slam with live music! Registration is $10, and the grand prize is $100.
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.
Nebraskans should bookmark their calendars for the 2025 Nebraska Celebration of Books (N.COB) Literary Festival. Held on Saturday, November 15th, 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. The event aims to celebrate Nebraska’s literary heritage and contemporary authors, the festival will honor the 2025 Nebraska Book Award authors, and will feature the State Poet Jewel Rodgers and past State Poet Matt Mason, 2025 One Book One Nebraska author Tosca Lee, writing workshops, book vendors, publishers, independent authors, presentation of the Nebraska Center for the Book’s Nebraska Book Awards, Mildred Bennett Award and Jane Geske Award, and announcement of the 2026 One Book One Nebraska selection.
Winners of the 2025 Nebraska Book Awards will be honored at the celebration which will include author roundtables, book signings, and a reception, with the awards ceremony directly after at 4:30. The ceremony will feature short acceptance speeches and readings by the winning authors and illustrators. Book award categories include fiction, nonfiction, children/young adult, poetry, and cover/design/illustration, all winning books have a Nebraska connection and were published in 2024. The ceremony will also feature the presentation of the Mildred Bennett and Jane Geske Awards. For more information about the festival and to stay up to date on the featured authors and speakers visit bookfestival.nebraska.gov
The festival will have a kickoff event Friday evening at White Elm Brewing, 720 Van Dorn Street in Lincoln. This event begins at 5:30 and will feature literary trivia, drinks, and good conversations.
The Nebraska Celebration of Books (NCOB) sponsors include Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Library Commission, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln City Libraries, Omaha Public Library, Francie and Finch Bookshop, Flatwater Free Press, and Great Plains Audiobooks. Humanities Nebraska provides support for One Book One Nebraska program.
Don’t be scared, go and check out these Nebraska events! If you’re looking for something to do in October, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
October 1, 2025 Visiting Author: River Selby in conversation with Timothy Schaffert “Hotshot: A Life on Fire” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm You don’t want to miss this visit from author River Selby. River will be in conversation with Timothy Schaffert presenting Hotshot: A Life on Fire! Learn more about this fascinating memoir about high stakes adventure, personal growth, and humanity below.
October 1, 2025 Omaha Reads: Bilingual Poetry Workshop Willa Cather Branch Library, 1905 S. 44th St. Omaha, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Join Angelica Perez of the Nebraska Writers Collective for a bilingual poetry workshop inspired by Solito by Javier Zamora. Angelica is bilingual and brings experience helping poets express their voices in the language that feels most authentic. This is a free event. Online registration is required.
October 2, 2025 The Crescent Moon Writers’ Night: Open Mic Carhenge, 2151 Co Rd 59. Alliance, 6:00 pm Matt Mason, Nebraska’s State Poet from 2019-2024, reads at Carhenge. Sponsored by the Alliance Creative District. This is a BYO-Chair event.
October 2, 2025 Vocal Fry 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.
October 3, 2025 Visiting Writers: Teo Shannon, Saddiq Dzukogi, and Alina Nguyen Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join and welcome talented writers Teo Shannon, Saddiq Dzukogi, and Alina Nguyen! Teo will be in conversation with Saddiq and Alina about his new book of poetry A Chronology of Blood: Poems. This debut collection of poetry casts an unflinching eye on the issues in the author’s life which includes themes of sexual abuse, gun violence, and conversion therapy. The poems in A Chronology of Blood embrace trauma survivors, the LGBTQ+ community, and lovers of poetry.
October 3, 2025 An Evening of Great Irish Writers: with Neil O’Shea Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N. Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 – 7:30 pm This event features a stand up performance of extracts from the works of some of the great writers to come out of Ireland, including Swift, Wilde, Shaw, Yeats, Synge, Joyce and more. Neil O’Shea is an actor from Dublin who has appeared in theaters across Ireland and toured with the Irish Actors Theatre Company in Europe and the USA and has performed throughout Ireland, in Germany, Sweden, London, as well as in the USA. This event is FREE and open to the public.
October 3, 2025 First Friday Book Talk & Reading w/ Terena Elizabeth Bell Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Terena Elizabeth Bell is a fiction writer. Her debut short story collection, Tell Me What You See: Ten Stories, was named one of the “best books of the century (so far)” by New York Society Library and a Ms Magazine must-read.
October 5, 2025 Poetry Porch at Porchfest Gifford Park Porch Fest, 3511 Webster St. Omaha, 12:00 – 6:00 pm Porchfest OMA is a free community music festival held annually in the Gifford Park neighborhood. Join host Zedeka Poindexter for Poetry Porch.
October 7, 2025 Writing from the Fence Post ScatterJoy Acres, 4107 Waverly Rd. Murray, 5:30 – 7:30 pm A 5-week creative writing series on Tuesdays, starting September 9th thru October 7th. Week 5: Open Mic Night: Share your works on our stage, cheer on your fellow writers, sit back while enjoying snacks and drinks.
October 7, 2025 Mary K. Stillwell Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm One of Stillwell’s poetry collections explores the murder of two women, another celebrates the power of imagination. Her work covers a broad range of topics, from lyrical to narrative, and always captivating.
October 8, 2025 UNO Writer’s Workshop Fall 2025 Reading Series with Eileen Myles University of Nebraska Omaha,Milo Bail Student Center Ballroom, 6203 S University Dr Rd N. Omaha, 1:00 – 2:00 pm Eileen is a poet, novelist and art journalist as well as teacher whose practice of vernacular first-person writing across genres has literally changed the game. They are the author of 25 books, including Chelsea Girls and a selected poems, I Must Be Living Twice. Myles has shown their photographs at Bridget Donahue in New York and in Provincetown, MA at Schoolhouse Gallery and in various international public installations. In 2019 Myles wrote and directed a super-8 puppet road film, The Trip and their most recent books are Pathetic Literature, and a Working Life, poems. They live in New York and Marfa, Texas.
October 10, 2025 Vocal Fry St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 8:00 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 video/audio recordings of John G. Neihardt will feature for the annual October “Dead Poet’s Reading”. Nancy Gillis, longtime Executive Director of the Neihardt Center, design the presentation and provide context and answer questions. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
October 12, 2025 Visiting Author: Rebecca Lexa “The Everyday Naturalist: How to Identify Animals, Plants, and Fungi Wherever You Go” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 3:00 – 4:30 pm Fellow nature lovers, book lovers, and all of those who love to pick up new hobbies, come meet author and naturalist Rebecca Lexa as she talks about “Five Reasons to Be an Everyday Naturalist”, highlighting some great benefits of learning to identify the living beings around you. We will have copies of her book for you to purchase and she will sign when the talk is over.
October 14, 2025 One Author Kearney: Writers’ Workshop with Karen Russell Kearney Public Library, Platte Room, 2020 1st Ave. Kearney, 12:00 – 2:00 pm Join author Karen Russell for a writing workshop certain to grow your writing life. She is the author of six books of fiction, including The Antidote, as well as NYT bestsellers Vampires in the Lemon Grove and Swamplandia!, one of the NYT’s ten best books of the year and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. She has taught literature and creative writing at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, the University of California-Irvine, Williams College, Columbia University, and Bryn Mawr College, and was the Endowed Chair of Texas State’s MFA program.
October 14, 2025 One Author Kearney: Karen Russell The World Theatre, 2318 Central Ave. Kearney, 7:00 – 8:00 pm The Kearney Public Library Foundation and the library proudly present an evening of conversation and readings with Karen Russell! A book signing will follow the presentation. This is a free, ticketed event. She is the author of six books of fiction, including The Antidote, as well as NYT bestsellers Vampires in the Lemon Grove and Swamplandia!, one of the NYT’s ten best books of the year and a Pulitzer Prize finalist. She’s received both MacArthur and Guggenheim Fellowships, the NYPL’s Young Lions Award, the Bard Fiction Prize, the National Book Foundation’s “5 under 35” award, and was selected for Granta’s Best Young American Novelists and The New Yorker’s “20 under 40” list (she is now decisively over 40). She’s also won two National Magazine Awards for Fiction, the Shirley Jackson Award, the 2023 Bottari Lattes Grinzane prize, and the 2024 Mary McCarthy Award, among other honors. She taught literature and creative writing at the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, UC-Irvine, Williams College, Columbia University, and Bryn Mawr College. She serves on the board of Street Books.
October 16, 2025 Writers in Conversation: Third Thursdays @ Larksong with Ava Winter and Alina Nguyen Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N. Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 – 7:00 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. The evening is sure to both please and educate, not to mention inspire!
October 16, 2025 Virtual Author Series: Joanna Biggs, Richard Scott Larson, and Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum Zoom, 7:00 – 8:00 pm Help us welcome three writers from our first Willa Cather Residency for Writers cohort as they share recent publications! Joanna Biggs, Richard Scott Larson, and Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum will all read excerpts from their books as they reflect on their unique writers in residence experiences. This event is free with online registration.
October 16, 2025 Vocal Fry Flatiron Building, 1722 St Marys Ave. 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. Tonight Featuring Nathan B. Wise, with Sam Nichols and Allen Stevenson as MCs.
October 18, 2025 Humor in Poetry with Melissa Fite Johnson Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Think poetry has to be serious all the time? Think again. In this workshop, we’ll laugh, play, and explore how humor can crack open truth, deepen emotion, and spark joy—even in the heaviest topics. Come write poems that might just make someone snort-laugh.
October 23, 2025 Writers’ Workshop with Tyler Michael Jacobs Kearney Public Library, Platte Room, 2020 1st Ave. Kearney, 12:00 – 2:00 pm Join poet Tyler Michael Jacobs for a poetry writing workshop. He is the author of The Weight of Drought forthcoming from Stephen F. Austin State University Press and Building Brownville. His words have appeared or are forthcoming in Passages North, Variant Literature, Plainsongs, Pidgeonholes, Sierra 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. There is a $15 fee for this workshop with lunch included.
October 23, 2025 Tosca Lee at Tecumseh Public Library Tecumseh Public Library, 170 Branch St. Tecumseh, 6:00 pm Join Tosca Lee in Tecumseh at the library where ahe will be dishing on One Book One Nebraska 2025 pick The Long March Home, writing, and writing life in Nebraska! Open to the public, books will be available.
October 23, 2025 Poetry Reading with Tyler Michael Jacobs Kearney Public Library, Platte Room, 2020 1st Ave. Kearney, 7:00 – 8:00 pm Enjoy an evening of poetry with Tyler Michael Jacobs. He is the author of The Weight of Drought forthcoming from Stephen F. Austin State University Press and Building Brownville. His words have appeared or are forthcoming in Passages North, Variant Literature, Plainsongs, Pidgeonholes, Sierra 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.
October 24, 2025 Lydia Kang in conversation with Tosca Lee: “K-JANE” Sower Books, 914 N 70th St. Lincoln, 6:00 pm Join and watch Lydia Kang in conversation with Tosca Lee at Sower Books to discuss her brand new release, K-JANE, a new young adult novel all about growing up Korean in Nebraska! Join for what will be a fun evening talking about the book and about the Korean-Nebraskan experience!
October 26, 2025 The Halloween Mischief Poetry Reading/Harvest of Words Saint Cecilia’s Cathedral Parish Center, 39th and Burt St. Omaha, 7:00 – 8:00 pm This open mic invites you to bring poems on the theme of Halloween or any other to finish the year. Poets welcome, listeners welcome. Open mic with refreshments and some music.
October 30, 2025 NEWISH Poetry Slam North Omaha Music and Arts – NOMA, 2510 N 24th St. Omaha, 7:00 – 10:00 pm NEWISH is presented by the Nebraska Writers Collective and hosted by Zedeka Poindexter at NOMA. We invite you to take risks, say what hasn’t been said. This is a curated space & environment for you to express yourself and grow amongst your community. Enjoy the poetry slam with live music! Registration is $10, and the grand prize is $100.
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.
Fall into these Nebraska literary events! If you’re looking for something to do in September, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
September 2, 2025 Jewel Rodgers Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Rodgers spoken word poetry is electric and engaging. Her poetry inspires audiences to dig into the wells of our lives for beauty and connection.
September 4, 2025 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.
September 5, 2025 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Sue William Silverman Zoom, 12:00 pm Sue William Silverman is an award-winning author of eight works of nonfiction and poetry. Her new book, Selected Misdemeanors: Essays at the Mercy of the Reader, is a collection of flash essays.
September 6, 2025 Unleashing the Power of the Flash Essay: How to Craft Brief Prose into Publishable Art Zoom, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm The flash essay isn’t merely short; it’s a form unto itself. What makes flash, unable to rely on length for a lasting impression, still feel vast, deep, and memorable, rather than slight, anecdotal, or confined? Sue will discuss how, through structure, ellipsis, imagery, metaphor, and more, writers can transform universal themes such as loss, grief, and love into brief, illuminating work—“proseletts” with outsized abilities—to capture an editor’s notice. This event will include a prompt, time for questions-and-answers, and informal discussion. Each participant will receive a free copy of Selected Misdemeanors: Essays at the Mercy of the Reader by Sue William Silverman, which is a collection of flash essays. Instructed by Sue William Silverman.
September 6 & 20, 2025 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Omaha Workshops Nebraska Wildlife Rehab’s Baldwin Center Conference Room, 9777 M St. Omaha, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm A workshop designed to help veterans and active duty military personnel express their thoughts and feelings in words. Participants need only be interested in writing in any form – they do not need to have any previous writing experience to benefit from the workshops. Facilitated by professional writing instructors, the workshops consist of six to eight biweekly sessions focused on developing strategies and skills. Facilitated by Jen Stastny and Cindy Cronn.
September 8, 2025 The Last Edition of Resonance Beat Poetry Jam! Razor Wire Productions Art Gallery & Tattoo, 1808 Vinton St. Omaha, 7:00 pm Wanna try your hand at pairing your writing with music? Or maybe you’ve just never had the sublime experience of hearing the fusion? Either way, we would like to invite you! Named The Resonance for the beautiful ways these artforms play off one another. Featuring Allen Stevenson. Sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society.
September 9, 2025 Author Event: Dr. Helen Fagan “Lead Like People Matter: What Emotional Intelligence and Neuroscience Reveal About Leadership” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join as we welcome special guest, author Dr. Helen Fagan and celebrate the release of the newest edition of her book Lead Like People Matter. At the event we will also be welcoming Linked2Literacy, a beloved local non-profit with the mission of inspiring generations by providing inclusive books and literacy education through community partnerships. A portion of your purchase of Dr. Fagan’s new book will be given to the mission of Linked2Literacy.
September 9, 2025 Writing from the Fence Post ScatterJoy Acres, 4107 Waverly Rd. Murray, 5:30 – 7:30 pm A 5-week creative writing series on Tuesdays, starting September 9th thru October 7th. Week 1: “Marsupial Memoirs”: kick off with the Kangaroos & Wallabies! Enjoy sitting with all the marsupials & connect with nature while writing Memoir.
September 12, 2025 An Evening with Author Jeff Chu in Conversation with Pat Leach First Presbyterian Church, 840 S. 17th St. Lincoln, 7:00 pm Join award-winning author Jeff Chu in conversation with Pat Leach, Nebraska Center for the Book president and host of Nebraska Public Media’s All About Books, as they explore these powerful themes behind Jeff’s new book Good Soil: The Education of an Accidental Farmhand. Reception to follow with an opportunity to meet the author and get your book signed! Make sure to reserve your seat!
September 13 & 27, 2025 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Lincoln Workshops Pius X High School Conference Room, 6000 A St. (West Entrance 11) Lincoln, 9:00 – 11:00 am A workshop designed to help veterans and active duty military personnel express their thoughts and feelings in words. Participants need only be interested in writing in any form – they do not need to have any previous writing experience to benefit from the workshops. Facilitated by professional writing instructors, the workshops consist of six to eight biweekly sessions focused on developing strategies and skills. Facilitated by Tom Seib.
September 13, 2025 How to Sing in the Dark with Abby E. Murray Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am In this generative workshop, we’ll turn to poetry as a lifeline—reading powerful work born of upheaval, then writing our own. Come to discover how language can hold grief, spark resilience, and light the way forward. Leave with new drafts and a renewed sense of creative purpose.
September 13, 2025 Moonshell Storytelling Festival Mahoney State Park Open-Air Pavillion, 28500 W. Park Hwy. Ashland, 10:30 am – 9:30 pm A family-friendly daylong event filled with song, stories, and fun. See the event website for additional detail and updates. Free with Mahoney State Park admission; paid registration required for storytellers’ workshops at Peter Kiewit Lodge. The 2025 featured storytellers are Darrin Crow, Jeff Doyle, Carolina Quiroga, and Kim Weitkamp.
September 13, 2025 Poetry with Jewel Rodgers at The Florence Mill The Florence Mill, 9102 N 30th St. Omaha, 3:30 pm Nebraska’s New State Poet, Jewel Rogers, joins us for Poetry in the Mill at The Florence Mill. Her reading will wake you up to how lively and fun poetry can be.
September 13, 2025 Omaha Poetry Slam The Local Art Plug, 1722 St. Marys Ave, Suite 110, Omaha, 6:30 – 9:00 pm The Nebraska Writers Collective proudly presents the Omaha Poetry Slam, a monthly open mic and poetry slam, held on the second Saturday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. We will start at 7 p.m. with an open mic and then the competitive individual slam! Sign up at the event. (If you plan to compete in the slam, bring three poems.)
September 16, 2025 Writing from the Fence Post ScatterJoy Acres, 4107 Waverly Rd. Murray, 5:30 – 7:30 pm A 5-week creative writing series on Tuesdays, starting September 9th thru October 7th. Week 2: “Haikus with Cows”: Get your vibes Mooo-ving & explore your Poetic Rhymes. Create your own Haiku, Ghazal, Pantoum, and free verse.
September 18, 2025 The Poetry Pause at Joslyn Castle Art Walk Joslyn Castle & Gardens, Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 5:00 – 8:00 pm Two local poets will be reading their work, talking about their creative process, and chatting with each other-and with you. Featuring Lisa Fay Coutley and Rosine Selemani.
September 18, 2025 Marcus Brotherton & Tosca Lee: “The Long March Home” Zoom, 7:00 pm Delve into World War II history with the 2025 One Book One Nebraska selection! Join authors Marcus Brotherton and Tosca Lee as they share excerpts from The Long March Home: A World War II Novel of the Pacific and discuss their approach to writing historical fiction with the National Willa Cather Foundation.
September 18, 2025 Vocal Fry Shirley Tyree Theater, 2401 N 24th St. Omaha, 7:00 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. Nathan Lachner and State Poet Jewel Rodgers, MCs.
September 19, 2025 Book Launch Event: Alison Pearce Stevens “Detective Dogs: How Working Dogs Sniff Out Invasive Species (Books for a Better Earth)” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Friends of all ages, join us as we welcome back beloved Science Writer & Award-winning Children’s Author, Alison Pearce Stevens! She will be presenting and signing copies of her new book Detective Dogs: How Working Dogs Sniff Out Invasive Species (Books for a Better Earth), a lively introduction to some of North America’s most troublesome invasive species—and to the industrious dogs and handlers working to stop their spread!
September 19, 2025 Palabras Con Pan Shirley Tyree Theater, 2401 N 24th St. Omaha, 7:00 pm Palabras Con Pan or ‘Words with Bread’ is part of a themed open mic series occurring on the 3rd Friday of every month. Featuring Joanna Calel, Maritza N. Estrada, Andres DB and Angelica Perez. In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, hosted by Esman Rodas Calderon with coffee and sweet bread provided by Crescent Moon Coffee and Pan Dulce Bakery.
September 23, 2025 Writing from the Fence Post ScatterJoy Acres, 4107 Waverly Rd. Murray, 5:30 – 7:30 pm A 5-week creative writing series on Tuesdays, starting September 9th thru October 7th. Week 3: “Llama tell you, life’s too short for drama!”: Stubbornness aside, strategize a short story with Pixie the Llama.
September 25, 2025 Arapahoe Library Visit with Tosca Lee Arapahoe Public Library, 306 Nebraska Ave. Arapahoe, 10:30 am Join Tosca Lee at the library in Arapahoe, where she will be talking about the research behind 2025’s One Book One Nebraska pick, and how she and co-author Marcus Brotherton teamed up to write this novel about one of the darkest chapters in WWII history inspired by real-life stories of brotherhood, hope, and sacrifice. Books will be available for purchase.
September 25, 2025 Jensen Memorial Library with Tosca Lee Jensen Memorial Library, 443 N. Kearney Ave. Minden, 2:00 pm Join Tosca Lee in Minden at Jensen Memorial Library for a One Book One Nebraska talk about the writing, research, and history behind The Long March Home! Books will be available for purchase.
September 25, 2025 Holdrege Area Public Library Visit with Tosca Lee Holdrege Area Public Library, 604 East Ave. Holdrege, 6:00 pm Join Tosca Lee in Holdredge at the library, where she will be discussing the writing, research, and impact of The Long March Home – 2025’s One Book One Nebraska! Books will be available for purchase.
September 25, 2025 The Poetry Pause Carriage House at Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 5:00 – 8:00 pm Hear two local poets, one seasoned and one just starting to make waves, read their work and chat about why they write. It’s a great place to sit down, cool off, and enjoy something a little different. The poetry is thoughtful, fun, and totally family-friendly, and you’ll even have the chance to ask the poets questions. Stop by and see what poetry sounds like when it’s shared out loud. This month’s poets are Lisa Fay Coutley and Rosine Selemani. Lisa Fay is an award-winning author of multiple poetry collections and essays, and an Associate Professor at UNO’s Writer’s Workshop. Rosine is a passionate young writer focused on telling empowering, honest stories of African and Congolese girlhood and identity.
September 25, 2025 NEWISH – Monthly Poetry Slam NOMA, 2510 N 24th St. Omaha, 7:00 – 10:00 pm We invite you to take risks, say what hasn’t been said. This is a curated space & environment for you to express yourself and grow amongst your community. Enjoy the poetry slam with live music! Registration is $10 and the grand prize is $100. Presented by the Nebraska Writers Collective and hosted by Zedeka Poindexter.
September 28, 2025 Bouteloua LitART FEST Glacier Creek Preserve, 14810 State St. Bennington, 2:00 – 6:00 pm A Celebration of Prose, Poetry, and Pottery featuring Ross Gay, Daniel Gathman, Jen Stastny, Jeff Lacey, and Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers. See link for the schedule.
September 30, 2025 Writing from the Fence Post ScatterJoy Acres, 4107 Waverly Rd. Murray, 5:30 – 7:30 pm A 5-week creative writing series on Tuesdays, starting September 9th thru October 7th. Week 4: “Goats: the original kings and queens of the hill”: Chill in the Goat Yard & focus on fantasy or fables.
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.
Fill your end of summer needs by checking out these literary events! If you’re looking for something to do in August, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
August 1, 2025 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Charlie Peck Zoom, 12:00 pm Charlie Peck grew up in Omaha, Nebraska and received his MFA from Purdue University. His poetry has appeared previously in Cincinnati Review, Ninth Letter, Massachusetts Review, and Best New Poets 2019, among others. His first collection, World’s Largest Ball of Paint, is the winner of the 2022 St. Lawrence Book Award from Black Lawrence Press.
August 1, 2025 Native Omaha Days Poetry Groove Let It Fly Sports Bar, 1080 Capitol Ave. Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm An open mic experience featuring Dani Cleveland and Friends taking it back to the poetry/open mic night days of the early aughts. Dust off those notebooks and share what you’ve been working on or share what’s on your heart in the moment. There is a cash prize for best spoken word piece.
August 2, 2025 Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason at Joslyn’s Art-Tastic Saturday Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Douglas St. Omaha, 12:30 – 1:00 pm & 1:30 – 2:00 pm Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers and former Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason lead events at the Joslyn Art Museum as part of the Joslyn’s Art-Tastic Saturday, which runs from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm. Matt Mason leads a writing workshop at 12:30 pm in the Founders Room and both poets perform poems at 1:30 pm.
August 3, 2025 60th Annual Neihardt Day John G. Neihardt State Historic Site, 306 W Elm St. Bancroft, 12:00 – 3:00 pm Join the 60th Annual Neihardt Day celebration! Free and open to the public! Bring your lawn chairs and/or blankets; picnic tables will be available.
August 5, 2025 Janice N. Harrington Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Harrington writes descriptive, lyrical, and experimental poems that speak to the Black American Imagination in all its multiplicity, advocating for a future that celebrates pleasure and self-fulfillment within Black communities.
August 7, 2025 Acoustic Performance and Book Signing with Brad Colerick & Scott Feldmann: “Zintka!: Lost Bird of Wounded Knee – Zintkála Nuni” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Musician and author Brad Colerick will be visiting to sign books and perform an acoustic set of songs that he’s written! His new book Zintka! began as a song about a Lakota infant who survived the 1890 massacre at Wounded Knee and the ensuing three-day blizzard. She was miraculously found alive — saved by the warmth of her mother’s dying body. The song was turned into an award-winning short film with his creative partner Scott Feldmann.
August 7, 2025 Nights at The Joslyn: Storytelling & Poetry Workshop with Matt Mason Joslyn Art Museum, 2200 Douglas St. Omaha, 6:00 – 6:45 pm The workshop begins with Matt Mason sharing his poetry, inspired by works in the European collection, followed by writing in the galleries and time to share.
August 7, 2025 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.
August 8, 2025 Visiting Writers: Abby E. Murray in Conversation with Ava Winter Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as poet Ava Winter talks with Abby E. Murray about their second poetry collection Recovery Commands. Selected out of 300 entries as the 2024 winner of the Richard-Gabriel Rummonds Poetry Prize, this book explores the intersection of military and civilian life.
August 8, 2025 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Chad Christensen & JV Brummels St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 8:00 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 Chad Christensen & JV Brummels will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will follow until closing.
August 9, 2025 Fractured Narratives: Memory & Forgetting Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm The stories we share in poems are often incomplete, fractured pieces that follow an emotional logic. How do we decide where to start and where to end? What parts of the story do we tell and what do we omit? We will discuss how imagery “triggers” memory, and how those pieces combine to create narrative poems. In this workshop, we will read sample poems, discuss narrative techniques, and have time to generate our own first drafts. Instructed by Charlie Peck, $50 registration fee.
August 9, 2025 Omaha Poetry Slam The Local Art Plug, 1722 St. Marys Ave, Suite 110, Omaha, 6:30 – 9:00 pm The Nebraska Writers Collective proudly presents the Omaha Poetry Slam, a monthly open mic and poetry slam, held on the second Saturday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. We will start at 7 p.m. with an open mic and then the competitive individual slam! Sign up at the event. (If you plan to compete in the slam, bring three poems.)
August 11, 2025 Resonance Beat Poetry Jam Razor Wire Productions Art Gallery & Tattoo, 1808 Vinton St. Omaha, 7:00 pm Wanna try your hand at pairing your writing with music? Or maybe you’ve just never had the sublime experience of hearing the fusion? Either way, we would like to invite you! Named The Resonance for the beautiful ways these artforms play off one another. Sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society.
August 12, 2025 Writers’ Workshop with Sarah McKinstry-Brown Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Ave. Kearney, 12:00 – 2:00 pm Join us for this writing workshop led by Nebraska Poet, Sarah McKinstry-Brown. She will inspire you to experience, love, and write poetry. The workshop will start at noon and registration is required. The workshop fee is $15 and will include lunch. Please bring along something to write with and write on.
August 12, 2025 Poetry Reading with Sarah McKinstry-Brown Kearney Public Library, 2020 1st Ave. Kearney, 7:00 – 8:00 pm Enjoy an evening of poetry with Nebraska Poet Sarah McKinstry-Brown. She is the author of Cradling Monsoons and This Bright Darkness, and is the recipient of three Nebraska Book Awards, an Academy of American Poets Prize, as well as a Sewanee Writers’ Conference Tennessee Williams Scholarship in poetry and a Nebraska Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship Award.
August 21, 2025 The Poetry Pause Carriage House at Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 5:00 – 8:00 pm Hear two local poets, one seasoned and one just starting to make waves, read their work and chat about why they write. It’s a great place to sit down, cool off, and enjoy something a little different. The poetry is thoughtful, fun, and totally family-friendly, and you’ll even have the chance to ask the poets questions. Stop by and see what poetry sounds like when it’s shared out loud. This month’s poets are Trey Moody and Sarah Larsen. Trey, author of Thought That Nature, brings nationally recognized poetry to Omaha with pieces featured in The Atlantic and The Believer. Sarah is a graduate teaching assistant at UNO and a rising voice in Nebraska’s writing community.
August 21, 2025 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Tyler Jacobs & Presley Shellhase Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:30 – 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. This month features Tyler Jacobs and Presley Shellhase.
August 21, 2025 Book Launch Party: Dr. Addison Killeen’s “The Shift: A Leadership Fable of the Transition from Overwhelm to Focus” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 7:00 pm Come celebrate the release of Dr. Addison Killeen’s newest book, The Shift: A Leadership Fable of the Transition from Overwhelm to Focus—a transformational story for leaders in business and beyond. In a world full of distractions, burnout, and reactive decision-making, this book offers a refreshing blueprint for regaining control and building systems that restore clarity, focus, and joy in leadership.
August 21, 2025 Vocal Fry Shirley Tyree Theater, 2401 N 24th St. Omaha, 7:00 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. Nathan Lachner and State Poet Jewel Rodgers, MCs.
August 22, 2025 Visiting Author: Brandon Scranton “Secrets in the Shadows of House Nassau” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 7:00 pm Author Brandon Scranton will be visiting to celebrate his new book Secrets in the Shadows of House Nassau! He will be doing a reading and signing copies of his book.
August 23, 2025 Randomness in Art, Poetry, & Your Life with Brad Modlin Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am What if the out-of-place belonged? In this playful, generative workshop, we’ll explore poems and art that welcome the unexpected—and write our way into surprising connections that just might make perfect sense.
August 23, 2025 Book Launch Celebration: Jaye Viner “The Island of Dreams” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Nebraska author Jaye Viner will be visiting to celebrate her new fantasy novel The Island of Dreams, an epic fantasy with death gods, disability, and utopia gone wrong, perfect for fans of T. Kingfisher, Alix E Harrow, Peter Pan, George MacDonald, and Penny Dreadful.
August 24, 2025 3rd Annual “The Dog Days of Summer” Poetry Event Parish Center behind St Cecilia’s Cathedral, 39th and Burt Sts. Omaha, 2:00 4:00 pm Bring poems, all poets welcome, listeners welcome. Suggested themes: pet therapy or favorite star systems (Sirus is the dog star rising before the sun). Open mic, Refreshments, Some music.
August 29, 2025 Book Launch Celebration: Jeff Hill “Dark Tendencies and Dirty Secrets “ Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 7:00 pm From the author of Dead Socials comes a new debut short story collection from Jeff Hill titled Dark Tendencies and Dirty Secrets! Come celebrate with Jeff and get your signed copy.
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.
Make a splash by participating in these summer literary events! If you’re looking for something to do in July, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
July 1, 2025 Hadara Bar-Nadav Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Hadara Bar-Nadav’s latest book casts spells and confronts illusions, ignites grief and awe, and challenges our assumptions about what it means to heal our bodies, our families, and our shared histories.
July 2, 2025 Book Discussion: “Long March Home” with Author Tosca Lee John A. Stahl Library, 330 North Colfax St. West Point, 12:00 pm Join me at the library for a talk about 2025 One Book One Nebraska The Long March Home and more about the writing of this novel with friend and co-author Marcus Brotherton. Books will be available for purchase.
July 3, 2025 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.
July 4, 2025 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Cliff Taylor Zoom, 12:00 pm Cliff Taylor (enrolled member of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska) is an award-winning writer, poet, speaker, and storyteller. He is the author of several books, including Notes of an Indigenous Futurist (Hema Press) and the recent essay collection The Shining Hands of My Ponca Ancestors (NDSU Press). A Nebraskan through and through, he currently lives on the Oregon Coast with his sweetheart of many years.
July 7, 2025 Illustrator Visit with Chloe Burgett W. Clarke Swanson Branch, 9101 W. Dodge Rd. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:00 am Join children’s book illustrator, Chloe Burgett, as she shares what it’s like drawing pictures for children’s books. Chloe will present about her job, read her book, answer questions, and lead a draw-along activity. This is a free event for children of all ages. Parents/caregivers must remain with their child(ren) for the duration of the program. Registration is required.
July 10, 2025 Stories and Rhymes for Difficult Times: Cultivating our Emotional Heritage with Jerry Bockoven Norfolk Public Library, 308 W. Prospect Ave, Norfolk, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Marrying art with psychology, the presentation will use the language of poetry and storytelling to address ways to manage such emotional challenges as depression, anxiety, anger and grief. This presentation is part of Humanities Nebraska’s Speakers Bureau.
July 11, 2025 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Jewel Rodgers St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 8:00 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 Katie Marya and Jessica Poli will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will follow until closing.
July 12, 2025 Adapting Classical Mythology with Maria Zoccola Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Discover how mythology shapes how we see ourselves and the world. In this workshop, you’ll explore how ancient stories shape modern identity, power, and beauty — and create your own myth-inspired poems that speak to today’s truths and transformations.
July 12, 2025 Omaha Poetry Slam The Local Art Plug, 1722 St. Marys Ave, Suite 110, Omaha, 6:30 – 9:00 pm The Nebraska Writers Collective proudly presents the Omaha Poetry Slam, a monthly open mic and poetry slam, held on the second Saturday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. We will start at 7 p.m. with an open mic and then the competitive individual slam! Sign up at the event. (If you plan to compete in the slam, bring three poems.)
July 14, 2025 Resonance Beat Poetry Jam Razor Wire Productions Art Gallery & Tattoo, 1808 Vinton St. Omaha, 7:00 pm Wanna try your hand at pairing your writing with music? Or maybe you’ve just never had the sublime experience of hearing the fusion? Either way, we would like to invite you! Named The Resonance for the beautiful ways these artforms play off one another. Sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society.
July 17, 2025 The Poetry Pause Carriage House at Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 5:00 – 8:00 pm Hear two local poets, one seasoned and one just starting to make waves, read their work and chat about why they write. It’s a great place to sit down, cool off, and enjoy something a little different. The poetry is thoughtful, fun, and totally family-friendly, and you’ll even have the chance to ask the poets questions. Stop by and see what poetry sounds like when it’s shared out loud. This month’s poets are Todd Robinson and Luke Koesters. Todd,aka “The Toddfather,” is a beloved Omaha poet and educator with books from Backwaters Press and Main Street Rag, and decades of teaching and community leadership. Luke is a queer, Asian-American poet and MFA candidate whose work explores identity and expression through a contemporary lens.
July 17, 2025 Vocal Fry Shirley Tyree Theater, 2401 N 24th St. Omaha, 7:00 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. Nathan Lachner and State Poet Jewel Rodgers, MCs.
July 29, 2025 Reflections in Verse: An Ekphrastic Writing Workshop Inspired by Seeing Double Assemblage Gallery, 1828 N St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 7:00 pm Inspired by the gallery’s latest exhibition, Seeing Double, this ekphrastic writing workshop invites participants to explore artwork that plays with duality, mirrored forms, and layered meaning in both image and concept. We’ll begin with a guided walk through the gallery led by art curator, Anne Pagel, taking time to find the pieces that speak to us most. Then, poet and teaching artist Zedeka Poindexter will lead participants through generative writing prompts designed to spark poetic and narrative responses to the visual work. This is more than just a gallery visit—it’s an opportunity to engage deeply with art and build new creative work that begins with the visual and transforms through words. All levels of writing experience are welcome. Come curious and leave with fresh reflections of your own. Limit 12 participants.
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 fun summer events are waiting! If you’re looking for something to do in June, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
June 2, 2025 Adult Summer Reading Program Kickoff: Tosca Lee Author Visit Grand Island Public Library, 1124 W 2nd St. Grand Island, 5:30 pm Join Nebraska author and New York Times best-seller Tosca Lee as we kick off our Adult Summer Reading Program! Enjoy a talk about the history behind the 2025 One Book One Nebraska pick, The Long March Home: A WWII Novel of the Pacific and more about the writing of this novel with friend and co-author Marcus Brotherton.
June 3, 2025 John Brehm Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Brehm’s poems explore the darkest and brightest moments of our lives. Some show a path forward and others simply acknowledge and empathize with where we are, but all touch deep inside our hearts and into a greater connection with the world around us.
June 5-7, 2025 70th Annual Willa Cather Spring Conference The National Willa Cather Center, 413 N Webster St. Red Cloud, All Day Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley will give a talk on “Willa Cather, My Ántonia and the Life of a Writer” to mark the conclusion of a year-long celebration of Cather’s 1918 novel as a title selected by the National Endowment for the Arts’ 2024-2025 Big Read program. Additional conference programs will celebrate the 100th publication anniversary of Cather’s 1925 novel The Professor’s House. This year’s theme invites Cather scholars and enthusiasts to explore not only the literal landscapes and rooms her characters inhabit, but also the cultural, historical, and environmental realities that do, or in some cases, do not, inform her work.
June 5, 2025 Local Author Celebration Series: Amy Forss Joslyn Castle Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 5:30 pm Join for an evening with local author, Dr. Amy Forss! She is the author of the award-winning biography, Black Print with a White Carnation as well as the non-fiction children’s book, Newspapers & Butter Pecan Ice Cream, and Borrowing from Our Foremothers. Forss is currently creating a non-fiction children’s book on micro-preemie babies illustrated by gallery artist Alissa Hansen for national release.
June 5, 2025 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.
June 6, 2025 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Jewel Rodgers Zoom, 12:00 pm Jewel Rodgers is the 2025-2029 State Poet of Nebraska, a three-time OEAA nominee for Best Performance Poet in Omaha. An interdisciplinary poet, performer, and visual artist, Jewel is also an urban engagement specialist, youth coach, and spatial practitioner in the Midwest. As a spoken word poet, Jewel offers her skill to support social intervention, as with her contributions to The Women’s March and the Charlottesville Vigil in Lincoln, NE. Her work frequently supports mentorship endeavors like UNL’s Husker Dialogues Diversity Training for incoming college freshmen and various community engagement efforts that support the needs of the City of Omaha. She is also a contributing member of the Nebraska Writers Collective’s All Writes Reserved Festival as a slam coach and workshop facilitator.
June 9, 2025 Resonance Beat Poetry Jam Razor Wire Productions Art Gallery & Tattoo, 1808 Vinton St. Omaha, 7:00 pm Wanna try your hand at pairing your writing with music? Or maybe you’ve just never had the sublime experience of hearing the fusion? Either way, we would like to invite you! Named The Resonance for the beautiful ways these artforms play off one another. Sponsored by the Nebraska Poetry Society.
June 13, 2025 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Jewel Rodgers St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 8:00 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 Jewel Rodgers will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will follow until closing.
June 14, 21, & 28, 2025 Getting Real: Taking Your Writing to the Next Level Zoom, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm It’s an irony of the writing life: the better you get at writing, the harder it is to improve. After publishing a few stories or essays, you might wonder if you have stalled out. Whether you are looking to break into publishing in literary journals or have your sights set on more commercial markets, this class offers practical strategies and support for getting there. Through mini-lectures, reading, conversation, and writing exercises, we will make an honest assessment of where we are in our writing lives and what it is we really want from them. We will take inventory of what might be holding us back and what our next steps might look like. Instructed by Steve Edwards, author of the memoir Breaking into the Backcountry and essayist. Limit: 12 participants. Nonmember price: $150.
June 14, 2025 Omaha Poetry Slam The Local Art Plug, 1722 St. Marys Ave, Suite 110, Omaha, 6:30 – 9:00 pm The Nebraska Writers Collective proudly presents the Omaha Poetry Slam, a monthly open mic and poetry slam, held on the second Saturday of every month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. We will start at 7 p.m. with an open mic and then the competitive individual slam! Sign up at the event. (If you plan to compete in the slam, bring three poems.)
June 14, 2025 Playlist: Turning Songs Into Poetry Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Turn the songs that shaped you into poems. Some songs are a way of time travel where we listen to a song from our youth and hear it both right now and in those moments years ago. In this workshop, we’ll explore how those moments spark with memory and experience. Led by Matt Mason.
June 18, 2025 Vocal Fry Shirley Tyree Theater, 2401 N 24th St. Omaha, 7:00 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. Nathan Lachner and State Poet Jewel Rodgers, MCs.
June 19, 2025 The Poetry Pause Carriage House at Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 5:00 – 8:00 pm Hear two local poets, one seasoned and one just starting to make waves, read their work and chat about why they write. It’s a great place to sit down, cool off, and enjoy something a little different. The poetry is thoughtful, fun, and totally family-friendly, and you’ll even have the chance to ask the poets questions. Stop by and see what poetry sounds like when it’s shared out loud. This month’s poets are Emily Anderson and Rayni Wekluk. Emily brings her love of language from the classroom to the stage with wit and warmth, while Rayni taps into everyday life and humor to make her poetry relatable and thought-provoking.
June 19, 2025 Book Launch Celebration with Kwame Gyamfi: “Prism of Perspectives: The Life and Names of Kwame Gyamfi” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 7:00 pm Join for Juneteenth book launch celebration! Kwame Gyamfi has lived several lives, and very few people know all of them. With the help of four writers, he tells his story of being abandoned as a child and experiencing fosster care, adoption, gang violence, and prision. Along the way, he discovered sports, music, beauty, and love, which could shape him into the mentor and man he is today.
June 26, 2025 Nebraska Poet, Nebraska Poetry Broken Bow Public Library, 626 S. D St. Broken Bow, 4:00 – 5:00 pm Matt Mason will speak about the history of slam poetry and how it has evolved.
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.
