What We’re Reading: Memorial Days

Posted on January 16, 2026 by Bailee Juroshek

Where Nebraska Center for the Book board members share their thoughts about the books they are reading. This month’s review is by Amy Mather, Partnerships Manager at Omaha Public Library.

Review of Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks.

———————————————————————–

Memorial Days by Geraldine Brooks is a deeply personal memoir chronicling the sudden death of her husband, journalist Tony Horwitz, on Memorial Day 2019.

As a longtime fan of Brooks’s fiction—and of memoirs more broadly—I chose to listen to the audiobook, narrated by the author herself. That choice feels especially meaningful here. Brooks’s narration places you directly at her side as she unpacks the shock of loss, navigates the practical demands of daily life, and struggles to carve out space to properly mourn. Interwoven with her grief are memories of how she and Horwitz met, their years reporting together as foreign correspondents in the Middle East, and her own path toward becoming a novelist.

Reflective, intimate, and heartbreaking, Memorial Days is a powerful meditation on love, loss, and remembrance. Readers who cherish literary memoirs will find this a moving and unforgettable listen.

Posted in Books & Reading, General | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

The Antidote: A Novel Proclaimed the 2026 One Book One Nebraska

Posted on January 13, 2026 by Bailee Juroshek

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 13, 2026

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

The Antidote: A Novel Proclaimed the 2026 One Book One Nebraska

On Jan. 13, 2026 Governor Jim Pillen signed a proclamation honoring the 2026 One Book One Nebraska selection The Antidote: A Novel (Knopf, 2025) by Karen Russell. Rebecca Faber, Nebraska Center for the Book (NCB) Board member spoke about the program and selection. The Antidote is a historical fiction novel set in the fictional Nebraska town of Uz during the trials of the dust bowl. Full of magical realism, Nebraska landmarks, and superb storytelling, The Antidote showcases the challenges of the time period while urging the reader to face the future. The full proclamation can be viewed on the One Book One Nebraska webpages at http://onebook.nebraska.gov. Rebecca Faber from the Nebraska Center for the Book board spoke at the proclamation ceremony, saying:

“Ms Russell made several trips to Nebraska to do extensive research as she developed her novel. During these visits she gained historical, cultural, meteorological, and geological information about Nebraska during the 1930’s. She refers to her writing process as a “deeply collaborative experience” due to the cooperation she received from Nebraskans who provided her with essential information. The One Book One Nebraska program provides a great opportunity to promote reading, personal learning and reflection, and our connection with Nebraska writers, publishers, libraries, schools, and communities.”

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.”

###

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.

Posted in Books & Reading | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Upcoming Events in January

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Bailee Juroshek

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 19, 2025 8th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “Living the Dream” Original Social Justice Spoken Word, Music, Dance and Art Competition
    Holland Performing Arts Center, 1200 Douglas St.
    Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am
    Sponsored by the City of Omaha Human Rights and Relations Department. There will be cash prizes and trophies awarded to winners from the Omaha metro area in grades 7-12.
  • 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.

Posted in Events, General | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Deadline for Nebraska Letters About Literature Writing Contest Approaches

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Bailee Juroshek

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
December 2, 2025

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Tessa Timperley
402-471-4002
800-307-2665

Deadline for Nebraska Letters About Literature Writing Contest Approaches

Nebraska students have one month left to submit their letter in the state-wide Letters About Literature reading and writing contest. Readers in grades 4-12 are invited to write a personal letter to an author for the Nebraska Letters about Literature (LAL) contest, a state reading and writing promotion program. The letter can be to any author (living or dead) from any genre-fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic-explaining how that author’s work changed the student’s view of the world. Submissions must be completed online by the end of the day December 31, 2025. Nebraska Letters About Literature is coordinated and sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book and the Nebraska Library Commission, with support from Lincoln City Libraries, Francie & Finch Bookshop, and Humanities Nebraska.

The Nebraska Center for the Book’s panel of judges will select a winner and an honorable mention per competition level (Level I for grades 4-6, Level II for grades 7-8, and Level III for grades 9-12) to be honored in a proclamation-signing ceremony at the state capitol during National Library Week in April 2026. Their winning letters will be placed in the Jane Pope Geske Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors at Bennett Martin Public Library in Lincoln. Nebraska winners and honorable mentions will receive state prizes.

Teachers, librarians, and parents can download the contest guidelines, free teaching materials, information on the online entry system, and past winning letters on the Nebraska Center for the Book website. An informational NCompass Live webinar aired on October 1st, discussing this year’s contest, the submission process, and judging criteria. For more information contact Nebraska Center for the Book.

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

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

                                                                                        ###  

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.

Posted in Awards, Events, General | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Upcoming Events in December

Posted on December 1, 2025 by Bailee Juroshek

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.

Posted in Events, General | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Antidote: A Novel Chosen as 2026 One Book One Nebraska

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Bailee Juroshek

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 17, 2025

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

The Antidote: A Novel Chosen as 2026 One Book One Nebraska

People across Nebraska are encouraged to read the work set in Nebraska—and then talk about it with their friends and neighbors. The Antidote: A Novel (Knopf, 2025) by Karen Russell is the 2026 One Book One Nebraska selection.

The Antidote is a historical fiction novel during the dust bowl, set in a fictional town in rural Nebraska.

Karen Russell’s The Antidote is a haunting Dust Bowl epic that blends historical fiction with magical realism. Set in 1930s Nebraska, the novel follows Antonina Rossi—known as “the Antidote,” a prairie witch who stores memories—and the Oletsky family as they endure the devastation of Black Sunday’s dust storm and the catastrophic flooding of the Republican River. Through interwoven narratives, Russell explores themes of memory, resilience, and survival amid environmental collapse, crafting a lyrical meditation on how communities confront trauma and corruption while clinging to hope.

Karen Russell is the author of six books of fiction, including the New York Times bestsellers Swamplandia! and Vampires in the Lemon Grove. She is a MacArthur Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. She has received two National Magazine Awards for Fiction, the Shirley Jackson Award, the 2023 Bottari Lattes Grinzane Prize, and the 2024 Mary McCarthy Prize. The Antidote is a finalist for the National Book Award and a national bestseller. She serves on the board of Street Books, a mobile library for people living outdoors. Born and raised in Miami, Florida, she lives in Portland, Oregon, with her husband, son, and daughter.

Libraries across Nebraska will join other literary and cultural organizations in planning book discussions, activities, and events that will encourage Nebraskans to read and discuss this book. Support materials to assist with local reading/discussion activities will be available after January 1, 2026 at http://onebook.nebraska.gov. Updates and activity listings will be posted on the One Book One Nebraska Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/onebookonenebraska.

2026 will mark the twenty-second year of the One Book One Nebraska reading program, sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book. 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. The Nebraska Center for the Book invites recommendations for One Book One Nebraska book selection year-round at http://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/obon-nomination.asp.

One Book One Nebraska is sponsored by Nebraska Center for the Book, Humanities Nebraska, and Nebraska Library Commission. The Nebraska Center for the Book 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 housed at and 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.”

###  

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.      

Posted in Books & Reading, Events, General | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Nebraska Center for the Book Honors 2025 Award Recipients at Literary Festival

Posted on November 7, 2025 by Bailee Juroshek

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
November 7, 2025

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

Nebraska Center for the Book Honors 2025 Award Recipients at Literary Festival

The Nebraska Center for the Book is proud to announce the recipients of its three distinguished literary honors: the Jane Geske Award, the Mildred Bennett Award, and the President’s Award, at the 2025 Nebraska Celebration of Books Literary Festival, held Saturday, November 15th, at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln City Campus Union and Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.

This year’s Jane Geske Award will be presented to Delivering Infinite Bookshelves, a transformative literacy initiative that sends a book home with students each night to foster reading habits and support school and public library efforts. The program has demonstrated remarkable success in schools where students have historically struggled and has expanded its reach across Nebraska beyond Omaha. The award, supported by the Center for the Book, honors organizations making long-term contributions to literacy, reading, and writing in Nebraska.

This year’s Mildred Bennett Award will be presented to Ashley Olson, Executive Director of the Willa Cather Foundation, for her outstanding contributions to Nebraska’s literary tradition. Olson’s leadership has elevated the Foundation’s national profile, including her role in placing Littleton Alston’s statue of Willa Cather in Statuary Hall in Washington, D.C. Her work has drawn acclaimed authors to Red Cloud, spearheaded successful capital campaigns, and expanded the Foundation’s digital reach – creating a lasting literary landmark that enriches both scholarship and community.

This year, the Nebraska Center for the Book honors Christine Walsh and Tessa Timperley with the President’s Award for their exceptional service to the Nebraska Center for the Book and Nebraska’s literary community.

Christine Walsh served multiple terms as president of the Nebraska Center for the Book, offering steady leadership and innovative direction, especially during the challenges of the pandemic. Her participation in the 2024 National Center for the Book strategic planning process ensured that Nebraska’s voice was heard at the national level. Her work reflects a deep commitment to collaboration, kindness, and literary excellence.

Tessa Timperley has provided the Nebraska Center for the Book invaluable behind-the-scenes support for years, enabling volunteers to carry out their work with efficiency and confidence. Her competence, humor, and collaborative spirit have made her an essential part of the Center’s success and a respected figure in Nebraska’s literary landscape.

The Celebration of Books will also feature readings by 2025 Nebraska Book Award winners, author panels, book vendors, and appearances by State Poets Jewel Rodgers and Matt Mason, along with Tosca Lee, author of the 2025 One Book One Nebraska selection. The 2026 One Book One Nebraska title will be revealed during the event.

For more information, visit bookfestival.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 national Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Nebraska Library Commission.

###  

Posted in Awards, Events, General | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Upcoming Events in November

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Bailee Juroshek

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.

Posted in Events, General | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Friday Reads: One Book One Nebraska Shortlist Books

Posted on October 31, 2025 by Bailee Juroshek

I’m breaking with tradition and using my Friday Reads post to talk about the three books on the short list for the 2026 One Book One Nebraska selection. We wanted to give a short overview of each book, some author information, and include comments by the readers on the selection committee. The winner will be announced Saturday, November 15th at the Nebraska Celebration of Books literary festival’s awards ceremony. Let us know which book you would pick to be the next One Book One Nebraska read, or nominate a book to be considered for 2027.

Our Souls at Night, Kent Haruf. Vintage Books/Penguin Random House, 2015. Genre: Fiction

Set in contemporary Colorado, Haruf has crafted a love story between a widow and her widower neighbor. Life has given them a second chance to find happiness despite the nosiness of the townsfolk and a lack of support from family members.  Readers found it consistent with Haruf’s previous novels. One evaluator described this love story as “genuine.”

Haruf authored six novels. He previously lived in Lincoln while teaching at Nebraska Wesleyan. He was a finalist for the National Book Award, the Los Angeles Times Book Prize, and the New Yorker Book Award. He died in 2014. The book was published posthumously and was adapted into a film.

Lisa Kelly previously reviewed this title for Friday Reads, and you can read that review here.

The Antidote, Karen Russell. Knopf, 2025. Genre: Fiction

Set in western Nebraska in the 1930’s, Russell’s novel includes two actual events—the Black Sunday dust storm and the flooding of the Republican River.  The main character is the Antidote who magically handles memories. The novel includes a variety of interesting characters whose lives intersect in dramatic ways. One evaluator noted that the book “has lots of good topics for discussion.”

Russell has authored six books of fiction. She was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2012 for her novel Swamplandia!  She also received the Shirley Jackson Award and the 2024 Mary McCarthy Prize.  The Antidote is on the long list for the 2025 National Book Award for Fiction. Russell lives in Portland, Oregon.

Rod Wagner previously reviewed this title for Friday Reads, and you can read that review here.

Nebraska: Under a Big Red Sky, Joel Sartore. Nebraska Book Publishing, 1999. Genre: Photography/Nonfiction

This is Joel Sartore’s second book. It contains photographs of Nebraska from every section of the state. Compiled early in his career, it was prompted by his desire to show others the full range of his home state. Photos range from Sandhill cranes to the Sower to small town sports to rodeos to Carhenge to Memorial Stadium–to mention just a few.  One  committee member liked both the photos and Sartore’s humor, adding “I think there could be some good discussions about living in Nebraska.”

Joel Sartore lives in Lincoln, Nebraska and has been a contributor to National Geographic as well Audubon Magazine, Time, Lif

Posted in Books & Reading | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

2025 Celebration of Nebraska Books Literary Festival

Posted on October 27, 2025 by Tessa Timperley

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.

Posted in Books & Reading, Events, General | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment