Spooky season is here, and literary events getting seasonal! If you’re looking for something to do in October, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
October 1, 2026 Book Launch: Phillip McGreer “Don’t Shoot the Jury” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we welcome author Phillip McGreer as he presents his book Don’t Shoot the Jury, a legal thriller that puts a gun to your head to make the right decision as a juror on a murder trial. There is no way out with this judge so you’re stuck between the Sinaloa Cartel and the Neo-Nazis. If you don’t lose sleep reading this, you’re dead already.
October 2, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Colleen Morton Busch Zoom, 12:00 pm Colleen Morton Busch is the author of Fire Monks: Zen Mind Meets Wildfire, a work of nonfiction published by Penguin Press and selected by Publishers Weekly, the San Francisco Chronicle, and Barnes and Noble as a best book of the year in 2011. Her poetry collection, Smolder, won Ex Ophidia Press’s 2025 Richard-Gabriel Rummonds Poetry Contest and was published in June 2026.
October 2-3, 2026 Midwest Lit Fest Various Omaha Library Branches Omaha, 6:00 pm This special event celebrates reading, storytelling, and creativity, designed to inspire young minds to explore their own voices through art and writing. Children in grades K-8 are invited to interactive sessions with authors and illustrators. The goal: to help kids see themselves as creators—to look at the people behind the books and think, “I could do that!”
October 3, 2026 Between Elsewhere & Here: An Ecstatic Approach to Ecopoetics with H. G. Dierdorff Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Explore how poetry can meet environmental crisis with attention, grief, desire, and care. In this generative workshop, participants will read contemporary ecopoets, question the limits of language, and write new work that reimagines responsibility beyond the self.
October 3, 2026 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Omaha Workshops Fall 2026 Nebraska Wildlife Rehab’s Baldwin Center, Conference Room, 9777 M St. Omaha, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm In partnership with the Nebraska Writing Project and the Veterans Administration, Humanities Nebraska launched a new writing program in 2014 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 Jen Stastny and Cindy Cronn, with guest speaker Kevin Clouther.
October 4, 2026 The Porchfest Poetry Porch Gifford Park, 3511 Webster St. Omaha, 12:00 – 5:00 pm Porchfest is a free community music and poetry festival held annually in Omaha’s Gifford Park neighborhood, with 13 stages including the poetry stage hosted by Jules Coral.
October 4, 2026 Ames Reading Series: A Conversation with Author Lisa Knopp Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 South 14th St. Lincoln, 2:00 – 3:00 pm Join award-winning Nebraska author Lisa Knopp for a conversation about her newest book Ravelings: Essays on Love, Loss, and Wonder. Through essays that explore love, aging, memory, language, self-discovery, and the moments of wonder found in every day life, Knopp reflects on what it means to navigate the human experience. She will share stories behind the book, discuss her creative process and writing career, and the art of the personal essay.
October 4, 2026 One Book One Lincoln – Explore History Through Cuneiform Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 South 14th St. Lincoln, 2:00 – 3:30 pm To celebrate our One Book One Lincoln finalist, There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak, we will be welcoming Katelyn McMullin and Dr. Bailey Barnard from the UNL State Museum at Morrill Hall. Attendees will have the opportunity to see 4,000 year-old cuneiform tablets not on public display at the museum. Katelyn will share information about their history and answer questions. You will also be able to inscribe your own tablet using quick-dry clay. We hope you’ll join us and leave your own message for history!
October 4, 2026 Bouteloua LitART Fest Glacier Creek Preserve, 14810 State St. Bennington, 2:00 – 6:00 pm A celebration of prose, poetry, and art. Bestselling author of Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, & Me, Rock Steady: Brilliant Advice from My Bipolar Life, and The Adventures of You: How to Write and Star in Your Own Comics, Ellen Forney will be the keynote speaker, and other participating authors include Todd Robinson, Caitlin Cass, Tammie Kennedy, and Terri Dreismeier.
October 6, 2026 Book Launch Party: “Wheel Man” by Marcia Calhoun Forecki Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Join for the book launch celebration of Wheel Man by Marcia Calhoun Forecki. Join us for readings and conversation! Stay for the snacks! Readers, writers, friends, and family are all welcome! Francie & Finch Bookstore will be on premises with books to sell!
October 6, 2026 Greg Kosmicki Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm From family and memory to the absurdities of daily life, Greg Kosmicki’s poetry has been praised for its honesty and openness. His poetry balances humor, sorrow, and the mystery of being human.
October 7, 2026 Lunch at the Library with Keith Ludden Bennett Martin Public Library, 136 South 14th St. Lincoln, 12:10 – 1:00 pm Keith Ludden will discuss his book It Makes the Bread Rise. Lunch at the Library is a program sponsored by the Nebraska Literary Heritage Association and the Foundation for Lincoln City Libraries to benefit the Heritage Room of Nebraska Authors.
October 8, 2026 Visiting Speaker – Amanda Beard: Finding Strength Through Struggle Seven-time Olympic Swim Medalist St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 – 8:00 pm Olympic Medalist Amanda Beard will speak about her mental health struggles starting at a young age, finding her voice over time, seeking help and learning effective coping skills. Her story reminds audiences of all ages that even the strongest people can struggle and that healing is possible. She will be speaking, with an opportunity for Q & A, from 6:30 – 7:30, followed by a book signing at 7:30. Books can be purchased onsite during the event from Francie & Finch.
October 10, 2026 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Lincoln Workshops Fall 2026 Pius X High School, 6000 A St. (West entrance 8) Omaha, 9:00 – 11:00 am In partnership with the Nebraska Writing Project and the Veterans Administration, Humanities Nebraska launched a new writing program in 2014 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 Tom Seib and Stephen Swinehart, with guest speaker Becky Faber.
October 13, 2026 Book Launch: Mary Pipher “Letters to a Young Therapist: Updated Edition” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we celebrate with Mary Pipher! Her new edition of Letters to a Young Therapist will be available for purchase and Mary will be avaliable to sign copies!
October 13, 2026 Nebraska Writers Collective Workshop: Past, Present, Futures Samuel Bak Museum: The Learning Center, 2289 S 67 St. Omaha, 6:30 – 8:00 pm Art and writing, a creative departure point for writing and performance. The evening workshops will include a tour of the exhibition led by Chief Curator Alexandra Cardon followed by a reflection and writing session led by Zedeka Poindexter. Due to limited seating, RSVPs are appreciated.
October 14, 2026 The No Gatekeepers Poetry Night Joslyn Castle & Gardens Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Join poet and former artist-in-residence Matt Mason for a dizzying, open mic celebration of poetry. Bring two poems: one of your own, one by another poet. Be that of a friend, favorite song, something you read in school. Both poems should make us feel or understand some kind of experience or story. You have 5 minutes to share, after which a horn will sound.
October 14, 2026 UNO Fall 2026 Writer’s Workshop Reading Series: Laird Hunt Criss Library, 6401 S University Dr Rd N. Omaha, 7:30 pm Born in Singapore in 1968 to American parents, Laird Hunt is the author of nine novels, including the 2021 National Book Award finalist Zorrie. A 2024 Guggenheim Fellow, he is the winner of the Anisfield-Wolf Book Award for Fiction, the Grand Prix de Littérature Américaine, the Bridge Prize and a finalist for both the Pen/Faulkner and the Prix Femina Étranger, and was longlisted for the 2024 Carnegie Medal in Literary Excellence. A former United Nations press officer who was largely raised in rural Indiana, he now lives in Providence where he teaches in Brown University’s Literary Arts Program and spends his days with his wife, the poet Eleni Sikelianos, their daughter, Eva, and two cats. A new novel, Burn the Blue Water, will be published in 2027 by Bloomsbury.
October 15, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Mike Bockoven and Shoshana Sumrall Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Join for discussion between writers Mike Bockoven and Shoshana Sumrall.
October 15, 2026 Virtual Author Series: Margot Kahn and Hillary Behrman Zoom, 7:00 – 8:00 pm Help us welcome two writers from our 2024 Willa Cather Residency for Writers cohort as they share recent publications! Margot Kahn and Hillary Behrman will read excerpts from their books as they reflect on their unique writers-in-residence experiences. This event is free with registration.
October 16, 2026 Author Event & Movie Screening – Mike Bockoven & Hell House LLC Sower Books, 914 North 70th Stt. Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Join us as we welcome author Lynn Kalemkiarian! She will be talking about her new book A Pawprint on My Soul: Adventures with Barney, the heartwarming true story of a unique bond between her and her extraordinary therapy dog, Barney.
October 17, 2026 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Omaha Workshops Fall 2026 Nebraska Wildlife Rehab’s Baldwin Center, Conference Room, 9777 M St. Omaha, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm In partnership with the Nebraska Writing Project and the Veterans Administration, Humanities Nebraska launched a new writing program in 2014 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 Jen Stastny and Cindy Cronn, with guest speaker John Price.
October 17, 2026 Visiting Author: Lynn Kalemkiarian “A Pawprint on My Soul: Adventures with Barney” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 6:00 – 9:00 pm Join us to celebrate the paperback release of Mike Bockoven’s newest book Come Knocking! He will be here to read a bit, chat, answer questions, then we will be watching Hell House LLC. Snacks and drinks provided or you can bring your own. RSVP required as space is limited.
October 19, 2026 Visiting Author: August Lamm “You Don’t Need a Smartphone: A Practical Guide to Downgrading Your Phone and Upgrading Your Life” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us for an exciting author visit! Author August Lamm will be presenting her new book You Don’t Need a Smartphone: A Practical Guide to Downgrading Your Phone and Upgrading Your Life. In this revelatory manifesto, anti-tech activist August Lamm gives you the courage and confidence to ditch your smartphone once and for all.
October 20, 2026 One Book One Lincoln Presents: An Evening with Bruce Holsinger, Author of Culpability Lincoln High School, 2229 J St. Lincoln, 7:00 – 9:00 pm One Book One Lincoln proudly invites you to join us in welcoming the 2026 Winning Author, Bruce Holsinger, for an evening of celebrating and conversation about his novel, Culpability. There will be an in-person interview and a question and answer session, followed by a book signing. Copies of the book will be available for purchase on-site from local bookstore, Francie & Finch. Attendees may bring their own book to have signed. This event will be held in the Lincoln High School auditorium with parking available in the North lot. Please enter at Door #1. There is also a handicap entrance at Door #44 located on the West side of the building with elevator access to the 2nd floor. Registration is encouraged for this event.
October 22, 2026 Visiting Author: Mohammad Rashedul Hasan “Reconceiving AI: The World as an Apple or a Blue Orange” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we welcome Mohammad Rashedul Hasan as he discusses his book Reconceiving AI: The World as an Apple or a Blue Orange. “This book is for readers curious about AI but wary of hype. For those who sense that something is missing from the conversation. For anyone who believes that to build intelligence, we must first understand it.”
October 24, 2026 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Lincoln Workshops Fall 2026 Pius X High School, 6000 A St. (West entrance 8) Omaha, 9:00 – 11:00 am In partnership with the Nebraska Writing Project and the Veterans Administration, Humanities Nebraska launched a new writing program in 2014 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 Tom Seib and Stephen Swinehart, with guest speaker Summer Miller.
October 24, 2026 Poetry Workshop: The Narrative Poem Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am What is a narrative poem, and how does it differ from a prose poem or a lyric poem? Discover how poets tell compelling stories through verse while exploring the elements that make narrative poetry unique. Bring a notebook, a writing utensil, and a creative story of your own to tell as you craft your own narrative poem. Led by Julie S. Paschold.
October 24, 2026 Writing with Larksong: Bridging the Miles Zoom, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Writing with Larksong: Bridging the Miles is a live online writing series for people who would like to write in the company of others and get to know writers from communities across Nebraska and beyond. Each month, a different published writer will join us to read from their work and talk about some aspect of writing or the creative process. The guest writer will offer prompts and ideas, and we’ll spend time writing together. You’ll leave each session with new writing of your own. We’ll also make time for conversation, including small breakout groups where participants can meet and get to know other writers.
October 28, 2026 UNO Fall 2026 Writer’s Workshop Reading Series: Mona Awad Omaha Central Library, 7205 Dodge St. Omaha, 6:00 pm Mona Awad is the New York Times bestselling author of the novels Rouge, All’s Well, Bunny, and 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl. She is a three-time finalist for a Goodreads Choice Award, the recipient of an Amazon Best First Novel Award, and a two-time finalist for the Giller Prize. Bunny was a finalist for a New England Book Award and was named a Best Book of 2019 by Time, Vogue, and the New York Public Library. It is currently being developed for film with Bad Robot Productions. Rouge is being adapted for film by Fremantle and Sinestra. Margaret Atwood named Awad her “literary heir” in The New York Times’s T Magazine. Her work has been translated into seventeen languages. Her writing has appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Ploughshares, McSweeney’s and TIME magazine, among others. Her latest novel, We Love You, Bunny, was an instant New York Times bestseller and shortlist finalist for the Giller prize.
October 29, 2026 Write Here, Write Now: A Writing Workshop Peterson Senior Center, Yanney Park, 2020 W. 11th St. Kearney, 2:00 pm Prairie Poets and Writers presents Write Here, Write Now: A Writing Workshop with former Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason. Mason will talk about the tricks and secrets of creating poetry, partial funding provided by Poetry Forward.
October 29, 2026 Dark & Deep: Poems for Halloween The Lodge, Cottonmill Park, 2795 Cottonmill Ave. Kearney, 7:00 pm Prairie Poets and Writers Dark & Deep: Poems for Halloween with former Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason. Just in time for Halloween, Mason will share his work in a perfect setting for the mysterious and the uncanny. Plan to come early (6 pm) for soup, white bean chicken chili and conversation. Partial funding provided by Poetry Forward.
October 31, 2026 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Omaha Workshops Fall 2026 Nebraska Wildlife Rehab’s Baldwin Center, Conference Room, 9777 M St. Omaha, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm In partnership with the Nebraska Writing Project and the Veterans Administration, Humanities Nebraska launched a new writing program in 2014 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 Jen Stastny and Cindy Cronn, with guest speaker Liz Kay.
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 the school season with literary events through the state! If you’re looking for something to do in September, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
September 1, 2026 Mark Sanders Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Mark Sanders’ poetry explores the grit of the Great Plains with the tenderness of memory and the human heart. Join us for an evening of poems that reflect on home, time, and the ways we grow into our best selves.
September 3, 2026 Visiting Author: Van Jensen “Godfall” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we welcome back to Francie & Finch Bookshop author Van Jensen! We will be celebrating the hardcover publication of his novel Godfall, and will hear about the upcoming sequel, Godrise, set to release in January 2027!
September 4, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Marjorie Saiser Zoom, 12:00 pm Marjorie Saiser’s eighth book, The Track the Whales Make, deals with some ways love goes right and love goes wrong. Saiser earned her Master’s Degree in Creative Writing at University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Her work has received the WILLA Award and the High Plains Book Award.
September 5, 2026 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Omaha Workshops Fall 2026 Nebraska Wildlife Rehab’s Baldwin Center, Conference Room, 9777 M St. Omaha, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm In partnership with the Nebraska Writing Project and the Veterans Administration, Humanities Nebraska launched a new writing program in 2014 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 Jen Stastny and Cindy Cronn, with guest speaker Rachel Bash.
September 5, 2026 Nebraska Homegrown Series from Jewel Rodgers Chadron Open Art, 223 Main St. Chadron, 6:00 – 8:00 pm Organized by Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers, Homegrown is a traveling community arts series where everyone is welcome to listen, connect, or share original work. Enjoy a popcorn-style community reading, performances by Jewel and other notable poets, and an open share featuring poetry, stories, music, visual art, and more. Prefer to just listen? Come as you are. Snacks and light refreshments provided. Free and open to all. Readings by: Jewel Rodgers, Stephanie E. Glass, Robert McEwen, and John L. Harmon. Hosted by Love is for All – Chadron, a chapter of Panhandle Equality.
September 7, 2026 Sower Books 2nd Birthday Celebration Sower Books, 914 N 70th St. Lincoln, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm Sower Books are turning 2 & cannot wait to celebrate with you! There will be an Author event at 1:00 pm, snacks, Sales, fairy gardens, giveaways, & more! We hope you come celebrate with us & thank you endlessly for your support!
September 7, 2026 Author Event with Ryan T. Pozzi Sower Books, 914 N 70th St. Lincoln, 1:00 – 2:20 pm Ryan brings a dynamic, engaging performance featuring smart humor, interactive crowd elements, and polished musical examples that elevate every moment. The Mess That Made Them: How History’s Greatest Artists Failed, Floundered, and Made Something Brilliant Anyway starts with a simple question: what happens when things fall apart, and what do we really mean when we talk about genius?
September 11, 2026 Omaha Reads: Shelby Van Pelt Author Visit Omaha Central Library, 7205 Dodge St. Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Join us for a conversation with Shelby Van Pelt, author of the 2026 Omaha Reads book, Remarkably Bright Creatures, followed by a Q&A session with the audience. Copies of Remarkably Bright Creatures, will be available for purchase and signing.
September 12, 2026 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Lincoln Workshops Fall 2026 Pius X High School, 6000 A St. (West entrance 8) Omaha, 9:00 – 11:00 am In partnership with the Nebraska Writing Project and the Veterans Administration, Humanities Nebraska launched a new writing program in 2014 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 Tom Seib and Stephen Swinehart, with guest speaker Liz Kay.
September 12, 2026 Poetry Workshop: Paying Homage to Families Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am Since the next day is Grandparents’ Day, we will be celebrating everything to do with families! Bring your gratitude, your funny stories, your tearful memories. Let’s get these down on paper, ready to share. Let’s discuss how to turn a story into a poem, a joke into verse. Bring a notebook and writing utensil. Led by Julie S. Paschold.
September 12, 2026 Author Event with Hope Marie Baker Sower Books, 914 N 70th St. Lincoln, 2:00 – 3:00 pm 420 Moms! A must read PTA Drama! We are bragging a bit because hope is one of us and many of you know her! Hope Marie Baker is an author, wife, mom, animal lover, and firm believer that iced coffee has no bedtime. She writes horror, thrillers, and comedy with plenty of dark humor and just the right amount of chaos.
September 13, 2026 Weaving Your Story: Cecilia Vargas and Visiting Author Illustrator Gina Wei Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 12:00 – 3:00 pm Join us for this family fun event! Working with beloved organizations Echo Collective and Linked 2 Literacy, Francie and Finch Bookshop will be hosting special Welcoming Week activities. Create your own woven bookmark with Cecilia Vargas, all supplies will be provided. Joining the fun will be author and illustrator Gina Wei at 2:00 to talk about her new children’s book The Lion Dancer (available for purchase at the event).
September 16, 2026 Writing in English: A Community Writing Group for Multilingual Adults Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 5:00 - 6:30 pm Writing in English is for adults whose first language is not English and who would like more opportunities to practice writing in English. Each session is led by an experienced facilitator and begins with a short reading that introduces a topic or theme. The facilitator then offers a series of writing prompts, ideas and suggestions to help you get started. We’ll spend a short time writing together, then we’ll share our thoughts about how each individual approached the writing experience. As we talk together, we’ll explore the different ways a single idea can be expressed in English. Those who wish to may read their work aloud, but sharing new writing is always your choice. This program is made possible by a grant from the Sherwood Foundation. Meets on the First and Third Wednesday of each month.
September 16, 2026 Panel Discussion – “The Lives of Immigrants and Refugees: Tales of Migration, Hope, Grief, and Finding Home in Nebraska” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we hear stories from the new book from University of Nebraska Press, The Lives of Immigrants and Refugees: Tales of Migration, Hope, Grief, and Finding Home in Nebraska. The Lives of Immigrants and Refugees offers thirty-one essays by immigrants and refugees who now call Lincoln, Nebraska, home. These individuals have found support, belonging, and opportunity through the collaborative work of Lincoln’s New Americans Task Force members and the Lincoln/Lancaster County Welcoming and Belonging Strategic Plan. The stories in this book are brilliant, harrowing, poetic, and revelatory. They’re also stories of survival, resilience, creativity, and a staggering amount of work: learning a new language, navigating a challenging immigration system, being perceived as a foreigner, struggling to grasp strange new customs and traditions, working one’s way out of extreme poverty, working through trauma and grief. Those of us who have had the good fortune of not being displaced have much to learn by listening.
September 17, 2026 Poetry Pause at Joslyn Castle Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 5:30 – 7:00 pm Close out the Poetry Pause season with four local poets: Kiara Nicole Letcher, Tyler Michael Jacobs, Anna Schmeer, and Nicole Stander. Join us during the Art Walk for a free evening of poems, conversation, and audience questions.
September 17, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Alison Pearce Stevens and Carla Ketner Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Join for discussion between writers Alison Pearce Stevens and Carla Ketner.
September 17, 2026 Poetry reading by Mike Stinson, Heidi Hermanson, and Greg Kosmicki at Postscript Postscript, 1439 Silver St. Ashland, 7:00 pm Kosmicki is the founder of The Backwaters Press, author of 15 books and chapbooks of poetry. Stinson is a retired psychotherapist, who has two published chapbooks, Extra Innings, as well as Much Needed Rain from WSC Press in 2026. Hermanson was a recipient of the Nebraska Individual Art Fellowship and her third book, Compass, is forthcoming.
September 17, 2026 Virtual Author Series: Richard Norton Smith Zoom, 7:00 – 8:00 pm We are honored to welcome renowned author and historian Richard Norton Smith for a conversation about Willa Cather, My Mortal Enemy, and Cather’s enduring place in American literature. You won’t want to miss this engaging discussion! Richard Norton Smith is an author, historian, biographer, and former director of five presidential libraries, including the Herbert Hoover, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Ronald Reagan, and the Gerald R. Ford; the founding executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum; and founding director of the Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at the University of Kansas.
September 18, 2026 Book Launch: Luis Othoniel Rosa “El Gato En El Remolino/Animal Spiral” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:00 – 6:00 pm Join us for a book launch you don’t want to miss! Author Luis Othoniel Rosa will be presenting his book El Gato En El Remolino, and the English language version, translated by Katie Marya, Animal Spiral.
September 19, 2026 Ready for the Marvelous with Kemi Alabi Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Break from the expected and write toward the marvelous. Through surrealist poems and playful prompts, this generative workshop helps poets tap the unconscious, challenge repression, and unlock bolder, more imaginative work.
September 19, 2026 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Omaha Workshops Fall 2026 Nebraska Wildlife Rehab’s Baldwin Center, Conference Room, 9777 M St. Omaha, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm In partnership with the Nebraska Writing Project and the Veterans Administration, Humanities Nebraska launched a new writing program in 2014 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 Jen Stastny and Cindy Cronn, with guest speaker Vanessa Kalil.
September 22, 2026 One Author Kearney: Writers’ Workshop with Patti Callahan Henry Kearney Public Library, Platte Room, 2020 1st Ave. Kearney, 12:00 – 2:00 pm Join author Patti Callahan Henry for a writing workshop certain to grow your writing life. She is the author of seventeen novels, including her newest, The Story She Left Behind. Her books have been translated into more than 20 languages and have been recognized as a Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick, Amazon Editor Pick, Goodreads Book of the Year finalist, People Magazine Choice, and Book of the Month selection. Registration is $20.
September 22, 2026 One Author Kearney: Writers’ Workshop with Patti Callahan Henry Kearney Public Library, Platte Room, 2020 1st Ave. Kearney, 7:00 pm The Kearney Public Library Foundation and the library proudly present an evening with Patti Callahan Henry! A book signing will follow the presentation. This is a free, ticketed event. Patti Callahan Henry is a New York Times, USA Today, and Globe and Mail bestselling author of seventeen novels, including her newest release, The Story She Left Behind. Her books have been translated into over 20 languages and have been recognized as a Barnes and Noble Book Club Pick, Amazon Editor Pick, Goodreads Book of the Year finalist, People Magazine Choice, and Book of the Month Selection.
September 23, 2026 Kurt Andersen Author Visit Omaha Central Library, 7205 Dodge St. Omaha, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Join Omaha native Kurt Andersen for a conversation with Jeff Koterba about his fifth novel, The Breakup. A bestselling author, journalist, screenwriter, and playwright, Andersen has contributed to The Atlantic and The New York Times, served as a staff writer and critic at The New Yorker and Time, hosted the Peabody Award-winning public radio show Studio 360, edited New York magazine, and co-founded the influential satirical publication Spy magazine. Jeff Koterba is a creativity coach, cartoonist, musician, and author. He was the editorial cartoonist for the Omaha World-Herald from 1989 until September 2020 and his work is syndicated nationwide to over 850 newspapers by Cagle Cartoons. Copies of Kurt’s books will be available for purchase and signing. This is a free event for adults.
September 23, 2026 UNO Fall 2026 Writer’s Workshop Reading Series: Prageeta Sharma Samual Bak Museum, 2289 S 67th St. Omaha, 7:30 pm Prageeta Sharma is the author of six collections of poetry, most recently, Onement Won (Wave, 2025) and Grief Sequence (Wave, 2019), which was a finalist for the 2020 Four Quartets Prize. A visionary leader in the literary arts, she is the founder of “Thinking Its Presence: Race, Creative Writing, and Literary Studies,” an interdisciplinary national conference that reshaped institutional conversations around race and creative practice. Her debut collection, The Opening Question (2004), won the Fence Modern Poets Prize, and she is a recipient of a 2025 National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Creative Writing Fellowship and a 2010 Howard Foundation Award. She is currently the Henry G. Lee ’37 professor of English at Pomona College, where she received the 2023 Wig Distinguished Professor Award for excellence in teaching and mentorship.
September 25, 2026 Visiting Author: Chet Hardin “The Vampire’s Cult” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we welcome journalist and author Chet Hardin. Published in August 2026, Hardin’s new book The Vampire’s Cult exposes the twisted world of Aubrey Trail, an aging con man who presented himself as an all-powerful being, and Bailey Boswell, the woman who called herself his “queen.” Henry J. Cordes, author of Pathological: The Murderous Rage of Dr. Anthony Garcia, tells Hardin’s readers, “If you thought the 2017 murder of Sydney Loofe was bizarre, you don’t know the half of it until you’ve read Chet Hardin’s amazing account of the disappearance and murder that captivated Nebraska. Deeply reported and well-written, it offers amazing jailhouse insight into how the minds of Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell became so strangely and tragically twisted. A great addition to the legacy of true crime on the Great Plains.”
September 26, 2026 Nebraska Warrior Writers – Lincoln Workshops Fall 2026 Pius X High School, 6000 A St. (West entrance 8) Omaha, 9:00 – 11:00 am In partnership with the Nebraska Writing Project and the Veterans Administration, Humanities Nebraska launched a new writing program in 2014 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 Tom Seib and Stephen Swinehart, with guest speaker Sarah McKinstry-Brown.
September 26, 2026 Writing with Larksong: Bridging the Miles Zoom, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm Writing with Larksong: Bridging the Miles is a live online writing series for people who would like to write in the company of others and get to know writers from communities across Nebraska and beyond. Each month, a different published writer will join us to read from their work and talk about some aspect of writing or the creative process. The guest writer will offer prompts and ideas, and we’ll spend time writing together. You’ll leave each session with new writing of your own. We’ll also make time for conversation, including small breakout groups where participants can meet and get to know other writers. This month’s session will be led by Nebraska author Karen Gettert Shoemaker, author of The Meaning of Names.
September 30, 2026 UNO Fall 2026 Writer’s Workshop Reading Series: Tisa Bryant Criss Library, 6401 S University Dr Rd N. Omaha, 7:30 pm Tisa Bryant is the author of Residual, a nonfiction assemblage of the interiors of grief, the home as archive, and the mystery of mothers, published in 2026 from Nightboat Books. Her first book, Unexplained Presence, a collection of hybrid essays on the mythologies of Black presences in film, literature and visual art, was reissued by Wave Books in 2024. She is co-editor of the three-volume, cross-referenced literary journal, The Encyclopedia Project, and collaborated with Ernest Hardy on The Black Book, a series of visual mixtapes and love letters to Black people and Black culture, presented at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, is an editor of hybrid writing for Obsidian: Literature & Arts in the African Diaspora, and editor for The Deep West Assembly, a monograph of recent works by filmmaker Cauleen Smith. Her writing has appeared in exhibition catalogs for the Studio Museum in Harlem, for artists Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Laylah Ali, Suné Woods and Jaime Cortez, and in various anthologies and publications. She is Associate Professor of English in the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa.
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.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Tessa Timperley 402-471-3434 800-307-2665
Nebraska’s 2026 Book Award Winners Announced
Celebrate Nebraska’s 2026 Book Award winners with author readings and an awards presentation ceremony at the Nebraska Celebration of Book’s (NCOB) literary festival. Held at the UNL City Campus Union on November 14th, winners of the 2026 Nebraska Book Awards will be honored at the celebration which will include author roundtables during the festival and an awards ceremony. The ceremony will feature readings by some of the winning authors, designers, and illustrators of books with a Nebraska connection published in 2025. And the winners are:
Children’s Award: The Legend of Donnie Bats: Greatness Lives in Every Kid by Jeff Kurrus Publisher: Jeff Kurrus.
Young Adult Award: K-Jane by Lydia Kang. Publisher: Quill Tree Books.
Illustration Award: One Little Squiggle by Jodi Adams, illustrated by Polina Gortman. Publisher: Young At Heart Publishing.
Illustration Honor: The Tractor Squad Saves the Dayby Heather Dawn Torres, illustrated by Gary Laib. Publisher: Marble Press.
Design & Cover Award: Ak-Sar-Ben: Looking Back & Leading Onward, written by Angie Hempel, edited by Kristine Gerber, designed by Jared Cloudt. Publisher: The Durham Museum.
Design Honor: The Jewel of Midtown: Field Club of Omaha by Stu Pospisil, edited by Chris Christen, Designed by Christine Zueck-Watkins. Publisher: Field Club of Omaha.
Cover Honor: Human Nature: Poetryby Julie S. Paschold. Publisher: WSC Press.
Fiction Award: The Butcher and the Liar: A Novel by S.L. Woeppel. Publisher: Books Fluent.
Nonfiction Essay Award:At the Corner of Past and Future: A Collection of Life Stories by Pamela Carter Joern. Publisher: Bison Books.
Nonfiction History Award:An American Corner of the World by David J. Wishart. Publisher: Nebraska State Historical Society.
Nonfiction History Honor Ak-Sar-Ben: Looking Back & Leading Onward, written by Angie Hempel, edited by Kristine Gerber, designed by Jared Cloudt. Publisher: The Durham Museum.
Nonfiction Nebraska as Place Award: The Best of Intentions: A story of landscape Change in the Heart of the Great Plains by Larkin Powell. Publisher: University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
Nonfiction Reconciliation Award: Roots of Justice: A History of Race and Racism in Nebraska by Kevin Abourezk. Publisher: University of Nebraska – Lincoln.
Poetry: Eternal Life and other poems by Gene Fendt. Publisher: Angelico Press.
Poetry Honor: The Last Yellow Rose: Poems by Lin Marshall Brummels. Publisher: Lewis-Clark Press / Sandhills Press.
This year’s Book Awards winners will be honored at the Nebraska Celebration of Books, which aims to celebrate Nebraska’s literary heritage and contemporary authors. Held, Saturday, November 14th, from 10:00am-4:30pm, on the second floor of the UNL City Campus Union and Jackie Gaughn Multicultural Center. The event will feature 2026 One Book One Nebraska author Karen Russell, author panels and signings, book vendors, publishers, and presentation of the Nebraska Book Awards, Mildred Bennett Award and Jane Geske Award, and 2027 One Book One Nebraska announcement.
The 2026 One Book One Nebraska selection, The Antidote: A Novel by Karen Russell (Revell, 2023) will be featured with an author talk by Karen Russell.
The Nebraska Book Awards are sponsored and facilitated by the Nebraska Center for the Book and the Nebraska Library Commission.
The Nebraska Celebration of Books (NCOB) sponsors include Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Library Commission, University of Nebraska Press, Omaha Public Libraries, Lincoln City Libraries, Francie and Finch Bookshop, and Flatwater Free Press. Humanities Nebraska provides support for One Book One Nebraska program.
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.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Tessa Timperley 402-471-3434 800-307-2665
Karen Russell Named Featured Author for the 2026 Nebraska Celebration of Books
The Nebraska Center for the Book is proud to announce Karen Russell as the featured author for the 2026 Nebraska Celebration of Books literary festival. Russell, an acclaimed novelist, short story writer, and recipient of major national literary honors, will headline the annual statewide event held November 14, 2026, at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s City Campus Union and Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.
As the festival’s featured author, Russell will deliver the One Book One Nebraska Author Talk during the afternoon program, including a discussion of The Antidote: A Novel, her research travels across Nebraska, and the role of memory, resilience, and community in her work. Russell will be joined by guest speaker Judi gaiashkibos, Executive Director of the Nebraska Commission on Indian Affairs. Russell will also participate in the Authors Reception directly after her talk, where she will be available for book signings.
About Karen Russell
Russell is the author of six books, including The Antidote, Swamplandia! and Vampires in the Lemon Grove. Her work has earned a MacArthur Fellowship, Guggenheim Fellowship, Pulitzer Prize finalist recognition, and multiple national awards. The Antidote is a National Book Award finalist, and has received the National Book Critics’ Circle Award, and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. Russell is a Professor of English and Creative Writing at Stanford University.
About the Nebraska Celebration of Books
The Nebraska Celebration of Books (NCOB) is a free, public literary festival honoring Nebraska authors, readers, and the statewide literary community. The event features author panels, book award presentations, vendor markets, and programming for both authors and readers.
The event will feature 2026 Book Awards winners, author panels and signings, book vendors, publishers, and presentation of the Nebraska Book Awards, Mildred Bennett Award and Jane Geske Award, and 2027 One Book One Nebraska announcement.
The Nebraska Celebration of Books (NCOB) sponsors include Nebraska Center for the Book, Nebraska Library Commission, University of Nebraska Press, Omaha Public Libraries, Lincoln City Libraries, Francie and Finch Bookshop, and Flatwater Free Press. Humanities Nebraska provides support for One Book One Nebraska program.
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.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Tessa Timperley 402-471-3434 800-307-2665
Books Chosen to Represent Nebraska at National Book Festival
“Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better” and “The Antidote” chosen for the National Book Festival’s Great Reads from Great Places program.
The Nebraska Center for the Book has selected a youth book and adult book that feature Nebraska to represent the state at the 2026 National Book Festival: Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better by Mylisa Larsen and The Antidote: A Novel by Karen Russell.
Both titles will be part of the National Center for the Book’sGreat Reads from GreatPlaces program. Great Reads from Great Places features books and authors representing the literary heritage of all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and Northern Marianas. For over 20 years this program has included a highlighted youth title from each affiliate center. In 2022, Great Reads from Great Places began including titles for adults for the first time.
This year’s National Book Festival on August 22nd will be held in-person in Washington, D.C., but will include many livestreamed and recorded virtual programs celebrating books and authors.
The Festival Near You
This year Nebraskans will have the opportunity to join in the fun with programming featuring our Youth Great Read. The Festival Near You, is a statewide initiative celebrating the 2026 National Book Festival by bringing Nebraska’s Great Reads from Great Places youth book to communities, and offers Nebraskans a chance to engage with literature close to home.
As part of the programming, schools and libraries across the state can check out a free book club kit of Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better. The Nebraska Library Commission has 50 books available for checkout, each reservation will include discussion guides, activity prompts, and bookmarks. To further support statewide engagement the author, Mylisa Larsen, will offer eight virtual author visits to Nebraska schools and libraries who check out the book club kits. These interactive sessions give young readers the chance to ask questions, learn about the writing process, and connect directly with the author whose book represents Nebraska on the national stage. Libraries and educators can register for these visits on a first‑come, first‑served basis. Find about The Festival Near You programming and National Book Festival at https://centerforthebook.nebraska.gov/programs/nationalbookfestival.html.
About the Books
“Quagmire Tiarello Couldn’t Be Better” by Mylisa Larsen (Clarion Books, 2024)
“Quagmire Tiarello prides himself on not needing anything from anybody. Sure, his mom is skipping work again and showing signs of going into one of her full-out spins, but it’s nothing he can’t handle. He’s used to her up-and-down moods, even if this time it feels a little different. Then his mom disappears, and Quag must find shelter with an uncle he didn’t know he had. Should he come clean about his mother’s mental health challenges? Or can he use his carefully honed skills to bluff long enough to find his mom and get home? Readers will root for Quag as he finds himself rethinking his world and learning to accept help from the people who love him.”
Nebraska’s Great Reads from Great Places book is chosen from the previous year’s Nebraska Book Award winners and this book was awarded the 2025 Nebraska Book Award in the Teen Novel category.
“The Antidote: A Novel” by Karen Russell (Knopf, 2025)
“The Antidote opens on Black Sunday, as a historic dust storm ravages the fictional town of Uz, Nebraska. But Uz is already collapsing—not just under the weight of the Great Depression and the dust bowl drought but beneath its own violent histories. The Antidote follows a “Prairie Witch,” whose body serves as a bank vault for peoples’ memories and secrets; a Polish wheat farmer who learns how quickly a hoarded blessing can become a curse; his orphan niece, a basketball star and witch’s apprentice in furious flight from her grief; a voluble scarecrow; and a New Deal photographer whose time-traveling camera threatens to reveal both the town’s secrets and its fate. “
Chosen as the 2026 One Book One Nebraska selection, libraries across Nebraska and other literary and cultural organizations have participated in book discussions, activities, and events that encourage Nebraskans to read and discuss this 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 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.”
Looking to get out and explore your community? If you’re looking for something to do in August, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
August 1, 2026 Writing the Poem of Grief through Food with Preeti Vangani Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Explore how food can help you write more vivid, emotionally layered poems of grief, memory, and longing. In this generative workshop, writers will use meals, cooking, and shared rituals to open new pathways into elegy, deepen personal memory, and draft new work in a supportive space.
August 2, 2026 61st Annual Neihardt Day: Poetry Picnic John G. Neihardt State Historic Site, 306 W Elm St. Bancroft, 1:00 – 3:00 pm A Poetry Picnic, featuring State Poet Emeritus Matt Mason, JV Brummels, and 2025-26 Youth Poet Laureate Victoria Bogatz. Bring your own picnic food and blanket, and join us for an afternoon celebrating poetry. In fact, bring your own poetry to readas the event includes an Open Mic for 2-3 poems if you like. Free and open to all.
August 4, 2026 Brad Aaron Modlin Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Brad Aaron Modlin’s poetry moves between humor and heartbreak, loneliness and hope. Join us for an evening of poems that are poignant, quirky, and unexpectedly warm.
August 5, 2026 Jewel Rodgers Residency – Listening Session Oto HiFi Lounge, 1917 S 67th St, Suite 140, Omaha, 6:00 – 8:30 pm Be the first to hear the fresh new sounds from Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers recording residency with Swedish producer Fredrik Serholt at this one-of-a-kind listening session following Rodger’s and Serholt’s multi-day recording residency at the 2026 Nebraska Crossroads Music Festival.
August 6, 2026 “Smolder” Book Launch – Winner of the Ex Ophidia Press Poetry Contest Gallery 1516, 1516 Leavenworth, Omaha, 6:00 – 8:00 pm Join us for a poetry reading celebrating the launch of Smolder by Colleen Morton Busch. Busch is the 2025 winner of the Richard-Gabriel Rummonds Poetry Prize, an annual poetry book contest by Ex Ophidia Press, an Omaha-based independent poetry press. Doors open at 5:30 PM and the reading and Q&A will take place at 6:30 PM. A book signing will end the evening. Books will be available for purchase at the event. This event is free and open to the public. RSVP is required.
August 6, 2026 Humanities Nebraska: A Visit With the Nebraska State Poet, Jewel Rodgers Morton James Public Library, 923 1st Corso, Nebraska City, 7:00 – 8:00 pm Jewel Rodgers, 2025 – 2029 State Poet of Nebraska, performs work on resilience, emotional intelligence, and community. As a spoken word poet, she shares techniques to bring emotion into readings. She often leads workshops and writing exercises, inspiring others to embrace their creativity, authenticity, and multifaceted passions through self-expression. This program is free and open to the public.
August 7, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Lisa Knopp Zoom, 12:00 pm Lisa Knopp is the author of eight books of creative nonfiction. Ravelings: Essays on Love, Loss, and Wonder, was published by the University of Nebraska Press in March of 2026. Subjects of some of the essays include: finding equilibrium in her professional life by observing the exquisitely balanced rock cairns created by a wildly unbalanced former admirer; being awakened to the common magic around her through two chance encounters with a magician in training; gaining humility and empowerment as an unpartnered, 60-year old woman in a ball room dance class filled with young couples; finding the key to momentarily slowing the passage of time while delighting in showers of confetti; exploring hunger and fullness through stories about different types of eating (ethical, disordered, mindful); comprehending her experiences with more nuance and precision through her investigations into words — those we possess; those we’ve lost; those we need but don’t have; those she created to fill the gaps.
August 7, 2026 Visiting Author:Colleen Morton Busch in conversation with Judy Lorenzen “Smolder” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Join us as we welcome Ex Ophidia’s 2025 winner for the Richard-Gabriel Rummonds Poetry Prize, Colleen Morton Busch, as she presents her book of poetry Smolder. Colleen will be joined in conversation by writer Judy Lorenzen.
August 7, 2026 Local Author Series: Victoria Bogatz Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Join us in celebrating the work of local author and Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Victoria Bogatz on her debut chapbook This Is Not the End with readings by guest poets including Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers, former Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason, Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Mentor Angélica Perez and Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Stephany Orellana Gomez.
August 8, 2026 Poetry Workshop: Wonder in the Garden Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am We experience wonder spontaneously in the presence of grandeur or mystery—think of a total solar eclipse or a starling murmuration. But wonder can also be intentionally cultivated. In this workshop we’ll explore how to grow astonishment by listening to, and even conversing with, the many non-human voices in a garden. Led by author Colleen Morton Busch. Students will receive a signed copy of Smolder during the workshop. Pre-registration required. Led by Julie S. Paschold.
August 8, 2026 Meet Nebraska Historian Ed Zimmer – Nebraska Telephone Company History and Beyond Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Francie & Finch Bookshop is celebrating 10 years in the historic Telephone Building! Join us on August 8th as beloved local historian and author Ed Zimmer takes us on an in-depth journey through the history of our home, the Lincoln Telephone Building and the Nebraska Telephone Company! Following the talk, Ed’s publications, including all 3 volumes of Walking the Near South, will be available for purchase and signing!
August 10, 2026 Book Launch: David Moscovich “Premieres: A Memoir in Verse” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Francie and Finch Bookshop is pleased to welcome back author David Moscovich! Join us as we celebrate Premieres: A Memoir in Verse! Books available for purchase at the event with author signing to follow talk.
August 11, 2026 History Unveiled: “Journey to Freedom” – Researching and Writing the Grayson Sisters’ Escape Sower Books, 914 N 70th St. Lincoln, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Award-winning historian and author Gail Shaffer Blankenau shares the remarkable story behind her book, Journey to Freedom: Uncovering the Grayson Sisters’ Escape from Nebraska Territory, while taking you behind the scenes of historical research and writing. Join us at the Nebraska History Museum to learn how court records, newspapers, family histories, and archival discoveries came together to reconstruct the lives of Celia and Eliza Grayson and illuminate the history of slavery and freedom seeking in Nebraska Territory. This event is free and open to the public thanks to the support of the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation.
August 11, 2026 Writing Club at Vis Major Brewing Vis Major Brewing Company, 3501 Center St. Omaha, 6:00 – 8:30 pm Join us for a welcoming, in-person gathering for people who want to read, reflect, and write in community. We will begin with a poem and a short fiction or nonfiction selection, followed by conversation about what the writing is doing and how it works on the page. Together, we’ll explore craft elements such as imagery, diction, metaphor, structure, and line or sentence movement in a way that is inviting and accessible to all.
August 14, 2026 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Kelly Madigan St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Guests may study, write, read, relax, sit, talk, and generally socialize with friends over coffee, tea, and other beverages from opening at 5:30 pm until 6:00 pm when Kelly Madigan will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
August 14, 2026 Author Event with Michael Bettendorf Sower Books, 914 N 70th St. Lincoln, 6:00 – 8:00 pm Join us to chat with Michael Bettendorf about his Book Midwestern Chrome!
August 15, 2026 Poetry Workshop: Gathering Words Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am We experience wonder spontaneously in the presence of grandeur or mystery—think of a total solar eclipse or a starling murmuration. But wonder can also be intentionally cultivated. In this workshop we’ll explore how to grow astonishment by listening to, and even conversing with, the many non-human voices in a garden. Led by author Colleen Morton Busch. Students will receive a signed copy of Smolder during the workshop. Pre-registration required. Led by Julie S. Paschold.
August 15, 2026 Author Event with Malia Emary Sower Books, 914 N 70th St. Lincoln, 10:00 am – 6:00 pm It’s bookstore romance day and we are going to celebrate with one of our favorite local romance authors, Malia Emary! Join us for a reading, talk, & signing for Malia’s newest book The Future is Bright, a cozy, post-apocalyptic, slow-burn romance about love after loss, finding community, and choosing to embrace life. There will also be Bookstore Romance Day activities throught the day!
August 15, 2026 Book Launch: Matt Schur “Even This is Holy Ground: Poetry” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Join us as we welcome back Nebraska poet Matt Schur! He will be reading from his new book of poetry Even This is Holy Ground, a poetry collection rooted in Christian faith and unafraid of the world as it actually is.
August 20, 2026 Poetry Pause at Joslyn Castle Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 6:00 – 7:00 pm August Poetry Pause features Tyler Michael Jacobs, author of “The Weight of Drought” and “Building Brownville,” and Nicole Stander, an Omaha poet and MFA candidate. This free Art Walk event offers an easygoing hour of poems, conversation, and audience questions.
August 20, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Matt Mason and Sarah McKinstry-Brown Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Join for discussion between writers Matt Mason and Sarah McKinstry-Brown.
August 29, 2026 Visiting Author: Alexandra Hayne “What Ruth Learned” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Join us as we welcome Omaha author Alexandra Hayne as she presents her debut novel What Ruth Learned, a novel of “secrets, reinvention, and the stories we inherit”!
Check out the NCB Calendar to stay up to date on upcoming literary events happening near you!
*The time, date, and location of these events are subject to change. Some of this month’s events, workshops, or conferences may require registration or charge a fee.
Feel free to contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured.
The sun is shining and summer is here! If you’re looking for something to do in June, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
June 4-6, 2026 71st Annual Willa Cather Spring Conference The National Willa Cather Center, 413 N Webster St. Red Cloud, All Day The Willa Cather Spring Conference returns with the theme “Memory, Myth, and Meaning: Cather in Dialogue with America 250.” This event invites readers, scholars, and artists to explore the enduring relevance of Willa Cather’s work. Centered on the publication centenary of her novella My Mortal Enemy, the program features keynote speaker Rebecca Romney, scholarly plenaries, and a mixed media exhibit by Susan Hart. Other highlights include the opening of All Aboard: West-Bound Trains in American Culture at the historic Burlington Depot and a special performance of The Bohemian by Harbor Stage Company. Set in Cather’s hometown of Red Cloud, the conference offers a rich blend of scholarship, art, and place. Please join us for a celebration of Cather’s literature in dialogue with America’s past and present.
June 6, 2026 “Roxie In Color” Book Release & Author Signing Sower Books, 914 N 70th St. Lincoln, 2:00 pm Meet the authors Diane Debrovner & Stacy Cervenka and snag their brand-new book Roxie in Color! Written for ages 9–12, but packed with things everyone will love! Roxie wants to blend in at a new school, which is hard to do when your parents are blind, in this remarkable novel about friendship, misperceptions, and family—plus a dog’s view of the world.
June 6, 2026 Shake Night Double Feature with Old School Shakespeare Omaha Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center, 1001 S 6th St. Council Bluffs, IA 7:00 pm Opera Omaha and Old School Shakespeare Omaha come together for a unique evening of words and art. First, experience Opera Omaha’s one-act opera, UnShakeable: Three years after a mysterious epidemic has left its survivors plagued by memory loss, two actors reunite in a desolate theater using the only common language they can find: Shakespeare. As they search for sparks of their forgotten past, they’ll need the audience’s help to connect them to memories and emotions that linger just out of reach. Next, grab a drink at the bar and enjoy an immersive performance of Hamlet, presented by Old School Shakespeare Omaha. Step into a world of grief, ghosts, madness, mirrors, and the dangerous (and beautiful) duality of the human mind.
June 8, 2026 Judy Lorenzen Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Judy Lorenzen’s poetry holds both joy and sorrow—family, forgiveness, and the quiet wonders of nature. Honest and tender, her work has been praised for the way love threads through even life’s struggles.
June 9, 2026 Visiting Author: Visiting Author – Garrett Peck “The Bright Edges of the World: Willa Cather and Her Archbishop” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we welcome author and historian Garrett Peck, from New Mexico, to Francie & Finch Bookshop! He will be presenting his book, The Bright Edges of the World: Willa Cather and Her Archbishop. The book explores Cather’s travels to the Southwest that inspired her to write her “best book” (her words), Death Comes for the Archbishop.
June 9, 2026 History Unveiled: “Disparate Regimes in the United States, 1865-1965” Presented by Author Brendan Shanahan Nebraska History Museum, 131 Centennial Mall N. Lincoln, 6:00 – 7:00 pm Who decides the rights of immigrants? Historian Brendan A. Shanahan arrives at the Nebraska History Museum to discuss his award-winning book Disparate Regimes: Nativist Politics, Alienage Law, and Citizenship Rights in the United States, 1865–1965. This event is free and open to the public thanks to the support of the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation. This lecture is the first presentation during the museum’s summer History Unveiled program series, each month from June to August.
June 10, 2026 The No Gatekeepers Poetry Night Joslyn Castle Music Room, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Run by Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence Matt Mason, Bring 2 poems: one of your own, one by another poet (friend, favorite song lyrics, etc.). Both poems should make us feel and/or understand some kind of experience, story, etc. You have 5 minutes, after which a horn will sound. All of us have poems that reach us, though often we don’t call them just poems, we call them song lyrics, rap lyrics, cowboy poetry, slam poetry, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein. Tonight, we give the gatekeeper the night off and welcome you to entertain us. It’s just us.
May 12, 2026 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Aliyah American Horse St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Guests may study, write, read, relax, sit, talk, and generally socialize with friends over coffee, tea, and other beverages from opening at 5:30 pm until 6:00 pm when Aliyah American Horse will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
June 13, 2026 Visiting Author: Visiting Author – Lisa Knopp “Ravelings: Essays on Love, Loss, and Wonder (American Lives)” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we welcome author Lisa Knopp! She will read from her recent book of essays, Ravelings, published by the University of Nebraska Press. In Ravelings, Lisa Knopp takes up an older, opposing meaning of the verb “ravel” — “to entangle” — as she explores the deaths and departures of loved ones and the rituals by which we mourn and honor them, while contemplating her relationships with writing, spirituality, sense of home, aging, desire, and the relationship between body and mind.
June 17, 2026 Once Upon a Time at the Castle Joslyn Castle & Gardens, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Once Upon a Time at the Castle is a storytime adventure featuring a youth librarian who will transport you to a world of imaginary characters. After story time, we will learn about the real creatures we read about with live wildlife interactions and activities. Each month will be a new way to engage with storytelling and nature! This is a free series for the community, best suited for children ages 2-8. Wear good shoes and BOYB (bring your own blanket) and snacks! In the case of inclement weather or heat advisories, we will move inside the Castle or Carriage House.
June 18, 2026 Art Walk and Poetry Pause Joslyn Castle Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 5:30 – 6:30 pm During the Castle and Cathedral Creative District’s Art Walk, the Nebraska Poetry Society features two local poets at different points in their writing lives who share their work, discuss poetry and the creative process, and answer questions. Featured June poets are Shyla Ann Shehan and Leta Iris.
June 18, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Margaret Lukas and Claudia J. Severin Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 - 6:30 pm Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Join for discussion between writers Margaret Lukas and Claudia J. Severin.
June 25, 2026 What’s Your American Story Writing Workshop with Matt Mason St. Cecilia Cathedral Cultural Center, 3900 Webster St. Omaha, 6:30 – 8:00 pm Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence Matt Mason teaches a writing workshop. Mason reprises his first What’s Your American Story workshop with writing about what brings you/your family to Omaha/Nebraska/USA.
June 27, 2026 Poetry Workshop: That Bloomin’ Poetry Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am Ever really looked at a flower as it blooms—noticed the petals, wondered what each part is called, and how the bloom plays a role in the life of the plant? What does that have to do with poetry? In this outdoor workshop, we’ll explore the many ways things “bloom,” both in nature and in our lives, using observation as a starting point for creative writing. Bring a notebook, something to write with, and come prepared to spend time outside as you find fresh inspiration in the garden. Dress for the weather, bring water, and use sun protection, if needed! Led by Julie S. Paschold.
June 27, 2026 Poetry Office Hours with Matt Mason Joslyn Castle’s Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 12:00 – 2:00 pm Drop in to talk with Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence Matt Mason about poetry, ask a question, or bring your laptop and submit poems to literary magazines. Mason hopes to hold these on the 2nd Saturday of the month through September.
June 27, 2026 Book Launch Party: “Wheel Man” by Marcia Calhoun Forecki Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N. Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 3:00 – 5:00 pm Join for a book launch celebration for Marcia Calhoun Forecki, author of Wheel Man. Readings and conversation will take place and snacks will be provided. Francie & Finch Bookstore will be on premises with books to sell!
June 30, 2026 Book of Poetry Launch: Nicole Lachat in Conversation with Ber Anena “The Red We Silk” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us welcoming poet Nicole Lachat as she presents her new book of poetry The Red We Silk. Nicole will be joined in a special conversation with fellow writer, Ber Anena. The Red We Silk collects inherited migrations and the weight of familial journeys into a lyric investigation of displacement and longing. Memory abides in the body and the body in memory, propelling the speaker through geographical and spiritual landscapes, desires, and griefs toward the transformative work of discovery. Tender, attentive, and multivocal, these are poems of belonging beyond borders.
Check out the NCB Calendar to stay up to date on upcoming literary events happening near you!
*The time, date, and location of these events are subject to change. Some of this month’s events, workshops, or conferences may require registration or charge a fee.
Feel free to contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured.
The season is in full bloom with fun literary events around the state! If you’re looking for something to do in May, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
May 1, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Terese Svoboda Zoom, 12:00 pm Native of Ogallala, Terese Svoboda published her second memoir and 24th book, Hitler and My Mother-in-Law in December of 2025. Publishers Weekly gave it a star, and the New York Times Book Review gave Roxy and Coco, her eighth novel, and The Long Swim, her third story collection a full page in 2024. Theatrix: Poetry Plays, her eighth book of poetry, appeared in 2021.
May 2, 2026 Bethany in Bloom Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Bethany in Bloom returns bringing vendors, music, poetry, local businesses, and community organizations back to N. Cotner Blvd from Holdrege to Aylesworth. With 20 vendors already signed up, this year’s festival continues to grow into a full day of neighborhood activity. Events include a Write-a-Thon, Book Sale, Slam Poetry Showcase featuring Jess Badousek, Esman R.C., Alia Hurst and Alex Hamric, and Donor Recognition.
May 7, 2026 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Barbara Schmitz St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Guests may study, write, read, relax, sit, talk, and generally socialize with friends over coffee, tea, and other beverages from opening at 5:30 pm until 6:00 pm when Barbara Schmitz will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
May 8, 2026 Bethany in Bloom Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 10:00 am – 3:00 pm Bethany in Bloom returns bringing vendors, music, poetry, local businesses, and community organizations back to N. Cotner Blvd from Holdrege to Aylesworth. With 20 vendors already signed up, this year’s festival continues to grow into a full day of neighborhood activity. Events include a Write-a-Thon, Book Sale, Slam Poetry Showcase featuring Jess Badousek, Esman R.C., Alia Hurst and Alex Hamric, and Donor Recognition.
May 9, 2026 The Opera Omaha Poetry & Music Project Concert Omaha Conservatory of Music, 518 N 40th St. Omaha, 1:00 pm Now in its 9th year, the Poetry & Music Project connects student poets and their words with composers to create original music and explore the connections between poetry and music. The Poetry & Music Project is a statewide program run in partnership with the Nebraska Writers Collective to amplify the voices of youth poets across Nebraska and Iowa. The project connects student poets and their words with composers to create original music and explore the connections between poetry and music.
May 12, 2026 Local Author Series: Danilo John Thomas Joslyn Castle Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Join us in celebrating the work of local author Danilo John Thomas. The author will be mining his debut short story collection Ore Vein with the company of banjoist Robert Schmidt. Ore Vein explores the thin spaces between hardship and heroism prevalent in small-town America. Thomas captures what it feels like to come of age among the urban decay and cracked pastoral landscapes of Southwestern Montana and a fictionalized version of the town where he was raised.
May 12, 2026 What’s Your American Story Writing Workshop with Matt Mason St. Cecilia Cathedral Cultural Center, 3900 Webster St. Omaha, 6:30 – 8:00 pm Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence Matt Mason teaches a writing workshop. Mason reprises his first What’s Your American Story workshop with writing about what brings you/your family to Omaha/Nebraska/USA.
May 13, 2026 The No Gatekeepers Poetry Night Joslyn Castle Music Room, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Run by Castle and Cathedral Creative District Artist in Residence Matt Mason, Bring 2 poems: one of your own, one by another poet (friend, favorite song lyrics, etc.). Both poems should make us feel and/or understand some kind of experience, story, etc. You have 5 minutes, after which a horn will sound. All of us have poems that reach us, though often we don’t call them just poems, we call them song lyrics, rap lyrics, cowboy poetry, slam poetry, Dr. Seuss, Shel Silverstein. Tonight, we give the gatekeeper the night off and welcome you to entertain us. It’s just us.
May 15, 2026 Spoken Word, Featured Reading and Open Mic The Ellery, 1247 S 11th St. Lincoln, 7:00 pm A spoken word featured reading and open mic hosted by Esman Rodas Calderon. After the event, you’re invited to join Write After, a writing group that meets around the conclusion of this event, around 8:30 or 9:00. This month’s theme is “Voices and Versos: En celebración”.
May 17, 2026 Salon Reading Series: “Diamond and Bone” Turbine Flats, Resonator Gallery, 2124 Y St. Lincoln, 6:30 - 9:00 pm Each Salon Reading Series event features a reading of a play followed by a moderated discussion of the play’s themes and how these themes apply to the community. The theme for 2025-26 is “Find Your Place.” This month’s feature is Diamond and Bone by Jordan Morille, a talented but tormented ballplayer fighting for his last shot at the majors while battling ghosts of family, faith, and failure. Blurring memory, dream, and reality, the play explores guilt and redemption in America’s pastime with dark humor, lyrical grit, and raw emotion.
May 21, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Maria Nazos and Saddiq Dzukogi Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 - 7:30 pm Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Join for discussion between writers Maria Nazos and Saddiq Dzukogi.
May 28, 2026 Stories & Verse: A Spoken Word Competition Bellevue Public Library, 2206 Longo Dr. Bellevue, 5:30 - 7:00 pm Participants will perform original work solo with a three-minute time limit. Judges will score each performance, and one winner will be selected. Ages 18+, registration is required.
May 30, 2026 Musicality and the Long Poem with Allison Adele Hedge Coke Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Let sound guide your pen. In this workshop, explore rhythm, tone, and improvisation to create long-form poems that sing—expanding your sense of structure, continuity, and flow.
May 30, 2026 Poetry Workshop: Blackout Poetry Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am Join instructor Julie S. Paschold for a morning creating blackout poetry, a form of found poetry where a poet selects words from existing text and “blacks out” part of the page to reveal a new poem. Review examples and discuss the meaning behind this art crossing into literature. Supplies will be provided, but bring your favorite markers or Sharpie, if desired, and your imaginative mind! Pre-registration is required.
Check out the NCB Calendar to stay up to date on upcoming literary events happening near you!
*The time, date, and location of these events are subject to change. Some of this month’s events, workshops, or conferences may require registration or charge a fee.
Feel free to contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured.
Get out and about and enjoy these literary events! If you’re looking for something to do in April, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
April 1-2, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Preliminary Bouts The Dock at Millwork Commons, 1229 Millwork Ave. Omaha, 5:30 & 7:30 pm All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These preliminary bout events run March 23-April 2 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.
April 2, 2026 Verse & Vibes Indigo Cottage Crafts, 2063 Creekside Dr. Papillion, 6:30 pm An open mic at an artsy space full of good vibes, and not just because of the coffee and liquor bar ;). Open to poets, authors, writers, musicians, anyone who has talent to share. Everyone is welcome. Free event. Jules Coral, MC.
April 2, 2026 Local Author Series: Amy Haddad Joslyn Castle Carriage House, 3902 Davenport St. Omaha, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Join us as we celebrate local Omaha poet, Amy Haddad, and her chapbook, The Most Potent Weapon. The poems in Haddad’s The Most Potent Weapon read like “enlightenments from life on the road,” to borrow from Paul Theroux, for those who journey with end-stage or chronic illness. With a rare insider’s view of the world of health care from the dual perspective of nurse and patient, Haddad reveals courage, frailty, grace, and humor in poems grounded in clinical authenticity. Following a reading of selected poems from The Most Potent Weapon there will be time for discussion/questions and a chapbook signing. Chapbooks will be available for purchase that evening.
April 3, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Jim Peterson Zoom, 12:00 pm Jim Peterson’s poems have won the Benjamin Saltman Award from Red Hen Press, an Academy of American Poets Award, and a Fellowship in Poetry from the Virginia Arts Commission. His newest poetry collection is Towheaded Stone Thrower, his tenth book overall, including eight collections of poetry, a novel, and a collection of short stories.
April 7, 2026 Todd Robinson Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am Todd Robinson’s work moves between tenderness and wit, exploring love, loss, and the beauty of the Midwest. His poems draw on pop culture, memory, and faith, revealing both humor and heart in the ordinary and extraordinary.
April 11, 2026 Writing About the Dead and the Dying with M. Mick Powell Zoom, 10:00 – 11:30 am This workshop invites writers to consider how we grieve, honor, and remember, and how we celebrate life and legacy even as violence shapes our world.
April 11, 2026 HOMEGROWN Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts, 801 Third Corso Nebraska City, 5:00 – 7:00 pm Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts proudly presents HOMEGROWN with Jewel Rodgers, State Poet of Nebraska. “HOMEGROWN is a series of intimate art shares across the state of Nebraska, bringing together poets, sculptors, painters -everyone. “Open to the public and free to attend. Light refreshments will be provided by Whispering Pines.
April 12, 2026 Salon Reading Series: “Always a Bridesmaid” Turbine Flats, Resonator Gallery, 2124 Y St. Lincoln, 6:30 - 9:00 pm Each Salon Reading Series event features a reading of a play followed by a moderated discussion of the play’s themes and how these themes apply to the community. The theme for 2025-26 is “Find Your Place.” This month’s feature is Always a Bridesmaid by Regina Hinkley, where Aris, a young college graduate, plans a surprise engagement party for her best friend.
April 14, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Semi-Final Bouts The Venue at Highlander, 2120 N 30th St. Omaha, 5:30 & 7:30 pm All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These preliminary bout events run April 14 & 16 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.
April 16, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Semi-Final Bouts The Venue at Highlander, 2120 N 30th St. Omaha, 5:30 & 7:30 pm All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These preliminary bout events run April 14 & 16 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.
April 17, 2026 Spoken Word, Featured Reading and Open Mic The Ellery, 1247 S 11th St. Lincoln, 7:00 pm A spoken word featured reading and open mic hosted by Esman Rodas Calderon. After the event, you’re invited to join Write After, a writing group that meets around the conclusion of this event, around 8:30 or 9:00. This month’s theme is “Beginner’s Luck: Poetry slam”.
April 18, 2026 A Morning with Matt Mason Morton-James Public Library, 923 1st Corso Nebraska City, 10:00 – 11:00 am An engaging and fun poetry workshop with former Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason. Adults and teens age 15 and up, free, no registration. Open to beginning and seasoned poets and writers.
April 18, 2026 Visiting Author: Elizabeth Zaleski “The Trouble with Loving Poets and Other Essays on Failure” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 5:30 pm Join us for a visit from author Elizabeth Zaleski! She will be presenting her new book of personal essays, The Trouble with Loving Poets and Other Essays on Failure and writes about the book, “If you’ll bear with me, we’re going to get a bit technical. And then, I promise, it will all start to matter.”
April 23, 2026 Virtual Author Series: Tyler Jacobs and Samuel Burt Zoom, 7:00 – 8:00 pm Commemorate National Poetry Month and meet two emerging poets of the Great Plains! Join Tyler Jacobs and Samuel Burt for readings of their latest work, including poems from Jacobs’ new book The Weight of Drought, and engage in a discussion with the authors about place-based poetry, their creative processes, and building careers as writers in the 21st century. You won’t want to miss a night of beautiful and thought-provoking poetry! This event is free with registration.
April 25, 2026 National Youth Poet Laureate Commencement Ceremony Omaha Central Library, 7205 Dodge St. Omaha, 7:00 – 8:30 pm The Nebraska Writers Collective, in partnership with Urban Word, is hosts this event, marking the first time this celebration has been held in our state. Join us for an evening celebrating youth voice, literary excellence, and the announcement of the 10th National Youth Poet Laureate. The evening will feature performances from four national finalists, alongside a reading from the 2025 Nebraska Youth Poet Laureate Victoria Bogatz. The program will be hosted by Nebraska State Poet Jewel Rodgers and accompanied by DJ Errik Ejike. Seating is limited. Please register in advance.
April 28, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Finals Scott Hall at the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St. Omaha, 7:00 pm All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season.
Check out the NCB Calendar to stay up to date on upcoming literary events happening near you!
*The time, date, and location of these events are subject to change. Some of this month’s events, workshops, or conferences may require registration or charge a fee.
Feel free to contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured.
Spring into action and get involved! If you’re looking for something to do in February, here are some upcoming literary events* that may pique your interest!
March 1, 2026 Salon Reading Series: “Shakespeare’s Skull” Turbine Flats, Resonator Gallery, 2124 Y St. Lincoln, 6:30 - 9:00 pm Each Salon Reading Series event features a reading of a play followed by a moderated discussion of the play’s themes and how these themes apply to the community. The theme for 2025-26 is “Find Your Place.” This month’s feature is Shakespeare’s Skull by Rich Rubin, aa comedy based on a legend – a legend that may be closer to truth than to fiction.
March 3, 2026 Book Launch: Carolyn Zeisset “Caught in the Middle” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Join us as we welcome back author and historian Carolyn Zeisset as she presents her newest novel for kids and adults, Caught in the Middle, a story about twelve-year-old Alice who is caught between childhood and adulthood, changing women’s roles, and World War I America and a German-speaking, peace-church heritage. The novel follows Alice as she must decide who she is.
March 3, 2026 Kim McNealy Sosin Poetry Reading & Discussion Zoom, 6:30 – 7:30 pm Kim McNealy Sosin’s poems evoke small-town Nebraska in the ’40s and ’50s—childhood joys, family ties, and the bittersweet truths of growing up.
March 4, 2026 Visiting Writer Series – Tyler Jacobs Northeast Community College, Union 73 Coffee Shop, 801 E Benjamin Ave. Norfolk, 4:00 pm Tyler Michael Jacobs is the author of The Weight of Drought and Building Brownville. His words have appeared in Passages 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.
March 5, 2026 Verse & Vibes Indigo Cottage Crafts, 2063 Creekside Dr. Papillion, 6:30 pm An open mic at an artsy space full of good vibes, and not just because of the coffee and liquor bar ;). Open to poets, authors, writers, musicians, anyone who has talent to share. Everyone is welcome. Free event. Jules Coral, MC.
March 6, 2026 First Friday Book Talk & Reading with Katherine Wela Bogen Zoom, 12:00 pm Join Katherine Wela Bogen, who in her own words says she is “first, a storyteller; second, a scholar-activist; and third, a joyful little freak.” In her propulsive debut novel, Queering Him, Bogen chronicles the scalding-hot story of millennial enemies turned lovers Avra and Kieran.
March 8, 2026 Nebraska Poet Project Exhibit Grand Opening The John G. Neihardt State Historic Site, 306 W. Elm St. Bancroft, 2:00 – 4:00 pm Featuring Jewel Rogers, Nebraska State Poet; Matt Mason, Nebraska State Poet 2019-2024; and Zedeka Poindexter, performance poet and co-executive director of the Nebraska Writers Collective; at the grand opening of the Nebraska Poet Project exhibit by artist Stephanie Meisterling.
March 11 – April 15, 2026 What’s Your American Story? A Writing Workshop with Matt Mason La Vista Public Library, 9110 Giles Rd. La Vista, Wednesdays 1:00 – 2:30 pm Participants will examine their connections with the founding of the United States through an exploration of the written word. With the help of the instructor, participants will put pen to paper using their personal stories to create poems and other written works. At the end of the seven weeks, a public reception and reading will be held. Enrolling commits you to attending the full seven week course. Workshop is for ages 55+, registration is free. Enroll by March 7.
March 13, 2026 Poetry Readings at The Lion: a Poetry Feature and Open Mic with Rasaq Malik St Mark’s on the Campus, 1309 R St. Lincoln, 5:30 – 6:30 pm Guests may study, write, read, relax, sit, talk, and generally socialize with friends over coffee, tea, and other beverages from opening at 5:30 pm until 6:00 pm when Rasaq Malik will feature. If time remains, Open Mic will will follow until closing.
March 14, 2026 Poetry Writing Workshop: Spring Into Nature Through Verse Lauritzen Gardens, 100 Bancroft St. Omaha, 10:00 – 11:30 am Joining the natural world with the written word is the focus of this workshop, which is a perfect time to wake up with the spring season. We will ease the greening of the world with the greening of our poetry. Bring your green thumbs, or just an appreciation of Mother Nature and all that she provides us with! Led by Julie Paschold. Pre-registration is required.
March 14, 2026 In Good Company: A Community Renga and Paper Art Workshop Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 1:00 – 4:00 pm Renga is a classical Japanese form of poetry from which the beloved and well-known haiku was derived. In the first half of this workshop, Henry Zander will introduce participants to this fascinating type of poetry and provide an experience in writing one. It’s half-game, half-poetry, and all very good community fun. We’ll cover the basics via Hiroaki Sato’s One-Hundred Frogs, get into the weeds, back out of them, and end with a paper art project to display our mutual efforts. In the second half of the workshop, Sally Cox will share techniques of folding, cutting, and glueing paper to create fun pop-up structures. Participants will make several different projects to take home, and to contribute to a community project.
March 14, 2026 Book Launch: Alison Pearce Stevens – “When Beavers Move In” Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13th St. Lincoln, 4:30 – 6:00 pm Join us as we welcome back beloved children’s author Alison Pearce Stevens as she brings hands on demonstrations to dive us into the world of her newest book When Beavers Move In!
March 19, 2026 Writers in Conversation – Third Thursday with Shyla Ann Shehan and Julie McCabe-Johanning Larksong Writers Place, 1600 N Cotner Blvd. Lincoln, 6:00 – 7:30 pm Each month Writers in Conversation invites two writers at differing stages of their writing career to share their work and engage one another in conversation about the craft of creative writing. The conversation is then opened to the entire audience for a lively discussion of all things literary. Join for discussion between writers Shyla Ann Shehan and Julie McCabe-Johanning.
March 19, 2026 Virtual Author Series: Garrett Peck – “The Bright Edges of the World: Willa Cather and Her Archbishop” Zoom, 7:00 – 8:00 pm Deepen your understanding of one of Willa Cather’s most celebrated novels! In The Bright Edges of the World, Garrett Peck explores how Cather’s travels to the Southwest inspired her writing. She visited the Southwest six times between 1912 and 1926, and from these journeys came three novels, the last of which was Death Comes for the Archbishop. Through Cather’s letters, postcards, articles, and interviews, Peck traces how integral travel was to Cather’s imagination while highlighting the vital contribution that Cather’s longtime partner, Edith Lewis, made to the story.
March 19, 2026 Writes of Passage UNO’s Criss Library, 6401 S University Dr Rd N. Omaha, 7:00 – 9:00 pm Prepare to be moved, inspired, and electrified at the only spoken word event in Nebraska dedicated solely to the art of expression. This isn’t just another open mic night—it’s a celebration of storytelling and raw emotion, where voices from all walks of life take center stage. Hosted in the intimate and immersive setting where every performance feels personal. Whether you’re a longtime lover of spoken word or a curious newcomer, this event guarantees an unforgettable night of connection and creativity. Featuring Sam Nichols and Allen Stevenson as MCs.
March 20, 2026 Spoken Word, Featured Reading and Open Mic The Ellery, 1247 S 11th St. Lincoln, 7:00 pm A spoken word featured reading and open mic hosted by Esman Rodas Calderon. After the event, you’re invited to join Write After, a writing group that meets around the conclusion of this event, around 8:30 or 9:00. This month’s theme is “Beginner’s Luck: Poetry slam”.
March 23-26, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Preliminary Bouts UNL City Campus, Swanson Auditorium, 1400 R St. Lincoln, 5:30 & 7:30 All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These events run March 23-April 28 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.
March 30-31, 2026 All Writes Reserved Youth Poetry Festival Preliminary Bouts Revive Center, 2402 Lizzie Robinson Ave. Omaha, 5:30 & 7:30 All Writes Reserved empowers young people, giving them instruction and resources to express themselves in classrooms and onstage. At the end of each school year, the Nebraska Writers Collective hosts our spoken word poetry festival where students share what they’ve been working on throughout the season. These preliminary bout events run March 23-April 28 with high schools and middle schools competing in a team poetry slam competition.
Check out the NCB Calendar to stay up to date on upcoming literary events happening near you!
*The time, date, and location of these events are subject to change. Some of this month’s events, workshops, or conferences may require registration or charge a fee.
Feel free to contact us if you have an event that you would like to be featured.
