The Writing University

Iowa (Mason City) native Josiah Hesse will read from his new book, On Fire for God: Fear, Shame, Poverty, and the Making of the Christian Right – a Personal History. A blend of his personal story about the trauma of growing up within a strict evangelical family and the story of Mason City as a community, On Fire for God describes Hesse's "fear, shame, and poverty" and includes a researched exploration of the Christian Right's historical and political influence on America's working class. This...

Daniyal Mueenuddin will read from his new novel, This Is Where the Serpent Lives. Described as a "stunning new work," This Is Where the Serpent Lives takes place in contemporary feudal Pakistan, "following the destinies of a dozen unforgettable characters whose lives are linked through violence and tragedy, triumph, and love." Publishers Weekly praises it as "a profound and revelatory portrait of Pakistan’s class divisions," while Booklist says: "Intricately layered. . . . Mueenuddin writes...

This program offers accountability to artists, scholars, and researchers working on any kind of writing project (articles, essays, fellowship or grant applications, dissertations, book projects, edited volumes, etc.) who want dedicated time, a cozy space, and a community for the practice of writing.

In spring 2026, four writing groups will meet in our Writers' Attic at the Obermann Center for Advanced Studies at 111 Church St. Each group will meet once a week for 1.5 hours, beginning the week of...