If you weren't able to Zoom in for Ralph Savarese's reading (and the return of the open mic), it can now be streamed. Look for more info soon on the Spring 2020 FTRS lineup.
Monday, 28 December 2020
Friday, 13 November 2020
FTRS Live on Zoom features Ralph Savarese (open mic returns!)
On Thursday, November 19 at 7 p.m., Ralph James Savarese will take to FTRS's Zoom stage to read from his latest work of poetry, When This is Over: Pandemic Poems, a collection of timely and insightful verse drawing on the experience of the pandemic. His reading will be preceded by a Zoom open mic for creative writers.
Ralph James Savarese is a professor of English at Grinnell College. He is the author of See It Feelingly: Classic Novels, Autistic Readers, and the Schooling of a No-Good English Professor (Duke University Press) and a book of poetry, Republican Fathers (Nine Mile Press).
Open Mic will begin at 7:00 p.m. followed by Ralph Savarese at 7:30. Attendees are invited to share their best five minutes of original poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. Send email to jim.oloughlin@uni.edu prior to November 19 to sign up for open mic.
The Final Thursday Reading Series is a collaboration of Final Thursday Press, the Hearst Center for the Arts, the UNI College of Humanities, Arts & Sciences, and the UNI Department of Languages & Literatures.
Monday, 9 November 2020
Grant Tracey Live Zoomcast on "North American Review" presents
On Thursday, November 12 at 7:00 p.m. (CST) FTP author Grant Tracey will be featured on a live Zoomcast for "North American Review Presents." This discussion and reading will focus on Grant Tracey's new crime fiction chapbook Winsome / Bend of the Sun, but be ready for a wide ranging conversation (and Jimmy Cagney will likely come up at some point).
This event is free but requires advanced registration.
In addition to Winsome / Bend of the Sun, Grant Tracey is the author of the Hayden Fuller Mystery Series from Twelve Winters Press. Tracey is Fiction Editor of the North American Review and a Professor of English and the University of Northern Iowa.
Friday, 6 November 2020
Jeffrey Copeland's FTRS Reading Can Now Be Streamed
If you didn't get to attend the live Zoomcast, you can now stream Jeffrey S. Copeland's reading from his new book, Lt. Elsie Ott's Secret Mission. Thanks to all who attended and participated in the Q&A afterwards.
Now that the Zoomcast has been piloted, the way is clear to bring back the open mic for next month's live-on-Zoom Final Thursday Reading Series featuring Ralph Savarese. Check back for more details.
Saturday, 24 October 2020
FTRS live online: Jeffrey S. Copeland Reads on October 29
Final Thursday Reading Series Goes Live Online
Jeffrey S. Copeland’s Lt. Elsie Ott’s Secret Mission
featured
Monday, 28 September 2020
Launch and Play: Grant Tracey and Jim O'Loughlin debut new books, jam together at September FTRS
Tuesday, 22 September 2020
Winsome / Bend of the Sun
New Crime Fiction from Grant Tracey
Winsome / Bend of the Sun released as double cover edition
Grant Tracey is the author of the Hayden Fuller Mystery Series from Twelve Winters Press. That series includes the novels Cheap Amusements, A Fourth Face, the memoir Toronto, 1965, and the forthcoming novel, Neon Kiss. A professor of English at the University of Northern Iowa, he also regularly appears in regional theatre, including in the roles of Pastor Paul in The Christians, Oscar Madison in The Odd Couple, Yvan in Art, and Peter in Zoo Story.
Thursday, 3 September 2020
Adrianne Finlay Book Launch
The 20th season of the Final Thursday Reading Series took the whole show outside to the Hearst Center's outdoor sculpture garden. It was a hot August night, and wehad a dedicated (and socially distanced) crowd on hand for the launch of Adrianne Finlay's new novel Cut Off. Cut Off (HMH Books) has been described as “Warcross meets Lost.” It’s a young adult sci-fi thriller in which teens compete to survive in the wilderness for one million dollars on a new virtual reality show. When something goes horribly wrong and the contestants realize no one is coming to save them, they must question their very reality—and how much of the game is really for show. School Library Journal describes Cut Off as “A genre-bending story that engages with themes of anxiety and trauma in imaginative ways.” Finlay is also the author of the novel Your One and Only. In the reading that you can stream below, Finlay reads two chapters from the novel and takes questions from the audience. Locally, copies of Cut Off can be ordered from the UNI Bookstore.