We regret the passing, on April 11, 2024, of the distinguished Romanian author and critic Dan Cristea, who served as the editor in chief of the Luceafărul de Dimineață cultural monthly. In addition to being an alum of the 1985 Fall Residency, Cristea received his PhD in Comparative Literature at the University of Iowa.
From October 2-5, International Writing Program 2014 Fall Residents are participating in a multitude of events at the Iowa City Book Festival. All IWP-related events can be found below.
Panel: World Novel Today
Writers discuss the state of the novel internationally; is there cross-pollination at work in the new novels we’re reading, across borders of genres, languages, flavors, senses of humor—a wider sense of belonging to the planet? Participants are Laurynas Katkus (Lithuania), Mamle Kabu (Ghana), Harry Stecopoulos and Peter Nazareth (University of Iowa). October 2, 12:00 p.m. Gerber Lounge, 304 English-Philosophy Building.
Panel: Writing in a Country at War
What are a writer’s duties, privileges and obligations when his or her country is at war? What should writing be when a day is measured in units of life and death—whether in the place one lives, or, as importantly, when the writer is safe from the ongoing fighting? Panelists are Mujib Mehrdad (Afghanistan), Sadek Mohammed (Iraq), and Boaz Gaon (Israel). October 3, 12:30 p.m. Meeting Room A, Iowa City Public Library.
Panel: Breaking In, Breaking Out
Writers from around the world discuss how their first book in print changed their lives, or not; about their experience of going from unpublished to published for the first time. Featuring Ali Cobby Eckermann (Australia), Marlon James (USA), Myay Hmone Lwin (Burma), and Andra Rotaru (Romania). October 4, 10:00 a.m. MidWestOne Bank, 102 S Clinton St, Iowa City.
Panel: Writing as Recovery
An exploration of the challenging, sometimes therapeutic, act of writing through trauma, pain, and/or loss. Featuring Auguste Corteau (Greece), Heekyung Eun (Korea), Sabah Sanhouri (Sudan), Ahmed Shafie (Egypt), and Yeow Kai Chai (Singapore). October 4, 11:30 a.m. MidWestOne Bank, 102 S Clinton St, Iowa City.
Panel: A Sense of Place
Writers discuss the importance of setting, the place of place, in their work. Is their work ‘regional’ or ‘universal?’ Landscape as catalyst, backdrop, and influence. Featuring Marcus Burke (USA), Bernice Chauly (Malaysia), Jessie Ann Foley (USA), Daren Kamali (New Zealand) and Scott Phillips (USA). October 4, 1:00 p.m., MidWestOne Bank, 102 South Clinton Street Iowa City.
Panel: Loyalty and Betrayal
Milan Kundera has asserted that ‘the first betrayal is irreparable. It calls forth a chain reaction of further betrayals, each of which takes us farther and farther away from the point of our original betrayal.’ Loyalties grow out of biology, place of origin, upbringing, affections, nationality, etc.—writers discuss their own loyalties, those that they adhere to and those they betray. Featuring Kinana Issa (Syria), Chi Li (China), Craig McDonald (USA), Jon McGoran (USA), June Melby (USA) and Franca Treur (Netherlands). October 4, 2:30 p.m., Iowa City Senior Center.
Panel: A Sense of Place II
Writers discuss the importance of setting, the place of place, in their work. Is their work ‘regional’ or ‘universal?’ Landscape as catalyst, backdrop, and influence. Featuring Edward Carey (England), Cynthia Edul (Argentina), Peyton Marshall (USA), Heather A. Slomski (USA), Anja Utler (Germany) and Tang Siu Wa (Hong Kong). October 4, 4:00 p.m. Iowa City Senior Center.
Panel: At Language’s Edge
In honor of the long legacy of translation at the University of Iowa begun by the late Daniel Weissbort, International Writing Program participants Natasha Tiniacos (Venezuela) and Sabata-mpho Mokae (South Africa) join poet Marilyn Chin and translator Mary Jane White (both USA) in a discussion about what it means to translate, and to have their work translated into other languages. October 5, 3:00 p.m., Iowa City Public Library, Meeting room A.
Panel: Religion and Writing
Binayak Banerjee (India), Gerður Kristný (Iceland), Enrique Serrano (Colombia), and Abdullah Al Wesali (Saudi Arabia) discuss how religious heritage shapes an author’s writing. October 5, 4:00 p.m., Iowa City Public Library, Meeting room A.
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