The Writing University website hosted an online chat with South African writer and International Writing Program alum Maxine Case at 3:00 p.m. (CST). Maxine was joined by Zuki Wanner. They discussed the international writing community, as well as other literary topics.

The Writing University website hosted a live discussion with Fedosy Santaella, a participant in the IWP (International Writing Program), and Roberto Echeto, at 2:00 (CST). This is the first conversion to take place entirely in Spanish. This is a transcript of the English version.

Poet Dean Young, a former faculty member of the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, received a life-saving heart transplant on April 15, just a few days before the publication of his collection "Fall Higher." To show their affection and support for Young -- and to help offset the tens of thousands of dollars of his annual medications that are not covered by insurance -- UI poets will read at a special benefit event at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 31, in Prairie Lights Books.

The Library of Congress named University of Iowa Writers' Workshop alumnus and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Philip Levine--whose work addresses the joys and sufferings of industrial life--the 18th U.S. Poet Laureate on August 10th, 2011. Levine, who recently participated in the Iowa Writers' Workshop 75th anniversary alumni reunion, will take up his duties as Poet Laureate in the fall, opening the library's annual literary season with a reading of his work at the Coolidge Auditorium in Washington D.C. on Oct. 17. (Read the official announcement at http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2011/11-143.html)

During the third annual Iowa City Book Festival, University of Iowa alumni (from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and Nonfiction Writing Program) shared their work in readings all over Iowa City, as dozens businesses hosted authors and similar reading events, capping the three-day celebration of the written word in this UNESCO-stamped City of Literature: "Two doors down North Linn Street from the poetry reading, a sizeable but quiet crowd crammed itself in a corner of a coffee shop, T'Spoons, where members of UI's undergraduate nonfiction writing program read aloud essays.

Poets & Writers Magazine features the Iowa Writers' Workshop 75th Anniversary this month in the article, Writers’ Workshop at Seventy-Five: "This year the oldest graduate creative writing program in the United States turns seventy-five. In June the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, alma mater of writers ranging from John Irving to Flannery O’Connor, Jorie Graham to Michael Cunningham, celebrated the anniversary with a reunion of faculty and alumni that brought together some of the most recognized names in literature today. T. C.

Iowa City Book Festival's twitter novel unfolds this weekend! Follow @NovelIowaCity or help write the book with #icbfn tweets. Novel Iowa City begins at noon today -- multiple authors writing a single novel, 140 characters at a time, simultaneously using Twitter. Everyone is welcome to contribute to the novel -- simply tweet your contribution and use the tag #icbfn.

The 2011 Iowa City Book Festival (ICBF), presented by the University of Iowa Libraries, will celebrate reading, writing, and books Friday–Sunday, July 15–17, with best-selling authors, hands-on book arts, kids’ activities, music, and more. The ICBF will begin Friday, July 15, with a fund-raising dinner in the Main Library. Saturday, July 16, is festival day in Gibson Square with booksellers, music, children’s activities, food vendors, book arts demonstrations, and readings and panel discussions. Sunday, July 17, will be “A Day in the City of Literature.” Local businesses of all kinds throughout Iowa City will participate by hosting readings and special activities all day.