Author: Ryan Collins

THE ATLAS 21 Pre-Order is live! Order your copy today | Release Party 8/13 at RIPL & Rozz-Tox!

Posted on by Ryan Collins

LOCATION UPDATE!

The Young Emerging Writers (YEW) Summer Internship Program will host a two-part party to celebrate the release of the latest issue of THE ATLAS, the Program’s literary magazine, on Thursday, August 13 at the downtown Rock Island Public Library and Rozz-Tox.

The event will start at 6:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the downtown Rock Island Public Library with the release of THE ATLAS 21, where the 2026 YEW interns will give a brief reading of their work from the magazine. Copies will be available for $10, along with other local literary artists selling their work. Light refreshments will be served.

Then, at 8:00 p.m., the party will move down the street to Rozz-Tox, featuring an open mic for YEW alumni and staff, followed by live music from KAS.

YEW Intern & Staff Showcase – Thursday 7/23 at RIPL Watts-Midtown Branch, 5:30 p.m.

Posted on by Ryan Collins

MWC celebrates 21 years of The Young Emerging Writers Program (YEW) with a showcase of selected YEW 2026 interns and staff on Thursday, July 23 at the RIPL Watts-Midtown Branch.

The event will start at 5:30pm with a social, followed by the Young Emerging Writers showcase, followed by readings from a selection of this year’s YEW interns and staff, previewing THE ATLAS 21 literary magazine, which the program will publish on 8/13 (pre-orders coming soon). Back issues of The Atlas will be available for $5/copy, as well as other MWC Press books.

DRC Writers’ Conference Starts in Less than 2 Weeks! Slots still available

Posted on by Ryan Collins

MWC and The David R. Collins Writers’ Conference (formerly known as the Mississippi Valley Writers’ Conference) are thrilled return to the campus of Augustana College this summer, June 25-27. Featuring our stellar Conference Faculty leading three-day workshops, two public readings, a concluding luncheon, and more. 

There’s still time to register either by using the registration portal on our site or by making a donation to Birdies for Charity. The schedule of events is below, and complete info can be found on the Conference page. Please contact MWC with any questions: mwc@mwcqc.org or 309-732-7330.