Category: Events

The Big Read Kick-Off is Tonight! Wed. 11/8 at 7:00 p.m. on YouTube

Posted on by Ryan Collins

MWC is thrilled to be partnering with Illinois Humanities on the Big Read! Illinois Humanities is supporting this project throughout the state with the National Endowment for the Arts. 

This year’s theme is “Reconsidering The American Dream” through the two books chosen: Heartland: A Memoir of Working Hard and Being Broke in the Richest Country on Earth by Sarah Smarsh, and Infinite Country by Patricia Engel. 

The Midwest Writing Center will be assisting with facilitating book groups here in the Quad Cities. If you do not yet have a reading a group or have not yet reaching out with a group in mind, please email Sarah Elgatian to indicate whether you are looking for a group, or if you’d like to participate in Big Read with a group you’re already in.

SPECTRA Lives! A Special Event, Featuring erica lewis On Tour For Her New Book :: mahogany ::

Posted on by Ryan Collins

The SPECTRA Reading Series will host a special event featuring acclaimed poet erica lewis on Thursday, October 19 at Rozz-Tox (2108 3rd Ave. Rock Island, IL). lewis, who lives in the Bay Area, will be stopping in the Quad Cities on the Midwestern leg of the tour for her new book mahogany, recently published by Wesleyan University Press.

Doors for the event open at 7:00 p.m., and readings will start at 8:00 p.m. lewis will be joined by another celebrated poet, Becca Klaver, and two local rising stars: Melissa Conway and Htoo Htoo. Event is free and open to the public, with a $5 suggested donation to support youth writing programs at MWC. Local bookseller The Artsy Bookworm will be on hand selling copies of mahogany as well.