Author: Nicole Phelon

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In The Media News

Ames Writers Collective Receives Grant for Upcoming Fifth Street Writers Co-Working Space

The Ames Writers Collective is thrilled to announce the receipt of a generous grant from the Story County Community Foundation! This grant will be instrumental in helping us accomplish our goals for the Fifth Street Writers Stage at our new space on 612 5th Street. With this support, we’ll be able to equip the stage with a podium and sound system, creating a venue for local writers in the Ames community. Our goal is to empower Ames and Central Iowa writers, host events, and continue to connect our community with the literary arts.

Thank you Story County Community Foundation!

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In The Media News

2024 Swift Literary Festival Author Spotlights

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Follow us on Facebook & Instagram!

Follow us on social media to meet our authors who participated in our 3rd Annual Swift Literary Festival held at the annual Octagon Art Festival on September 22nd. Our weekly Author Spotlight will feature author tid-bits, their book titles, and direct you to their websites to learn more about them.

3rd Annual Swift Literary Festival
Authors, Poets & Indie press

Marilyn Baszczynski – poet
William Bortz – poet
Stephen L. Brayton – mystery & horror
Paul Brooke – poet
Shannon K. Evans – spiritual nonfiction
Deb Kline – memoir
Charles R. Kniker – nonfiction
Jennifer L. Knox – poet
Kim Mosiman – nonfiction – poet
Eva Newcastle – magical realism
Charlie R. North – poet
Steve Semken & Ice Cube Press – indie press
Dawn Terpstra – poet
Pat Underwood – poet

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In The Media News

2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Group & Clair Kruesel

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Hey Youth Writers! Let’s Write at the Ames Public Library.

Join our talented and fun-loving writer and facilitator, Claire Kruesel for our 2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Group. Click here to read about Claire and her writing philosophy.

Youth writers meet upstairs in the P.E.O. Room from 2 to 4 PM. Do check the monitors incase of room changes. We supply notebooks and pens, and other supplies to prompt and inspire stories.

2nd Sunday Swift Youth Writers Groups are offered as an Ames Writers Collective FREE community outreach program in partnership with the Ames Public Library.

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In The Media News

Facing Pain With A Pen

Exuberant writers during a recent Writing Circle Wednesday.
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We are thrilled that Writing Circle Wednesday writer, Lori Holliday is featured in Health Connect magazine, a publication of Mary Greeley Medical Center in Ames, Iowa.

For the past year, Lori has been writing with others who have, or are still receiving treatment through the William R. Bliss Cancer Center.

Writing Circle Wednesdays are held on Zoom from 3 to 5 PM, unless otherwise noted. This writing program is held in partnership with the William R. Bliss Cancer Resource Center. For questions and to join a community of writers, email founder, Ana McCracken. Click on the image below to read the article. Hardcopies can be found at Mary Greeley Medical Center.

 

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In The Media News

Fifth Street—A Co-Working Space For Writers

COMING SOON at 612 5th Street, Ames, Iowa!

Fifth Street is a membership co-working space, meant exclusively for writers.

The atmosphere at Fifth Street is quiet (silence-your-cell phones/no-phone-call rule), and you won’t feel nervous leaving your computer on your café table when you get up to refill your coffee or stretch your legs. No glaring baristas suggesting with their glances that it’s time to leave.

Fifth Street is about community where we encourage writers to gather at 12:30 PM around a big table for lunch (bring your own) and conversation.

We offer Wi-Fi, monthly member Happy Hours, and bi-monthly member readings open to guests and the public, and writer-driven craft groups that schedule their own meetings. Fifth Street members have the opportunity to GET INVOLVED with our literary community and to give back to our community at large. Such engagements include:

  • Attend a bi-monthly planning meetings to contribute to our mission
  • Maintain the Ames Writers Collective Little Free Library and our Writers’ Resource Library
  • Qualified writers may lead community Open Writes to engage more writers and attract new members

Members are given access to the Fifth Street online platform to interact with one another, to create writing groups, and to share publishing “good news” and community announcements.

The staff of Fifth Street personally meets with every prospective member to ensure they’re a good fit for our congenial and supportive working environment.

MEMBERSHIP OPTIONS

FULL MEMBER—$125 / Month

  • Full-time members have unlimited use of the Fifth Street space (except during occasional evening events and weekend workshops)
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • Priority participation in Fifth Street bi-monthly public readings
  • Access to the Fifth Street online community platform

HALF-TIME MEMBER—$80/Month for 8 visits

  • Half-time members are invited to use the Fifth Street space up to 8-times/month (usage tracked using a smart keypad)
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • Participation in Fifth Street bi-monthly public readings
  • Access to Fifth Street online community platform

DROP-IN MEMBER—$40/Month for 4 visits

  • Drop-In members are invited to use the Fifth Street space up to 4 times/month (usage tracked using a smart keypad)
  • Complimentary coffee and tea
  • Participation in Fifth Street bi-monthly public readings
  • Access to the Fifth Street online community platform

REMOTE MEMBER—$5/Month

  • Offers access to our online community platform

FELLOWSHIPS—We offer a number of fully-funded fellowships to BIPOC, differently-abled, and other underserved writers. We encourage you to apply

To apply for membership or to make inquiries, contact, Ana McCracken, Ames Writers Collective founder.

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Author

Denise Williams

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What’s your genre
Romance

Are you published?
Traditional publisher

What inspired you to become a writer?
I’ve always loved to tell stories and write—that included short stories in middle and high school and truly awful poetry in the late 1990’s but then I started college and graduate school and my writing took a turn for the academic which was wonderful but a far cry from romance. In 2012, I moved to Des Moines and began commuting to Ames every day which led me to audiobooks and I quickly found my favorites in romance. More than anything, falling in love with those books and then subsequently graduating with my PhD and becoming a new mom, led me back to writing. Like so many have, I found myself buried in “momming” and work and I wanted something to refill my cup. I turned back to writing fiction and what I thought would be another short story turned into my first novel, How to Fail at Flirting. Ten books later, writing still fills my cup and I’m still kept company on I35 by audiobooks, only now, I have the option to hear my own words read back to me sometimes. My tenth book released in March—it still feels surreal most of the time.

What author do you admire and how have they inspired your writing?
Kennedy Ryan is one of the best writers publishing today. She writes stories that are as emotionally evocative as they are a thrill ride. Her characters are flawed and beautifully real and her stories showcase the range of human experiences from sweet first kisses to digging one’s way out of trauma. A former journalist, her research is impeccable and her prose sparkles. I met Kennedy when I was a new author and I still remember how she hugged me and cheered me on and what that meant to me. She’s a genuine person who has had tremendous success and still reached out to lift others. She’s a philanthropist and entrepreneur and, among romance writers, there’s no one who garners more kudos from colleagues. She inspires me to be a better writer.

Name three of your favorite books and their authors
The Kingmaker by Kennedy Ryan. A romantic thriller set against the backdrop of political upheaval.
Juliet by Anne Fortier. A modern quest connects to the famous star-crossed lovers.
The Sudden Appearance of Hope by Claire North. A speculative fiction thriller that explores the nature identity/M.

What’s one thing readers should know about you?
My tagline as an author is “sometimes love is funny.” Readers should know I do not shy away from real-life issues facing so many of us—self-doubt, trauma, heartbreak, loss—and that none of those things preclude us or the characters from having a sweeping, sexy, funny love story. In most of my books, prepare to swoon, fan yourself, and tear up a little. Those are the books I love to read and that’s what I strive to write.

What one piece of advice would you give to a budding writer?
My best advice to new and established authors is a reminder that the only thing a first draft needs to be is written. It’s so easy to get hung up on making something perfect and it’s so easy to stop when we realize our first draft isn’t perfect (using we here because this is true for pretty much everyone). So, keep going. Keep writing. Give up on perfect.

Author bio
Denise Williams wrote her first book in the 2nd grade. I Hate You and its sequel, I Still Hate You, featured a tough, funny heroine, a quirky hero, witty banter, and a dragon. Minus the dragons, these are still the books she likes to write. After penning those early works, she finished second grade and eventually earned a PhD. Her work has been featured in The Washington Post, Audiofile Magazine, Book Reporter, the Today Show, Good Morning America, Oprah Magazine, and her mom’s list of top topics of conversation with strangers. Her books have been listed as an Indie Next pick, Library Reads pick, and received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal. After growing up a military brat around the world, she calls Iowa home. Click here to visit Denise.

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Author

Pat Underwood

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What’s your genre?
Poetry

Are you published?
Traditional publisher

What inspired you to become a writer?
My cousin, a gifted English teacher and writer, gave me one of his collections of free verse years ago that at first I didn’t understand. After rereading it several times and soaking in the meaning, I learned how stunning poetry can be. He inspired me.

What author do you admire and how have they inspired your writing?
I especially like Galway Kinnell’s excellent work. He had so much to teach us about living life to its fullest.

Name three of your favorite books and their authors
Thirst by Mary Oliver
Everything’s A Verb by Deb Marquart
Dubious Angels by Keith Ratzlaff

What’s one thing readers should know about you?
It’s important to me to share poetry, whether it’s something written by yourself or someone else. Support is important. I look forward to meeting in groups both to critique each other’s work and to educate.

What one piece of advice would you give to a budding writer?
Trust in yourself and the value of what you have to say. Know that you are a beautiful person with words that can reach others in meaningful ways.

Author Bio
Pat Underwood married her high school sweetheart, and they raised two sons on a country hillside north of Colfax, Iowa where the wildlife inspires her writing. She is the author of three poetry collections and received a 2001 Pushcart Prize Nomination. One of Pat’s favorite honors is being a contributor to Voices on the Landscape; Contemporary Iowa Poets edited by Michael Carey.

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In The Media News

Swift Literary Festival | Sunday, Sept 22nd | 10 to 4

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Join the us this Sunday, September 22nd from 10 to 4 at the Octagon Art Festival for our 3rd Annual Swift Literary Festival in Ames, Iowa. Meet our authors, and learn about Ames Writers Collective exciting upcoming news. Look for our tent on the corner of Douglas Avenue and Main Street in front of AVEC Design+Build.
Featured Authors & Poets
10 to 11:30
Marilyn J Baszczynski—Poetry
Paul Brooke—Poetry
Charlie R. North—Poetry
Dawn Terpstra—Poetry
Pat Underwood—Poetry
11:30 to 1
Paul Brooke—Poetry
Charlie R. North—Poetry
Dawn Terpstra—Poetry
Pat Underwood—Poetry
Deb Kline—Memoir
1 to 2:30
Stephen L. Brayton—Mystery & horror
Shannon K. Evans—Spiritual nonfiction
Kim Mosiman—Christian nonfiction
Ice Cube Press
2:30 to 4
William Bortz—Poetry
Charles R. Kniker—Nonfiction
Jennifer L. Knox—Poetry
Eva Newcastle—Magical realism
Ice Cube Press
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Author

Shannon Evans

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What’s your genre?
Spiritual nonfiction

Are you published?
Traditional publisher

What inspire you to become a writer?
I started writing as a little girl and just never stopped!

What author do you admire and how have they inspired your writing?
It’s hard to name just a few, but as a child I was enamored by the work of Lois Lowry, Madeleine L’Engle, and Louisa May Alcott. As a nonfiction writer, Mirabai Starr, Terry Tempest Williams, and Sue Monk Kidd were the ones who gave me permission to trust my intuition and my voice. I love the modern fiction of Jessamyn Ward and Celeste Ng.

Name three of your favorite books and their authors
When Women Were Dragons by Kelly Barnhill
The Dance of the Dissident Daughter by Sue Monk Kidd
11.22.63 by Stephen King

What’s one thing readers should know about you?
I’m a liberal Catholic feminist who predominately writes for women but welcomes male readers too.

What one piece of advice would you give to a budding writer?
Sit under as many editors as you can!

Author Bio
Shannon K. Evans is the author of The Mystics Would Like a Word, Feminist Prayers for My Daughter, and Rewilding Motherhood. By day, she serves as the spirituality and culture editor at the National Catholic Reporter. She and her family make their home in Ames, Iowa. Click here to visit Shannon.

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Author

Dawn Terpstra

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What’s your genre?
Poetry

Are you published?
Traditional publisher

What inspired you to become a writer?
As a family growing up on a teacher’s salary, entertainment for the week was found at the public library on Saturday mornings. I would stock up, checking out as many books as I was allowed, and then spend hours lost in the lush imaginations and language of storytellers. I knew from the time I was a second grader, when I wrote a twenty-page story, “Hanky and the Giant,” that writing was my true calling. Thankfully, I have built a career writing radio commercials, political ads, corporate marketing and communications and teaching high school English. Writing poetry has always been a therapeutic guilty pleasure.

What author do you admire and how have the inspired your writing?
My answer to the question about an influential author is often “the one I’m reading now.” There are too many choices! In poetry, early influences were the Romantic poets, Wordsworth, Shelley, Byron and Keats. I loved the landscapes and characters in novels by John Steinbeck and William Faulkner. In college, the quirky ingenuity of e.e. cummings was an obsession. In graduate school, I find myself returning to an interest in form and meter influenced by the work of A.E. Stallings, Marilyn Hacker, and Annie Finch. Combining form with poetry of place and the environment is currently where my interest and work resides.

Name three of your favorite books and their authors
Modern Poetry and frank: sonnets by Diane Seuss
Swift: New and Selected Poems by David Baker
Shirt in Heaven by Jean Valentine

What’s one thing readers should know about you?
My husband and I live on 15 acres in rural Jasper county, where our hives of bees and two corgis are usually happy. I am an avid birder. I have no fingerprints. I defer to our granddaughters to touch everything and leave a mark.

What one piece of advice would you give to a budding writer?
One is never too old (or too anything) to set and realize one’s truest, wildest writing goals. Ignore the naysayers. Believe in the (im)possibilities of your writing. You can always learn process. You can’t learn the desire and passion for your art. Own it.

Author Bio
Dawn Terpstra is a poet, writer and beekeeper living in rural Iowa. Her poetry appears in publications and anthologies including Verse Daily, Midwest Quarterly, Quartet, The Grist, Cities of the Plains, and others. She is the author of a chapbook, Songs from the Summer Kitchen. Her work has been nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net. She is currently the Poetry Editor for River Heron Review. She is a graduate of Iowa State University with an undergraduate degree and two masters degrees. She is currently pursuing an MFA in creative writing at Rainier Writing Workshop, Pacific Lutheran University.