Tag: #anamccracken

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Beyond the Summit┃Above+Beyond Cancer Conference

Join Founder Ana McCracken at the upcoming “Beyond the Summit” conference, June 11, 2026.

Beyond the Summit is a one-day conference created for cancer survivors and caregivers seeking practical tools, inspiration, and connection during and after the cancer journey. Through expert-led sessions, attendees will explore whole-person approaches to healing that support the body, mind, and spirit.

Ana McCracken will speak on a panel with Dr. Richard Deming and Jana West during Session One: The Arts as Medicine. Discover how creative expression can support emotional healing, reduce stress, and foster meaning and connection. Dr. Richard Deming is Founder of Above+Beyond Cancer and Medical Director at the Richard Deming Cancer Center. Jana West is a singer/songwriter.

The conference will take place on Thursday, June 11, 2026, with sessions taking place from 9:00am – 4:00pm in West Des Moines. Click here for more information and to register.

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In The Media News

Publication of Writing Circle Mondays

Hot off the presses: Writing Circle Mondays Reflections on Life & Cancer. This anthology co-edited by Ames Writers Collective founder, Ana McCracken and Terri Dorothy, a John Stoddard Cancer Center patient, gathers together heartfelt stories from women who found strength, hope, and healing through writing.

Every author wants you to buy their book. Know that when you purchase Writing Circle Mondays Reflections on Life & Cancer, all royalties support the Charlie Cutler Healing and Wellness Program at John Stoddard Cancer Center. This program funds Writing Circle Mondays—a FREE resource for individuals living with cancer. Books can be purchased through your local independent bookstores such as Dog-Eared Books in Ames, Iowa, Beaverdale Books in Des Moines, Barnes & Noble, and off Amazon if no other resource is available for you.

This anthology would not have made it to publication without Ana’s co-editor Terri Dorothy, who writes with her and others on Mondays. Additionally this book was published with the assistance of Polly Letofsky of #mywordpublishing. Ana met Polly at the Okoboji Writers’ Conference (#okobojiwriters) in 2023, kept in touch and Polly shepherded Ana through the process of publishing this collection of stories and poetry. A resounding thank you to Terri, Polly, all those who contributed to the anthology, and the John Stoddard Cancer Center.

Member Open Hours – Today 10 to Noon

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This month, join us for our Members Open Hours at Fifth Street Writers. Interested in becoming a member? Click here for more information!

Open today from 10 AM – NOON. Check our events calendar for specific dates!

Our space is designed for writers by writers? It’s a quiet place to focus on your writing projects? We have seating areas spread throughout the building at Fifth Street Writers that run the gamut from comfy club chairs to benches with tables, to larger tables with chairs. Limited parking is available in front of the building, with plenty of street parking. Our site host is founder, Ana McCracken.

Member Open Hours – Today 10 to Noon

Screenshot

This month, join us for our Members Open Hours at Fifth Street Writers. Interested in becoming a member? Click here for more information!

Open today from 10 AM – NOON. Check our events calendar for specific dates!

Our space is designed for writers by writers? It’s a quiet place to focus on your writing projects? We have seating areas spread throughout the building at Fifth Street Writers that run the gamut from comfy club chairs to benches with tables, to larger tables with chairs. Limited parking is available in front of the building, with plenty of street parking. Our site host is founder, Ana McCracken.

Member Open Hours

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This month, join us for our Members Open Hours at Fifth Street Writers. Interested in becoming a member? Click here for more information!

Open this month from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM on Mondays and Wednesdays. There are a few exceptions, please check our events calendar for specific dates!

Our space is designed for writers by writers. It’s a quiet place to focus on your writing projects. We have seating areas spread throughout the building at Fifth Street Writers that run the gamut from comfy club chairs to benches with tables, to larger tables with chairs. Limited parking is available in front of the building, with plenty of street parking. Our site host this month is communications intern, Acacia Coates.

Member Open Hours

Screenshot

This month, join us for our Members Open Hours at Fifth Street Writers. Interested in becoming a member? Click here for more information!

Open this month from 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM on Wednesdays. There are a few exceptions, please check our events calendar for specific dates!

Our space is designed for writers by writers? It’s a quiet place to focus on your writing projects? We have seating areas spread throughout the building at Fifth Street Writers that run the gamut from comfy club chairs to benches with tables, to larger tables with chairs. Limited parking is available in front of the building, with plenty of street parking. Our site host this month is communications intern, Acacia Coates.

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In The Media News

Swift Literary Festival Sunday, Sept 28th

Join us this Sunday, September 28th for our 4th Annual Swift Literary Festival held during the 54th Annual Octagon Art Festival. From 10 to 4 PM, come visit our author line up below.

Stop by, mingle, buy books, and contribute to our Community Story. We look forward to meeting you on the 28th.

Stephen Brayton—Fiction, A Cold New Year
Tina Cho—Youth Lit, God’s Little Oceanographer
Kelli Fitzpatrick—Captain Marvel: Carol Danvers Declassified
Douglas Myeong’il Gentile—Lessons Learned at a Buddhist Monastery: Hwadu Slogans
Lois Kennis—Women’s Fiction, Rise on Eagles Wings
Deb Kline—Memoir, Forgetting to Remember
Ana McCracken—I Found Myself at Lake Okoboji | Discovering words, wonder, dreams, and inspirations (An anthology)
Linda Skeers—Youth Lit, Women Who Dared
Miles Tritle—Horror/Sci-fi, The Warning in the Woods
Elise Wayland—Fiction, Rivals to Lovers
Denise Williams—Romance, Just Our Luck
J. Susanne Wilson—Historical Fiction, The Death and Life of Iphigenia

Octagon Center for the Arts

City of Ames

Member Open Hours

This month, join us for Open Hours at the Ames Writers Collective. Open hours are available for members only! Interested in becoming a member? Click here for more information!

Looking for a space designed for writers by writers? Or are you looking for a quiet area to focus on your most recent project? At Fifth Street Writers, we aim to provide just that from 5:30pm – 7:30pm on Tuesdays in October. There are a few exceptions, please check our events calendar for specific dates!

We have seating areas spread throughout the building at Fifth Street Writers that run the gamut from comfy club chairs to benches with tables, to larger tables with chairs. Limited parking is available in front of the building, with plenty of street parking. Our site host is communications intern, Acacia Coates.

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In The Media News

Missed Our Founder on IPR’s Talk of Iowa?

On January 7th, Ames Writers Collective founder, Ana McCracken spoke with Charity Nebbe, host of Talk of Iowa. Talk of Iowa is presented by Iowa Public Radio.

During their conversation, Ana shared with Charity the exciting plans for the Ames Writers Collective newly opened Fifth Street Writers—a physical space that serves as a hub and vital resource for writers in Ames and Central Iowa. She shared how Fifth Street will help build connections within the Ames community.

If you missed the live broadcast, you can stream the conversation online at IPR. Search for the  Jan 8, 2025 episode titled, A Dubuque museum celebrates 150 years. Ana’s segment is the last 20 minutes. Additionally, episodes are available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.