Ames Writers Collective
On Monday, April 13th, our founder Ana McCracken spoke with Nathan Porter on Studio 308’s Face to Face segment. During their conversation, Nathan, an Iowa State University Journalism student, and Ana discussed the Ames Writers Collective outreach programs, Writing Through Cancer and the Swift Youth Writers Workshop. To close the conversation, they briefly touched upon Ana’s memoir, Redacted: A Memoir of Adoption.
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.
Our very own founder Ana McCracken had the opportunity to be a guest on “Dish with Nish,” a podcast hosted by Dr. Andrew Nish, Medical Director at the John Stoddard Cancer Center. The podcast is a new series exploring topics of interest in cancer prevention, the human spirit and how new ideas are changing cancer care. Listen to Ana McCracken and Dr. Nish as they discuss “Writing Circle Mondays,” a writing group at the Ames Writers Collective aimed at providing a safe space for cancer patients to share their experiences. Click here to listen to the episode.
“Writing Circle Mondays” is also available on Spotify and Amazon music.
