Welcome to the Flipside, a bonus edition from The Iowa Writers’ Collaborative members. In this mid-week edition we feature stories about travel, music, airing quilts (yep), book reviews, and some deeper dives on issues from our columnists whose work did not make it in the Sunday Roundup. Thank you for reading. Do you have a topic you’d like to see here? Submit an essay through our Letters From Iowans form (and it would be much appreciated if you become a paid subscriber to this forum. Jeff Morrison is our editor, and he would appreciate your support).
Michael Judge offers a glimpse into a memoir-in-progress—and folks, it’s a doozy. A former Wall Street Journal writer with a gift for vivid, emotionally resonant storytelling, he’s one of those rare talents we’re lucky to count among the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative.
Below, you’ll find a rich lineup of fresh posts—spanning travel, music, memoir, and more. These writers bring their A-game, and we hope you’ll make time to explore each and every one. They’re worth it.
Travel
Wini Moranville
One of the Best Day Trips from DSM
Get away from it all—in just 40 minutes—with Wini Moranville's terrific itinerary for a great day out in Winterset. Of course, she'll tell you where to eat—but there's so much more to do here.
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Jane Nguyen
Florida Firsts
Jane Nguyen traveled to the Sunshine State for new experiences—from beaches to bold flavors, it's a journey of joyful discovery.
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Climate & Environment
Hanah Breckbill
Heartbreak and Possibility
A farmer’s reflections on a remnant prairie—from awe to grief to inspiration.
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David Thoreson
The Republican War on Science
From climate denial to vaccine misinformation, David Thoreson connects the dots in a sobering yet essential read.
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Around Iowa
Christie Vilsack
Speak Up for Women, Infants, and Children
How can we help the 62,000 food-insecure kids in Iowa? Christie breaks it down with compassion and urgency.
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Marianne Fons
How to Wash a Quilt
Marianne walks us through how to lovingly clean a quilt—no shrinkage or heartbreak required.
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Pat Kinney
Son of the Urban Soil in Waterloo
A college-educated great-grandson of sharecroppers is transforming Waterloo’s food system with urban farms and market savvy.
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Matt Russell
Public Schools Are Worth the Fight
Matt reflects on his small-town Sesquicentennial celebration and the educators who helped shape it all.
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Books & Art
Vicki Minor
Writing for Kids, and Pets: Lauren Joiner’s Creative Leap
Lauren Joiner is diving into a new kind of storytelling—with four-legged muses close by.
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Steve Semken
Indigo Buntings, Thunderheads, and Full Circles
Art, nature, and reflection swirl together in Semken’s lyrical view of the world.
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Michael Judge
A Sneak Peek at “Superheroes: A Memoir of Love, Madness, and Family”
Growing up with two brothers diagnosed with schizophrenia shattered—then strengthened—this Iowa family.
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Julie Gammack
Addicted, incarcerated, …and now an Oprah-endorsed author, Lara Love Hardin’s book, The Many Lives of Mama Love is a real page-turner. Read more
Music
Kathryn Severing Fox
In songs like 'New England Free' and 'Hide & Seek,' meaning shapeshifts over time, revealing new layers of personal truth and poetic mystery—both for the writer and the listener. Read more And listen to a terrific song by Kathryn.
Chip Albright
The Hidden Gem in Dallas Center, IA
A small-town music venue that punches way above its weight. Supporting indie artists, building community—what’s not to love?
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Sports
Phoebe Wall Howard
Trans-Superior Race: Wins, Extra Gear & Opposite Strategies
Two sailors, two wildly different race plans, and one epic finish on Lake Superior.
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Humor
Vicki Minor
My Aussies from the Land Down Under (Sort Of)
A family story that’ll leave you smiling and maybe side-eyeing the next accent you hear.
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Daniel P. Finney
Finney's 5: How Teachers Are Preparing to Go Back to School
The back-to-school countdown begins—and Daniel has thoughts (and jokes).
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Poetry and Language Arts
Suzanna de Baca
Tariffs hit home in surprising ways, and this week in Leadership Outside the Box, Suzanna de Baca draws sharp leadership lessons from a grocery store mom facing rising costs with grit and grace. She also shares a new poem on her creative site responding to the tariffs (and the mom) with heart and perspective. And, she'll be talking about tariffs Sunday morning on KCCI at 10:30 on Close Up. Read more
Kelsey Bigelow
Ode to the Road Trip Friend
Who’s your “ride or die” for a long haul on the highway? Kelsey captures the magic in verse.
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Leadership
Sometimes leadership looks like a tired mom in tennis shoes, running the numbers in her head, managing a grocery aisle with grace and grit, says Suzanna de Baca. Read more
Strictly Personal
Kurtis Meyer
In Other Words
Kurtis dives into fascinating new-to-him words, inspired by the legendary William Safire.
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The Iowa Writers Collaborative consists of over 70 professional writers from around the state. Our mission is to connect readers to writers who share an interest in the state.
Each week we offer a Sunday and midweek compilation of the posts made the previous week. We don’t expect you to read every one (although many do!) but if you can afford to, please consider becoming a paid subscriber to your favorite writers.
Here is the most recent Sunday Roundup, incase you missed it:
Ballyhooed State Office Building to be Demolished, as are Countless Programs, & Norms
Welcome to the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative Sunday Roundup! We have 27 columns to present to you today. Our members are from around the state, working hard to provide commentary and information you ca…