Final Thursday Press & Final Thursday Reading Series

10/18/2025

A special live recoding of A Lesson Before Writing this month!

The October 30 Final Thursday Reading Series features a live recording of the podcast A Lesson before Writing with co-hosts Ted Morrissey, Brady Harrison, and Grant Tracey.

Read more at finalthursdaypress.com.

10/15/2025

November 2022 FTRS attendees heard about this book when it was still in-progress. Here's a chance to attend a local event and see the published version. Congrats, Anesa!

🌟 My First Book Tour! 🌟

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be bringing the message of understanding, compassion, and peace to readers across Iowa with my very first Book Tour for Anesa, No Škola Today! 💛📚

It’s especially meaningful to start this journey in Iowa communities across the state where the welcoming hearts and minds allowed for my new life to begin at age ten. I’m honored that after five years of this unexpected writing journey, my book received an award from Readers’ Favorite, and Kirkus Review called it “a powerful and realistic depiction of the refugee experience.” 🌿

📍Tour Stops:
Des Moines • Davenport • Iowa City • Cedar Falls • West Des Moines • Waverly • Waterloo

I hope to add more tour dates later this year and in other states! I can’t wait to meet readers, share stories, and connect in the very communities that helped shape my journey. ✨

10/10/2025

Congrats to Vince Gotera, who was a recipient of an Iowa Author Award from the Des Moines Library Foundation!

The Des Moines Public Library Foundation is proud to announce the honorees for the 25th annual Iowa Author Awards, a celebration of literary excellence and the premier fundraising event for the…

08/19/2025

Congrats to Fall 23 FTRS featured reader Darcie Little Badger! Her new novel, "Sheine Lende," won the Lodestar Award for best Young Adult Book at the 2025 Hugo Awards.

Our heartfelt congratulations to this year's Hugo, Lodestar, and Astounding award winners! The winners are listed here, along with links to this year's administrator's report and voting statistics.

06/21/2025

06/09/2025

Book release by a past FTRS reader. Congrats, Anesa!

📣 Official Book Launch Announcement

I’m filled with emotion and gratitude to finally share that my book Anesa, No Škola Today will be released on June 24, 2025.

For years, I couldn’t find the words to describe what it was like to live through war as a child. This book gave me those words, and now I'm sharing them with you. Anesa No Škola Today is a deeply personal story about how one ordinary childhood—filled with birthdays, school days, and a new puppy—was turned upside down when war came to her doorstep. It’s the story of how I became a refugee.

But this isn’t just my story. This is the story of millions—children and families who never expected to leave their homes, yet had no choice.

I’d love for you to join me in spreading this message of compassion, peace, and freedom. 🌍💙

🕊️ Pre-Order your copy now on Amazon: https://loom.ly/IEaTkcs

🌍 Want to support this journey?
* Pre-order the book
* Share this post
* Fill out the form in the comments if you’d like to join my pre-launch team

From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Anesa

My book, Anesa No Skola Today is available on Amazon now:
https://www.amazon.com/Anesa-%C5%A0kola-Today-hardcover-Kajtazovic/dp/B0F7TFGPJK




UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

05/01/2025

This Friday, May 2nd, is our first of many Poetry Evenings at The Cup! All are welcome to share or listen. AND we are honored to have one of our very own past baristas, Amy Woschek Schmidt .sew.it.grow.it. here to share her amazing work. We cannot wait to see you!

Friday, May 2nd 7:00-8:00pm:)