"Roy Vaughn"—excerpt from OTHERS HAD IT WORSE

I remember I would go over to Roy Vaughn's and get baby Pidgeons to bring home and put them on top of the hen house in boxes and dig fish worms for them. Some I had to hold their mouths open while I would feed them but they were pets. I could holler for them and they would fly down on my Shoulder or head. Some drunk said he would give me a dollar for one. I took the dollar but before I caught the bird I give the dollar back. I could not sell my Pidgeon.

Others Had It Worse: Sour Dock, Moonshine, and Hard Times in Davis County, Iowa, by Vetra Melrose Padget Covert and Chris D. Baker

Books on Food Production—Call for Proposals

Iowa is one of the leading producers of corn, soybeans, and hogs in the United States—indeed, in the world. It also has a lively local food scene, with everything from organic farms and long-lived food coops to farmers’ markets and farm-to-school programs. Building on the state’s long history as an agricultural powerhouse, the University of Iowa Press publishes books focused on the production and distribution of food—how we grow or catch what we eat and how that harvest makes it into the marketplace.

And we’re always looking for good new projects in this field. If you’re writing on these topics, please consider the University of Iowa Press as a publisher. You can find more information about what kind of projects we are interested in and proposal guidelines on our website.

Thanks!

Round Fodder Bales

Iowa Farm in Your Pocket: A Beginner's Guide, by Kirk Murray

Iowa Farm in Winter

Iowa Farm in Your Pocket: A Beginner's Guide, by Kirk Murray

A WRESTLING LIFE, by Dan Gable with Scott Schulte

The University of Iowa Press is proud to announce that A Wrestling Life, by Dan Gable with Scott Schulte, is now available.

"Dan Gable has been called 'Sports Figure of the Century' by Sports Illustrated. If you've never heard of him (or even if you have), you're in for a treat. A Wrestling Life details Gable's most profound triumphs and disappointing losses, both on the mat and off. He's been a primary inspiration to be since I was 15, and this book will show you why. In a modern world of political correctness and glad handing, the art of the fight is highly undervalued. Allow Dan to show you another way."—Tim Ferriss, author, The 4-Hour Body

"A Wrestling Life shows readers not only how Dan Gable cultivated the 'Iowa Way' to becoming a world-class athlete, but how he became the man behind the athlete. Through his unwavering commitment to teamwork and using the hardships in his life to fuel his uparalleled work ethic, he has truly earned his place as the godfather of Iowa sports."—Nate Kaeding, former Iowa Hawkeye and NFL football player

ART QUILTS OF THE MIDWEST, by Linzee Kull McCray

"Art Quilts of the Midwest explores the essence of present-day and historic midwestern life in art quilts. Whether you hail from California, Quebec, or Australia, Linzee Kull McCray's thoughtful writing reveals how regional landscapes, culture, and history influence artists everywhere."—Bill Kerr, Modern Quilt Studio

"Linzee Kull McCray has the knack of getting to the heart of artists' work—piecing together their motivations and inspirations into stories as unique and colorful as the quilts themselves."—Janine Vangool, editor, UPPERCASE

Get more information here.

Iowa and the Midwest Experience series—Call for Proposals

Any history buffs out there? Our Iowa and the Midwest Experience series aims to publish innovative books on the social, cultural, economic, political, and geographical issues that have shaped the history of Iowa and other midwestern states. In addition to presenting current research and suggesting future directions for scholars, the series aims to make midwestern history more accessible to the general public.

From Necessary Courage: Iowa’s Underground Railroad in the Struggle against Slavery, by Lowell J. Soike (winner of the 2014 Shambaugh Prize in Iowa History) to the forthcoming Archaeological Guide to Iowa, to books on the Fairfield-based Transcendental Meditation movement and photos of the Iowa State Fair in 2013, we’ve got something for everyone who cares about Iowa’s past, present, and future.

And we’re always looking for more! If you’re writing about Iowa history and culture, please consider the University of Iowa Press as a publisher. You can find more information about what kind of projects we are interested in and proposal guidelines on our website.

Thanks!