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Famous Authors from Iowa

Here is a list of famous authors who were born in Iowa:

Bill Bryson

Birthplace: Des Moines, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: Bill Bryson is a best-selling author acclaimed for his travel books and works on the English language. His wit and engaging prose make topics like history and science accessible to a broad audience. His memoir “The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid” chronicles his childhood experiences growing up in Des Moines, Iowa.

Aldo Leopold

Birthplace: Burlington, Iowa Notable Works: A Sand County Almanac

Notes: Aldo Leopold was a pioneering ecologist and environmentalist, best known for his influential book “A Sand County Almanac.” His work advocates for a land ethic that respects nature. The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University in homage to him.

N. K. Jemisin

Birthplace: Iowa City, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: N. K. Jemisin has gained critical acclaim for her speculative fiction that often explores themes of cultural conflict and oppression. She is particularly noted for her Broken Earth series, which includes “The Fifth Season”.

Norman Maclean

Birthplace: Clarinda, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: Norman Maclean, born in 1902, was a distinguished American author and academic best known for his novella “A River Runs Through It.” Blending personal narratives with natural landscapes, his works earned critical acclaim for their lyrical prose and profound insights into human experience.

David Rabe

Birthplace: Dubuque, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: David Rabe is an acclaimed American playwright and screenwriter, renowned for his Vietnam War trilogy, which includes “The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel.” His work consistently garners critical praise for its intensity and insight into human conflict.

Nathan Hill

Birthplace: Cedar Rapids, Iowa Notable Works: “The Nix”

Notes: Nathan Hill, acclaimed for his debut novel “The Nix,” is celebrated for his incisive wit and deep narrative exploration of complex family dynamics and political undercurrents within contemporary life. His work draws widespread literary praise and readership.

Max Allan Collins

Birthplace: Muscatine, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: Max Allan Collins is an acclaimed author of mystery novels, screenplays, and graphic novels. He’s known for the “Nathan Heller” historical crime series and his continuation of the “Mike Hammer” novels initiated by Mickey Spillane.

David Drake

Birthplace: Dubuque, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: A prolific writer of military science fiction and fantasy, David Drake is known for his Hammer’s Slammers series, showcasing his unique blend of detailed military knowledge and speculative fiction.

Thomas M. Disch

Birthplace: Des Moines, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: As a prominent figure in the New Wave science fiction movement, Thomas M. Disch was known for his intellectually ambitious works characterized by dark humor and satire.

Robert Coover

Birthplace: Charles City, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: Robert Coover is recognized for his experimental fiction that often plays with metafictional techniques and challenges traditional narrative forms.

Susan Glaspell

Birthplace: Davenport, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: Susan Glaspell was a pioneering playwright and novelist of the early 20th century, celebrated for her contributions to feminist literature and for co-founding the influential Provincetown Players.

Sara Paretsky

Birthplace: Ames, Iowa Notable Works: V.I. Warshawski series

Notes: Sara Paretsky is a renowned American mystery author best known for her series featuring the female PI V.I. Warshawski, a character that redefined the genre and broke new ground for women in detective fiction.

Janet Dailey

Birthplace: Storm Lake, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: Janet Dailey was a romance novelist known for the breadth of her work including her 50-book “Americana Series”, with novels set in each state of the USA. She was born and grew up in Iowa.

R. A. Lafferty

Birthplace: Neola, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: R. A. Lafferty was an American writer known for his original use of language and complex narrative structure. His work blends sci-fi, fantasy, and folklore, standing out with its quirky humor and deep philosophical undertones. He was born in Iowa; when he was 4, his family moved to Oklahoma.

Mildred Benson

Birthplace: Ladora, Iowa Notable Works: “Nancy Drew” series (as Carolyn Keene)

Notes: Mildred Benson is known for her work under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene, which brought the Nancy Drew mystery series to life, and captivated readers across generations. She was born in Iowa; during her college years at the University of Iowa, she worked for the student newspaper, The Daily Iowan.

Tami Hoag

Birthplace: Cresco, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: Tami Hoag is a writer known for her romance and thriller novels. She was born in Iowa and grew up in Minnesota.

Everett Rogers

Birthplace: Carroll, Iowa Notable Works: Diffusion of Innovations

Notes: Everett Rogers was born in Iowa and obtained a Ph.D. from Iowa State University. He was a pioneering communication scholar and sociologist known for introducing the diffusion of innovations theory, exploring how, why, and at what rate new ideas spread across cultures

MacKinlay Kantor

Birthplace: Webster City, Iowa Notable Works:

Notes: A Pulitzer Prize-winning author, MacKinlay Kantor was best known for his works that vividly portrayed the American Civil War, especially the novel “Andersonville” focusing on the infamous prison camp.