DES MOINES, Iowa — Award-winning poet Kaveh Akbar, who also teaches English and creative writing at the University of Iowa, took part in DMACC's (Des Moines Area Community College) Celebration of Literary Arts as the second exhibited writer Monday.
Akbar will take part in two free events where he will read from his work, be available for a Q&A session and hand out free copies of his new novel "Martyr!" while supplies last. The first event was held on DMACC's Ankeny campus at 11:15 a.m. and the second event will be held at Beaverdale Books at 7 p.m.
Born in Tehran, Iran, the poet has written the poetry collections "Pilgrim Bell," "Calling a Wolf a Wolf" and the chapbook "Portrait of the Alcoholic."
“We hope that many people will take advantage of this of this wonderful opportunity to hear from and be inspired by a diverse group of award-winning fiction writers and poets throughout the year,” said Marc Dickinson, DMACC English Professor and Coordinator of the DMACC Celebration of Literary Arts.
"Martyr!" which was released in January to positive acclaim, was Akbar's first novel after publishing multiple poetry collections. Former President Barack Obama would even go on to include the novel on his 2024 Summer Reading List.
Akbar has amassed a collection of awards including multiple Pushcart Prizes, a Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship and the Levis Reading Prize.
The poet has had his work featured in The New Yorker, The New York Times, Paris Review and Best American Poetry.
He also has served as poetry editor for The Nation since 2020, editor for The Penguin Book of Spiritual Verse: 110 Poets on the Divine and is the founding editor of Divedapper which serves as a home for interviews with major voices in contemporary poetry.