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Iowa Weird Vol. 1
What is lurking in the corn fields? In the lane? In the village? In the glens and barrows? Under the rivers' thrashing waters? In your darkest desires?
Hayseed Press presents Iowa Weird, Vol. 1, home of the annual collection about the unusual and extraordinary you can find in our state. And those that might find you.Fifteen writers contributed spooky, creepy, and out of this world tales for this compendium of everything weird. Cedar Falls Ghost Tour Lauren Riensche shares a true ghost story from Cedar Falls that has hikers anxious to explore the north shore of Iowa's Cedar River. Anton Jones, MFA (Iowa Playwrights' Workshop) and two-time Jerome Many Voices Fellow, delivers a juxtaposition of what happens when rural Iowa and ChatGTP cross paths.
The collection includes an existential battle with Iowa's weather written by award-winning short story writer Marc Dickinson as well as a deep dive into the dark underbelly of libraries from Kara Thorstenson, who happens to be a librarian. Plus this issue features an intensive investigation into Iowa's own mythical creature the Van Meter Monster as written by Hayseed Press co-founder Aaron Narigon.
You who fear, continue to flyover. You who dare, these dark fields lie waiting.
Hayseed Press presents Iowa Weird, Vol. 1, home of the annual collection about the unusual and extraordinary you can find in our state. And those that might find you.Fifteen writers contributed spooky, creepy, and out of this world tales for this compendium of everything weird. Cedar Falls Ghost Tour Lauren Riensche shares a true ghost story from Cedar Falls that has hikers anxious to explore the north shore of Iowa's Cedar River. Anton Jones, MFA (Iowa Playwrights' Workshop) and two-time Jerome Many Voices Fellow, delivers a juxtaposition of what happens when rural Iowa and ChatGTP cross paths.
The collection includes an existential battle with Iowa's weather written by award-winning short story writer Marc Dickinson as well as a deep dive into the dark underbelly of libraries from Kara Thorstenson, who happens to be a librarian. Plus this issue features an intensive investigation into Iowa's own mythical creature the Van Meter Monster as written by Hayseed Press co-founder Aaron Narigon.
You who fear, continue to flyover. You who dare, these dark fields lie waiting.
239 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 20, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 13, 2025
Full disclosure—I am the publisher, editor, and a contributor to Iowa Weird Vol. 1. However, I am very proud of the work the other 14 contributors did in bringing this compendium to fruition. Iowa Weird Vol. 1 is a short story collection about the monsters lurking in the cornfields and the spirits haunting the farmhouse down the lane. The arresting, gothic cover of Iowa Weird Vol. 1 was designed by Cedar Rapids native Jackson Moore of CHARM Co-op. Meanwhile, 15 writers, either based in Iowa or with deep Iowa connections, contributed spooky, creepy, and out-of-this-world tales for this compendium of everything weird.
January 4, 2026
2.5 stars rounded up. I think I was expecting more “true” stories that took place in Iowa vs. what was more in this book. I was really into the first couple chapters, and then chapters 10-16 were harder for me to get into. Chapter 15 had some typos—going back and forth between a boys’ shirt and shorts being green/black and vise versa. If the detail was going to be mentioned multiple times, it should be consistent–especially if it is obvious enough for me to notice. Overall, it was fine.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews