Middle West Press

09/17/2026

Tell the Iowa Department of Education: THE WHOLE BOOK MATTERS. - https://mailchi.mp/anniesfoundation/thewholebookmatters

09/16/2026

Another highlight from Sherpa’s first GalaxyCon in Des Moines, Iowa Sept. 11-13, 2026!

I met Darby Harn, creator of space opera, superhero-, and horror-infused series. I was blown away by the production value on his slipcovered “Dead Malls” project—the book cover mimics a VHS cassette tape, and the bonus bookmarks look like “Blockbuster” membership cards!!!

The pitch? “What if Stephen King wrote a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure”?!

09/16/2026

It’s New Comic Book Day! I finally grabbed a copy of the 48-page double-issue “Ectyron: Showdown in South Dakota” and “ATOMI.I.K.E. and the Structure vs. Z-hemoths of Omaha”!” Plenty of Midwestern kaiju and mecha madness from creator Carter Allen Carter Allen!!!

(I purchased mine at Mayhem Comics & Games, Des Moines!!!)

09/16/2026

Attended my first GalaxyCon in Des Moines this past weekend, Sept. 11-13, 2026! Mostly hung out in Artists’ Alley—so many great creators and authors!

One highlight: I met artist and fellow Trekkie 💖☠ Evie ☠💖! Bought some “raven” prints and stickers for creepy season, as well as a fun image of Lt. Uhura for my office wall!! (As played by Nichelle Nichols and others, Nyota Uhura is my patron-saint of space travel, inclusivity, and retired communications officers!!!)

09/16/2026

Attention Quad-Citizens and lovers of spooky books, brews, and wares! We'll be vending at the “Boozy Book Fair” Sat., Sept. 19, 2026 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at Wake Brewing, 2529 5th Ave, Rock Island, IL!!! Co-hosted by The Macabre Librarian! See below for events page!!!

Middle West Press LLC, a Johnston, Iowa-based independent micro-press specializing in unique genre anthologies and poetry collections, will be a participating vendor in a “Boozy Book Fair” Sat., Sept. 19, 2026 from 12 noon to 5 p.m. at Wake Brewing, 2529 5th Ave, Rock Island, IL.

In addition to the brewing company, the event is co-hosted and organized by The Macabre Librarian, a Quad-Cities-based bookseller and curator of “Blind Date with a Book” packages and more!

A Facebook event page is here at this link:
https://www.facebook.com/events/2255596088525248

“We’re thrilled to be included in this seasonally creative and bookish event, given our personal roots in the Quad-Cities,” says Middle West Press LLC editor and publisher Randy “Sherpa” Brown. “We can’t wait to meet with friends and readers, both old and new!”

Middle West Press will be debuting the newly launched second volume of "Cryptids, Kaiju & Corn: Poems and Micro-stories about Modern Midwest Monsters," as well as other books and merch.

Other participating vendors are slated to include, but are not necessarily limited to:
- The Atlas Collective - Brews & Books
- Anthology for Books
- Source Bookstore
- Davenport Public Library
- Goth Brooks’ Books & Antiques
- Black Magic Bakery
- Candle Witch Company
- Mississippi River Distilling Company

09/16/2026

09/15/2026

These complex representations of Asians in America's heartland affirm that we exist here and our stories deserve to be told

09/15/2026

Walk in the Tracks of the Van Meter Visitor!
The guided walking tours are a highlight of the Van Meter Visitor Festival where you can see the exact spots where the townsfolk encountered and shot at this mysterious visitor.

09/15/2026