Meet the Author Series

Join us at The History Center for a special author talk with New York Times bestselling novelist Heather Gudenkauf, whose gripping stories are deeply rooted in Iowa’s landscapes and communities. Heather will share insights from her eleven acclaimed novels, many inspired by real-life Iowa locations, and reflect on how growing up in the Midwest shaped her voice as a storyteller. From her beginnings as an elementary school teacher to becoming an internationally published author, Gudenkauf will discuss her creative journey, writing process, and the powerful role place plays in her work. Join us for an engaging conversation about storytelling, place, and the paths that lead us to creative work.

Heather Gudenkauf is the Edgar Award nominated, New York Times & USA Today bestselling author of eleven novels, including The Overnight Guest and The Perfect Hosts. Her debut novel, The Weight of Silence, was an instant NYT bestseller and remained on the list for 22 weeks. Gudenkauf’s critically acclaimed novels have been published in over 25 countries and have sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. Her books have been featured on many Best Of roundups including lists by The New York Times, The Washington Post, NPR, Amazon, Apple Books, GoodReads, and more.  Heather lives in Iowa with her family.