April 21st, 2019, marks the 30th anniversary of the film Field of Dreams, based on the book Shoeless Joe by W.P. Kinsella. Kinsella and his work were thrust into the limelight back in 1989 with the release of the blockbuster movie. The anniversary of Field of Dreams is being acknowledged with special anniversary screenings of the film in June, and the publication of Going the Distance, a biography of W.P. Kinsella by Tennessee author William Steele.

The Iowa City Book Festival is organized by the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature. Iowa City is one of just 20 Cities of Literature in the world, and the Iowa City Book Festival celebrates books and writing by leveraging the unique mix of local resources that helped to earn that designation.