Pella native Susan Kuyper loves to explore. After a childhood spent biking the streets of the small Iowa town, she went on to teach in Hong Kong, hike the mountains of Japan and Tibet, raise two sons, survive several near-death experiences and—eventually—move back to the Heartland. […]

Just in time for the holidays, Dr. Bob Boerigter—retired commissioner of the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association (MIAA), an NCAA Division II conference—has published a collection of personal essays titled Things Were Different Then. […]

Each year, thousands of tourists travel to the Amana Colonies—the largest National Historic Landmark in Iowa. Settled by German immigrants, this cluster of villages is home to vibrant festivals, unique shops and well-known restaurants. […]

Nearly 50 years ago, author Warren Rushton of Mesa, Ariz., was hard at work at the San Francisco Conservative Baptist Theology Seminary, drafting his thesis on spiritual warfare and temptation. Today, Rushton is celebrating the publication of his first book, The Maturing Christian and His Enemies… […]

Have you ever felt like your alarm clock is a starter’s pistol setting off a marathon sprint? In this hectic world, each day can seem like a never-ending race of deadlines, appointments and to-do lists. Then there are kids to pick up and drop off, emails to answer, dinners to make. […]

Dan and Mary Nance of Oskaloosa are celebrating the release of their first children’s book, Greubie and the Cats, which was published by the Write Place this fall. Enlivened by illustrations from local artist Victoria Peterson-Laird, this heartwarming tale of the enduring power of friendship is perfect for young readers and animal lovers alike. […]

Author Shannon Basinger-Kotz and her 11-year-old son and illustrator, Vinny M.R. Kotz, are flying high after the release of their latest children’s book, Hero of the Black Hills. It’s the third book they’ve published with the Write Place since the summer of 2017… […]

Twenty-three years ago, Pella author Karen Fitzsimmons and her son, Cory, wrote Don’t Look Back—the tale of a little boy who overcomes his fear of walking to school alone. Cory, eight years old at the time, got out his markers and created illustrations complete with dinosaurs, bats, and giant robots… […]