Iowa man to read from latest memoir

Tim Bascom, a graduate of the Nonfiction Writing Program at the University of Iowa, returns to Iowa City to read from his new memoir, 'Running to the Fire: An American Missionary Comes of Age in Revolutionary Ethiopia,” at 7 p.m. at Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St.

In his memoir, Bascom describes the streets of Addis Ababa in 1977 where shop-front posters illustrate Uncle Sam being strangled by an Ethiopian revolutionary, parliamentary leaders are executed, student protesters are gunned down and Christian mission converts are targeted as imperialistic sympathizers.

Bascom was 16 when his missionary parents brought their family from a small town in Kansas into Col. Mengistu's Marxist 'Red Terror.” 'Running to the Fire” focuses on the turbulent year the Bascom family experienced upon traveling into revolutionary Ethiopia.

Newton now lives in Newton with his wife and two sons. He is also the author of a previous memoir, 'Chameleon Days,” and has been included in The Best American Travel Writing.

If you go

Tim Bascom, 7 p.m. at Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City.

TODAY

Tamara Jones, 2 p.m. at the Artisan's Sanctuary, 45 16th Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids. Jones will discuss and read from her latest novel, 'Spore.”

Alan Guebert & Mary Grace Foxell, 2 p.m. at Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Nationally syndicated agricultural columnist Alan Guebert and his daughter, Mary Grace Foxwell, will read from their new book, 'The Land of Milk and Uncle Honey.”

MONDAY

Doug Goetsch, 7 p.m. at Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Goetsch will read from his new collection of poetry, 'Nameless Boy.” Goetsch, the author of three collections of poetry including 'The Joy of Being Everybody,” and four prize-winning chapbooks, is an itinerant teacher of writing and founding editor of Jane Street Press in New York City.

WEDNESDAY

Daniel Khalastchi and Marc Rahe, 7 p.m. at Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City. Iowa Writers' Workshop graduates Marc Rahe and Daniel Khalastchi will read from their work. Rahe of Iowa City will read from his second collection, 'On Hours.” from Rescue Press. Khalastchi will read from his second collection, 'Tradition.” Khalastchi lives in Iowa City where he is the associate director of the University of Iowa's Frank N. Magid Center for Undergraduate Writing and a co-editor of Rescue Press.