Publisher suggests addition to Iowa City's literary walk

IOWA CITY - The Iowa Avenue Literary Walk is one of the things that makes Iowa City Iowa City.

It recognizes 49 writers with ties to Iowa with bronze panels on the sidewalk along Iowa Avenue in downtown.

Iowa City, of course, has a strong relationship with writing, being the home to the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop and being named a UNESCO City of Literature.

The walk honors some literary giants, including Tennessee Williams, Kurt Vonnegut and Flannery O'Connor.

Now, a publisher is proposing Iowa City resident Larry Baker become of the 50

^th

writer on the walk.

Steve Semken of North Liberty-based Ice Cube Press makes the case for Baker in a letter you can read below.

Baker has written three novels, including “The Flamingo Rising,” which Semken said was praised by critics and has been translated into 14 languages.

Ice Cube Press recently published Baker's third novel, “A Good Man.” You can read a review by the Gazette's Diana Nollen by clicking here.

I left a message with someone with the city to see what the process is to get on the Literary Walk. Also, Baker has served on the City Council and other city committees, and I'm not sure if there are any rules about honoring someone with such close ties to the city government.

Update:Marcia Bollinger, Iowa City's neighborhood services planner, says there are no plans at this time to extend the walk.

Baker Letter