Dr. Lori Branch teaches a Gothic Literature class on Tuesday, Jan. 25 in the University of Iowa. The class invites writing fellows into the classroom to advise and inspire students, and is currently reading “The Castle of Otranto” by Horace Walpole.

NPR's Scott Simon speaks to writer Kaveh Akbar about his debut novel, "Martyr!", his debut novel.

In “Martyr!,” the poet Kaveh Akbar turns a grieving young man’s search for meaning into a piercing family saga.

Akbar had a raging addiction and little reason to believe his life would turn out well. Now he has a debut novel, “Martyr!,” which makes you want to “get up and yell.”

Jon Wilcox reading some spooky sounding Old English and includes a plug for his book and interviews with him and others.

Bennett Sims is one of three finalist for The Story Prize.