October 8th, 2025
Arts & Entertainment News
When free speech apparently only applies to red America, and the First Amendment is under attack on many fronts, it was with renewed urgency that the annual Banned Books Reading was held Monday night at the Rock Island Public Library, Watts-Midtown Branch. Part of national Banned Books Week, the local Banned Books Read Out is […]
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August 3rd, 2024
Arts & Entertainment News
SPECTRA Lives! The Quad Cities reading series returns to Rozz-Tox on Saturday, August 3 with a special “Books & Beats” celebration of Chicago House Music as well as the release of Chicago House Music: Culture and Community (forthcoming from Belt Publishing on August 13) by award-winning writer Marguerite L. Harrold. Harrold, a Chicago native, will […]
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May 20th, 2021
Arts & Entertainment News
SPECTRA Lives! Finally, an outdoor #SPECTRA reading! Join us at our natural home, Rozz-Tox, 2108 3rd Ave., Rock Island, on May 22 at 7:30pm for a beautiful and much-anticipated live reading! Featured readers Beth Roberts, XH Collins, and KayLee Chie Kuehl! Stay tuned for info on limited open mic spots! Reading followed by a DJ […]
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March 13th, 2021
Arts & Entertainment News
Journaling for Mental Health, presented by NAMI and the Midwest Writing Center, will be presented Monday, March 15, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. CST Online, via private Zoom meeting Cost is $10 suggested donation (split between NAMI and MWC); free For more information, please visit: http://www.mwcqc.org/nami-mwc-mental-health-journal-workshop/ Maintaining our mental health is as important as taking care […]
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January 30th, 2021
Art
Saturday In The Arts offers an in-depth look at a local person, trend or event of interest in the Quad-Cities. It runs weekly on your free local media for arts and entertainment, QuadCities.com. What a difference a president makes. Beyond the relief of seeing President Joe Biden – the polar opposite of Donald Trump in […]
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January 7th, 2021
Arts & Entertainment News
2020 was a difficult, unprecedented year for everyone, and the Midwest Writing Center (MWC) wants area residents to be part of a new anthology documenting it. With a submission deadline of Jan. 31, MWC Press is putting together an anthology of creative works responding to the many disasters that were endured last year. To be […]
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November 19th, 2020
Arts & Entertainment News
The Virtual Writers Studio hosted by Ryan Collins and the Midwest Writing Center will scribble in online from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Here are the details: Writer’s Studio will be meeting virtually in the private Facebook Group listed below at the regular time (1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, 11am-1pm). Writer’s Studio […]
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September 17th, 2020
Arts & Entertainment News
A native of China, Xixuan Collins has lived in Iowa since 1997, but has only written in English since 2015. Her debut novel, “Flowing Water, Falling Flowers” from the Rock Island-based Midwest Writing Center Press, will be released in October. “I’m still not sure I actually have the confidence even now as a writer,” Collins, […]
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June 24th, 2020
Arts & Entertainment News
Due to coronavirus concerns, for the first time the 15th-annual David R. Collins Writers’ Conference will be held online, Thursday to Saturday, June 25-27. Paid workshops will be held via Zoom; free public events will be available on Zoom and via livestream to the Midwest Writing Center’s YouTube channel . The conference registration fee is $50 for […]
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June 23rd, 2020
Arts & Entertainment News
The Midwest Writing Center (MWC) is thrilled to announce that the annual David R. Collins Writers’ Conference will move forward in an all-virtual format June 25-27 for its 15th year. Registration is open now. Attendees will hone their craft in intensive three-day workshops, but will also have the option to participate in book pitches, a […]
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