Florencia Mallon will read from her first novel, "Beyond the Ties of Blood," at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 19, in Prairie Lights Books and on the Writing University website of the University of Iowa.

Carmela Ciuraru will read from her new book, "Nom de Plume," at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, in Prairie Lights Books and on the University of Iowa's website for the Virtual Writing University.

Iowa Citian Mary Vermillion, the author of the Mara Gilgannon mystery series, will present a free reading at 7 p.m. Monday, June 18.

The 2012 Iowa Summer Rep season of “Chills and Thrills” will open with a racy, Monty Pythonesque satire of the mystery genre, Joe Orton’s "What the Butler Saw."

University of Iowa professors and students took to the roof of Van Allen Hall Tuesday evening, June 5, to set up five telescopes built exclusively for observing the sun for a public viewing of Venus's transit across the sun. An overcast sky prevented all but a few brief glimpses of the rare astronomical event.

The University of Iowa's Global Education Summer Institute for Teachers will bring 35 middle, junior, and high school educators from Iowa’s four congressional districts to the UI campus for three days of training, guest speakers, group activities, and workshops, all at no cost to the teachers.

The University of Iowa’s Hancher has announced its 2012-2013 schedule of events, which includes dance, music, theater, and family-friendly fare. Tickets for the entire season—including $10 tickets for youth and college students for all events—are now on sale via an order form available on the Hancher website.

Top high-school musicians from throughout the Midwest and as far away as Texas are converging on the University of Iowa for the 2012 Iowa Summer Music Camps, which will offer nine free concerts June 12-29.

A mini-Carnaval at 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 8, outside the University of Iowa Theatre Building will feature music, dance, masks, and puppets, along with stilt-walkers from Canada's Swizzlestick Theatre.

The 11th Hour makes the expertise of the Iowa Summer Writing Festival available to the public, free of charge.

Ames fantasy author Deborah Coates will read from her debut novel, Wide Open, at 7 p.m. Friday, June 15, in Prairie Lights Books and in a live stream on the University of Iowa www.writinguniversity website.

Catch the June 13 reading at Iowa City's Prairie Lights Books or live on the UI Writing University website.