Jeffrey Copeland, head of the department of languages and literatures at the University of Northern Iowa, will read from Shell Games: The Life and Times of Pearl McGill, Industrial Spy and Pioneer Labor Activist, at 7 p.m. Monday, April 16, in Prairie Lights Books. The reading can be heard through a live Internet stream at the University of Iowa website writinguniversity.org.

Shell Games graphically portrays one of the most important battles in the fight for safe and humane working conditions, filtered through the thoughts and emotions of Pearl McGill, a woman who stood heroically against the injustices destroying the lives of so many around her in the shops and factories.

Copeland says, "I love writing what is called 'literary nonfiction.' Literary nonfiction is the art of putting true stories/events into the voices of the people who lived those stories/events—to help make the stories come alive. Knowing an event took place is one thing; knowing why the event took place is something else again. The why of history is what is most interesting and fascinating to me."

He describes the book as, "murder, mystery, mayhem—and a pretty fair love story to boot! While doing the background research, I also uncovered a 'cold case' murder. In a special section at the end of the book, I present the information about the murder, and then I invite the reader to write to me and tell me who he/she thinks really did the murder. I get chills every time I think of that crime!"

Copeland is also the author of Olivia's Story: The Conspiracy of Heroes Behind Shelley v. Kraemer and Inman's War. Learn more at www.jcopelandauthor.com.

For additional information or accommodations call Prairie Lights Books, 319-337-2681.