Author Natalie Brown will read from her debut novel, The Lovebird, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 10, in a free reading at Prairie Lights Books in downtown Iowa City. The reading also will be streamed live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

The Lovebird takes the reader from the orange-scented streets of Southern California to the vast prairie landscape of Montana, and introduces us to Margie Fitzgerald, who has always had a soft spot for helpless creatures. This is how she falls in love with Simon Mellinkoff, her charismatic, obviously troubled Latin professor. As the two embark on an unconventional romance, Simon introduces Margie to his small coterie of animal rights activists, and with this ragtag group she finds her apparent mission in life.

But Margie’s increasingly reckless and dangerous actions force her to flee her California college town, say goodbye to her fragile dad, and seek shelter on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana. Here, against a backdrop of endless grass and sky, Margie meets a soap opera-loving grandmother, an intriguing, ink-splattered man, and an inscrutable 11-year-old girl—and makes unexpected discoveries about her heart.

Brown grew up in Orange County, Calif. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in literature from the University of California at San Diego, and master’s degrees in English and Native American studies from Montana State University. She lives in Iowa.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to attend this reading, call Jan Weissmiller in advance at Prairie Lights, 319-337-2681

For a UI arts calendar and details about upcoming events visit the Arts Iowa website.