Iowa native Charles Holdefer, an alumnus of the University of Iowa Writers’ Workshop, will read from his new novel, Back in the Game, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 24, in Prairie Lights Books, 15 S. Dubuque St. in downtown Iowa City.

The free event will be streamed on the UI’s Writing University website.

When a new job takes Stanley Mercer to the small town of Legion, he expects a peaceful country life, not shotgun pellets in his kitchen wallpaper, meth addicts knocking on his door, and the stench of hog lot lagoons. Falling in love with a married woman doesn’t simplify matters, either.

Holdefer’s last book, The Contractor, was an American Booksellers’ Association Book Sense Pick. His other books include Nice and Apology for Big Rod.

Visit his website for more information, and read his interview with Marc Schuster about the new novel at Abominations.

Simultaneously, Paul’s Book Club, hosted by Prairie Lights’ Paul Ingram, will discuss The Tie That Binds, a novel by Writers’ Workshop alumnus and National Book Award finalist Kent Haruf, in Meeting Room E of the Iowa City Public Library.

For accommodations at the live events, contact jan@prairielights.com. The Writers’ Workshop is an academic unit in the UI College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Graduate College.