Cedar Rapids Public Library welcomes author Lyz Lenz! Lyz will read from her new book, God Land, and be in conversation with Charles Crawley of Cedar Rapids. Book sales and signing follow the event.
"God Land blends memoir and reporting in a powerful debut on the faith and politics of Middle America."
- Publisher's Weekly
In the wake of the 2016 election, Lyz Lenz watched as her country and her marriage were torn apart by the competing forces of faith and politics. A mother of two, a Christian, and a lifelong resident of middle America, Lenz was bewildered by the pain and loss around her―the empty churches and the broken hearts. What was happening to faith in the heartland?
From drugstores in Sydney, Iowa, to skeet shooting in rural Illinois, to the mega churches of Minneapolis, Lenz set out to discover the changing forces of faith and tradition in God's country. Part journalism, part memoir, God Land is a journey into the heart of a deeply divided America.
Lyz' writing has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times, and the Huffington Post. She has taught writing at Iowa Writer's House, the Midwest Writing Conference, and Story Studio in Chicago.
Charles Crawley is an active member of Christ Episcopal Church and President of the Inter-Religious Council of Linn County. He has a degree in philosophy from Earlham College and a Master of Divinity Degree from Andover Newton Theological School. He is an adjunct professor at Mount Mercy University.
The Downtown Library is located at 450 5th Avenue SE, in the heart of Downtown Cedar Rapids. It is a 94,000 square foot building with a variety of civic spaces and a vibrant collection of library materials. Special features of this location are the Whipple Auditorium, a 200 seat auditorium overlooking Greene Square; and the LivingLearning Roof, a green roof with public seating and space to hold special events. Roasters Café is located in the Downtown Library, providing a full service coffee shop for visitors, as well as catering for meetings and special events.