Books Ends supports University of Iowa faculty from disciplines in which publishing a monograph is required for tenure and promotion. The award is designed to assist UI faculty members of all ranks and with significant research responsibilities to turn promising manuscripts into important, field-changing, published books.

Book Ends brings together a panel of senior scholars for a candid, constructive three-hour virtual workshop on a faculty member’s book manuscript. The award provides a $500 honorarium for two external senior, active scholars ($500 for each). We will also ask one University of Iowa senior faculty member to participate, as an opportunity to learn about and support the work of a colleague. The Director of the Obermann Center or a representative for the Center will work with successful applicants to select the outside reviewers and organize the workshop. Usually, the University of Iowa colleague will act a facilitator, using the guide we have developed for authors and readers. (This guide will be shared with all participants before the workshop.) External reviewers will be asked to provide substantive written comments, and the Zoom workshop will be recorded for the author’s use during the revision process. Our goal is for each author to leave the workshop with concrete suggestions for revision, advice about appropriate presses, and a timeline that will lead to a revised manuscript ready for presses to review within six months.

This program supports faculty members of all ranks working on mature drafts of scholarly monographs.

Read more and apply at https://obermann.uiowa.edu/programs/book-ends.

If you have any questions about the program or application process, please email Obermann Center Director Luis Martín-Estudillo at luis-martin-estudillo@uiowa.edu.