Picture It, Then Write It with Award-Winning Author

Our newsroom runs on more than coffee and craft beer — it runs on you. Support Decorah News' local reporting today. DECORAH — Decorah Public Library will host "Masks of the Self: Creative Visualization and Writing," a hands-on workshop led by Minnesota author Thomas Maltman, at 1 p.m. June 24 in the library's mezzanine. During the one-hour workshop, participants will take part in a guided visualization exercise, create masks using paper and crayons, imagine a new character and complete a short writing exercise followed by a discussion. The workshop is designed for participants of all ages. Many writers have used visualization as part of their creative process. Charles Dickens said he simply "saw" his stories before writing them. Playwright Tennessee Williams said his play "A Streetcar Named Desire" originated from a single image of a woman sitting by a window in the moonlight. Maltman's first novel, "The Night Birds," received an Alex Award, a Spur Award and the Friends of American Writers Literary Award. In 2009, the American Library Association named it an Outstanding Book for the College Bound. His second novel, "Little Wolves," was selected for All Iowa Reads in 2014. His third novel, "The Land," was published in 2020. His most recent novel, "Ashes to Ashes," was published by Soho Press in 2025 and won a Minnesota Book Award in 2026. Maltman teaches at Normandale Community College and lives in the Twin Cities area with his wife and three daughters. The program is free and open to the public. Maltman's books may be purchased through Dragonfly Books or other booksellers before the event. For more information, visit decorahlibrary.org. Fresh stories, delivered! Sign up for the free DecorahNews.com newsletter and stay informed, inspired, and ahead of the curve.