What is lurking in the corn fields? In the lane? In the village? In the glens and barrows? Under the rivers' thrashing waters? In your darkest desires?

Hayseed Press presents Iowa Weird, Vol. 1, home of the annual collection about the unusual and extraordinary you can find in our state. And those that might find you.

Fifteen writers contributed spooky, creepy, and out of this world tales for this compendium of everything weird. Cedar Falls Ghost Tour Lauren Riensche shares a true ghost story from Cedar Falls that has hikers anxious to explore the north shore of Iowa's Cedar River. Anton Jones, MFA (Iowa Playwrights' Workshop) and two-time Jerome Many Voices Fellow, delivers a juxtaposition of what happens when rural Iowa and ChatGTP cross paths.

The collection includes an existential battle with Iowa's weather written by award-winning short story writer Marc Dickinson as well as a deep dive into the dark underbelly of libraries from Kara Thorstenson, who happens to be a librarian. Plus this issue features an intensive investigation into Iowa's own mythical creature the Van Meter Monster as written by Hayseed Press co-founder Aaron Narigon.

You who fear, continue to flyover. You who dare, these dark fields lie waiting.