Authors Share Eerie Iowa Tales at Prairie Lights
Michael McCarty and Bruce Walters presented their research on local hauntings and legends during the Iowa City Book Festival.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Paranormal
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Authors Michael McCarty and Bruce Walters recently visited Prairie Lights to discuss their book Eerie Iowa. The presentation was held as part of the Iowa City Book Festival.
Why it matters
The authors aimed to make regional history compelling by balancing historical facts with local mysteries like ghost stories and UFO sightings. They sought to connect these legends to specific, verifiable locations across the state.
Professional writer Michael McCarty has written sixty books since 1983 and is a five-time Bram Stoker Award finalist. Research for the book includes features like the eight-story swinging bridge in Columbus Junction and the Isis Statue at the Hoover Museum.
The players
Michael McCarty
He is a veteran professional writer and a five-time Bram Stoker Award finalist who has authored sixty books.
Bruce Walters
He is a Professor Emeritus at Western Illinois University who contributed original photography and artwork to the book.
The details
The book, written by McCarty and Professor Emeritus Bruce Walters, details supernatural occurrences such as ghosts and creature sightings. Walters contributed original photography and artwork to the project, which highlights spooky locations like the Squirrel Cage Jail.
Timeline
Michael McCarty began his career as a professional writer in 1983.
The authors spoke at Prairie Lights on October 24, 2026.
Culture Shift
This project aligns with the legacy of the movie The Exorcist, which was famously based on a thirty-day exorcism in Iowa. By cataloging such myths, the authors participate in a long-standing tradition of documenting regional folklore as a tool for historical preservation.
Readers can visit the specific sites mentioned, such as the Columbus Junction swinging bridge or the Hoover Museum, to experience these legends firsthand. The book provides a guide for those interested in incorporating regional history into their local travel and weekend routines.
The takeaway
Local history often contains layers of myth and folklore that can turn a mundane location into a site of fascination. Exploring these stories offers residents a unique perspective on the hidden narratives within their own communities.
Further reading
Explore more local legends in the Paranormal section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Daily Iowan.
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