In a captivating conversation moderated by Lindsay Woodward, associate professor of secondary literacy education and associate dean of Drake’s School of Education, Green shared profound literary insights and deeply personal anecdotes. He spoke candidly about his creative process and how he utilizes the power of storytelling to make sense of complex topics—all with a sense of humor and warmth that felt familiar to the voices of the characters with whom millions have fallen in love.

Green is best known for his acclaimed novels, including An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and Turtles All the Way Down. He also discussed his adventure into nonfiction with The Anthropocene Reviewed and his latest humanitarian project, Everything Is Tuberculosis. The evening also served as a celebration of sorts for his cinematic work. The night before his lecture, a sold-out crowd gathered at Des Moines’ Varsity Cinema for a special screening of the 2014 adaptation of his beloved novel, The Fault in Our Stars.