Riders Read

An Evening with Nora Krug

Book of the Year Reading and Q&A
Fri, Apr 3, 2026 | 3:00 – 8:00 PM
Prescott Campus

The Literary Southwest will host a book reading and Q&A with Nora Krug.

• 3:00 PM – Informal meeting with students
• 6:00 PM – Reception
• 7:00 PM – On-stage conversation, readings, and audience Q&A

About the Author

Nora Krug is a German-American author and artist whose work has been published in 21 countries. Her illustrations have received gold and silver medals from the Society of Illustrators and the New York Art Directors Club. She has received fellowships from Fulbright, the Guggenheim Foundation, the Pollock-Krasner Foundation, the Maurice Sendak Foundation, and others.

Her visual memoir Heimat / Belonging, exploring WWII and her German family history, was named a best book of the year by multiple major publications and received numerous awards, including the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Her collaboration with historian Timothy Snyder, On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, was recognized by the New York Times and named one of Germany’s Most Beautiful Books.

Diaries of War, her graphic journalism work documenting perspectives from Ukraine and Russia following the 2022 invasion, received international recognition, including an Overseas Press Club award citation.

Krug is an Associate Professor of Illustration at Parsons School of Design and has taught and held fellowships at institutions including Yale University and the American Academy in Berlin.

Diaries of War: Two Visual Accounts from Ukraine and Russia

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Nora Krug began corresponding with two individuals: “K.,” a Ukrainian journalist, and “D.,” a Russian artist. Through weekly interviews, she developed a series of illustrated accounts presenting contrasting perspectives from both sides of the conflict.

Originally published as an Op-Comic series in the Los Angeles Times, the book provides a real-time record of a war that continues to impact millions.

Penguin Random House book page
Author website
Download reading guide
View flipbook guide

📚 Theme: Witness

The theme “Witness” emphasizes the responsibility to remain attentive to events around us, even when direct action is not possible. Bearing witness is an act of awareness, memory, and moral engagement—ensuring that stories are seen, understood, and carried forward.

The Common Read Program

Riders Read, Yavapai College’s common read program, fosters dialogue across the college and community through shared reading experiences. The program brings together students, faculty, and staff to explore meaningful topics through discussions, events, and author engagements.

In partnership with campus and community groups, the program hosts discussions, films, and academic activities that culminate in the featured author visit. These events highlight the college’s role in providing cultural and intellectual opportunities for the region.

Each year’s theme encourages interdisciplinary connections and shared exploration of ideas that unite the YC community.

Committee Members

• Suzanne Waldenberger
• Laura Cline
• Lynn Durkee
• Andrea Schaben
• Nate Cloyd
• Tricia Berlowe
• Jimmy Hart
• Michael Sigler
• Maria Grant