Tom is a writer and scholar based in Iowa City, Iowa, where he is an assistant professor of English and Creative Writing at the University of Iowa.

His debut novel, The Thousand Crimes of Ming Tsu, won the 2022 Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Fiction and is now available in paperback from Little, Brown and Company.

His new novel, Babylon, South Dakota, has been named TIME Magazine's Most Anticipated Books of the Year | Town & Country's Best Books of Spring 2026 | New York Times Book Review's 32 Novels We're Excited About This Spring | The Spokesman Review's 12 upcoming books we're excited to read.

Joining Tom in conversation is co owner of the Book & Cover, queen of hosting, lover of literature, and huge fan of Tom's, Emily Lilley!