Nick Narigon Writes His Own Chapter in Iowa Publishing
Writing is a genetic disorder, incurable, inherited from both parents, with only one remedy: spill the thoughts tormenting your mind onto the page and share them.
Nick Narigon’s love for writing began in elementary school, sparked by his first creative writing class. He recalls wandering the stationery aisle at Osco Drug, searching for the perfect pen and notebook to begin his first book. His early literary companions were Roald Dahl, E.B. White, and Jack London. By middle school, he had devoured every Stephen King novel, the Dragonlance Chronicles, and ventured deep into the Wheel of Time series. As a freshman, he earned his first writing award. The second came with unexpected recognition, a program at the Cedar Falls Rotary Club, where he read a haunting story about a boy unraveling in the middle of class. In high school, he became obsessed with the Great American Novel, immersing himself in the works of Hemingway, Fitzgerald, and Kerouac.
At seventeen, Narigon received a national award for his writing, which he regarded as both a blessing and a curse. “It was a blessing because it strengthened my desire to become a professional writer,” he said. However, he saw it as a curse because he felt his ego was spiraling out of control.
Growing up in Cedar Falls, Narigon always assumed he would attend the University of Northern Iowa. By his senior year, though, his priorities had shifted; he was deeply involved in the party scene, a habit that lingered after graduation. Two days before he was scheduled to leave for college, his father pulled him aside for a serious talk. “Nick, I don’t think you should go to school. I’m not going to pay for you to flunk out,” he said. That blunt advice opened new possibilities.
Inspired by Tom Sawyer, Narigon was eager to leave Iowa, explore the world, seek adventure, discover new places, and write his first novel. With money saved, he spent a year in Boston, Massachusetts, laying the groundwork for his book. He later returned to Iowa and enrolled at the University of Iowa because of the school’s Writers Workshop. This prestigious two-year graduate program awards a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in creative writing.
Beginning school in the fall of 1999, he was determined to attend classes more regularly. A year later, he was writing for The Daily Iowan, the university’s newspaper, and became deeply involved in journalism. Thrilled to see his name in print, he embraced the sense of civic responsibility that came with reporting. “I felt that journalism was the best way to make a difference in the world,” he said.
After graduating from the University of Iowa in 2003, Narigon secured an internship at the Storm Lake Pilot-Tribune. “The first of many newspapers I worked for that no longer exist,” he noted wryly. He returned to Iowa City, took a year off, and then resumed his journalism career with a full-time position at the Marengo Pioneer Republican, where he worked for the next 5 years.
While in college, Narigon met his future wife, who was from Japan. After four years of long-distance dating, her acceptance into a business school in Philadelphia brought them back together. In 2012, they moved to Tokyo, where Narigon transitioned from freelance writing to a communications role at an American country club.
“It was at the country club in Tokyo where I finally learned to write English. My editor was a strict Englishman, a grammar and syntax genius,” Narigon said. Realizing he needed to master formal writing, he dusted off a copy of The Elements of Style by Strunk and White and memorized it. That experience led to his role as senior editor at Tokyo Weekender magazine, and in 2020, he was appointed editor-in-chief.
A year after moving to Singapore, Narigon faced a new challenge: his visa didn’t allow him to work. At 43, he attended the Singapore Writers Festival, where some of Asia’s most talented authors were featured. That experience sparked a realization: he had always been a writer. It was time to write a novel, an honest one. When no publisher wanted his manuscript, he refused to give up.
“Launching Hayseed Press was an intuitive process that simply made sense,” Narigon explained. While writing his novel in Singapore, he collaborated with fellow aspiring writers, exchanging drafts and giving constructive feedback. Throughout, he consistently received support for his choice to pursue self-publishing. A fellow writer, Mike Thuresson, a self-publishing expert, provided resources that boosted Narigon’s confidence. “I’ve written, designed, and published newspapers and magazines; why couldn’t I do this with a book?” he thought. Persuading his older brother, Aaron, who has spent two decades building a solid reputation in Iowa’s creative writing circles, the duo launched Hayseed Press LLC in 2024.
“Hayseed Press LLC isn’t just about publishing my own books. I am in a position to be a stepping stone to help Iowa writers get their work published. I intend to help authors get that first book published so they can get a toehold in the industry and hopefully catch the eyeballs of literary agents and larger publishers,” Narigon said.
Hayseed Press LLC has published four books, with two more in progress and several authors in discussions for future projects. “My book, The F-Man Himself, was the first book we published, just as practice. Our second practice book was my grandfather’s memoir titled A Boy on the Farm. My Grandpa Joe was a huge inspiration for what we are doing with our publishing company,” said Narigon. Their third project was Iowa Weird Vol. 1, a short story collection published this fall. Described on the back of the book jacket as “monsters lurking in the cornfields and the spirits haunting the farmhouse down the lane,” it was a successful release. They followed suit with A Very Special Hayseed Christmas, the perfect holiday gift.
Future projects include a graphic novel written by a father-and-son team, the father as writer, and his son, an award-winning teenage artist, as illustrator. The book is expected to be published in early 2026. After that, Narigon plans to release his first full-length novel by spring or summer of 2026. In fall 2026, readers can look forward to Iowa Weird Vol. 2, which will focus more on true Iowa ghost stories.
All books are available on the Hayseed Press website (hayseedpress.com). A Boy on the Farm, Iowa Weird Vol. 1, and A Very Special Hayseed Christmas are also available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited. Hayseed Press titles can be found at several independent bookstores in Iowa and beyond, including Dog-Eared Books in Ames, The Atlas Collective in Moline, Pageturners Bookstore in Indianola, and Limited Edition Comics & Collectibles in Cedar Falls.
For more information, visit hayseedpress.com or contact hayseed@hayseedpress.com. Hayseed Press maintains an active presence on Facebook and Instagram, and most updates are distributed through its newsletter, The Ragweed. To subscribe, please visit the website or email directly. In addition to publishing books, Hayseed Press offers professional editing services for self-publishing authors and welcomes inquiries regarding its services.
Vicki Minor is proud to be a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative.
Here is a link to learn more about our writers.
https://iowawriters.substack.com/i/145661110/who-we-are
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