(Radio Iowa) – A retired English teacher and author from southwest Iowa is releasing her third book, this time focused on Iowa’s underground moon-shining industry during the days of prohibition a century ago. Ann Hanigan Kotz (COATS), a Denison native who now lives in Adel, says “Moonshine By Moonlight” is the product of many months of study about that era.

Hanigan Kotz will be delivering one of her library lectures in mid-October that will cover the federal government’s crackdown on alcohol and the rise and fall of bootlegging in the state.

There are many tales of Chicago mobsters who would send their henchmen to Iowa in order to secure shipments of illegal booze to bring back to Windy City speakeasies.

Ann Hanigan Kotz

In addition to research, Hanigan Kotz says she’s done extensive interviews on the topic.

Hannigan Kots will appear at the Kendall Young Library in Webster City on October 15th. The book goes on sale November 12th. Advance copies of “Moonshine By Moonlight” can be ordered through Amazon and by Bookpress Publishing.