This collection encompasses 50-plus years of interviews, readings, speeches, and reports on the vibrant literary scene in Minnesota. Not only home to giants F. Scott Fitzgerald and Sinclair Lewis, our state has an array of incredible contemporary poets, novelists, and playwrights. Their words make up majority of this collection.
Repeatedly being named the “Most Literate City in the United States,” the Twin Cities has played host to numerous visiting national writers via book tours, festivals, and lectures. Many recordings of these are also included.
This project was funded by the National Historical Publications & Records Commission.
December 27, 1996 - We'll hear a few of the winning entries in the Children's Museum annual short story contest. "Melody" by 9-year-old Anna Rice of Randolph Heights Elementary School in Saint Paul. Read by 10-year-old Ben Wareham of Expo Elementary School in Saint Paul.
January 1, 1997 - Mainstreet Radio’s Leif Enger visits Mille Lacs, and reports on the perplexing nature of ice fishing.
January 3, 1997 - Kent Nerburn, "January" and "Benediction" from "A Haunting Reverence."
January 4, 1997 - Faith Sullivan's latest book, "The Empress of One" was born out of frustration and rejection. Her best-selling novel The Cape Ann was printed by a New York publisher. But when Sullivan submitted the sequel to her story, it was roundly rejected by her publisher. That reaction plummented Faith Sullivan into a depression and into a writing block. But the encouragement of local Milkweed Editions publisher--Emilie Buchwald--prompted Sullivan to embark on a new project.
January 10, 1997 - Susan Carol Hauser's latest book is titled "Full Moon: Reflections on Turning 50," published by Papier Mache Press.
January 11, 1997 -
January 17, 1997 - On this Voices of the Heartland segment, Duluth poet Barton Sutter provides a commentary on the late Minneapolis poet John Engman in a reading of “Citizen of the Milky Way: Eulogy to John Engman.”
January 18, 1997 - Judith Guest is known for chronicling suburban family life in turmoil. Her book "Ordinary People" examined a family's reaction after the death of it's eldest son. Guest's story was turned into an Academy Award-winning film starring Mary Tyler Moore and directed by Robert Redford. Her new book "Errands" once again takes us into the life of a grieving family, this time the family is dealing with the death of the father. This story is based on the real-life marriage of Guest's grandparents. Judith Guest says she doesn't think she's fixated on death, she says her dark subject matter allows her to explore how families deal with their emotions.
January 24, 1997 - Millions of people will sit down this weekend to watch a football game. But Superbowl Thirty One will come and go, on Sunday, WITHOUT one person. However, commentator Ann Daly Goodwin says she hopes everyone who does watch the game - enjoys it!
January 24, 1997 - John Coy reads from his book Night Driving, published by Henry Holt.