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.
June 13, 2008 - A new production at the Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis is trying to bring the experience of being online to the stage. "SadGrrl13" tells the tale of a missing girl, the journalists covering the story and the internet vigilantes trying to bring online predators to justice.
June 18, 2008 - In a recent Twin Cities appearance, bestselling author David Sedaris read from his new book, "When You Are Engulfed in Flames." Midday broadcasts part of his reading, as well as his interview with Minnesota Public Radio reporter Nikki Tundel.
July 14, 2008 - Lin Enger's new novel "Undiscovered Country" explores the effect of a northern Minnesota man's apparent suicide on his family. Enger teaches writing at Minnesota State University Moorhead, and under the pen name L.L. Enger, has written several crime novels with his brother Leif. Lin Enger told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr that "Undiscovered Country" began with a thought he had while sitting in a deerstand a dozen years ago.
July 22, 2008 -
July 24, 2008 - Joel Achenbach, author of "The Grand Idea: George Washington's Potomac and the Race to the West," talked about George Washington and his vision for America at this summer's Aspen Ideas Festival.
July 30, 2008 - Political ambition and class identity drive the plot of a new novel by Ethan Canin. The Iowa Writer's Workshop instructor takes his inspiration from the Kennedy family, in particular Ted Kennedy.
July 31, 2008 - The 15th annual Minnesota Fringe Festival, the midwest's biggest performing arts festival, opens today. For the next ten days actors and dancers will perform in over 150 shows throughout Minneapolis. Covering the event seemed an impossible task for one reporter - so we sent out four to see what's in store for Fringe-goers this year.
August 10, 2008 - Well-loved St. Paul Pioneer Press columnist Don Boxmeyer died Sunday after a long illness.
August 11, 2008 - Former St. Paul Mayor George Latimer remembering Don Boxmeyer. Boxmeyer, who wrote for the St. Paul Pioneer Press for over 35 years, died ysterday at the age of 67.
August 12, 2008 - As the media, politicans, protesters, and police all prepare for the upcoming Republican National Convention, in one man's mind it's already happened. And it's been chaotic. It's a pretty good bet that Bart Schneider has written the first book ever set during this year's RNC in Minnesota. His private eye protagonist Augie Boyer is right in the middle of it. Augie's adventures take him in and out of dozens of recognizable Twin Cities locations as he uncovers a murderous plot even as an absurd demonstration is being planned on the state Capitol grounds. I asked Bart Schneider about his book -- The Man in the Blizzard -- and it's crime noir hero.