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.
November 27, 1991 - Local poet and author Susan Marie Swanson talks about children book releases noted in an issue of the Hungry Mind Review children's book supplement.
December 9, 1991 - MPR’s Liz Hannon interviews Scott Walker, director of Graywolf Press, about the publication Graywolf Annual Eight: The New Family. Walker details the focus of annual on “non-traditional” family themed stories.
December 10, 1991 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder talks with local chef and author Giovanna D'Agostino, better known as Mama D. She shares various experiences from the community and her Italian restaurant in the Dinkytown area of Minneapolis.
December 13, 1991 - Writer Laurie Allmann talks about mermaids and myths in this episode of Voices from the Heartland.
December 13, 1991 - Midmorming’s Paula Schroeder talks with outdoors writer Sam Cook about his writing. Cook talks about the outdoors and reads from his book, Campsights.
December 14, 1991 - Local playwright and author Beth Gilleland reads The Library, an imaginary tale of books and a group of ladies.
December 20, 1991 - On this Voices from the Heartland segment, Duluth writer Barton Sutter reads his essay, Jangle Bells.
January 2, 1992 - MPR’s Paula Schroeder interviews Judy Remington about the challenging environment for women’s organizations and progressive arts programs compared to the 1970s.
January 9, 1992 - Midday offers an interview with writers and poets Alex Pate, Elaine Shelly, and Marcia Davis. The three discuss the distinct nature of Black writing and read from their work.
January 11, 1992 - MPR’s Jim Wishner interviews author Vicki Abrahamson about the book she co-authored with Wes Janz, entitled War of the Words: The Gulf War Quote by Quote. With the Gulf War, Abrahamson says the world is the theater in the round.