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 17, 1993 - Midmorning’s Cathy Wurzer interviews American sports commentator Ray Christensen about the art of play-by-play and university athletics. The two also discuss Golden Memories, a book Christensen co-authored with Stew Thornley.
November 19, 1993 - On this Voices from the Heartland segment, Minnesota author Barton Sutter shares his essay, The Cider Man, a recollection on a North Shore character.
November 22, 1993 - Duluth writer and columnist Sam Cook answers questions about his style, outdoor writing, and his book, If This Is Mid-Life, Where's the Crisis?.
November 25, 1993 - MPR’s Liz Hannon interviews director Brian Grandison about Everlasting Arms, a play at Penumbra Theatre. Segment includes a cast dramatization.
November 26, 1993 - On this Voices from the Heartland segment, Minnesota writer Tom Hegg shares his long poem, A Cup of Christmas Tea, which tells of a man visiting his ailing Great Aunt.
December 3, 1993 - On this Voices from the Heartland segment, Minnesota writer Paulette Bates Alden reads from her book Swimming, Snow. The work is a limited publication created at Minnesota Center for Book Arts.
December 3, 1993 - On this First Friday segment, MPR’s Euan Kerr reports on the creation of Swimming, Snow by Paulette Bates Alden. The work is the sixth “Winter Book” published by Minnesota Center for Book Arts.
December 10, 1993 - In this segment of Voices from the Heartland, Duluth author Michael Fedo reads essay on his recollections while traveling with musical partner Dan Kossoff as they toured the Midwest during the holidays.
December 11, 1993 - On this Weekend Edition segment, MPR’s Chris Roberts talks with two young poets, who discuss their writing and read some of their work. Both are participants of Community Programs in the Arts and Sciences in Schools (COMPAS), an arts education nonprofit that puts creativity in the hands of Minnesotans of all ages. Community Programs in the Arts and Sciences in Schools
December 17, 1993 - On this Voices from the Heartland segment, Minnesota author Barton Sutter shares his essay, The History of Snow, which recounts a weather battles with snow…and a daughter.