Repeatedly 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. This curation presents broadcasts over the decades of writer’s voices in form of speech, interview, and discussion.
May 20, 1994 - On this installment of Voices from the Heartland, English translator and author Kevin Crossley-Holland reads an essay about his observation on Midwest morals and sensibilities.
May 20, 1994 - A Midmorning interview with American psychologist and author Lonnie Barbach about the differences between pornography/erotica and the perceptions of them between men and women. Barbach also discusses her book, The Erotic Edge: 22 Erotic Stories for Couples.
May 31, 1994 - American newspaper columnist and author Molly Ivins speaks at the Woman's Club of Minneapolis, touching on a number of subjects…including politics, the First Amendment and the role of women.
June 27, 1994 - Wisconsin author Muriel Blackdeer reads from her book, An Eagle Blessed Our Home. Blackdeer is of Norwegian heritage and married to Alvin Blackdeer, who was a member of the Ho-Chunk Nation.
June 27, 1994 - Wisconsin author Muriel Blackdeer talks about her family’s Native experience and details her book, Eagle Blessed Our Home. The book is the story of Alvin Blackdeer's Old Indian Camp.
September 26, 1994 - Midday presents author Amy Tan, author of the bestseller The Joy Luck Club, speaking at the Westminster Town Hall Forum on how "ethnic correctness", as she puts it, is taking its toll on literature.
October 13, 1994 - Midday presents Dr. Cornell West, a professor of religion and director of Afro-American Studies Department at Princeton, speaking at the Westminster Town Hall Forum. West’s speech is entitled "The Politics of Race in America."
February 3, 1995 - On this segment of First Friday, MPR’s Beth Friend interviews American poet Christopher Merrill, who shares his frustration on the lack of concern in arts community of the Bosnian War tragedy. Segment also includes Merrill reading Bosnian poetry.
May 10, 1995 - Charles Murray, co-author of The Bell Curve, and Dr. Alvin Poussaint, author and psychiatrist, speaking at Carleton College in Northfield. The topics of speeches were on class structure, and the issues of race in the United States.
January 27, 1996 - MPR’s Greta Cunningham interviews author Carol Shields about her award-winning works, research, and the business of writing.