September 26, 1981 - An interview with author and photographer Gordon Parks about his writing. Parks details his interest in Ireland and the resulting novel Shannon.
September 29, 1981 -
October 1, 1981 - Midday presents a National Town Meeting about the great American novel with authors Francine Gray and Larry McMurtry.
October 3, 1981 - MPR’s Dale Connelly talks with Minnesota writer Carol Bly about the Midcontinent Forum for the Future of Literature. The conference of theme is on literary funding options as writers find less federal government and foundation money available.
October 7, 1981 - MPR's Nancy Fushan interviews 1980 Nobel Prize for Literature winner Czeslaw Milosz. Born in Poland but now living and teaching in the United States, Milosz talks about his poetry, the United States, his native country of Poland, and writing.
October 13, 1981 - Dr. Thomas Pearsall of the Department of Rhetoric at the University of Minnesota answers live listener questions on language use, the history of English language, and changes in the way people write and speak on this call-in program with Bob Potter.
October 28, 1981 - Bruce Bomier provides commentary on the joyousness of a strange “holiday” called Halloween.
October 31, 1981 - MPR’s Dale Connelly interviews Fred Suppe, a medieval professor at the University of Minnesota. Suppe provides details on the Celtic origin of Halloween, and its adaptation over the years.
October 31, 1981 - MPR’s Dale Connelly interviews Australian author Colleen McCullough about her book An Indecent Obsession and it’s potential adaptation to the screen. The book tells the story of a nurse who works in a psychiatric ward for World War II soldiers and develops a forbidden attraction to a new, highly decorated patient.
November 7, 1981 - MPR’s Dale Connelly talks with author Paul Dickson about his book The Official Rules, which examines humorous cynical laws and statements.