January 25, 1981 - This portion of "Options" contains profiles of two creative men: the architect, master planner, and holistic builder Paolo Soleri; and the Chilean poet and Nobel laureate Pablo Neruda.
February 12, 1981 - Stanley Kiesel, poet in residence for Minneapolis Schools, talks with MPR’s Dan Olson about education, poetry, and his new book, The War Between the Pitiful Teachers and the Splendid Kids.
February 18, 1981 - On this Midday program, author and illustrator Tomie dePaola talks about writing children's books and answers listener questions. He also discusses the stage version of his children's book, Clown of God, being produced by the Children's Theater Company of Minneapolis.
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.
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 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.
January 1, 1982 - MPR’s Connie Goldman goes to the Nantucket to visit poet Linda Pastan. The two talk and read poetry along the sea shore.
January 14, 1982 - Radio Talking Book presents this episode of Perspective, where Marilyn Alcott interviews author and radio personality Garrison Keillor. The two discuss Keillor’s book Happy to Be Here. He also reads from the book.