August 16, 1986 - MPR’s Euan Kerr reports on Will Weaver’s book Red Earth, White Earth. The novel is set along the White Earth Reservation in northern Minnesota and highlights the conflicts between white farmers and native Ojibwe in northern Minnesota. Kerr interviews the author and a literary agent about the book.
September 8, 1986 - MPR’s Euan Kerr profiles Minnesota mystery author Robert Dingwall (R.D.) Zimmerman and his book, The Red Encounter, a spy novel set in the Twin Cities. The plot revolves around a Russian agent sent to Minnesota to steal information about a super computer that is a vital link to ‘Star Wars’ defense system.
September 8, 1986 - On this MPR Journal program, a collection of reports, interviews, and a news rundown hosted by Gary Eichten.
September 9, 1986 - MPR’s Euan Kerr reports on local science fiction and fantasy comic Entropy Tales. Segment highlights characters from the Entropy Enterprises publication, including Goista The Philosopha, Nightwolf, and Star Fox.
November 10, 1986 - Minnesota poet and storyteller Robert Bly, answers listener questions about his writing and his relatively new interest in men's groups. Bly also reads some of his poetry.
January 24, 1987 - MPR’s Euan Kerr reports on local Twin Cities version of Burns supper and celebration of “Rabbie” Burns, poet of the Scots. The day includes music, food and celebration of the famed Scottish poet, Robert Burns.
February 6, 1987 - MPR’s Beth Friend reports on the enduring appreciation of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House on the Prairie books. Friend interviews Minnesota author Emilie Buchwald and three North View Elementary School students on what makes Wilder’s work fascinating.
April 25, 1987 - On this segment of Christine Sweet Reads, excerpts from Patricia Hampl’s Spillville.
May 15, 1987 - Minneapolis writer Sheila B. Richter is winner of the 1987 Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest, a prize where writers try to write the worst first sentence. MPR’s Loren Omoto reads the “honored” short composition.
May 19, 1987 - MPR’s Beth Friend profiles Patricia Hampl and her work, Spillville. The book is a narrative and reflection on Hampl and a few of her friends rode-tripping to Iowa to visit the same small town Antonin Dvorak visited when he wrote his String Quartet No. 12 in F major (nicknamed American Quartet).