May 8, 1986 - Midday presents the late John Ciardi delivering an address called "Why Read?" Following speech, a segment of New Letters on the Air with Ciardi reading some of his poetry (The Collectors; The Glory; Happiness; For Myra, John L. and Benn; Mutterings; Obsolescence; Habitat; and Perversity).
June 20, 1986 - An MPR broadcast of Loft event celebrating the writing accomplishments of A Prairie Home Companion’s Garrison Keillor. During event, Keillor reads from his work and performs music with accompaniment from Bill Hinkley and Judy Larson.
June 27, 1986 - MPR’s Beth Friend profiles Ann Miller, a local romance writer. Miller details the varying types of the genre, from category romance writing to mainstream fiction. Miller’s novel, Notorious, is highlighted in Good Housekeeping magazine.
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.
October 15, 1986 - MPR’s Mark Heistad presents "The Land Between: An Aural Portrait of the BWCA," a documentary about the Boundary Waters Canoe Area and the people who live there.
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.
December 20, 1986 - MPR’s Elisa Bernick profiles efforts of local storytellers and the importance of the act.
April 7, 1987 - MPR Special Coverage presents an Bill Holm audio postcard from Xi'an, China. It includes poems and essays, labeled "Praise," "Black Hair," "Staring," and "Books in China."
April 25, 1987 - On this segment of Christine Sweet Reads, excerpts from Patricia Hampl’s Spillville.
May 6, 1987 - MPR’s Beth Friend interviews Soviet poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko. He answers listener questions about his work and his impressions of artistic expression in the USSR.