March 10, 2004 - On this Midmorning, MPR’s Christopher Lyden interviews Minnesota poet Bill Holm about his book "Playing the Black Piano." The cafe in town, the disorientation of travel, and the power of music are all part of this collected work.
November 18, 2004 - MPR’s Cathy Wurzer has a conversation with Duluth writer Barton Sutter about his book "Farewell to the Starlight in Whisky." Sutter explores a wide range of topics: among them, politics, sobriety, the Minnesota wilderness, and love.
December 10, 2004 - A commentary from American poet Mark Nowak, who is creating a country-wide buzz by applying hip-hop sensibilities to politics and breaking news. His book of poems "Shut Up Shut Down," published by Coffeehouse Press, is drawing national attention and praise.
January 21, 2005 - On this State of the Arts, MPR’s Marianne Combs talks with poet Donald Hall tabout how he came to be a poet, why he writes, and culture. Segment includes Hall reading his poems.
April 11, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews U.S. Poet Laureate Ted Kooser. They discuss Kooser winning the Pulitzer Prize. Segment also includes Kooser reading two poems.
April 28, 2005 - MPR’s Tom Crann interviews Dr. Jon Hallberg about the intersection of poetry and medicine. Segment includes Halberg reading a William Carlos Williams poem. Williams, sustained his medical practice throughout his writing career.
May 17, 2005 - Minnesota poet Robert Bly reads the poem "Driving toward the Lac Qui Parle River."
May 30, 2005 - Popular Twin Cities author Lorna Landvik is trying something new in her novel, Oh My Stars. For the first time she's set a story outside of Minnesota and in a period before she was born. It's the depression-era story of Violet Mathers, an 18 year old Kentucky girl who's been beaten down by life. Just as she reaches her lowest point, she winds up traveling the Midwest with a trio of musicians.
August 8, 2005 - MPR’s Euan Kerr sits down with poet Robert Bly, who discusses his book of ghazals called "My Sentence was a Thousand Years of Joy," as well as his varied and colorful career.
December 5, 2005 - Morning Edition’s Cathy Wurzer interviews Brian Horrigan, editor of the book “Christmas In Minnesota.” Some of the Minnesota's best-known writers share memoires and stories from the holidays in Minnesota.