December 5, 2001 - The country's only literary journal with writing by Arab Americans is published in Minneapolis. It's called Mizna, an Arabic word for desert cloud, a symbol of shelter and hope. As Minnesota Public Radio's Mary Stucky reports, Mizna's editors hope the journal will create understanding across cultures.
December 4, 2001 - It's been quite a year for writer Emily Carter. In October she won the Whiting Writing Award, a 35-thousand dollar prize aimed at emerging talent. Her collection of short stories "Glory Goes and Gets Some" originally published in hardback by Coffeehouse press is now a Picador paperback. The stories in the book follow a heroin addicted HIV positive woman from the east coast through treatment and recovery in Minnesota. The book takes a gentle and humorous approach to some ugly realities.
November 29, 2001 - MPR’s Euan Kerr interviews Osmo Vänskä, Minnesota Orchestra’s new music director. Vänskä discusses his approach in building relationship with musicians as he raised his baton to conduct the Minnesota Orchestra for the first time since being named music director. While he doesn't officially assume the post until 2003, it's apparent he and the orchestra are keen to get working.
November 29, 2001 - In Victoria Redel's award winning novel "Loverboy," a woman follows a suggestion in her parents' will that she "find a passion" by having a child. As the book begins, the mother considers her pet names for her beloved son.
November 23, 2001 - Focus is on the rock music in Minnesota.
November 23, 2001 -
November 22, 2001 - (PLEASE NOTE HOST BACKANNOUNCE) A new one woman play "Coya Comes Home" tells the story of the first woman elected to Congress from Minnesota. Playwright and actress Kathy Ray says she hopes educate Minnesotans about the character and courage of Coya Knutson, as well as the disastrous end of her political career. Mainstreet Radios Dan Gunderson reports.
November 15, 2001 - Novelist Alan Furst writes specific stories about a specific time. His tales of intrigue, which have been compared with the work of Graham Green and John le Carre, are all set in the late 1930's and early 1940's, and involve eastern Europeans. While the stories are fiction, they are carefully researched. Furst is in the Twin Cities to read from his two most recent novels, "Kingdom of Shadows" and "The Polish Officer." He told Minnesota Public Radio's Euan Kerr that the "The Polish Officer" was inspired by a photograph from 1944 which he admits he did not initially understand.
November 7, 2001 - MPR's Tom Scheck reports on results of Major League Baseball owner meeting, where a vote took place to contract teams in the league. Major League Baseball Commissioner Bud Selig says baseball's owners overwhelmingly voted to continue the process of contracting two teams before the 2002 season starts.
October 12, 2001 - On Word of Mouth, MPR’s Chris Roberts provides a radio guide to the local arts. This episode includes "Hush, Hush", John O'Donohue, Bakken Ensemble, “The Rink,” Jazz and Italian modern art, Lea Thomas, and an arts round-up..