Read Minnesota Books

Shannon Gibney is the first Read Minnesota Books guest author running for political office! She speaks with us about her new book Where Is My Sister? , her activism, and why writers make good public servants. Minute 12 of this episode contains a frank description of stillbirth. Please take care while listening. Where Is My Sister? What God Is Honored Here? Writings on Miscarriage and Infant Loss b...

Author Margi Preus joins us for a conversation about the marvelous city of Duluth and Northern Minnesota writers, how she names her characters, and the cozy allure of tiny homes. The Shrew Detective Margipreus.com @margipreus on Instagram @margipreus on Facebook Margi Preus's The Devil Wears Prada 2 connection Recommendations Adolf Born Thanks for listening to Read Minnesota Books! This is a publi...

Poet Anthony Ceballos talks with us about public transportation inspiration, loving a wounded city, and how he knows when to revise and when to leave a poem alone. Glassful of Prayer by Anthony Ceballos (Trio House Press) @thatcasualgayvampire on Instagram Anthony Ceballos on Facebook Recommendation Wild Things by Lynette Reini-Grandell This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this w...

This is a fascinating discussion with author Jill D. Swenson about her new book The Land of Everlasting Sky: A memoir of Loss and Legacy on Lake of the Woods . We talked about research, obsessions, memories, and how she builds scenes with historical evidence. The Land of Everlasting Sky (She Writes Press) Book tour Jill D. Swenson on Substack Jill D. Swenson on Facebook Recommendation It's summer!...

University of Minnesota Professor Julie Schumacher joins us to discuss her new short story collection Patient, Female and how she knows when an idea is a novel or a short story, when to worry about plot or not, and how to find the perfect noun. Patient, Female (Milkweed Editions) Julie Schumacher on Facebook Recommendations Refuse to be Done by Matt Bell Matt Bell's weasel word exercise This is a...

Katherine Packert Burke talks with us about her spooky new novel All Us Saints and its trans villain; representation in true crime; and how Silence of the Lambs , a windowless airbnb, and sandbox video games inspired the story. All Us Saints (Bloombury) @katpburke on Twitter Ghost Image, Katherine's Substack newsletter This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscrib...

Novelist Stacy Carlson speaks with us about her literary novel The Gyre and its ill-prepared protagonist, an inspiring artist's residency in the Svalbard archipelago, and her research into meals made of moose lips. The Gyre (Alternating Current Press) stacycarlson.com Stacy Carlson on Facebook @magnificentsparrow on Instagram Recommendations Girl Gone Wild Book Tour at Acorn Bookshop Rain Taxi Twi...

Arizona State University Professor and author Rashad Shabazz discusses why Prince's genius is boring, how Minneapolis is an underrated music city, and what Prince served for snacks at a 1998 secret Paisley Park show. Prince's Minneapolis: A Biography of Sound and Place (University of North Carolina Press) Paisley Park "ICE Can't Silence Prince's Minneapolis" by Rashad Shabazz, Zocalo Public Square...

Mark Nowak joins us to talk about his new collection . . . AGAIN , whether he finds forms or forms find him, and poetry trailers. . . . AGAIN (Coffeehouse Press) Mark Nowak at Moon Palace Books, Tuesday, May 12, 7:00pm Book trailer for . . . AGAIN XCP: Cross Cultural Poetics Worker Writers School Recommendations: Meridel LaSeuer The Book Trailer Channel This is a public episode. If you would like...

Jordan Sundberg speaks with us about how restricted supplies and playfulness inspire her artwork, her path to becoming a picture book illustrator, and the hands-off brilliance of University of Minnesota Press editor Erik Anderson. We also discuss Millions of Cats by Minnesota author Wanda Gag: weird or wonderful? Northwoods Lullaby by Mary Casanova, illustrated by Jordan Sundberg, from University...

Prolific author Mary Casanova joins us to talk about her new book Northwoods Lullaby , writing groups, and the animals that make great picture book subjects. Northwoods Lullaby from University of Minnesota Press marycasanova.com Northwoods Young Writers: A Teen Writing Retreat 2026 Author + Illustrator events for Northwoods Lullaby Duluth: May 2, 11am Zenith Bookstore and 3pm at Fitgers Bookstore...

Duluth musician Gaelynn Lea speaks with us about her new music memoir, her advocacy for accessibility, and song writing vs. prose writing. It Wasn't Meant to Be Perfect (Algonquin Books) Gaelynn's memoir recommendations Waking by Matthew Sanford Patriot by Alexei Navalny The Autobiography of Ben Franklin Follow Gaelynn https://violinscratches.com/ Creative Living for Every Body with Gaelynn Lea @g...

Angela Pelster, director of Hamline University's creative writing programs and author of The Evolution of Fire: Essays on Crisis and Becoming discusses her Canadian roots, braided essays (yay or nay?), and the Twin Cities' amazing creative nonfiction community. Links and recommendations: The Evolution of Fire (Milkweed Press) Angela Pelster on Facebook @angelapelsterwiebe on Instagramhttps://www.i...

Courtney Kocak, a Jackson, MN-born and Los Angeles-based podcaster, comedian, screenwriter, and author talks with us about the southwestern Minnesota prairie, the business of writing, and how she prioritizes her art above everything else. Kocak's debut memoir Girl Gone Wild is out on April 1 (no foolin') from Trio House Press. Girl Gone Wild courtneykocak.com Deborah's recommendation: Courtney's p...

Christopher Johnston, author of Where You Come from Is Gone , speaks with us about deciding to start his novel with action, Tim O'Brien's influence on his work, and stinky mink. Where You Come From Is Gone @cjtravelr on Instagram Christopher Johnston on Facebook Christopher Johnson on Substack Website: https://www.christopherjohnstonbooks.com/ Recommendations: Writing Excuses podcast Deborah's pod...

Economist Misty Heggeness joins us to discuss her book Swiftynomics: How Women Mastermind and Redefine Our Economy , the economic consequences of Operation Metro Surge, and the long road to gender equity. Swiftynomics Misty Heggeness at Magers & Quinn Booksellers on April 9, 2026 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, vis...

We speak with Christian historical romance author Tracie Peterson about the long history of Minneapolis charity and how the first hospital in Minnesota inspired Faithful of Heart , the first book in her generational series set in Minnesota. Peterson tells us about her fascinating location-based research process and how she crafts three(!) page-turning books per year. A Minnesota Legacy book series...

Romance author Dana Hawkins joins us to talk about Minnesota bakeries and her new book, I Will Always Love You (Maybe) from Storm Publishing. I Will Always Love You (Maybe) Cold Spring Bakery @d.hawkinsauthor on Instagram Dana Hawkins website Tropes and Trifles, a Twin Cities Romance-Specialist Bookshop Thanks for listening to Read Minnesota Books! This is a public episode. If you would like to di...

Is it a Minnesota podcast without a 1991 Halloween Blizzard story? Professor Andrew Elfenbein speaks with us about his first year in Minnesota, his work and colleagues at the University of Minnesota, and his humorous MM romantasy The Quyre (Tales of the Pine Rapids Fairies Book 1) from Dreamspinner Press. The Quyre Andrew's Substack Andrew Elfenbein on Facebook Dear Committee Members by Julie Schu...

In the first episode of Read Minnesota Books, host Deborah Copperud interviews award-winning Minnesota author Kao Kalia Yang about her new picture book, The Blue House I Loved , from University of Minnesota Press. The Blue House I Loved Yang's Letter From Minnesota on LitHub Birch Bark Books , Louise Erdrich's Minneapolis bookstore Wild Rumpus bookstore in Minneapolis @kaokaliayang on Instagram Ka...

When you think of Minnesota, do you think 10,000 lakes? Or 10,000 books? If you like to read, you should totally subscribe to Read Minnesota Books, a brand-new podcast and newsletter from the North Star State. You can listen to author interviews, reading recommendations, and publishing news.  Why books? Why now? Because book coverage is disappearing. Jeff Bezos just dumped The Washington Post’s ro...