Read Minnesota Books

Minnesota Star Tribune’s Washington correspondent Christopher Vondracek joins us to talk about his new book Redlin or Rodin , art cleanses, pandemic pastimes, and the difference between newspaper reporting and long-form literary nonfiction. Redlin or Rodin: Essays on Midwestern Scenery (University of Nebraska Press) @christophervondracek on Instagram and book tour dates Christopher Vondracek’s rep...

TV writer and novelist Matt Goldman speaks with us about constitutional amendments, historical research, prohibition loopholes, fake rabbis, and why outlines are worthless. The Prohibited Matt Goldman’s Facebook author page @m_a_goldman on Instagram Recommendation Lester Literary Quarterly Thanks for listening to Read Minnesota Books! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this wit...

Sasha Maria Suarez, Assistant Professor of History at University of Wisconsin—Madison, discusses An Ojibwe Home in the City: White Earth Women and Community Organizing in Minneapolis . We talk about native community organizing, the efforts of four key women who advocated for self-determination, and an incredible discovery in the University of Minnesota archives. An Ojibwe Home in the City: White E...

Author Pat Harris tells us about his book, A Season On the Drink , based on a Catholic Charities legend about a 1986 softball team of chronic alcoholics. We talk about why he chose to fictionalize the story, his forty-year writing process, harm reduction programs, and the age-old Twin Cities spelling debate: St. or Saint? A Season On the Drink Patharris.org Pat Harris on Facebook Pat Harris on Lin...

Award-winning writer Sun Yung Shin 신 선 영 speaks with us about her memoir-in-essays Heart Eater: A Memoir of Immigration, Belonging, and How We Find Ourselves in Language , the inaugural selection of the Immigrant Writers on Immigrant Writing Series from Black Lawrence Press. We discuss transracial and transnational adoption, how activism can shift narratives, her experience as one of three youn...

Husband and wife co-authors Stephanie Hansen and Kurt Johnson talk with us about how a broken-down Yugo is a perfect narrative device, adapting Croatian recipes to be more Minnesotan, and why they capped the number of sex scenes in their novel The Moon Tavern: A Culinary Love Story (With Recipes) . The Moon Tavern: A Culinary Love Story (With Recipes) Taste Buds television show Taste Buds with Ste...

David Mura joins us to speak about Asian-American identity, Broadway boycotts, thirty years of essays, and how typing is like jazz piano. Exit, Miss Saigon @muradavid on Twitter David Mura on Facebook davidmura.com David Mura on Substack Recommendations “To Invigorate Literary Mind, Start Moving Literary Feet” by Joyce Carol Oates October 7, 2026, David Mura Book Launch October 20, 2026, Magers an...

Emi Nietfeld, journalist and author of the memoir Acceptance , joins us to talk about narratives of estrangement, journalism jobs, AI emptiness, and her essay “A Leap of Logic” in the anthology No Contact: Writers on Estrangement . No Contact: Writers on Estrangement edited by Jenny Bartoy (Catapult) eminietfeld.com Emi Nietfeld’s Substack We’re Done Who’s Babies Are These? Recommendation Racket:...

Lori O’Dea speaks with us about art, the literary scene in Detroit Lakes, being a part-time Minnesotan, and short fiction trends. Little Cavendish (Rebel Santori Press) Lori O’Dea’s website Art Project 605 @lori.odea on Instagram Loon Writers Festival Recommendations Minnesota Novellas Thanks for listening to Read Minnesota Books! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with ot...

Author and doodler Lina Patton talks with us about chi-chi Minnesota geography, eavesdropping on service jobs, and lakeside fiction. The Lake Club (William Morrow) Lina Patton @linapatton on Instagram Lina’s essay “The Summer Job That Taught Me How to Fail” Recommendation Read my Minnesota Money post Thanks for listening to Read Minnesota Books! This is a public episode. If you would like to discu...

Rochester author Tony Wirt joins us for a great conversation about fake towns on the South Central Minnesota I-90 corridor, Mayo Clinic connections, and why you can’t repurpose a Rachel Carson title for your contemporary thriller. Silent Creek by Tony Wirt tonywirt.com Recommendations Minneapolis St. Paul Magazine August issue, Dara Moskowitz Grumdahl’s profile of William Kent Krueger is not onlin...

Andrea Uptmor joins us to talk about main character discontent, MLS research, Minneapolis restaurants, and her real estate novel The New People . “Happy people are wonderful in real life but they don’t really do much in novels. They don’t move the plot along.” —Andrea Uptmor The New People by Andrea Uptmor (Little, Brown and Company, 2026) @andreauptmor on Instagram Recommendations The Miraculous...

It’s almost time for Season Two of Read Minnesota Books! There are so many new Minnesota books to talk about: we’ll learn about thrillers, memoirs, short stories, novellas, essays, and poems. If you’re a reader or a writer and you love the North Star State and its literary culture, subscribe to Read Minnesota Books on your podcast app so you can listen to all of the author interviews, recommendati...

To celebrate the twentieth anniversary of beloved Minneapolis outdoor restaurant Sea Salt Eatery, Gail Rosenblum and Kait Ziemer-Davis collaborated to create a commemorative cookbook featuring history and recipes. Sea Salt Eatery: Recipes to Enjoy Year-Round August 6, Cooking demonstration at Cooks of Crocus Hill August 8, 2pm, Brookies Meet and Greet @seasalteatery and @gail.rosenblum on Facebook...

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...