Read Minnesota Books

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, 7:00pmBook trailer for . . . AGAINXCP: Cross Cultural PoeticsWorker Writers SchoolRecommendations:Meridel LaSeuerThe Book Trailer Channel This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 of Minnesota PressFables of the North Shore by Tin Cup DesignMillions of Cats by Wanda GagJordan Sundberg's Tin Cup Design@tincupdesign on Instagram@tincupdesign on FacebookRecommendation:Minnesota Marine Art Museum's Eric Carle exhibit This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 Pressmarycasanova.comNorthwoods Young Writers: A Teen Writing Retreat2026 Author + Illustrator events for Northwoods LullabyDuluth: May 2, 11am Zenith Bookstore and 3pm at Fitgers BookstoreMinneapolis: May 9th, 10:00am at Strib Unbound, Theodore Wirth ParkSt. Paul: May 23, 10:30am, Red Balloon bookstoreRoseville: June 9, 6:30pm, Roseville Nature Center / Picture Book SalonEly: July 3, 10:30am, Piragis BookstoreRecommendationMake your northwoods camping reservations now! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 recommendationsWaking by Matthew SanfordPatriot by Alexei NavalnyThe Autobiography of Ben FranklinFollow Gaelynnhttps://violinscratches.com/Creative Living for Every Body with Gaelynn Lea@gaelynnlea on Instagram@gaelynnlea on YouTube This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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.instagram.com/angelapelsterwiebe/Jennifer Eli Bowen's The Book of Kin Deborah's 2025 round-up of MN book recommendations, including Kathryn Nuernberger's HeldThe Artist's WayUniversity of Minnesota's Esther Freier Lecture This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 Wildcourtneykocak.comDeborah's recommendation:Courtney's podcast The BleedersPaul Gruchow's essay "What the Prairie Teaches Us" This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 InstagramChristopher Johnston on FacebookChristopher Johnson on SubstackWebsite: https://www.christopherjohnstonbooks.com/Recommendations:Writing Excuses podcast Deborah's podcast workshop at The Loft Literary Center on April 18Thanks for listening to Read Minnesota Books! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 from Bethany House@traciepetersonauthor on Facebooktraciepetersonbooks.comNobles County Historical Society This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 [email protected] on InstagramDana Hawkins websiteTropes 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 discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 QuyreAndrew's SubstackAndrew Elfenbein on FacebookDear Committee Members by Julie SchumacherImmigrant Defense Network trainingsThanks for listening to Read Minnesota Books! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 LovedYang's Letter From Minnesota on LitHubBirch Bark Books, Louise Erdrich's Minneapolis bookstoreWild Rumpus bookstore in Minneapolis@kaokaliayang on InstagramKao Kalia Yang's websiteThanks for listening to Read Minnesota Books! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com

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 robust books section. The Minnesota Star Tribune used to publish pages of book reviews. But they stopped hiring freelancers and shrunk their book section down to just one page, once a week. At a time when we need books more than ever to counteract the Big Tech executives who want to sell us out to artificially intelligent robot overlords. Subscribe to Read Minnesota Books on Substack or wherever you listen to podcasts. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.readminnesotabooks.com