TOI DERICOTTE & DAWN LUNDY MARTIN
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Poets Toi Derricotte and Dawn Lundy Martin gave stirring readings from their chapbook, A Bruise is a Figure of Remembrance, discussing the collaborative process with Rain Taxi editor, Eric Lorberer. This event was virtual and can be seen at Rain Taxi's Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
DAMION SEARLS
Tuesday, January 26, 2021
Translator Damion Searls discussed his new translation of Rilke's Letters to a Young Poet, which also included the letters from the "young poet." This fascinating conversation followed Searls's decision-making as a translator, comparing his choices with others who translated the work. This event was virtual and can be seen at Rain Taxi's Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
NIN ANDREWS & DENISE DUHAMEL
Tuesday, February 4, 2021
Poets Nin Andrews and Denise Duhamel had a rousing and arousing dialogue interspersed with readings from their respective new releases, The Last Orgasm and Second Story. This event was virtual and can be seen at Rain Taxi's Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
PETER GIZZI with OCEAN VUONG
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
Poet Peter Gizzi discussed his new collection of poetry, Now It’s Dark (Wesleyan University Press) with fellow poet Ocean Vuong. Nearly 700 people across the world joined in to hear a fascinating discussion on the power of poetry in response to sadness, grieving, beauty, and light. This event was virtual and can be seen at Rain Taxi's Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
JOHN JENNINGS AND DAVID BRAME
Wednesday, February 16, 2021
Jennings and Brame discussed the process of collaboration and the long road to an exciting new imprint of graphic novels showcasing speculative works by and about people of color. Their debut graphic novel from MEGASCOPE, After the Rain, is an adaptation from Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Award–winning novelist Nnedi Okorafor’s short story “On the Road.” This event was virtual and can be seen at Rain Taxi's Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
ANDRE GREGORY
Wednesday, February 18, 2021
Famed director André Gregory discussed his new book, This Is Not My Memoir (Farrar, Straus & Giroux) with Twin Cities actor and director Christina Baldwin. The two had a lively discussion about Gregory’s work, the role of art during a pandemic, and the importance of empathy in creating and sustaining a creative career. This event was virtual and can be seen at Rain Taxi's Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
VICTOR L. WOOTEN
Wednesday, February 23, 2021
Grammy-award winning bassist Victor L. Wooten was joined by MPR radio host and musician Sean McPherson to discuss his latest book, The Spirit of Music, a tribute to the relationship that has sustained him all his life. The two dug deep into the need to save music and the planet. This event was virtual and can be seen at Rain Taxi's Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
MICHELLE NIJHUIS
Wednesday, March 10, 2021
Acclaimed science writer Michelle Nijhuis discussed her new book, Beloved Beasts: Fighting for Life in an Age of Extinction with writer, artist, and historian Jenny Price. The two talked about the biggest names in the conservation movement throughout history and ways to combat the extinction of animal species.
This event was virtual and can be seen at Rain Taxi's Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
CLAUDIA ZOE BEDRICK & PING ZHU
Tuesday, March 16, 2021
The publisher of Enchanted Lion Books, Claudia Zoe Bedrick, and illustrator Ping Zhu celebrated their new picture book release, The Snail with the Right Heart, a gorgeously illustrated nonfiction tale written by Maria Popova about creation, evolution, and a snail named Jeremy. Author, essayist, and editor Bruce Handy moderated the conversation, which covered the challenges of illustrating, editing, and more.
This event was virtual and can be seen at Rain Taxi's Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
TIMOTHY BRENNAN
Tuesday, March 23, 2021
University of Minnesota professor Timothy Brennan discussed his latest biography Places of Mind: A Life of Edward Said with acclaimed American composer Nico Muhly. The animated conversation covered Said’s multifaceted life as he juggled his many talents as literary critic, public intellectual, political activist, and gifted pianist. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
SESSHU FOSTER and ARTURO ERNESTO ROMO
Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Collaborators Foster and Romo discuss their creation of the polyphonic and genre-busting Eladatl: A History of the East Los Angeles Dirigible Air Transport Lines, a unique counter narrative "history" of East LA that gives voice to the underrepresented populations of that city. Joining them for this conversation is novelist Karen Tei Yamashita. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
NATE POWELL
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
National Book Award-winning cartoonist Nate Powell (whose work includes illustrating civil rights icon John Lewis’s historic March trilogy) discussed his newest collection of comics essays, Save It for Later: Promises, Parenthood, and the Urgency of Protest (Abrams ComicArts). Powell talked with Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer about his inspiration for writing this book in the wake of the last five years, as well as his creative process. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
TED RALL & PABLO CALLEJO
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Cartoonist, essayist, and graphic novelist Ted Rall and Spanish graphic artist Pablo Callejo talked with Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer about their newest trans-continental collaboration The Stringer (NBM). The two discussed the challenges and rewards of bringing ideas into pictures and the inspirations behind this timely novel about the business of war. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY
Saturday, April 24, 2021
Despite a slightly cloudy Saturday, Independent Bookstore Day wrapped up a week of outstanding support from the Twin Cities book community for the stores we love! With the help of Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Day Passport, thousands of readers discovered all the goodness the bookstores in their cities have to offer. With the new week-long format, many said they were able to complete the marathon more easily and the stamps they collected tell the story—they’ll be back! Thanks to everyone who joined us in celebrating this (hopefully!) unique year of perusing our wonderful purveyors. See more here.
KIM TODD & KATHRYN NUERNBERGER
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Two Minnesota authors celebrated new books about women in history. Kathryn Nuernberger (The Witch of Eye, Sarabande) and Kim Todd (Sensational: The Hidden History Of America's “Girl Stunt Reporters," Harper) discussed the challenges, biases, and violence suffered by women who aspired to live outside the accepted norms, be they stunt reporters or accused witches. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
OLIVIA LAING
Wednesday, May 5, 2021
On Tuesday, May 5, 2021, Rain Taxi Review of Books presented a lunchtime event with renowned British writer Olivia Laing in celebration of her new book, Everybody: A Book About Freedom (Norton). At this ticketed event, Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer served as a conduit for crowd-sourced questions for Laing collected in advance. They discussed the politics of vaccination, the oppression of certain bodies in our society, and Laing’s unique writing process, among other things.
RIKKI DUCORNET
Thursday, May 6, 2021
Acclaimed author and artist Rikki Ducornet discussed her new novel, Trafik (Coffee House Press) with Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer. The two discussed this mind-bending science fiction novel which explores identity, existence, and erotic independence with surrealist flourish. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
CHRIS BOHJALIAN
Monday, May 10, 2021
New York Times bestselling author Chris Bohjalian discussed his new novel Hour of the Witch (Doubleday) with Minnesota Book Award winner Sheila O’Connor. This lively and erudite conversation focussed on the intense research that produced this timely novel, set in 1662 Puritan Massachusetts, following the life and trial of a woman who faced the superstitions and bigotry of her time. The event was co-sponsored by Rain Taxi and Literature Lovers Night Out. Book sales were provided by Valley Booksellers. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
CHARLES BERNSTEIN in conversation with TONYA M. FOSTER
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
New York poet Charles Bernstein discussing his new book Topsy-Turvy (University of Chicago Press) with fellow poet Tonya M. Foster. The two had a lively discussion about poetics and how poetry can combine comedy and grief to express the upside-down nature of our existence, especially in the last few years. Book sales were provided by Magers & Quinn Booksellers. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
ADRIAN MATEJKA with Nicholas Galanin and Kevin Neireiter
Wednesday, May 26, 2021
Acclaimed poet Adrian Matejka celebrated the imminent release of his collaborative work inspired by two classic Funkadelic albums, Standing On the Verge & Maggot Brain (Third Man Books). Matejka was joined by visual artists Nicholas Galanin and Kevin Neireiter who provided the poetry- and funk-inspired artwork for this special double-sided flip book. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
CURTIS SITTENFELD with Betsy Hodges
Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Rain Taxi Review of Books presented author Curtis Sittenfeld and former Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges in celebration of the paperback edition of Sittenfeld's novel Rodham, which imagines a world in which 2016 U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Rodham Clinton never married Bill Clinton and instead pursued her own political career. The two discussed the difficulties of women running for office, especially executive leadership, and how the current political landscape informed this novel of alternate history. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
NATHANIEL MACKEY with Joseph Donahue
Wednesday, June 9, 2021
On Wednesday, June 9, 2021, Rain Taxi Review of Books presented acclaimed epic poet Nathaniel Mackey celebrating the publication of his box set publication Double Trio (New Directions) and a double CD Fugitive Equation, an album of sound and word exploration. Mackey was joined by poet Joseph Donahue, and the two discussed the intricate interplay of words and music. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
ARTHUR SZE
Thursday, June 17, 2021
Rain Taxi Review of Books presented award-winning poet Arthur Sze to celebrate the publication of his new and collected poems The Glass Constellation (Copper Canyon Press). Sze was joined by Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer to discuss the arc of Sze’s 50-year journey in poetry. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
J. MICHAEL STRACZYNSKI
Tuesday, July 6, 2021
J. Michael Straczynski discussed his new novel, Together We Will Go (Scout Press), with Rain Taxi editor Eric Lorberer to celebrate the book’s launch. Viewers were treated to a fascinating discussion on beauty, suicide, and the trials and rewards of writing large ensemble casts (Straczynski is a noted comics, television, and film writer in addition to prose). This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel.
RITA DOVE with Jericho Brown
Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Former U.S. Poet Laureate Rita Dove discussed her first collection in twelve years, Playlist for the Apocalypse (W. W. Norton), with fellow Pulitzer Prize winner Jericho Brown to celebrate the book’s launch. The event, presented by Rain Taxi Review of Books, ran the gamut from deep laughter to deep contemplation, with Dove and Brown even reading a poem together at one point. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel (with optional closed captions).
HONORÉE FANONNE JEFFERS
Wednesday, August 25, 2021
Rain Taxi helped welcome award-winning poet Honorée Fanonne Jeffers to the front ranks of American novelists with a book launch for The Love Songs of W.E.B. Du Bois (Harper). Jeffers discussed the epic and intense history of a family and a country with Twin Cities-based radio and podcast host Lissa Jones-Lofgren. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel (with optional closed captions).
TCBF: MARY ROACH with Erik Larson
Thursday, September 16, 2021
Rain Taxi kicked off the virtual portion of its hybrid 2021 Twin Cities Book Festival with an evening of nonfiction delight as Mary Roach and Erik Larson discussed Roach’s new book Fuzz (W. W. Norton & Company) for an audience of over 250 readers. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel (with optional closed captions).
TCBF: LOLÁ ÁKÍNMÁDÉ ÅKERSTRÖM with Deesha Philyaw
Monday, September 20, 2021
Rain Taxi welcomed to the virtual portion of its hybrid 2021 Twin Cities Book Festival Lolá Ákínmádé Åkerström to discuss her debut novel In Every Mirror She’s Black (Sourcebooks) with Deesha Philyaw, award-winning author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies. This event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast channel or on Rain Taxi's Youtube channel (with optional closed captions).
TCBF: TONGO EISEN-MARTIN and CRYSTAL WILKINSON with Michael Kleber-Diggs
Thursday, September 23, 2021
Rain Taxi welcomed two Poets Laureate to the virtual portion of its hybrid 2021 Twin Cities Book Festival for a discussion of how poetry affects communities, with readings from their work included. Crystal Wilkinson (Poet Laureate of Kentucky) and Tongo Eisen-Martin (Poet Laureate of San Francisco) discussed their new collections Perfect Black (University Press of Kentucky) and Blood on the Fog (City Lights Books), with acclaimed Twin Cities poet Michael Kleber-Diggs. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel here; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel (with optional closed captions).
TCBF: SHRUTI SWAMY with Eric Lorberer
Monday, September 27, 2021
Rain Taxi welcomed fiction phenom Shruti Swamy to discuss her debut novel The Archer (Algonquin Books) with Rain Taxi Editor and Twin Cities Book Festival Director Eric Lorberer. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel here ; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel (with optional closed captions).
TCBF: MARIE LU with Betsy Hodges
Thursday, September 30, 2021
Rain Taxi’s 2021 Twin Cities Book Festival welcomed giant of YA dystopian and speculative fiction Marie Lu to discuss the second in her Skyhunter Duology, Steelstriker (Roaring Brook Press) with former Minneapolis Mayor and superfan Betsy Hodges.
The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel here; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel (with optional closed captions). Support for ASL interpretation access was provided by The Kerlan.
TCBF: DHONIELLE CLAYTON, BETHANY C. MORROW, AND NAFIZA AZAD
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Rain Taxi kicked off the first of two Saturdays of events for the young and young at heart with a panel on Finding and Fostering Family, featuring YA authors Dhonielle Clayton (The Mirror: Shattered Midnight), Bethany C. Morrow (So Many Beginnings), and Nafiza Azad (The Wild Ones); the panel was moderated by Rain Taxi managing editor Linda Stack-Nelson. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel. Support for ASL interpretation was provided by the University of Minnesota Libraries.
TCBF: MOLLY BETH GRIFFIN, MÉLINA MANGAL, AND KAO KALIA YANG
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Rain Taxi welcomed Minnesota picture book authors Molly Beth Griffin (Ten Beautiful Things), Mélina Mangal (Jayden’s Impossible Garden), and Kao Kalia Yang (From the Tops of the Trees) to discuss, read from, and celebrate their new releases with award-winning picture book author John Coy. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel. Support for ASL interpretation was provided by the University of Minnesota Libraries.
TCBF: LEMONY SNICKET with JON SCIESZKA
Saturday, October 2, 2021
Rain Taxi welcomed titan of the silly Lemony Snicket (care of Daniel Handler) to discuss his latest release, Poison for Breakfast, with fellow funnyman Jon Scieszka. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel. Support for ASL interpretation was provided by the University of Minnesota Libraries.
TCBF: THE KERLAN AWARD: ARIANE DEWEY
Monday, October 4, 2021
Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival hosted the Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature at the University of Minnesota Libraries in celebrating picture book pioneer Ariane Dewey, recipient of the 2021 Kerlan Award, in conversation with Lisa Von Drasek, curator. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel. Support for ASL interpretation was provided by the University of Minnesota Libraries.
TCBF: TANANARIVE DUE with Lissa Jones
Thursday, October 7, 2021
Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival hosted a conversation with radio and podcast host Lissa Jones speaking to one of Black Horror’s greatest living voices, Tananarive Due, to celebrate the 25th anniversary reissue of Due's groundbreaking first novel The Between (HarperPerennial). The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel.
TCBF: ALESSANDRA NARVÁEZ VARELA, HARMONY BECKER, AND DAVID LEVITHAN & JENNIFER NIVEN
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival hosted a panel on voice and belonging in middle grade fiction featuring Veera Hiranandani (How to Find What You’re Not Looking For), Ronald Smith (Black Panther: Spellbound), and Susan & Lexi Haas (The Year of the Buttered Cat), moderated by National Book Award winner William Alexander. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel. Support for ASL interpretation was provided by the University of Minnesota Libraries.
TCBF: VEERA HIRANANDANI, RONALD SMITH, AND SUSAN & LEXI HAAS
Saturday, October 9, 2021
Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival hosted a panel on the expanding forms of the YA novel featuring Alessandra Narváez Varela (Thirty Talks Weird Love), Harmony Becker (Himawari House), and David Levithan and Jennifer Niven (Take Me With You When You Go), moderated by Rain Taxi Managing Editor Linda Stack-Nelson. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel. Support for ASL interpretation was provided by the University of Minnesota Libraries.
TCBF: ACHY OBEJAS and PHILLIP B. WILLIAMS
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival hosted a conversation with poets Achy Obejas and Phillip B. Williams to discuss their new books Boomerang/Bumerán (Beacon Press) and Mutiny (Penguin Poets) with Gary Dop. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel.
TCBF: DOUGLAS WOLK
Wednesday, October 13, 2021
Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival hosted a conversation with comics connoisseurs Douglas Wolk and Stephanie Burt to discuss Wolk’s new nonfiction dive All of the Marvels (Penguin Press). The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel.
TCBF: KATE DICAMILLO and SOPHIE BLACKALL
Thursday, October 14, 2021
Rain Taxi’s Twin Cities Book Festival concluded the virtual portion of its 2021 hybrid festival with a delightful conversation with Kate DiCamillo and Sophie Blackall about their new book The Beatryce Prophecy (Candlewick), moderated by Ann Patchett. The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel. Support for ASL interpretation was provided by the University of Minnesota Libraries.
21ST ANNUAL TWIN CITIES BOOK FESTIVAL
Saturday, October 16, 2021
ELIZABETH STROUT
In conversation with Julie Schumacher
Friday, October 22, 2021
This in-person event drew an enthusiastic crowd to hear author Elizabeth Srrout discuss her new book Oh William! with local author Julie Schumacher. The event was co-presented with Literature Lovers' Night Out and Valley Booksellers.
UWEM AKPAN
In conversation with Okey Ndibe
Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Rain Taxi hosted a conversation with Nigerian writers Uwem Akpan and Okey Ndibe discussing Akpan’s debut novel New York, My Village (W. W. Norton). The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel.
GRZEGORZ KWIATKOWSKI and PETER CONSTANTINE
In conversation with Eric Lorberer
Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Rain Taxi hosted an international conversation with Polish poet and musician Grzegorz Kwiatkowski and his English translator Peter Constantine about their new chapbook Crops (OHM Editions). The event can be viewed on Rain Taxi’s Crowdcast Channel; a replay (with optional closed captions) will be available at Rain Taxi’s YouTube channel.
ANN PATCHETT
In conversation with Kate DiCamillo
Thursday, December 2, 2021
On December 2nd, 2021, the Twin Cities-based literary organization Rain Taxi concluded its 2021 virtual event series by hosting Ann Patchett in conversation with Kate DiCamillo; the pair discussed Patchett's new essay collection These Precious Days (Harper). Book sales for the event were provided by Magers & Quinn Booksellers of Minneapolis, and a splendid time was had by all — including the authors!