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Talking Volumes is an annual event series featuring notable authors in conversation about their new books. Presented by MPR News and The Minnesota Star Tribune.

'Forget The Alamo' author says we have the Texas origin story all wrong
In a new book, Bryan Burrough and co-writers Chris Tomlinson and Jason Stanford challenge the historical lore of the Alamo — including the story that Davy Crockett refused to surrender.
In 'Somebody's Daughter' Ashley C. Ford confronts the crimes of her father
For many years, Ford didn't know why her dad was in prison. As a teenager, she was shocked to learn he'd been convicted of rape. "With rape, there's no mistake about the intention to harm," she says.
Summer reading: 5 books for young people that deal with race
Reading diverse books can help young adults understand conversations around race better.
'Lost Letters' lead to new love — and hard choices — in this YA romance
Hannah Reynolds new YA romance “The Summer of Lost Letters” follows teenaged Abby's quest to learn more about her grandmother's past — and a possible love affair captured in mysterious letters.
Lauren Nopenz Fairley has seen a surging interest in romance novels during the pandemic at her bookstore, The Curious Iguana, in Frederick, Md. She said her whole staff fell in love with the queer romance novel, “Honey Girl,” by debut author Morgan Rogers.
'Mercury Rising' explores treacherous U.S. attempts to control space
In Mercury Rising, historian Jeff Shesol recalls the early days of the U.S. space program, when Cold War fears ruled and no one was sure John Glenn would survive America's first orbital flight.
Former longtime Split Rock Lighthouse keeper on what the job was really like
Lee Radzak was resident site manager at Split Rock for more than 30 years, and is out with a new book about the experience: “The View from Split Rock,” written with Curt Brown.