Seasons Greetings from Radio Talking Book
During this holiday season, here’s to a joyful present and a well- remembered past. May the closeness of friends and the comforts of home renew your spirits. Please join Radio Talking Book for seasonal selections, beginning on these dates:
• Tue, Dec. 17: Snark! The Herald Angels Sing by Lawrence Dorfman (L), read by Scott McKinney on Potpourri.
• Thu, Dec 19: The Gift Counselor by Sheila M. Cronin, read by Marylyn Burridge on Bookworm.
• Thu, Dec 19: Jubal’s Christmas Gift by Dennis D. Skirvin, read by John Beal on Off the Shelf.
• Mon, Dec 23: Doc Christmas and the Magic of Trains by Neil Enock, read by John Mandeville on Choice Reading.
• Wed, Dec 25: The 13th Gift by Joanne Huist Smith, read by Pat Muir on The Writer’s Voice.
• Wed, Dec 25: The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans, read by John Holden on Night Journey.
• Wed, Dec 25: The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog by Dave Barry, read by Holly Sylvester on Off the Shelf.
Holiday Programming
Please join the Radio Talking Book annual holiday broadcast at 8 p.m. Tue, Dec. 24. Regular programming resumes at 6 Thu, Dec. 26.
Books Available Through Faribault
Books broadcast on the Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network are available through the Minnesota Braille and Talking Book Library in Faribault. Call 1-800-722-0550, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon through Fri. The catalog is online at Minnesota DEED’s website; click on the links to find Publications Available and the Programming Schedule. Persons living outside of Minnesota may obtain copies of books via an inter-library loan by contacting their home state’s Network Library for the National Library Service.
Listen to the Minnesota Radio Talking Book, either live or archived programs, on the Internet at https://apps.deed.state.mn.us/ssb/rtb/ or on handheld devices via the SERO app (iOS or Android). Call the Talking Book Library for a password to the site. To find more information about Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network events go to the Facebook site, Minnesota Radio Talking Book Network. Call 1-800-722- 0550, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mon through Fri with questions.
Audio information about the daily book listings is also on the National Federation for the Blind (NFB) Newsline. Register for the NFB Newsline by calling 651-539-1424.
Access Press is featured on It Makes a Difference, 9 p.m. Sundays.
The sampling published monthly in Access Press doesn’t represent the full array of programming. Many more programs and books are available.
Donate to the State Services for the Blind at https://mn.gov/deed/ssb/about/contact/financial-support.jsp
Chautauqua*
Monday – Friday 6 a.m.
The Yugo, nonfiction by Jason Vuic, 2010. The story of the Yugo, an eastern European import car that gained an infamous reputation in the 1980s. Read by Jim Gregorich. Nine broadcasts; begins Thu, Nov. 14.
In Pursuit of Memory, nonfiction by Joseph Jebelli, 2017. Neuroscientist Joseph Jebelli theorizes that Alzheimer’s disease may be eradicated soon. Read by Pat Muir. 11 broadcasts; begins Wed, Nov. 27.
Bookworm*
Monday – Friday noon
The Gift Counselor, fiction by Sheila M. Cronin, 2014. While Jonquil Bloom advises holiday gift shoppers, she’s unable to give her son the gift he wants most. Read by Marylynn Burridge. Eight broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec 19.
Play Dead, fiction by Leslie O’Kane, 1998. Allie Babcock is a dog therapist with a flair for sleuthing. Her first client is a dejected collie, who may have been the only witness to a murder. Read by Dan Gerlach. 12 broadcasts; begins Tue, Dec 31. – V
The Writer’s Voice*
Monday – Friday 1 p.m.
The 13th Gift, nonfiction by Joann Huist Smith, 2014. A family shattered by an unexpected death reclaims the holidays with their unique traditions of kindness. Read by Pat Muir. Six broadcasts; begins Wed, Dec 25.
Choice Reading*
Monday – Friday 2 p.m.
Doc Christmas and the Magic of Trains, fiction by Neil Enock, 2015. An illness at the North Pole puts Christmas at risk. Doc Stevens holds the best hope for a cure – once he finds his holiday spirit. Read by John Mandeville. Six broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec 23.
The Dutch House, fiction by Ann Patchett, 2019. Two young children are left to fend for themselves in a luxurious mansion, after their distressed mother absconds. Read by Myrna Smith. 12 broadcasts; begins Tue, Dec 31.
Night Journey*
Monday – Friday 7 p.m.
D for Daisy, fiction by Nick Aaron, 2017. In World War II a British pilot is killed during a bombing run. His widow Daisy, blind since birth, later learns he was murdered. Read by John Beal. Seven broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec 16. – V
The Noel Diary, fiction by Richard Paul Evans, 2017. A man returns to his late mother’s home at Christmastime, to find a mysterious diary and a woman seeking her own mother. Read by John Holden. Six broadcasts; begins Wed, Dec 25.
Off the Shelf*
Monday – Friday 8 p.m.
Jubal’s Christmas Gift, Fiction by Dennis D. Skirvin, 2019. Jubal Flowers sets out to repay a good deed done for him long ago. Read by John Beal. Four broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec 19.
The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog, fiction by Dave Barry, 2006. Doug Barnes is cast as a shepherd in the Christmas pageant. But the director is stern, Doug’s crush is paired on stage with a charming guy, and the family dog isn’t doing so well. Read by Holly Sylvester. Two broadcasts; begins Wed, Dec 25.
The Weather Machine, nonfiction by Andrew Blum, 2019. Weather forecasting wasn’t possible until the invention of the telegraph in the 19th century. Read by Jim Tarbox. Six broadcasts; begins Fri, Dec 30.
Potpourri*
Monday – Friday 9 p.m.
Snark! The Herald Angels Sing, nonfiction by Lawrence Dorfman, 2011. Bah! Humbug! It’s that time of year again! Humorist Lawrence Dorfman takes a rather cynical look at all the winter holidays. Read by Scott McKinney. Seven broadcasts; begins Tue, Dec 17. – L
The Intelligence Trap, nonfiction by David Robson, 2019. Science journalist David Robson explains how general intelligence is crucial to thinking clearly, but it requires other traits as well. Read by Jack Rossmann. 11 broadcasts; begins Thu, Dec 26.
Good Night Owl*
Monday – Friday 10 p.m.
Ruff Way to Go, fiction by Leslie O’kane, 2000. Allie Babcock is a dog therapist with a flair for sleuthing. While she tends to a terrier called Shogun, a neighbor is murdered, and Shogun goes missing. Read by Karen Ray. 10 broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec 16. – V
RTB After Hours*
Tuesday – Saturday 11 p.m.
The Chain, fiction by Adrian McKinty 2019. For every child kidnapped another must be taken – or else the Chain will be broken, and the children executed. Read by Laura Young. Nine broadcasts; begins Mon, Dec 23. – L, V
Weekend Program Books
Your Personal World, 1 p.m. Sat., presents More Than Enough by Elaine Welteroth (L), read by Beverly Burchett.
For the Younger Set, 11 a.m. Sun, presents Crap Kingdom by D.C. Pierson (L), read by Jim Tarbox.
The Great North, 4 p.m. Sun, presents Iron and Water by Grant J. Merritt, read by Dan Sadoff.
Abbreviations: V – violent content, RE – racial epithets, L – strong language, G – gory descriptions, S – sexual situations
