Talking Volumes, the long-running author series from MPR News and the Star Tribune, is rolling out a heavyweight fall slate that kicks off Saturday, Sept. 12, with Marlon James at the O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul. The season keeps the hits coming with Colson Whitehead on Nov. 11, Lucy Foley on Sept. 25, Min Jin Lee on Oct. 4 and Emily St. John Mandel on Nov. 4. Subscriber tickets go on sale at noon Friday, July 10, 2026, with the general public able to grab seats starting at noon Friday, July 17, 2026.
Season announcement and partners
The full lineup and ticket timeline landed this week, as outlined by the Star Tribune. Talking Volumes is produced by MPR News in partnership with the Star Tribune and hosted by Kerri Miller, a familiar presence in the local literary scene who regularly brings national names to Twin Cities stages. The announcement pitches this season as a blend of prize winning literary heavyweights and crowd pleasing page turners, a mix that has become the series’ house style over the years.
Kickoff: Marlon James at O’Shaughnessy
Booker Prize winner Marlon James opens the series on Sept. 12 at The O’Shaughnessy Auditorium, where the event listing pegs individual tickets at $35, with a $30 option for MPR members and Star Tribune subscribers. The O’Shaughnessy site notes assigned seating and a 7 p.m. start time for the season opener. James has deep local ties, and his Macalester College faculty profile notes that he taught at the school, giving the night a bit of a homecoming feel for Twin Cities readers.
Big names and new books
Colson Whitehead is scheduled for Nov. 11 to talk about Cool Machine, the final book in his Harlem Trilogy, which has already attracted national attention. The New Yorker and other early reviewers have treated Cool Machine as one of the marquee literary events of the summer. Thriller readers get their night on Sept. 25, when Lucy Foley turns up to discuss Murder at the Grand Alpine Hotel, a new Miss Marple continuation that reviewers say brings Christie’s iconic sleuth briskly back to life. Min Jin Lee and Emily St. John Mandel close out the run with October and November appearances.
How to buy tickets and what to expect
The O’Shaughnessy ticketing site and event listings contain purchase links and confirm the discounted pricing for subscribers, along with details on assigned seating and any processing fees. Talking Volumes evenings typically feature a main stage conversation, followed by audience Q&A and a short set from a musical guest, a format noted in the season materials. For the full schedule and pricing, check the season notice from the Star Tribune and MPR News, then head to The O’Shaughnessy ticket portal when you are ready to lock in seats.
