Hello,

Welcome to Sweet Reads, a place to share favorite literature and appreciation for the spoken word. It originated as a radio program that is no longer on the air but whose spirit is maintained here on behalf of those who remember, as well as those who never heard it.

Christine Sweet Reads was broadcast weekly in Minnesota for a total of 18 years, first on Minnesota Public Radio and later on WCAL. Its elimination from WCAL's program schedule in 2002 closed a remarkable chapter of my career. Through the spoken word I had the privilege of sharing a love of literature with an audience whose devotion to the art of listening continually moved and inspired me. Over time, nature writing came to predominate my selections, the direct result of listeners' response to that genre. I thank you all for your thoughtful attention and your appreciation for the gifts of so many wonderful writers.

In establishing and implementing this website, I'm fortunate to have the assistance of Kurt Indermaur. Many, many thanks to Kurt for generously giving of his time and effort to make this happen.

For me, one of the most enjoyable aspects of the radio program was hearing from listeners that the radio readings sometimes introduced them to authors and books they'd never encountered before. So, I offer recommendations here for books I like and want you to know about. Click on Books to find the latest picks.

Featured on the Readings page are audio samples from my past radio readings. The first consists of selections from the poetry of John F. O'Brien, who has kindly given his permission for their inclusion here. I've added prose in the form of "Gifts" by Ralph Waldo Emerson, from his Self-Reliance and Other Essays.

Since I'm looking for work, my narration demo is accessible to producers under Voiceover. I have voiced numerous radio, television, film, video, and commercial scripts. Medical and other longform narration is a specialty of mine.

I still get inquiries about Readings for the Season, my nationally-distributed holiday series, broadcast on public radio stations from 1987 through 2002. My thanks to those of you who wrote, e-mailed, and called about them over the years. Information about the most recently-aired programs, The Legend of the Christmas Rose and A Tree Full of Stars, can be found under Holidays.

Years ago, I never imagined I would have the opportunity to explain the importance of listener response to my radio program's existence. Many times I was ready to give up on producing the readings, feeling it was too hard to keep up with the recording and the search for material; and it often seemed that at just those moments I would get a card or letter or phone call from someone with words of appreciation and pleasure. And I would think, "Okay, time to get back to work." The inspiration you provided by being there with your minds and hearts was as essential to the process as the way the authors' words transported me when I tried to do justice to them with my interpretations. Listening, you see, is always as important as the telling.

I continue to welcome your comments and opinions on literature here. Send an e-mail with your thoughts and, if you like, your own recommendations for favorite books, to . (Note: bestsellers, while not ineligible, are not the focus of interest.) Your address will be kept private and will not be sold or shared without your permission.

With my best wishes, I look forward to hearing from you.

Christine Sweet