Jonathan Carroll - Great literary fantasist. Entertaining daily blog, full of funny observations.
LITERARY MAGAZINES
NewPages.com - I was going to post a list of literary magazines with links, but just giving you this one link is even better. NewPages.com reviews literary magazines on a monthly basis, sometimes refering to individual pieces. Their Literary Magazines List not only has links to the websites of all the major journals, but it also has capsule reviews, descriptions of the types of fiction they publish, and cover photos and stats about the physical journals.
MINNESOTA LITERARY LINKS
Milkweed Editions is a non-profit publisher of poetry, non-fiction, and fiction that intends to "(make) a humane impact on society, in the belief that literature is a transformative art uniquely able to convey the essential experiences of the human heart and spirit." They publish 12-20 books a year, their non-fiction focuses on nature, the World As Home. Their offices are located in the Minneapolis Open Book Building.
The Loft, also non-profit, offers classes, workshops, and lectures for all literary arts. Their website is a great resource in itself, often with interviews, information about local events, and grant opportunities for writers. Most of their events are held in the Open Book Building. They also publish Speakeasy, a national literary magazine.
SASE: The Write Place is a non-profit aiming to help artists in Minnesota. They offer mentorship programs and grants and sponsor readings and other events.
Rain Taxi is a nationally recognized literary review magazine published in Minnesota. They have an online edition with reviews of current fiction, non-fiction, poetry, and graphic novels. You can often pick up free copies at the Open Book, but I'd recommend subscribing if you are interested in keeping abreast of what's being published.
City Pages is a good source for updated local events and culture. This link should take you to the readings/book events segment but they're good for everything from restaurants to music to sports.
Coffee House Press is a non-profit literary publisher seeking to promote underrepresented voices and help shape the national consciousness.
Graywolf Press is a non-profit literary publisher now allied with Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. They publish a wide range of literary work from new to established authors.