Those quiet moments in a relationship when it's just you and your partner.
"Cowboy Nocturne" is a falling in love story by Evan Guilford-Blake. Copyright 2008. An expanded version of "Cowboy Nocturne will appear in Evan's forthcoming short story collection Love and Loss and Love. Read Evan's bio.
Relationships have big dynamic moments, but they also have a lot of everyday moments, those involving "Cereal Bowls and Lukewarm Coffee." By Marika Brooks, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Marika's bio.
Will "The Fart" come between Michael and his lady? By T.E. Cowell, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read T.E.'s bio.
Senior in high school Molly has trouble learning from her elders in "A Nun's Arse." By James Mulhern, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit his website.
The real Joan Galt is here to tell her story in "The Termite Squad: My Official and Authentic Report." By Joan Galt, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit the website, learn the truth...or some version of the truth. Is truth truth anymore?
It's been almost 50 years now. You know what happened. You've seen her picture. But you haven't heard her side of the story...until now. "The Attractive Brunette - Her Looks Now Ruined - Speaks" gives you a backstage pass to a story you thought you knew. By Nan Wigington, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read her bio.
Will the road back end where you think it does? "Espresso Milkshakes in Nederland" is by James McGrath Morris, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read his bio.
Sometimes it's not about what's going on but about who shows up to go through it with you in "Cost of Living." By C.S. O'Cinneide, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read her bio here.
Security guard work has its drawbacks in "The Unfortunate Death of Martin Stephonopolus." By Jakob Weyms, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read his bio here.
We're wrapping up a three day weekend here in the U.S. Maybe you spent it on an artist's retreat. Hopefully, not this kind...
"Inspiration" is to be found on the retreat Joan McIntosh's character is headed to. Copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Joan's bio.
"Paint the Walls Red" with second-time contributor Devyn Millette. Copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Devyn's bio.
What lives in your family history?
One family searches for the real home of "Opa and Oma." By Robert Wexelblatt, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Robert's bio.
Second-time No Extra Words contributor Steven Mayoff tells us the story of "The Two Annes" of Prince Edward Island, Canada...and it isn't the story you think. Copyright 2006, used with permission. Visit Steven's website.
Be wary of those who prepare the food.
In "Pencils at the Ready," the school is ready to meet the new headmaster, although perhaps not in the way he expected. By Sarah Bigham, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Sarah's bio.
In "Just a Microwave Dinner?" those who are behind the food finally speak. By J. Paul Cooper, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read J. Paul's bio.
"Shingle Spit Road" is where what you think you know and what you actually know collide. By Meaghan Hackinen, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Meaghan's bio.
Sometimes life doesn't crack open all at once. Sometimes there's "The Opening." By Edith Gallagher Boyd, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Edith's bio.
"Not Dog People" is a 90-word short story that asks what if. By Jen McConnell, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Jen's website.
Three-time No Extra Words contributor Sally Stevens finishes off today's episode with "Jasper," about the ways we experience the world. Copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Sally's bio.
Being yourself is a constant struggle in "What Does Anyone Remember About High School, Anyway?" By Arden Wren Sawyer, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Arden's bio.
Annabelle is about to have one "Last Night." By Mike Chin, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Mike's website.
"Ben Ailing" isn't sure how he ended up where he did, but there was a reason he was supposed to be there. By Dave Barrett, from his collection Republic, USA. Copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Dave's bio.
"A Sometimes Kind Wolf" by Korey Wallace, is a blast from the past. Copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Korey's bio.
"Firewood" is the story of one man and one day job. By Frank Haberle, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Frank's bio.
Be sure to send us your summer camp flash fiction by July 5.
Those who won't change and the rest of us who get to deal.
Witness the creative destruction of "A New Heart." By Mitchell Krockmalnik Grabois, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read his bio.
Grocery clerks are always the ones who hear your rants in "Blu-Ray/DVD." By Daniel Maluka, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read his bio.
At what point do you get to call out the ridiculous? "Dean's Dilemma" is by Paul Beckman, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit his website.
Did you ever wonder who is reading your submissions? After "The Party," will you wonder if it had remained a mystery. Written and produced by Adam Kluger, copyright 2016, used with permission. Featuring the voice work of Aesha Waks. Read Adam's bio.
Don't miss your chance to be part of our 2016 Summer Camp Special!
It's our special anniversary episode!
"Wrong Number" is a voice mail message from an old friend. Does her friend really want to hear from her right now? Written and read by Sally Stevens. Copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Sally's bio.
"Contrast" takes us on a mission that you feel really never had a chance for success. By William C. Blome, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read William's bio.
This super-sized episode also features listener feedback PLUS listeners' favorite stories from our archives...re-live some favorite moments!
Today's episode is super-sized because it contains some special bonus holiday content at the end.
"Memorial Day" looks closely at an important holiday. By C.M. Gabbett, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read his bio.
In "The Quiet Raspberry Wormhole," if you look at just the right angle you can see back a ways to what was. By Jefferey H. Toney, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Jeffery's bio.
"Yasmina" is the story of a women who has experience great loss adjusting her vision of the future. By Evan Guilford-Blake, copyright 2013, used with permission. Read Evan's bio.
Bonus Memorial Day content: stick around to the end of this one to hear the true story of one American hero.
Sounds from this episode are courtesy of the Free Sound Project. Thank you to freesoundjon01 for the church bells and 18hiltc for "Taps."
50th episode and our one year anniversary coming next week! See you then!
"Saving Andie" is the story of a board room meeting in which the experts must decide whether to launch a rescue mission. By Lars H. Hoffmann, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Lars' website.
In "Sunshine and Asteroids," a disaster survivor is alone in a new world. By Jason J. Nugent, from his anthology (Almost) Average. Copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Jason's website.
"Rewards" is a story of a fantastical person and an ordinary family. By Anne Elizabeth Weisgerber, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Anne's website.
Back in January we had a Contributor Appreciation promotion, where we randomly drew four winners from our list of contributors. They received a prize from our sponsor, Channillo.com and the chance to have an interview feature on the show. Today I am delighted to bring you the last of those interviews.
Brianne's delightful and funny story was featured all the way back in October as part of an episode with strong storytelling voices. She was kind enough to record her answers to my questions about writing, inspiration, and her background and it is an absolutely delightful listen.
I hope you enjoy this special feature, and stay tuned for a new episode with three short stories coming next week.
Please check out our Contributor Appreciation Month sponsor, your home for serialized literature online, Channillo.com
Four stories, four moments, about mothering, motherhood, and this thing called family.
"Chicago, 1965" is one of those wonderful stories that pull you immediately into the writer's experience. By Rhonda C. Poynter, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Rhonda's bio.
"Heaven, Maybe" asks the often unanswerable question "What is this place?" By Jesse Glass, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Jesse's bio.
"Danger in the Summer Moon Above" is about the ongoing search. By Steven Mayoff, copyright 1996, used with permission. Read Steven's bio.
"About Me Being a Big Brother" navigates one of life's many tough transitions. By Audra Kerr Brown, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Audra's bio.
Stay tuned to the end for a Mother's Day guest I hope you'll enjoy...had to bring it your way.
As we approach Mother's Day, the first of two episodes looking at moms, families, and other complicated relationships.
First up, Margaret Adams' untitled piece of microfiction does what microfiction does best: capture a moment. Copyright 2005, used with permission. Visit Margaret's website.
In "The Mother Party," a daughter holds auditions for a most important job. By Rachel Lyon, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Rachel's website.
Sometimes you have to lose everything to know where you are. Sometimes your stuff defines you more than you think.
"Spring Cleaning" is a poem about setting the stuff in the FREE box that you really need to get rid of. By Charles O'Hay, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Charles' website.
Sometimes the things you want to hid away don't really fit into "Storage," the final poem of our National Poetry Month celebration. By Margaret Adams, copyright 2005, used with permission. Visit Margaret's website.
Is eating stuff the best way to get rid of it, asks Len Kuntz in "Oreo." Copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Len's website.
The everyday becomes so powerful it is made illegal in "Soup." By Tino Mori, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Tino's bio.
Celebrating National Poetry Month with six fantastic pieces...five poems of all different styles and feels and one short story. Can you spot who is who?
Kicking off with a little "Perspective." This is the second episode in a row we have shared a piece called "Perspective," and I love how two different authors can go two different ways with it. By Janelle Cordero, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Janelle's bio.
Did you ever wonder what kind of punctuation you would be? Jaclyn Tan does in "Ellipses." Copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Jaclyn's website.
"Apollo" is the story of a dog. Well, sort of. It's really so much more than the story of a dog. By Devyn Millette, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Devyn's bio.
"Kid" is the story of...well, I won't tell you what I thought "Kid" was the story of the first time I read it. I'll just let you listen. By Jen Karetnick, copyright 2013, used with permission. Visit Jen's website.
Do you participate in the "Transoceanic Twitter" as described by Alex Dreppec? If so, you should tweet me. Copyright 2013, used with permission. Visit Alex's website.
Ellen Girardeau Kempler leaves us today with some essential "Travel Tips." You're gonna need them. Copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Ellen's bio.
Back in January we had a Contributor Appreciation promotion, where we randomly drew four winners from our list of contributors. They received a prize from our sponsor, Channillo.com and the chance to have an interview feature on the show. Today I am delighted to bring you the third of those interviews.
Mary's story "Wild Ones" appeared back on Episode 33 in February. She and I had a great chat about writing, reading, and inspiration. We tried to come up with a roller derby writing metaphor and totally cracked the code of the Star Wars franchise. I enjoyed chatting with Mary and hope you enjoy listening in.
Since our chat, Mary has had two new pieces published she hopes you'll check out. One is at weirderary and one is at Loud Zoo.
Please enjoy this special feature and tune in next week for Episode 44, where we play with the line between poem and story.
I hope you'll check out our Contributor Appreciation Month sponsor, your home for serialized literature online, Channillo.com
Happy listening,
Kris
Everyone is sentenced to something on today's two-part poem/story pairing.
Kicking off the first part, second-time podcast contributor Frederick Foote brings us the story of what happens when one man gets the "Goodbye Blues." Copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Frederick's website here.
Paired up with "Goodbye Blues" is t.j. peters' poem "Keel Day" about a most unusual family legacy. Copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit t.j.'s website here.
Susan Moorhead kicks off the second part of today's show with "Perspective," on what happens when you are forced to listen to everyone's opinion. Copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Susan's bio here.
In "Booked," we speculate on if the lawyer is the one being sentenced. By Zac Locke, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Zac's bio here.
Don't forget to send your feedback and cast your vote for the 50th episode coming June 1!
Being somewhere new takes you right out of the place and time you are from.
In "Shells to Call Home," Lisa finds herself in a moment she struggles to hold onto. By Leah Givens, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Leah's bio.
Stephanie Dickinson takes us into National Poetry Month with a sensory prose poem experience in "Big Headed Anna Nurses her Imaginary Baby at Night in the Bayou." Copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Stephanie's website.
Mitchell Krockmalnik Grabois rounds us out with the particular loneliness of a day at sea in "A Cruise Day." Copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Mitchell's bio.
Please don't forget to vote for your favorite story from our archives and send your feedback for our 50th episode!
A celebration of the National Pastime, flash fiction style.
In "The Game of His Life," the life of a ballplayer turns on this one important game. By Jeff Dupuis, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Jeff's bio or hear his previous contribution to the show.
As with all our April episodes, this one contains a poem. "Minors" is a great tribute to minor league baseball in all its glory. By Francis DiClemente, copyright 2012, used with permission. This piece was originally published in his poetry chapbook Pursuit of Infinity (Finishing Line Press.) Visit Francis' website or hear his previous contribution to the show.
There is a special pleasure and a special pain to being a Cubs fan. Angela Lombardo has been there in "1969 All Over Again." Copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Angela's website, where she shares her fabulous work as a cartoonist.
"Spring Tryouts" is the story of one baseball player with more heart than talent. By Eddie Snipes, copyright 2009, used with permission. Visit Eddie's website.
This episode also introduces the podcast "Attagirl: women and girls in baseball." Find Attagirl in iTunes, Stitcher, or your favorite podcast app or check out the community on Facebook.
It was a real pleasure to put together this special episode to commemorate a special day. I hope you enjoy it!
Today is all about young women main characters navigating the life after what happened.
In "Live Action Regret," it's about what you do and don't tell the new boyfriend about your twisted past. By Cynthia Romanowski and read to you in her voice. Copyright 2014, used with permission. Read her awesome bio here.
In "A-88" it's about becoming a woman in a complicated time and place and where you go from there...and what stays behind. By Meher Ali, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit her website.
Maybe it's forever...or maybe it just feels like it.
"Farmer's Wife Turns Hubby Into Scarecrow"...but she had a reason to. Honest. By Sally Stevens, copyright 2009, used with permission. Read Sally's bio here.
"The Cat on Snow" is one of those moments that seem suspended in time. By Tim Frederick, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Tim's website.
"Chickens" is about one woman's move into the country. By Carol Arnett, copyright 2011, used with permission. Read Carol's bio here.