No Extra Words one person's search for story

*tap tap* Is this thing on? It's been an unexpectedly long hiatus but while I consider what this show will look like in the future I invite you to listen to Episode 1 of a new project my kid and I cooked up together. Stay in touch!

Today's Book Recommendation You Didn't Ask For is Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle   Other books discussed today: Ronit & Jamil by Pamela L. Laskin No One Ever Asked by Katie Ganshert Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas The Soul of Baseball: a road trip through Buck O'Neil's America by Joe Posanski Called to Create by Jordan Raynor   My #theunreadshelfproject2019 picks (that I know about now): February: Lots of Candles, Plenty of Cake by Anna Quindlen March On Writing: a memoir of the craft by Stephen King April What is Poetry? the essential guide to reading and writing poems by Michael Rosen May The Enchanted Places by Christopher Milne June Imagined London by Anna Quindlen July something from the Virago/Beacon Travelers series October You Can't Win by Jack Black   Find #theundreadshelfproject2019 at instagram.com/theunreadshelf

New style for a new phase of the show! Featuring a recap of nErDCamp Bellingham 2019 and today's Book Recommendation You Didn't Ask For: Goin' Someplace Special by Patricia McKissack.

Join the conversation on Instagramand Goodreads! Today's books on the Advent theme of "Love" are: Christmas in America by Nancy S. Grant. Crescent Books, 1991. The Latke Who Couldn't Stop Screaming: a Christmas Story by Lemony Snicket, illustrated by Lisa Brown. McSweeney's Books, 2007. Mince Pie and Mistletoe by Phyllis McKinley, illustrated by Harold Berson. J.B. Lippincott Company, 1959. Come Let Us Adore Him by Robert J. Morgan. Thomas Nelson, 2005. The Biggest, Most Beautiful Christmas Tree by Amye Rosenberg. Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1985. The Twenty-four Days Before Christmas: an Austin family story by Madeline L'Engle, illustrated by Joe DeVelasco. Harold Shaw Publishers, 1984.  

Join the book conversation over on Instagramand Goodreads! Today's books on the Advent theme "Joy" are:  It's Christmas, David! by David Shannon. The Blue Sky Press, 2010. Merry Christmas Mom and Dad by Mercer Mayer. Western Publishing Company, Inc., 1993. The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore, illustrated by Janet Samuel. WorthyKids/Ideals, 2011. The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell, illustrated by Sergio Leone. Watertower Books, 1962. A Child is Born by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Floyd Cooper. Jump at the Sun Hyperion Books for Children, 2003. Merry Christmas, Big Hungry Bear! by Don and Audrey Wood. The Blue Sky Press, 2003.

The conversation continues on Goodreads and Instagram! Today's books on the Christmas theme of peace are: Santa Clauses: short poems from the North Pole by Bob Raczka, illustrated by Chuck Groenink. Carolrhoda Books, 2014. Winter Lights: a season in poems and quilts by Anna Grossnickle Hines. Greenwillow Books, 2005. Amazing Peace: a Christmas Poem by Maya Angelou. Random House, 2005. A Different Kind of Christmas by Alex Haley. Doubleday, 1988. The Christmas Day Kitten by James Herriot, illustrated by Ruth Brown. St. Martins Press, 1986. Refuge by Anne Booth, illustrated by Sam Usher. Little Brown Books for Young Readers, 2015.  

Today's books: The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R. Tolkien. George Allen & Unwin, 1976. Santa's Crash-Bang Christmas by Steven Kroll, illustrated by Tomie DePaola. Xerox Education Publications, 1977. Frosty the Snow Man retold by Annie North Bedford, illustrated by Corinne Malvern. Western Publishing, Inc., 1977 (28th Printing.) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Barbara Shook Hazen, illustrated by Richard Scarry. Western Publishing, Inc., 1976. Santa's Toy Shop, adapted by Al Dempster, illustrations by the Walt Disney Studio. Western Publishing, Inc., 1980 (22nd Printing.) The Polar Express, written and illustrated by Chris van Allsburg. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1985. Other Notes: Hay-on-Wye, Wales's City of Books  

Today's books are: The Baby-Sitters Club (series) by Ann M. Martin. Scholastic, 1986-2000 Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan. Knopf Books for Young Readers, 2003. Other books mentioned on today's episode: Harry: a history by Melissa Anelli. Penguin Group, 2008. Dear Genius: the letters of Ursula Nordstrom, edited by Leonard S. Marcus. HarperCollins, 2000. (my apologies for my mistake in the episode. Ursula Nordstrom was with Harper & Row, not Random House.) I'll Get There. It Better be Worth the Trip by John Donovan. Harper & Row, 1969. Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden. Farrar Straus Giroux, 1982. Geography Club by Brent Hartinger. HarperCollins, 2003. Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan. Dutton Books, 2010. Other Things Discussed Today: Scholastic Book Orders The Baby-Sitters Club Movie Ann M. Martin "The Gay YA" book recommendations website Banned Books Week Baby-Sitters Graphic Novels Raina Telgemeier The Bechdel Test The Baby-Sitters Club Club Podcast Please Find Me on Social Media! Goodreads Twitter Instagram Facebook  

Today's books are: Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery. McClelland and Stewart, 1921. The Summer Before the War by Helen Simonson. Random House, 2016. Other things discussed today: Hardcore History podcast The War Poets at Westminster Abbey John McRae The text of "The Piper" from The Blythes are Quoted  

Today's books are: Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery. McClelland, Goodchild, and Stewart, 1917. Betsy's Wedding by Maud Hart Lovelace. Thomas Y Crowell Co., 1955. Other things discussed today: Episode 112, when we first talked about Betsy A list of the Betsy books The "Anne With an E" TV series. The 1980s Kevin Sullivan Anne miniseries Nancy Pearl, rock star librarian Tammy Duckworth and her newborn daughter in the U.S. Senate

Today's books are: Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery. L.C. Page & Co., 1915. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. Roberts Brothers, 1868-1869. Other things discussed today: #12daysofannestagram on Instagram ProposalGate! Who copied who? Here's a blog post on the topic or skip right to the video (bad quality.) Louisa May Alcott as covered by The History Chicks Some wild speculation on the men in Louisa May Alcott's life. Tune in next episode for Anne's House of Dreams with Betsy's Wedding by Maude Hart Lovelace.

Today's books are: Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery. L.C. Page & Company, 1909. What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day by Pearl Cleage. Avon Books, Inc., 1997. Other things discussed today: #12daysofannestagram The history of Oprah's book club. Camp Nanowrimo

Today's books are: Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. L.C. Page & Company, 1908 Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery. Frederick A. Stokes, 1923. Other things discussed today: #12daysofannestagram Instagram accounts @carrottoppapershop and @thebooksellersdaughter The History Chicks episode on L.M. Montgomery Anne movies: the 1919 silent film, the 1934 film (yes, that actress did change her name to "Anne Shirley" for the role, and the 1985 miniseries. The Anne of Green Gables musical. The newest graphic novel version. The new TV series "Anne With an E" The TV series "Road to Avonlea" Is Emily in the public domain? It was published in 1923. If you can decipher this chart to tell, you're smarter than I am. "The Alpine Path" and the poem that inspired both L.M. Montgomery and Emily.  

A special episode in which I tell you the story of a guy named Dewey (or sometimes Dui,) some numbers, and the democratization of American libraries. Here's an overview of all the categories and call numbers. See you soon for the first of our Anne of Green Gables summer series. In the meantime, are you following the #12DaysofAnnestagram? You should be, because it is delicious...

Today's books are: "B" is for Betsy by Carolyn Haywood. Harcourt, Brace, & Co., 1939. Betsy-Tacy by Maud Hart Lovelace. HarperCollins, 1940. Blog posts about Carolyn Haywood from the Free Library of Philadelphia: Part 1 Part 2 Complete list of Betsy-Tacy books with synopses Thank you for being here for this our 3rd anniversary episode. Find our first anniversary episode here. And our second anniversary episode here.

Watch the full 2 hour PBS launch special here. Check out the full list of nominees. Find me on Goodreads and join the conversation.

Today's books are: The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats. Viking, 1962. A Poem for Peter by Andrea Davis Pinkney. Viking, 2016. Other things discussed in this episode: Ezra Jack Keats's former collaborator talks about him. Andrea Davis Pinkney's website.

Today's books are: Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude is Gertrude by Jonah Winter. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2009. (not pictured) A River of Words: the story of William Carlos Williams by Jen Bryant. Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2008. Pablo Neruda: poet of the people by Monica Brown. Henry Holt and Company, 2011. Other links and notes from the show: Some notes on the current Golden Age of Picture Books    Horn Book's history of the picture book biography.  The Sibert Medal, given by ALSC, awarding informational writing for children. Booklist interview with Jonah Winter, in which he talks about the similarities between picture books and poetry Jonah Winter's website How to read Gertrude Stein from Boston University Full text of "Sacred Emily" by Gertrude Stein.  

Today's books are: Hip Hop Speaks to Children: a celebration of poetry with a beat, edited by Nikki Giovanni. Sourcebooks, Inc., 2008 Out of Wonder: poems celebrating poets by Kwame Alexander. Candlewick Press, 2017. Links to some of the things we talked about today: poets.org on National Poetry Month Last year's Poetry Month conversation with poet Kelly Russell Agodon on No Extra Words Poet James Berry, who was featured in Hip Hop Speaks to Children Tupac as most profane hip hop artist The Atlantic on what is a poem NPR conversation on Out of Wonder  

Today's books are: Squeeze Play: a novel by Jane Leavy. Doubleday, 1990. (Not pictured. In his younger days, my little baseball fan tore the cover off my copy.) Wait Till Next Year by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Simon & Schuster, 1997. She Loved Baseball: the Effa Manley story by Audrey Vernick. Balzer & Bray, 2010. Other books mentioned: Queen of the Diamond: the Lizzie Murphy story by Emily Arnold McCully. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2015. Girl Wonder: a baseball story in nine innings by Deborah Hopkinson. Atheneum, 2003. The Streak: how Joe DiMaggio became America's hero by Barb Rosenstock. Calkins Creek, 2014 Links to things discussed today: The Attagirl podcast episode on Effa Manley The Negro Leagues Museum Twitter account Doris Kearns Goodwin's bibliography

Today's books are: A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005 Little Leaders: bold women in black history by Vashti Harrison. Little, Brown, and Company 2017. Other books I spoke of quite a bit are: Carver: a life in poems by Marilyn Nelson. Front Street, 2001. How I Discovered Poetry by Marilyn Nelson. Dial Books, 2014. Links to some things we talked about today. The interview where Marilyn Nelson discussed the initial discussion about Emmett Till. Vashti Harrison's Instagram account. Vashti Harrison's interview in School Library Journal.

Today we're talking about a book we once knew well. A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L'Engle. Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 1962. Thank you to today's special guest who stopped by to talk Wrinkle with me. Check out his other appearance on the show.  

Today's books: Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder. HarperCollins, 1932. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. HarperCollins, 1935. Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder. HarperCollins, 1933. On the Banks of Plum Creek by Laura Ingalls Wilder. HarperCollins, 1937. By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder. HarperCollins, 1939. The Long Winter by Laura Ingalls Wilder. HarperCollins, 1940. Little Town on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. HarperCollins, 1941. These Happy Golden Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder, HarperCollins, 1943. The First Four Years by Laura Ingalls Wilder. HarperCollins, 1971. Hattie Big Sky by Kirby Larson. Delacorte Press, 2006. Links to some of the things we talked about today: The History Chicks podcast episode on Laura Ingalls Wilder. Some basic info on the Homestead Act . Links to the two charts about number of Homestead Final Patents: 5 year increments, 10 year increments. Montana specific Homestead Act Info. Roger Lea MacBride's obituary. Little House as a teachable moment. Little House from the American Indians in Children's Literature blog.

Today's books are: The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams Bianco. Doubleday, 1922. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo. Candlewick Press, 2006.

Today's books are: Charles and Emma: the Darwins' leap of faith by Deborah Heiligman. Henry Holt & Company, 2008. Nothing Ever Happens on 90th Street by Roni Schotter. Scholastic, Inc., 1997. Some things we talked about today: Deborah Heiligman's interview with Brown's alumni magazine. Deborah Heiligman's husband Jonathan Weiner Roni Schotter's website Other sources used for this episode include: Washington Post Article about Charles and Emma  Interview with Deborah Heiligman 

Today's books are: Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak. HarperCollins, 1963. A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz. Dutton Books for Young Readers, 2010. Read this fabulous article on the career of children's book editor Ursula Nordstrom. Her collection of letters, Dear Genius, is very high on my to-read list. You must see Maurice Sendak on The Colbert Report. Here's the link to Part 1. And Part 2. Find out about Adam Gidwitz and his life goals on his website. Last and most sadly, here's that Pew research on Americans who don't read books. Please come see me on Goodreads!

Today we're talking book pairings and why this is the new format. Today's books are: Never in a Hurry: essays on people and places by Naomi Shihab Nye. University of South Carolina Press, 1996 When Wanderers Cease to Roam: a traveler's journal of staying put by Vivian Swift. Bloomsbury, 2008. Naomi reads her poem "Please Describe How you Became a Writer." Full transcript of Naomi's "On Being" interview with Kristen Tippett. Vivian's 2013 interview Vivian's delightful blog For information on all the other books we discussed today, check out Kris on Goodreads.  

"An Ode to Rejection" is by Marlene Woods, copyright 2018, used with permission. Marlene originally published this poem on her website iloveyougram.com. Read Marlene's bio. Special guest in studio today: James! The books James talked about are: Pocketful of Nonsense by James Marshall. Little Golden Books, 1992 Not a Box by Antoinette Portis. HarperCollins, 1996 President Squid by Aaron Reynolds. Chronicle Books, 2016 My First Book of Baseball by Sports Illustrated Kids. Sports Illustrated, 2016 The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley. Scholastic Press, 2001. Thank you so much to Adam Kluger and Francis DiClemente for sending us feedback about favorite authors. Check out Francis's bio. Read Adam's bio or check out his collection Desperate Times. Special guest in studio today: Josh! The books Josh talked about are: The House With a Clock in its Walls by John Bellairs. Dial Books, 1973 A Scanner Darkly by Philip K. Dick. Vintage Books, 1991 It by Stephen King. New English Library, 1987 Bigfoot and Joshua by Peggy and Bob Bishop. John Hinde Limited, 2008 11 Experiments that Failed by Jenny Offill. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2011. 17 Things I'm Not Allowed to do Anymore by Jenny Offill. Schwartz & Wade Books, 2004. The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins by Dr. Seuss. Random House, 1938. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White. HarperCollins, 1952. We also talked Nancy Pearl today! Hear her on our local public radio station. See you next week for season 2!! Kris  

It was my privilege to put together this episode on an important topic and I can't begin to express my gratitude to our contributors and to my wonderful support community who made it possible. "Family Planning" is by Tina Tocco, copyright 2005, used with permission. It was originally published in Harper Palate Winter/Spring 2013 issue. Read Tina's bio and her her previous contributions to the show. "Choose" is by Mary O'Keefe Brady, copyright 2017, used with permission. Read Mary's bio. "Single Sexless Mother" is by Linda Bonney, copyright 2017, used with permission. Read Linda's bio. "A Whale of a Choice" is by Rebekah Nemethy, copyright 2017, used with permission. Visit Rebekah's website. Rebekah created this piece on her website originally for a Photo and 100 Words project, visit our website to see the photo that inspired the story. Other things discussed today: "A Private Matter" is a made for TV movie based on the true life story of "Miss Shari" Finkbine, a Romper Room TV show host who sought an abortion after taking a medication that was proven to cause birth defects. Thank you so much to Cynthia Bemis Abrams of the Advanced TV Herstory podcast for sharing Miss Shari's story on her show and introducing me to the movie. The movie is available on YouTube. Time Magazine has a great history of marital rape laws in the United States. The full text of the Roe v. Wade decision is available online. As all documents created by the U.S. Federal Government are, it is in the public domain.  

There are things we say, things we don't say, and things we say no one hears. The writer's buddy, "The Quizzical Lizard," is able to tell her what he really wants. By Anna Kander, copyright 2017, used with permission. Visit Anna's website. When the world falls apart it is the "Death of a Small Civilization." By Brittany Bronson, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Brittany's bio.

Today we close out our Best of No Extra Words series with the best of 2017, which means we are once again headed out on the road for a poetry field trip and we're bringing some short fiction along for the ride. This episode features all of Episode 79 with a new editor's commentary. For those who love books, they become almost human beings standing there in their "Dust Jackets." By Samantha Dutton, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Samantha's bio. Some things just cannot be escaped, especially "The Curse of the Virgin." By Richard Sensenbrenner, copyright 1992, used with permission. Read Richard's bio. In the first ever installment of our Poet's Corner segment, Kelli Russell Agodon invited me into her office where she shares poetry and we discuss poetry, small presses, and the importance of finding your voice. Visit Kelli's website or the website for Two Sylvias Press. For photos of the field trip I took to see Kelli, check out the original post for Episode 79. All editors are the same, such sticklers about reading the "Guidelines." by T.E. Cowell, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read T.E.'s bio.  

The second in a three part series of reruns celebrating No Extra Words history...because if you don't know your No Extra Words history you are doomed to repeat it. Today we revisit Episode 51: Curmudgeons and Incorrigibles. 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. Read his bio. 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. One more rerun is coming in 2 weeks...see you then

After sharing with you my prep work for this year's madcap novel writing adventure, I had to pop back in and tell you how it went and what happened. My goal tracker did change over the month. Here's the original version, here's my midmonth edit, and here's what it looked like on the day that I finished. For highlights of The Great Train Write-in, check out the show notes for this episode.

Happy holidays! Today we start a 3-part series where we revisit favorite moments from the show's history. Our first repeat is Episode 6: The Microfiction Triumvirate. This episode, the shortest in the show's history, contains only stories less than 400 words long. In “On/Off” by Taylor Eaton, a small boy uses a magical power no one else can see. Copyright 2015 by Taylor Eaton, used with permission. Read Taylor's bio. In “Selkie” by Lisa Falzon, a mythical creature does not do what the myth says she will do. Copyright 2014 by Lisa Falzon, used with permission. Read Lisa's bio. In “Requiem: for piano” by Nancy Stohlman a man’s true love is becoming something he loves, but her transition will come between them. Previously published in “Literary Oprhans,” copyright 2012 by Nancy Stohlman, used with permission. Read Nancy's bio. The story featured in the commentary is "Semicolon," by Kris Baker Dersch, copyright 2015. You'll hear the episode in its entirety with all-new commentary by the producer/editor. Stay tuned for more reruns coming in December!

Timing is everything. The "Laundromat" is not what you expected. By Paul Rousseau, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Paul's bio. Things look different from the "Beyond." By Francis DiClemente, copyright 2015, used with permission. Originally published in The Siren's Call, issue #24, December 2015. Visit Francis's website. The third part of our three-part NaNoWriMo segment. Are you writing? How? Be my buddy! is there just one story of how "He Died?" By A. Elizabeth Herting, copyright 2017, used with permission. Originally published in Literally Stories in June 2017. Visit A. Elizabeth's website.

Happy Halloween, No Extra Words style! Caught by cops will never feel the same after you've had a little "Night Vision." By Michael Anthony, copyright 2017, used with permission. Read Michael's bio. For our segment today, Part 2 of my NaNoWriMo prep journey. Click here to see the spreadsheet I've created to help me track my word goals. You probably wouldn't want your significant other to try "The Experiment" on you. By T.E. Cowell, copyright 2015, used with permission. Previously published in Eunoia Review, 2015. Read T.E.'s bio.

We're showing where all the broken pieces are. Carefully prepping which face we show the world in "Kintsugi." By Jaclyn Tan, copyright 2017, used with permission. Visit Jaclyn's website. New segment! I talk all about my NaNoWriMo prep. Learn all about NaNoWriMo and be my writing buddy. With love sent to our friends in Vegas, we survive a long night "All the Hard Ways." By Dan Hernandez, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Dan's website.

Clarissa's meticulously organized life wanders off track in "The Planner." By Catherine Moscatt, copyright 2017, used with permission. Read Catherine's bio. Tears are the weapon in "Reading a Letter." By J. Franklin, copyright 2017, used with permission. Read her bio. Nonfiction break: "Death of a Luna Moth." By Paul Rousseau, copyright 2017, used with permission. Read Paul's bio. Click here and here to see photos of the luna moth taken by Paul.  We are all made of stardust and there are "No Failed Stars." By A.E. Harrison, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read A.E.'s bio. One day is "How it All Starts." By T.E. Cowell, copyright 2016, used with permission. Originally published in Across the Margin. Read T.E.'s bio.  

Good and bad are closer together than you think. She didn't know what "The Law of Buoyancy" would come to mean in her family. By Brittni MacKenzie Dale, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Brittni's bio. He's lost "26" but won't lose anymore. Buy Guy Wilkinson, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Guy's bio.  

The back to school episode is so much more than that. It's the lesson that's not in the curriculum but one we all remember learning in "Read Across America." By Jeff Bakkensen, copyright 2010, used with permission. Read Jeff's bio. Today's commentary was inspired by Robert Fulgham's All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. Read an excerpt here. The podcast mentioned is The Stoop Podcast. Today's writing spaces segment features Audra Kerr Brown, who first appeared on Episode 47. Click here to see her writing space. Also featured is M. Pepper Langlinais, who was first featured on Episode 34. Click here to see her writing space. We end this episode with the childhood joy of the "Uncovered Track." By Matt Page, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Matt's website.  

What do you see when you look into the eye of humanity? A chance encounter with a stranger on a train makes a woman wonder who is friend and who is stranger in "The Good Samaritan." By Mary J. Breen, copyright 2011, used with permission. Read Mary's bio. First round of a new segment! "I'm a Meme Writer" features "After I Finished my Salad..." by Kris Baker Dersch, copyright 2017. Rental of a place sight unseen leads to "The Lonely Key." By Joan MacIntosh, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Joan's bio.

I'm here on a special episode to ask women writers to share stories about an issue important to all of us. Literature is a powerful thing and in 2018 we are going to be brave and tackle big truths head-on.

The world is always on the verge of exploding and reinventing itself. "A Town Built on Salt" is on a shaky foundation indeed. By Windy Lynn Harris, copyright 2014, used with permission. This piece was originally published in Crack the Spine in April 2015, issue 147. Visit Windy's website. Hanako's world is very small and carefully observed, but observers miss things in "Hanako Learns to Count." By Sean Patrick Whiteley, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Sean's bio. Today's Writing Spaces features longtime friend of the show and repeat contributor Dr. Jeffrey Toney. He was originally featured on Episode 49 and was part of Episode 82's drabble spectacular. Click here to see his writing space. There are the things you see about a person, and things you don't, especially when that person is "Watermelon." By Lisa Ko, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Lisa's bio.

There are the ties that bind and those we run from. Jim Szabo's six word story is the beginning of (a beautiful?) marriage. Copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Jim's bio or find him on the Second Hand Stories Podcast. Five-time No Extra Words contributor Tina Tocco ponders whether you really can go home in "That Boy's a Catch." Copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Tina's bio. Writing Spaces for Episode 86 features Dallas Woodburn, who first appeared with us back on Episode 28. Click here to see her writing space. We are also featuring Sheila Good, whose story was featured on Episode 35. Click here to see her writing space. Sometimes escape takes you away from something. Sometimes it takes you towards something. "Moira Actually" is by Adam Kluger and voiced by Bill Tush. Copyright 2016, used with permission. People aren't perfect, but there's perfection in the imperfection, like when your girlfriend gets "Sweaty." By T.E. Cowell, copyright 2017, used with permission. Read T.E.'s bio.