The Quilt Fiction Podcast

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The Quilting Life on the Written Page, as read to you by award-winning author Frances O'Roark Dowell (Birds in the Air, Margaret Goes Modern, Dovey Coe, Shooting the Moon). In Season One, Friendship Album, 1933, tells a heart-warming story of strangers brought together by quilting and made into family. In Season Two, Dowell reads Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. First published in 1907 and set in rural western Kentucky in the late nineteenth century, the book recounts an elderly quilt-maker Aunt Jane’s memories of life in the rural south as told to an unnamed younger woman visitor. The book was hugely popular in its time, reaching over a million readers, and President Theodore Roosevelt was one of Aunt Jane’s biggest fans.

Frances O'Roark Dowell


    • Dec 21, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 25m AVG DURATION
    • 55 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from The Quilt Fiction Podcast

    Railroad Crossing: A Christmas Story — Bess, 1923

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2021 48:32


    In this special holiday edition of the Quilt Fiction Podcast, we return to Milton Falls for Christmas! In this year's story, “Railroad Crossing, Bess: 1923," we find Bess Wilcox getting ready for the holidays -- she's shopping for presents, directing the church pageant, and trying to keep husband Bill from spoiling their three young daughters. When things start to go missing from her pantry shelves, Bess finds herself with a Christmas mystery on her hands!

    Crazy Quilt: A Christmas Story — Eula, 1932

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 18, 2020 45:19


    In this special episode of Quiltfiction, we find Eula Baker doing her best to plan Christmas dinner for two as she remembers happier holidays surrounded by family. When the Christmas spirit finally moves her, it does so in very mysterious ways!

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky - Episode Ten

    Play Episode Listen Later May 22, 2020 31:29


    Welcome to the Quiltfiction Podcast! In this episode, I’ll be reading an abridged version of Chapter Nine of Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. Entitled "The Gardens of Memory," in this chapter Aunt Jane discusses her philosophy of the garden. This is the last episode of the season. Thanks so much for listening!

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky - Episode 9

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2020 33:31


    Welcome to the Quilt Fiction Podcast! In this episode, I’ll be reading the second half of Chapter Eight of Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. Entitled "Mary Andrews' Dinner Party," this is the story of how a woman takes revenge on her miserly husband.    

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky - Episode 8

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2020 35:02


    Welcome to the Quiltfiction Podcast! In this episode, I’ll be reading the first half of Chapter Eight of Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. Entitled "Mary Andrews' Dinner Party," this is the story of how a woman takes revenge on her miserly husband.

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky - Episode Seven

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2020 28:42


    Welcome to the Quiltfiction Podcast! In this episode, I’ll be reading Chapter Seven of Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. Entitled “How Sam Amos Rode in the Tournament” this is the story of the time Sam Amos thought he might win a blue ribbon riding in a horse show--until his horse kept going!

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky - Episode Six

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2020 32:26


    Welcome to the Quiltfiction Podcast! In this episode, I’ll be reading Chapter Six of Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. Entitled “The Baptizing at Kittle Creek” this is the story of how some husbands and wives are destined (predestined?) to spend their marriages arguing about religion.

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky - Episode Five

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2020 41:45


    Welcome to the Quiltfiction Podcast! In this episode, I’ll be reading Chapter Five of Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. Entitled “Milly Baker's Boy” this is the story of how a woman raises her son to be a great man, in spite of difficult circumstances.

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky - Episode Four

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2020 25:24


    Welcome to the Quiltfiction Podcast! In this episode, I’ll be reading Chapter Four of Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. Entitled “Sweet Day of Rest," this is the story of the day Milly Amos came to church and refused to sing.

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky -- Episode Three

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2020 35:50


    In "Aunt Jane's Album," Aunt Jane is giving her quilts an airing out and remembering the time Sarah Jane Mitchell finally won a blue ribbon at the County Fair.

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky - Episode Two

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2020 27:08


    Welcome to the Quiltfiction Podcast! In this episode, I’ll be reading Chapter Two of Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. In this chapter, “The New Organ,” Aunt Jane tells the story of the time the ladies of Goshen Church raise enough money to buy an organ and how the voice of one of their choir members, Uncle Jim Matthews, proves to be a trial and tribulation to the members of their congregation and beyond.

    Aunt Jane of Kentucky - Episode One

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 23, 2020 34:39


    Hello and welcome to Season Two of the Quilt Fiction podcast. In this season, I'll be reading Aunt Jane of Kentucky by Eliza Calvert Hall. First published in 1907 and set in rural western Kentucky in the late nineteenth century, the book recounts an elderly quilt-maker Aunt Jane’s memories of life in the rural south as told to an unnamed younger woman visitor. The book was hugely popular in its time, reaching over a million readers, and President Theodore Roosevelt was one of Aunt Jane’s biggest fans. Because I wanted to get this season up and going, I recorded it under slightly more relaxed standards that Season One. If you hear anybody snoring during the recording, rest assured it’s my dog Travis, who is almost always at my side. Occasionally I stumble over a word, but I just kept going. I hope you don’t mind! I hope you enjoy today’s episode, “Sally Ann’s Experience.” This is a story about the ladies of Goshen church, and in particular, it’s about Sally Ann, who decides it’s finally time to tell the men of the church a thing or two about their shortcomings. I hope you enjoy this funny story of one woman speaking her mind!

    Dresden Plate (Florence 1930): A Friendship Album Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2019 40:11


    In this special episode of the Quiltfiction Podcast, Florence Grangerfield searches for the Christmas spirit in a church soup kitchen. 

    Turkey in the Straw, Bess 1925: A Friendship Album Story

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2019 44:56


    "Turkey in the Straw: Bess, 1925 (A Friendship Album Story)" finds Bess Wilcox preparing for a simple Thanksgiving dinner when the guest list begins to grow exponentially. As a modern woman, she feels she should be able to handle preparing a feast for a large gathering of friends, family and neighbors all by herself. Her new housekeeper, Dorothy Johnson, has her doubts. To listen to "Friendship Album, 1933" and other quilting stories, please visit: QuiltFiction.com Other Quilting Books by Frances O'Roark Dowell Birds in the Air BUY AT AMAZON BUY AT BARNES & NOBLE BUY AT INDIEBOUND Margaret Goes Modern: Quilting Stories Buy at Amazon.com Buy at Indiebound Buy at Barnes & Noble  

    Picnic Basket, 1902 (A Friendship Album Story)

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2019 38:13


    Eighteen-year-old Eula Jean Rhodes is widely regarded as one of the best quilters and cooks in her small farming community of Homerville, Ohio. While some wonder when Eula will marry, Eula wonders who would be interested — and she's not sure if she cares. Life at home with her rambunctious brothers, fun-loving sisters and understanding mother is comfortable and comforting. But when she meets Dan Baker, a farmer with an eye for quilts, she begins to wonder if she might be ready to make a home of her own.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 39

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 26, 2019 25:23


    In the final chapter of the novel, Emmeline is in for a big surprise at the quilt show.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 38

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2019 18:47


    Dorothy recalls a revealing conversation with Emmeline as she gets ready for guests.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 37

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 12, 2019 18:01


    Florence recalls the first time Arthur proposed and the couple ponders a potential future together.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 36

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2019 18:25


    The Wednesday bee expands as Bess ponders whether the time has come for a new beginning.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 35

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 29, 2019 19:32


    Eula passes down kitchen advice to her new daughter-in-law and finally gets the news she's been waiting for.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 34

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 22, 2019 16:30


    Emmeline receives an unexpected offer while mulling over the latest news from Florence.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 33

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 15, 2019 17:20


    Dorothy tries to keep her temper around her stubborn son-in-law -- and discovers an unlikely ally in the process.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 32

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 8, 2019 17:36


    Florence tries her hand at pie-making and makes an unlikely ally in the process.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 31

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2019 18:45


    Father Joe makes Bess an offer she may not be able to refuse.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 30

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2019 18:28


    Eula gets a visit from an old friend and wonders if her farm dreams will ever come true.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 29

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2019 24:16


    Emmeline travels to her hometown to meet her quilting idol.

    Friendship Album, 1933, Episode 28

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2019 18:40


    Dorothy, worried about what the future holds for her family, opens the door to an unexpected visitor.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 27

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2019 22:55


    Florence finally catches up on her stitching in a hotel room in Emporia, Kansas, as she dreams of her business back in Milton Falls.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 26

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2019 17:46


    Bess makes a formidable new friend.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 25

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2019 25:33


    Eula learns the fate of her Sears Contest quilt.

    Bonus Episode: A Friendship Album Christmas, 1932

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2018 36:01


    When Emmeline Grangerfield sets out to make Christmas merry and bright for a group of orphans, things quickly spiral out of control. Will help arrive in time to revive her holiday spirit? It will be up to the quilters of Depression-era Milton Falls, Ohio, to find time for the true meaning of Christmas during the busiest season of the year. In this short story prequel, Frances O’Roark Dowell visits two of the five women who come together to form an improbable quilting circle in her historical novel, Friendship Album, 1933 — which is currently being released as an audiocast one chapter at a time on The QuiltFiction Podcast. Frances O’Roark Dowell is critically-acclaimed author of more than twenty “beloved books for tweens and teenagers” (New York Times Sunday Book Review). In 2016, she founded a small publishing company dedicated to telling the stories of women who quilt. Join her online at QuiltFiction.com.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 24

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2018 16:48


    Emmeline learns the fate of her Sears Contest quilt and hatches a new plan to put her back on the path to quilting fame and fortune.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 23

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2018 19:03


    Dorothy's heart is heavy as she prepares to send her grandchildren to Chicago.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 22

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2018 20:53


    Florence gets an unexpected proposal, while Eula and Emmeline are reeling from some stunning news.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 21

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2018 16:45


    Bess fends of rumors about a possible romance with Joe Mayfield.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 20

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2018 22:43


    Eula gets a surprise visitor and teaches her first quilting class.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 19

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2018 18:07


    Emmeline takes a trip down memory lane to a less happy time.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 18

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2018 18:42


    Dorothy quarrels with Emmeline, only to regret her sharp words.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 17

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2018 22:44


    Florence's new business is booming, and Emmeline seems intent on playing matchmaker, much to her sister-in-law's dismay.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 16

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2018 19:56


    Father Mayfield makes an offer Bess may not be able to refuse.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 15

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 13, 2018 17:45


    Eula considers how she might earn enough money to get her family back on the farm, and the bee members give updates on their Sears Contest quilts.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 14

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 5, 2018 23:08


    Emmeline imagines her life as a famous quilt columnist and plays matchmaker for Florence.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 13

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2018 20:48


    Dorothy gets some much-needed alone time on her walk to work and comes up with a plan to lure Hannah back to Milton Falls.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 12

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 21, 2018 22:47


    Florence gets some help in the kitchen from Arthur, and the members of the bee grow closer as they reveal more about their lives to one another.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 11

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2018 21:59


    Bess eagerly awaits news of the birth of her first grandchild and worries about Helen, who brings home an unexpected guest in the middle of the day.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 10

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 7, 2018 20:14


    Eula dreams of going back to the farm, Dorothy worries about about her family, and a reformed Emmeline auditions her latest quilting column with the Bee.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 9

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2018 37:42


    Dorothy intercepts a letter for Hannah, and Emmeline makes a startling confession. Episode 9 includes an update by the author and a special offer.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 8

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2018 31:10


    Bess meets St. Luke's attractive new rector while Florence makes business plans. 

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 7

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 20, 2018 29:17


    Emmeline publishes a misguided quilt column and Eula tries to make her niece feel at home.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 6

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2018 25:00


    Florence takes a ride and thinks about what might have been, while Dorothy adjusts to life with grandchildren.

    Friendship Album, 1933: Episode 5

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2018 24:14


    Eula gets some news that has her redecorating a bedroom and designing a new quilt. Meanwhile, Bess learns that she'll need to come up with some money fast if she doesn't want to sell her beloved home.

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