The Quilt Fiction Podcast

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!

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!

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!

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.    

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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)" 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  

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Emmeline travels to her hometown to meet her quilting idol.

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

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

Bess makes a formidable new friend.

Eula learns the fate of her Sears Contest quilt.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.