Podcasts about short fiction

Author and friend of the show, Alyssa Wong, returned to the show to discuss all things The High Republic, Doctor Aphra, their writing journey, and more!Reflecting on Doctor AphraThe Luminous Authors' trip to DisneylandStar Wars CelebrationThe end of The High Republic EraThe Battle of Eriadu One-Shot ComicDriggit Parse and Ruu!Their writing journeyWhat's coming next!Find Alyssa on Twitter @crashwong and keep a lookout for new announcements coming soon!Follow the show at forcetimepod on Instagram and TikTok! Leave us a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify if you enjoy the show!  "Robobozo" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com)Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0http://incompetech.com/creativecommons/by/4.0   

Sailing in the Mediterranean Episode 290 Interview with Matthew Bracken Version 1.0.0 From Navy SEAL to Novelist and Bluewater Sailor: Meet Matthew Bracken In this episode of the podcast, we welcome Matthew Bracken—a man whose life reads like an adventure novel. A former Navy SEAL and lifelong sailor, Bracken is best known for his action-packed political thrillers that blend real-world tensions with gripping, character-driven plots. But what truly sets him apart is his deep connection to the sea. After serving in the Navy, Bracken didn't just settle into civilian life—he sailed off into it. He spent years living aboard and voyaging across oceans on his own sailboat. His time at sea gave him a firsthand look at self-reliance, freedom, and the raw edge of adventure. These themes echo powerfully throughout his fiction. Matthew Bracken's Books 1. Enemies Foreign and Domestic (2003)The first in the Enemies trilogy. A rogue federal agent stages a mass shooting to justify draconian gun laws. A retired SEAL and a sharp-eyed journalist race to uncover the truth. It's a chilling tale of government overreach and personal courage. 2. Domestic Enemies: The Reconquista (2006)Set in a fractured near-future America, the story imagines the Southwest under separatist control. With borders dissolving and loyalties shifting, Bracken explores nationalism, identity, and civil conflict. 3. Foreign Enemies and Traitors (2009)The trilogy concludes with the rise of a tyrannical president who invites foreign troops onto U.S. soil. Resistance forces fight back in a gripping climax of betrayal, bravery, and rebellion. 4. Castigo Cay (2011)A true sailor's thriller. Dan Kilmer, a former Marine turned outlaw sailor, becomes involved in rescuing a kidnapped girl from a Caribbean crime cartel. This one draws heavily on Bracken's own sailing experiences—and it shows. 5. The Red Cliffs of Zerhoun (2016)A group of Americans is kidnapped by jihadists in North Africa. With strong echoes of historical captivity narratives, this story blends action, cultural conflict, and survival. 6. The Bracken Collection: Essays and Short Fiction (2019)A mix of political essays, short stories, and thought experiments—this collection offers a look into Bracken's worldview beyond the world of fiction. 7. Doomsday Reef (2020)Bracken returns to nautical action in this maritime adventure set in the South China Sea. With rising international tensions and a cast of rogue seafarers, it's a modern-day pirate story laced with geopolitics.

Three translations of a classic, high brow literary fiction, a great book from a friend of and mine then a whole lot of pulp. Also something that might be the beginnings of a book by Neal Stephenson.

Send us a textEp 589: Cheating with My Husband's Mentor by Evie Dawn. Lydia gets taken by the boss in taboo forbidden secretive acts...while she can see her husband. She's justified though, so it's all the pleasure and none of the guilt.About the Author:Evie Dawn is an author of extra spicy romantic erotica with a soft spot for forbidden love and slutty women who aren't afraid to explore their desires outside the confines of marriage. In every book, you'll find cheating wives discovering that true love sometimes lies in the arms of their affair partners and that a HEA can come in the most unexpected ways.Charity anthology:Get the spicy book! Erotica excerpt from: the charity anthology fiction book Not So Guilty Pleasures: 45+ Filthy Stories for a Cause, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN FOR HELP WITH HURRICANE & DISASTER FIRE RELIEF https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/charityanthology (any money made from my affiliate link usage to buy the anthology will also be donated to the same charity). It is also in Kindle Unlimited (for a limited time).Not-So-Guilty Pleasures is a charity anthology benefiting World Central Kitchen (for help with the hurricane and other disaster relief). The anthology is only available for a limited time so act now!Enjoy storytelling erotic audio about spicy romance relationships, swingers, hot erotica stories, erotica romance, and self care for you! Take time to pay attention to your mental health sexual health. Pleasure is your birthright!Get Podcast Host Ruan's new spicy open door Romantasy Novella: Overcoming Heartache https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/overcomingheartacheRuan's smut, erotica, erotic romance fiction books and audiobooks: http://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/Support the showSubscribe for exclusives: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge NO AI TRAINING

Somewhere deep in the woods, there's a place that only appears when called — a place that promises everything you desire… but takes more than you ever expected.Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateIN THIS EPISODE: It's #Thriller Thursday! “The Room Where The Stars Live” *** “The Trunk” *** “Eight O'Clock In The Morning” *** Wonderland (Carnival of Desires)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Show Open (Coming Up In This Episode)00:02:18.112 = Wonderland, Part 100:17:14.822 = Wonderland, Part 200:45:18.219 = Wonderland, Part 301:04:50.017 = Eight O'Clock In The Morning01:18:55.789 = The Room Where The Stars Live01:31:57.520 = The Trunk01:58:15.520 = Show Close, Verse, and Final ThoughtSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“Wonderland” by Riley Vanderlip: https://www.creepypasta.com/wonderland-2/“Eight O'Clock in the Morning” by Ray Nelson: (Link no longer available)“The Room Where The Stars Live” from Quiet Please: https://tinyurl.com/y6nedu5t“The Trunk” by J.M. Cennamo: https://tinyurl.com/yyt88343=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: November 19, 2020EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/CarnivalOfDesires

Transform your rough draft into polished prose in this crucial third session. You'll learn to strengthen character arcs, develop thematic depth, and enhance your unique voice through strategic revision choices. We will share a key scene and receive targeted feedback from our fellow participants. These revision techniques will not only elevate your current story but become valuable tools for all your future writing projects. ----------------- Try out Dabble free for 14 days and see why it's the best writing tool on the planet—no credit card required! Visit our website at www.dabblewriter.com to get started. Subscribe to our channel for more live events like author interviews, Word Sprints, and Fireside Chats. We're all about helping authors hone their craft with engaging, fun, and educational content. On top of all that, Dabble Premium members get access to exclusive content like Office Hours, Premium Workshops, Deep Dive articles, bonus resources, and guest speaker workshops. Happy writing!

Complete your short story journey with this final session focused on polishing and celebration of your accomplishment. We will share insider techniques for effective line editing, crafting satisfying endings, and selecting titles that capture your story's essence. We will read from our work, reflect on our progress, and receive feedback. Beyond completing a publishable short story, we'll leave with sustainable writing habits, revision confidence, and a clear roadmap for our next creative steps. ----------------- Try out Dabble free for 14 days and see why it's the best writing tool on the planet—no credit card required! Visit our website at www.dabblewriter.com to get started. Subscribe to our channel for more live events like author interviews, Word Sprints, and Fireside Chats. We're all about helping authors hone their craft with engaging, fun, and educational content. On top of all that, Dabble Premium members get access to exclusive content like Office Hours, Premium Workshops, Deep Dive articles, bonus resources, and guest speaker workshops. Happy writing!

On this month's episode, host Nicole Flattery is joined by Paula Dias Garcia and James Young to read from and discuss their stories featured in the Winter 2024-25 issue of The Stinging Fly Issue 51 Volume Two.Paula's story, ‘The Woods' can be found on page 193, and James' story, ‘Long Term Parking', can be found on page 154.Paula Dias Garcia is a queer writer and designer from Brasília, with an MA in Creative Writing from the University of Limerick. Their works have been published in The Stinging Fly, Analog SF&F, Channel, The Ogham Stone, Silver Apples and Riverbed Review. Currently, they're the artistic director for Sans. PRESS.James Young is a writer from Northern Ireland. His short stories have appeared in a wide range of publications and been shortlisted for the Sean O'Faolain, Wasafiri, Fish, and Bath prizes. He is the co-editor of Short Fiction literary journal and runs the Hastings Writers Workshop, a creative writing centre. He is also a translator, and his translation of The Love of Singular Men by the Brazilian author Victor Heringer was a finalist for the 2024 National Book Critics Circle Awards John Leonard Prize and the ALTA First Translation Prize, won the 2024 Jabuti Prize for the best Brazilian novel published abroad, and was runner-up for the Society of Authors/Translators Association First Translation Prize.Nicole Flattery is a writer and critic. Her story collection Show Them A Good Time, was published by The Stinging Fly and Bloomsbury in 2019. Her first novel, Nothing Special, was published by Bloomsbury in 2023.The Stinging Fly Podcast invites writers from the latest issue of The Stinging Fly to read and discuss their work. Previous episodes of the podcast can be found here. The podcast's theme music is ‘Sale of Lakes', by Divan. All of the Stinging Fly archive is available to subscribers.

This time we discussed The Tomb of Dragons, Book 3 of The Cemeteries of Amalo, written by Katherine Addison and narrated by Liam Gerrard. We also discussed some of our favorite recent short fiction listens in our short fiction spotlight. The Tomb of Dragons [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby]   It's Storytime with Wil Wheaton [Website] The Witness for the Dead [Libro.fm] / [

A lone coroner reads from the diary of a dead man while a jury of weathered woodsmen listens, but as the inquest unfolds, the terrifying truth begins to emerge—something unseen, something impossible, has left its mark on the body, and it's still out there.IN THIS EPISODE: It's #ThrillerThursday (a.k.a. “Creepypasta Thursday) and this week I'm bringing you ELEVEN short horror stories of fiction!CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate)…00:00:00.000 = Disclaimer and Show Open00:02:51.594 = The Damned Thing, Chapter 01 (Ambrose Bierce)00:09:15.468 = The Damned Thing, Chapter 02 (Ambrose Bierce)00:16:14.113 = The Damned Thing, Chapter 03 (Ambrose Bierce)00:20:05.874 = The Damned Thing, Chapter 04 (Ambrose Bierce)00:27:06.144 = My Grandmother Left Behind Some Really Dark Secrets (Evelyn Bertrand)00:43:29.144 = The Blood Keeper (Christopher Maxim)01:01:01.763 = A Diner Open 24-Hours a Day (Christopher Maxim)01:23:35.119 = I Followed Her Home (Christopher Maxim)01:39:12.832 = The Monster In The Pantry (Christopher Maxim)01:54:05.378 = My Wife Has a Removable Face (r/NSLewis)02:09:06.305 = The Asylum In The Woods (r/RLRogers)02:24:36.925 = Secret Bar, Part 1 (K. Banning Kellum)02:45:03.580 = Secret Bar, Part 2 (K. Banning Kellum)02:58:33.479 = The Statement of Randolph Carter (H.P. Lovecraft)03:15:24.625 = Show Close, Verse, and Final ThoughtSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Damned Thing” by Ambrose Bierce: https://tinyurl.com/y6amz952“My Grandmother Left Behind Some Really Dark Secrets” by Evelyn Bertrand: https://tinyurl.com/yy8gx627“I Followed Her Home”, “The Blood Keepers”, “A Diner Open 24-Hours a Day”, and “The Monster in the Pantry” were all written by Christopher Maxim at https://www.reddit.com/r/ChristopherMaxim/ and at http://www.CreepyFiction.com. Christopher is extremely generous to allow me to narrate his stories for free to use in Weird Darkness. Please consider sending him a thank-you donation through PayPal if you enjoyed his stories. You can send a gift to him using PayPal or a credit/debit card by clicking this link: https://tinyurl.com/y3gvvlzg“The Statement of Randolph Carter” by H.P. Lovecraft: https://www.creepypasta.com/the-statement-of-randolph-carter/“My Wife Has a Removable Face” by Redditor N.S. Lewis: https://www.creepypasta.com/my-wife-has-a-removable-face/“The Asylum In The Woods” by Redditor R.L. Rogers: https://www.creepypasta.com/the-asylum-in-the-woods/“Secret Bar” by K. Banning Kellum: https://www.creepypasta.com/secret-bar/ (find more creepiness in K. Banning Kellum's book “Gris Gris and Ju Ju, A New Orleans Horror” https://amzn.to/2EaYeH6)=====Darkness Syndicate members get the ad-free version. https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateInfo on the next LIVE SCREAM event. https://weirddarkness.com/LiveScreamInfo on the next WEIRDO WATCH PARTY event. https://weirddarkness.com/TV=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: September 17, 2020EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/TheDamnedThing

Mary Hunter Austin was a U.S. writer known for walking throughout the American Southwest. But her life of activism was far more complicated than brief bios usually mention. Research: "Mary Hunter Austin." Encyclopedia of the American West, edited by Charles Phillips and Alan Axelrod, Macmillan Reference USA, 1996. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/BT2330100082/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=6a4f821e. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025. "Mary Hunter Austin." Encyclopedia of World Biography Online, vol. 23, Gale, 2003. Gale In Context: U.S. History, link.gale.com/apps/doc/K1631008133/GPS?u=mlin_n_melpub&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=ceca42e0. Accessed 26 Feb. 2025. #0840: Willa Cather to Mary Hunter Austin, June 26 [1926]. https://cather.unl.edu/writings/letters/let0840 Austin, Mary Hunter. “Earth Horizon.” Houghton Mifflin. 1932. Austin, Mary Hunter. “Experiences Facing Death.” Bobbs-Merrill Company. 1931. Blend, Benay. “Mary Austin and the Western Conservation Movement: 1900-1927.” Journal of the Southwest , Spring, 1988, Vol. 30, No. 1 (Spring, 1988). https://www.jstor.org/stable/40169782 Davis, Lisa Selin. “The Loneliest Land.” National Parks Conservation Association. Spring 2015. https://www.npca.org/articles/942-the-loneliest-land Egenhoff, Elizabeth L. “Mary Austin.” Mineral Information Service. November 1965. https://npshistory.com/publications/deva/mis-v18n11-1965.pdf Fink, Augusta. “I-Mary: A Biography of Mary Austin.” University of Arizona Press. 1983. Hoffman, Abraham. “Mary Austin, Stafford Austin, and the Owens Valley.” Journal of the Southwest , Autumn-Winter 2011, Vol. 53, No. ¾. Via JSTOR. http://www.jstor.com/stable/41710078 Lanzendorfer, Joy. “Searching for Mary Austin.” Alta. https://www.altaonline.com/dispatches/a8713/searching-for-mary-austin-joy-lanzendorfer/ Online Archive of California. “Austin (Mary Hunter) Papers.” https://oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/c85t3ppq/ Richards, Penny L. “Bad Blood and Lost Borders: Eugenic Ambivalence in Mary Austin’s Short Fiction.” Richards, Penny L. “Disability History Image #3.” 8/30/2005. https://disstud.blogspot.com/2005/08/ Romancito, Rick. “The Image Maker and the Writer.” Taos News. 10/2/2024. https://www.taosnews.com/opinion/columns/the-image-maker-and-the-writer/article_7805f16a-8ab9-5645-9e84-4a189e18ac23.html Siber, Kate. “The 19th-Century Writer Who Braved the Desert Alone.” Outside. 1/22/2019. https://www.outsideonline.com/culture/books-media/mary-austin-mojave-nature-writer/ Stout, Janis P. “Mary Austin’s Feminism: A Reassessment.” Studies in the Novel , spring 1998, Vol. 30, No. 1. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/29533250 The Ansel Adams Gallery. “Visions of Taos: The Making of “Taos Pueblo” by Ansel Adams and Mary Austin.” https://www.anseladams.com/visions-of-taos-the-making-of-taos-pueblo/ Viehmann, Martha L. “A Rain Song for America: Mary Austin, American Indians, and American Literature and Culture.” Western American Literature , Spring 2004, Vol. 39, No. 1. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/43022288 Wynn, Dudley. “Mary Austin, Woman Alone.” The Virginia Quarterly Review , SPRING 1937, Vol. 13, No. 2. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26433922 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a textEp 583: Sally's Fantasy: An Orally Pleasuring Story by Matt Lake, An erotic short story with the tropes MF, FF, MFF, Threesome, narrated by podcast host Ruan Willow. The FF is the all the pleasure in this excerpt! Sally sees all the red!About the Author Alex Lake: Matt Lake writes stories that explore the freeuse kink, usually with a normal person being thrown into an unusual situation. About the Charity Anthology:the spicy book! Erotica excerpt from: the charity anthology fiction book Not So Guilty Pleasures: 45+ Filthy Stories for a Cause, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN FOR HELP WITH HURRICANE & DISASTER FIRE RELIEF https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/charityanthology (any money made from my affiliate link usage to buy the anthology will also be donated to the same charity). It is also in Kindle Unlimited (for a limited time).Not-So-Guilty Pleasures is a charity anthology benefiting World Central Kitchen (for help with the hurricane and other disaster relief).Enjoy this erotica excerpt, storytelling via erotic audio about spicy romance relationships, swingers, hot erotica stories, erotica romance, and self care for you! Take time to pay attention to your mental health sexual health. Pleasure is your birthright!Support the showSubscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textMallory and Derek Attend Swinger Parties, Part 15, The Mountain Cabin and dark fantasy, IN THE SERIES Mallory and Derek Attend Swinger Sex Parties.An Erotica Romance fiction Story of a Bisexual Couple who join an alternative lifestyle Sex Club where the leaders of the club throw sex parties at their house for their adventurous swinging members. Come on the journey as Mallory and Derek figure out how to have sexy fun with others while still being a devoted couple. This story contains polyamory, the swinging lifestyle, partner sharing, and kinky sex.Join the subscription level for $3 for access to all of these episodes:Want part 1? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15774437Miss part 2: Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15770723Desire part 3? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15823847Want part 4? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15865234Crave part 5? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15905996Need part 6? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15951136Seeking Part 7? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16007180Find Part 8: Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16071482Get Part 9: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16186972Enjoy Part 10: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16209922Thirsting for Part 11: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16303764Savor Part 12: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16346569 Delish Part 13: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16411152Yummy part 14: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16619221Have fun listening to this erotic audio! Exploring erotica fiction and erotic romance are fabulous ways to exercise your self care time, to explore your sexuality and allow your brain to experience things you might not be able to do IRL. Enjoy the erotic fiction story and let the erotic romance of a couple expanding their sexuality in a sex positive way together satiate your own curiosities and fantasies. Escape, get your entertainment treat, and have a listen!Stay tuned for part 16 coming soon! Enjoy the kinky sex and spicy romance fiction!WrittSubscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

Move from concept to creation in our second session. This week focuses on the architecture of effective scenes, the art of gripping openings, and dialogue that reveals character while advancing plot. We will share techniques for maintaining narrative momentum, balancing showing versus telling, and creating the emotional impact that distinguishes memorable short fiction. In week 2 you'll have transformed your story concept into a complete first draft—an accomplishment worth celebrating! ----------------- Try out Dabble free for 14 days and see why it's the best writing tool on the planet—no credit card required! Visit our website at www.dabblewriter.com to get started. Subscribe to our channel for more live events like author interviews, Word Sprints, and Fireside Chats. We're all about helping authors hone their craft with engaging, fun, and educational content. On top of all that, Dabble Premium members get access to exclusive content like Office Hours, Premium Workshops, Deep Dive articles, bonus resources, and guest speaker workshops. Happy writing!

The span of the book is so wide that we had to leave out some great people. The book gives you a sampling of some of the best writing. My favourite is the first story, Rebati by Fakir Mohan Senapati, translated by KK Mohapatra. In the stories written in English, Ruskin Bond's The Prospect of Flowers is so poignant. It has been difficult to get good translations from languages like Nepali, Dogri, Bodo and Santhali. Also, in certain languages there are no real translators into English. When it comes to translations, any translator who is capable and confident is half the author of the story. We are fortunate to be able to use the English language. Even now, after 230 years, there are people who say it is a foreign language. Now, it's part of your life, country, ethos!" AJ Thomas, editor, 100 Indian Stories, talks to Manjula Narayan on the Books & Authors podcast about short fiction in Indian languages, the key role of translation, Indian after-modernism, and the future literatures of emerging languages Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Discover the foundations of compelling short fiction in our first session. Our panel will guide you through proven story generation techniques, character development essentials, and the key elements that make short stories resonate with readers. You'll learn to mine your experiences for authentic material, observe the world with a writer's eye, and transform simple prompts into story gold. From this session, you'll have a fully developed story concept, complete with a memorable protagonist and a clear narrative direction. ----------------- Try out Dabble free for 14 days and see why it's the best writing tool on the planet—no credit card required! Visit our website at www.dabblewriter.com to get started. Subscribe to our channel for more live events like author interviews, Word Sprints, and Fireside Chats. We're all about helping authors hone their craft with engaging, fun, and educational content. On top of all that, Dabble Premium members get access to exclusive content like Office Hours, Premium Workshops, Deep Dive articles, bonus resources, and guest speaker workshops. Happy writing!

In this episode we are joined by Erin Entrada Kelly!Erin Entrada Kelly has received numerous awards and recognition for her work, including the 2025 Newbery Medal for The First State of Being, 2018 Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe, a 2021 Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, the 2023 NAIBA Book of the Year Award for Those Kids From Fawn Creek, and 2017 APALA Award for The Land of Forgotten Girls, among many other honors. She is also a National Book Award Finalist and author/illustrator of Marisol Rainey and Felix Powell, stand-alone stories for younger readers. Her books are New York Times bestsellers.Before becoming a children's author, Erin worked as a journalist and magazine editor in her home state of Louisiana. She received numerous awards from the Louisiana Press Association and the Associated Press for community service journalism, feature writing, and editing. She has published more than thirty short stories and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize and the Philippines Free Press Award for Short Fiction.Erin has a bachelor's degree in women's studies and liberal arts from McNeese State University and an MFA in fiction from Rosemont College. She lives in Delaware and teaches in the MFAC program at Hamline University.Buy Erin's books here: https://bookshop.org/contributors/erin-entrada-kelly  This episode of the podcast is sponsored by Listen In: conversation & cultivation, a writing program from award-winning authors Elana K. Arnold and Nina LaCour @elanakarnold @nina_lacourLearn more at ninalacour.comSupport the show

Indiana author T.D. Johnston is the founder and editor of Short Story America, a small press that publishes the Short Story America anthology series in addition to author story collections and novels. Friday Afternoon and Other Stories, his first collection, won the 2017 International Book Award Prize for Short Fiction. We read "The First Key" from that collection. https://tdjohnston.com/Support the show

Send us a textEp 577: Home Alone Neighbor BJ, Girlfriend Share by Cyra Wilde. When he's away, he wants her to play...but he's still gonna watch and enjoy! Erotica Excerpt written by Cyra Wilde and Narrated by podcast host and voiceover narrator Ruan Willow.About the Author: Cyra Wilde enjoys manipulating words to create heart-pumping, blush-inducing stories that are achingly good and deeply satisfying. She likes experimenting with multiple tropes and crafting erotic fiction with heart. https://linktr.ee/cyrawildeGet the spicy book! Erotica excerpt from: the charity anthology fiction book Not So Guilty Pleasures: 45+ Filthy Stories for a Cause, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN FOR HELP WITH HURRICANE & DISASTER FIRE RELIEF https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/charityanthology (any money made from my affiliate link usage to buy the anthology will also be donated to the same charity). It is also in Kindle Unlimited (for a limited time).Not-So-Guilty Pleasures is a charity anthology benefiting World Central Kitchen (for help with the hurricane and other disaster relief).Enjoy storytelling erotic audio about spicy romance relationships, swingers, hot erotica stories, erotica romance, and self care for you! Take time to pay attention to your mental health sexual health. Pleasure is your birthright!Check out the winners of the Golden Pigtails Smut Awards! https://alexasommers.com/the-golden-pigtails-2024/Audiobook mentioned in the episode: Filthy Fiction by Casey Donatello, narrated by Ruan Willow (affiliate link, podcast may earn a commission on sales, thanks for the support) https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/dirtydaydreamsFree trial and book: https://www.audible.com/pd/B0D6H1345N/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWU-BK-ACX0-401780&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_401780_pd_usSupport the showSubscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

A native of Traverse City, Michigan, STEPHANIE CARPENTER is the author of Missing Persons: Stories, which won the 2017 Press 53 Award in Short Fiction; her work has also appeared in journals including Copper Nickel, The Missouri Review, and Witness. She's an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing at Michigan Technological University. Moral Treatment is her debut novel.

Every day, 10,000 people in the United States turn 65—a statistic that underscores one of the most significant demographic shifts in history. But the story of longevity is not just about aging, it's about learning new ways of living, working, and thriving across all life stages. From doctor's offices to government policies to popular culture, far too many of us erroneously associate aging with decline. How can we redefine aging to prioritize quality of life? Research shows that individuals have far more control over how they age than anyone imagined. We are shifting from a paradigm of decline to one that more accurately embraces the full spectrum of human flourishing while acknowledging biological realities. In this timely discussion, Barbara Waxman, renowned gerontologist and creator of The Longevity Roadmap, joins award-winning broadcaster Michael Krasny to explore the fascinating journey that brought us to this critical juncture in human history. They'll examine our current challenges, unveil cutting-edge insights about longevity, and share practical strategies for building a more resilient, fulfilling life at any age. Join us to discover actionable tools to take control of your aging journey and thrive in an era of unprecedented possibilities as we unpack the history, challenges, and opportunities of this remarkable demographic gift unfolding before us. About the Speakers Barbara Waxman is a gerontologist, coach, and longevity advocate who has spent four decades transforming people's understanding of aging. As creator of The Longevity Roadmap, she translates cutting-edge research into practical frameworks. A graduate of Colgate University with Master's degrees in gerontology and public administration from USC, Waxman is an advisor to the Stanford Center on Longevity and Stanford Lifestyle Medicine. Her insights have been featured on "CBS This Morning," in The Wall Street Journal, and across national media. She is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and author of The Middlescence Manifesto. Michael Krasny is a literary critic, scholar, and broadcast journalist. He is the author of many books, including Off Mike, Spiritual Envy, and Let There Be Laughter; the co-author of Sound Ideas; and the creator and presenter of the audio lecture series Masterpieces of Short Fiction. He is the host of "The Podcast Conversations With Krasny" and former host of "Forum" on KQED Radio. Organizer: Denise Michaud   A Grownups Member-led Forum program. Forums at the Club are organized and run by volunteer programmers who are members of The Commonwealth Club, and they cover a diverse range of topics. Learn more about our Forums. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are sharing our Short Fiction Spotlight along with mini reviews of Upon a Starlit Tide and The Fourth Consort Short Fiction Spotlight: ”The Last Flesh Figure Skaters” written by Claire Jia-Wen, narrated by Lauren Choo [khōréō] ”An Intergalactic Smugglers Guide to Homecoming” written by Tia Tashiro, narrated by Kate Baker [Clarkesworld] - Issue 211: April 2024 ”The Slow Music of Drums” written by A.C. Wise, narrated by Wilson Fowlie [Psuedopod 950] ”Emily” written by Alexander Hewitt, narrated by Joe Moran [Cast of Wonders 617] ”The Coffee Machine” written by Celia Corral-Vázquez, translated by Sue Burke, and narrated by Kate Baker [Clarkesworld] - Issue 219: December 2024 ”T-Rex Tex-Mex” written by Sarina Dorie, narrated by Tina Connolly [Escape Pod 965] Reviews: Upon a Starlit Tide: written by Kell Woods / Narrated by: Esther Wane [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] The Fourth Consort: written by Edward Ashton / Narrated by: Barrie Kreinik [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby]

After their mother dies, Jackson Jones is too busy selling drugs and bedding young women to pay attention to his two motherless children. Sienna and her little brother Siddhartha grow up in a Miami Beach mansion without schools, doctors, or attention. It's the 1980s and their dad uses the mansion, with its dock on the water, as a base for his drug dealing and to house the seekers and lost souls who follow his lackadaisical cult, leaving Sienna and Siddhi to raise themselves. Their dotty grandmother and distant occasionally picks up some slack but won't take responsibility for her son's failings as a father. Sienna realizes that she and Siddhi have to raise themselves in this intriguing and unusual story about siblings helping each other survive a dysfunctional family. Janna Brooke Wallack's stories have been published by literary publications such as Hobart, Upstreet, Glimmer Train Press, American Literary Review, and more. Her short story "Campaigning" was a finalist for the Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction. Naked Girl's prologue "Five Pictures" was a finalist for Glimmer Train Press's Short Story Award for New Writers, and her story "Cat and Rose" received a Pushcart nomination by The MacGuffin. Naked Girl was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Publishers Weekly Book Life Prize in Fiction. In addition to her writing career, Wallack has worked as a grant writer, a substance abuse prevention counselor, a wetlands manual editor, a theatre production assistant and an actress. After spending a couple of years in Hong Kong, she moved to Hoboken, NJ, raised five children and moved to Stone Ridge in the Catskills of New York, where she ran a permaculture gentleman's farm. For more about Janna, visit https://jannabrookewallack.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

After their mother dies, Jackson Jones is too busy selling drugs and bedding young women to pay attention to his two motherless children. Sienna and her little brother Siddhartha grow up in a Miami Beach mansion without schools, doctors, or attention. It's the 1980s and their dad uses the mansion, with its dock on the water, as a base for his drug dealing and to house the seekers and lost souls who follow his lackadaisical cult, leaving Sienna and Siddhi to raise themselves. Their dotty grandmother and distant occasionally picks up some slack but won't take responsibility for her son's failings as a father. Sienna realizes that she and Siddhi have to raise themselves in this intriguing and unusual story about siblings helping each other survive a dysfunctional family. Janna Brooke Wallack's stories have been published by literary publications such as Hobart, Upstreet, Glimmer Train Press, American Literary Review, and more. Her short story "Campaigning" was a finalist for the Lascaux Prize in Short Fiction. Naked Girl's prologue "Five Pictures" was a finalist for Glimmer Train Press's Short Story Award for New Writers, and her story "Cat and Rose" received a Pushcart nomination by The MacGuffin. Naked Girl was named a semifinalist for the 2024 Publishers Weekly Book Life Prize in Fiction. In addition to her writing career, Wallack has worked as a grant writer, a substance abuse prevention counselor, a wetlands manual editor, a theatre production assistant and an actress. After spending a couple of years in Hong Kong, she moved to Hoboken, NJ, raised five children and moved to Stone Ridge in the Catskills of New York, where she ran a permaculture gentleman's farm. For more about Janna, visit https://jannabrookewallack.com/. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textEp 569: Mallory and Derek Attend Swinger Parties, Part 14, The Spicy Video Shoot: Age Gap Daddy Dom scene, IN THE SERIES Mallory and Derek Attend Swinger Sex Parties.An Erotica Romance fiction Story of a Bisexual Couple who join an alternative lifestyle Sex Club where the leaders of the club throw sex parties at their house for their adventurous swinging members. Come on the journey as Mallory and Derek figure out how to have sexy fun with others while still being a devoted couple. This story contains polyamory, the swinging lifestyle, partner sharing, and kinky sex.Join the subscription level for $3 for access to all of these episodes:Want part 1? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15774437Miss part 2: Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15770723Desire part 3? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15823847Want part 4? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15865234Crave part 5? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15905996Need part 6? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/15951136Seeking Part 7? Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16007180Find Part 8: Listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16071482Get Part 9: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16186972Enjoy Part 10: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16209922Thirsting for Part 11: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16303764Savor Part 12: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16346569 Delish Part 13: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/episodes/16411152Have fun listening to this erotic audio! Exploring erotica fiction and erotic romance are fabulous ways to exercise your self care time, to explore your sexuality and allow your brain to experience things you might not be able to do IRL. Enjoy the erotic fiction story and let the erotic romance of a couple expanding their sexuality in a sex positive way together satiate your own curiosities and fantasies. Escape, get your entertainment treat, and have a listen!Stay tuned for part 15 coming soon! Enjoy the kinky sex and spicy romance fiction!Written and narrated by Ruan Willow.Image from Shutterstock.Subscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a text Ep 567: In Scarlet's House, Chapter 4, Dark Fantasy Erotica, A Dark Fantasy Fiction Series. Written by Ruan Willow, Narrated by Ruan Willow and David MyersStory Blurb:Scarlet had become a powerful witch. She also had beauty and brains, but what she was missing was a grand house and some wealth to her name, so she sought George. He blubbered his way through their marriage until he was as annoying as a bug, or an overripe houseguest. That didn't take long. She had plans for him though, big plans.  When Scarlet invited Arianna, her secret love, over to her new husband George's mansion, the girl's night she had promised turned out to be quite decadent indeed. It was complete with a much-needed reconnection for the women, a barely clothed muscle clad chef to ogle, and enough servants, with the promise of extra benefits, to satiate even Cleopatra.  But it turns out having everything doesn't sit well with a dominant witch, until she's truly satisfied with everyone where she wants them.  Tropes: Femdom dark fantasy & sci fi, forced proximity, shrinking and growing woman, magic, HEA, humiliation, degradation, explicit scenes and language, LGTBQ, elements of horror.Stay tuned for more of Mallory and Derek's story, and the next installment of "In Scarlet's House" as well!Subscription Process:Join now for access to all the padlocked episodes! Many people have reached out to me about how to access the padlocked episodes once they've signed up, unfortunately I can't respond to fan mail, but I can put some information here.  After subscribing, you should have received an email with your Personal RSS Feed. Then take that RSS Feed and subscribe to it through your favorite listening app. Check out this article for those steps .If you have troubles, you can also email support@buzzsprout.com for further assistance.Subscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textEp 565: In Scarlet's House, Chapter 3, Dark Fantasy Erotica, A Dark Fantasy Fiction Series. Written by Ruan Willow, Narrated by Ruan Willow and David MyersStory Blurb:Scarlet had become a powerful witch. She also had beauty and brains, but what she was missing was a grand house and some wealth to her name, so she sought George. He blubbered his way through their marriage until he was as annoying as a bug, or an overripe houseguest. That didn't take long. She had plans for him though, big plans.  When Scarlet invited Arianna, her secret love, over to her new husband George's mansion, the girl's night she had promised turned out to be quite decadent indeed. It was complete with a much-needed reconnection for the women, a barely clothed muscle clad chef to ogle, and enough servants, with the promise of extra benefits, to satiate even Cleopatra.  But it turns out having everything doesn't sit well with a dominant witch, until she's truly satisfied with everyone where she wants them.  Tropes: Femdom dark fantasy & sci fi, forced proximity, shrinking and growing woman, magic, HEA, humiliation, degradation, explicit scenes and language, LGTBQ, elements of horror.Stay tuned for more of Mallory and Derek's story, and the next installment of "In Scarlet's House" as well!Subscription Process:Join now for access to all the padlocked episodes! Many people have reached out to me about how to access the padlocked episodes once they've signed up, unfortunately I can't respond to fan mail, but I can put some information here.  After subscribing, you should have received an email with your Personal RSS Feed. Then take that RSS Feed and subscribe to it through your favorite listening app. Check out this article for those steps .If you have troubles, you can also email support@buzzsprout.com for further assistance.Subscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

Today we talk about writing and publishing short stories. Have you thought about how writing short fiction might help your creative process? Tune in today to hear these four masters talk craft with Hank. Henry Herz has authored fourteen picture books and edited eight anthologies for Albert Whitman & Co., Blackstone Publishing, and others. His short stories have been published by Weird Tales, Baen Books, Pseudopod, Metastellar, Titan Books, Highlights for Children, and Ladybug magazine. He holds a BS in engineering from Cornell University, an MS in engineering from George Washington University, and an MA in political science from Georgetown University.  Number one New York Times bestselling author Scott Sigler is the creator of eighteen novels, six novellas, dozens of short stories, and thousands of podcast episodes. He is an inaugural inductee into the Podcasting Hall of Fame. His podcast fans fervently anticipate their weekly story fix, so much so that they've dubbed themselves “Sigler Junkies” and have downloaded over fifty million episodes. Jonathan Maberry is a New York Times bestselling author, five-time Bram Stoker Award winner, four-time Scribe Award winner, Inkpot Award winner, and comic book writer. His vampire apocalypse book series, V-Wars, became a Netflix original series. He writes horror, science fiction, epic fantasy, thriller, and more. He is the president of the International Association of Media Tie-in Writers and the editor of Weird Tales magazine. David Mack is the award-winning New York Times bestselling author of more than thirty-six novels and numerous short works of science fiction, fantasy, and adventure, including the Star Trek Destiny and Cold Equations trilogies. Mack's writing credits span television (for episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), film, and comic books. He also has worked as a consultant on the animated television series Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek: Prodigy. The International Association of Media Tie-in Writers honored him as a Grandmaster with its Faust Award.

Subscriber-only episodeSend us a textEpisode 562: In Scarlet's House, Chapter 2, Dark Fantasy Erotica, A Dark Fantasy Fiction Series. Written by Ruan Willow, Narrated by Ruan Willow and David MyersStory Blurb:Scarlet had become a powerful witch. She also had beauty and brains, but what she was missing was a grand house and some wealth to her name, so she sought George. He blubbered his way through their marriage until he was as annoying as a bug, or an overripe houseguest. That didn't take long. She had plans for him though, big plans.  When Scarlet invited Arianna, her secret love, over to her new husband George's mansion, the girl's night she had promised turned out to be quite decadent indeed. It was complete with a much-needed reconnection for the women, a barely clothed muscle clad chef to ogle, and enough servants, with the promise of extra benefits, to satiate even Cleopatra.  But it turns out having everything doesn't sit well with a dominant witch, until she's truly satisfied with everyone where she wants them.  Tropes: Femdom dark fantasy & sci fi, forced proximity, shrinking and growing woman, magic, HEA, humiliation, degradation, explicit scenes and language, LGTBQ, elements of horror.Stay tuned for more of Mallory and Derek's story, and the next installment of "In Scarlet's House" as well!Subscription Process:Join now for access to all the padlocked episodes! Many people have reached out to me about how to access the padlocked episodes once they've signed up, unfortunately I can't respond to fan mail, but I can put some information here.  After subscribing, you should have received an email with your Personal RSS Feed. Then take that RSS Feed and subscribe to it through your favorite listening app. Check out this article for those steps .If you have troubles, you can also email support@buzzsprout.com for further assistance.Subscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

Send us a textEp 558: Vampire Erotica Fiction Excerpt from Birthday Cake by author Johnna Dee, narrated by Ruan Willow.About the Author:Author Johnna Dee is a spicy fantasy romance writer. Initially, her creative journey began with poetry, where she honed her skills in crafting evocative and lyrical verses. As her passion for storytelling grew, she ventured into the realm of novels, weaving intricate plots and enchanting worlds that transport readers to extraordinary realms.Connect with Johnna:https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BRW38RD7http://www.linktr.ee/johnnadeeAbout the Anthology:Get the spicy book! Erotica excerpt from: the charity anthology fiction book Not So Guilty Pleasures: 45+ Filthy Stories for a Cause, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN FOR HELP WITH HURRICANE RELIEF https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/charityanthology (any money made from my affiliate link usage to buy the anthology will also be donated to the same charity). It is also in Kindle Unlimited (for a limited time).Anthology Blurb: We've got a smorgasbord of steamy delights that'll make your toes curl and your cheeks flush. From forbidden fruit to second helpings of love, we've got more flavors than your local ice cream shop - and trust us, you'll want to sample them all. Whether you like your romance sweet and subtle or hot enough to set off smoke alarms, we've got a story to tickle your fancy (and maybe a few other places).So go ahead, indulge in these not-so-guilty pleasures. After all, it's for charity - you're practically a saint!Not-So-Guilty Pleasures is a charity anthology benefiting World Central Kitchen (for help with the hurricane relief).Announcements:Did you play spicy book bingo? It's over, but prices have been awarded! Find out more at https://www.intrigueverse.com/Book raffle! By the upcoming Nomad's Mobile Bookstore! That's right! A bus bookstore! Featuring INDIE AUTHORS! Enter the raffle for just $5 for the potential to win 16 signed books by indie authors PLUS 5 more books! Must be in the US. Void where prohibited. Rules on the site.I have a book in this raffle too! Check out more details and for how to enter at this link. Hurry! It ends January 25, 2025! https://crowdfundr.com/perks/eUNB8?ref=ab_0N1yYvN1qoL0N1yYvN1qoLFind out more also on Instagram: http://instagram.com/nomadsmobilebookstoreRuan's new book: In Scarlet's House witch, magic, Femdom, MF, woman on woman love, sexuality, relationships, erotic horror and suspense novella. ARC https://booksirens.com/book/X6YLPQR/RWYTBAUPurchase: https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/inscarletshouseSupport the showSubscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

Send us a textSeason 5, Ep 555: Writing the Queer Experience: Mx Sinclair Sexsmith on Kink Storytelling, Erotica, and D/s Relationships.Meet the author!SINCLAIR SEXSMITH (they/them) is a queer butch writer focusing on sexualities, genders, kink, and relationships. Their short story collection, Sweet & Rough: Queer Kink Erotica, was a 2016 finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, and they are the editor of 5 editions of Best Lesbian Erotica. Find more of their work at sugarbutch.net. Books: Best Lesbian Erotica (affiliate links, podcast may receive commissions on sales through this link. Thank you!) https://amzn.to/3PurEo0"Your Year in Kink" Workbook https://amzn.to/3WdrOUH"The Harder She Comes: Butch Femme Erotica" https://amzn.to/424GWYbLinks: https://theoreads.com/https://dsplayground.com/http://writingspicy.com/Quotes from Sinclair Sexsmith: "I can't stop writing. Like, I need to write to understand myself and understand the world.""I think writer's block is a myth.""I love the inner world stuff and I think writing is one of the best places to express that.""I want to encourage more queers and trans folks, and like kinky folks, to write down their stories."In this episode, Ruan and Sinclair discuss their shared passion for writing, the challenges of titling works, and the complexities of self-publishing in the erotica genre. They explore the nuances of writing about sex and intimacy, the importance of queer representation in literature, and the creative process behind crafting compelling narratives.Sinclair shares their thoughts on the intersection of writing and sex work, the drive to create authentic queer stories and queer fiction, the writing process, publishing, and the transformative power of literature. They also discuss the upcoming platform Theo Reads, which promises to be a haven for erotica and romance writers and readers alike. Timeline:02:41 Do you like writing, teaching or creating08:14 I feel pretty strongly that writing about sex is non sex work10:09 There's still a lack of representation of queer sex in mainstream erotica16:38 How are you with titles? 18:53 Pretty much everything I write has D/s28:48 What are other are your favorite kinks to write 29:57 So when you're writing, do you start with your idea or do you40:22 What is too personal to share, what is too vulnerable to share43:39 Like separating the writing and publishing process is important49:12 reading out loud is probably his number one editing tool53:48 all about like your courses56:54 This workbook is about reflecting on someone's kink life01:01:42 What are you working on right now that you can share01:02:59 When my dad died I was like, why am I not writing more01:07:24 lgtbq and writing Coming out to your family can be tricky and painfulheadliner appSupport the showSubscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

Send us a textEp 551: MMF Wife Sharing with the Biker in the Gas Station Erotica Excerpt. This excerpt is from my story in the erotica Anthology called "Gas Station Biker Ride", where it's MF action with the Dominant M directing, hotwife wife sharing in ethical nonmonogamy, exhibitionism, voyeurism, and mild impact play. This is a spicy erotic fiction excerpt, get the full story in the charity anthology. Erotica excerpt from: the charity anthology fiction book Not So Guilty Pleasures: 45+ Filthy Stories for a Cause, ALL PROCEEDS GO TO WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN FOR HELP WITH HURRICANE RELIEF https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/charityanthology (any money made from my affiliate link usage to buy the anthology will also be donated to the same charity). It is also in Kindle Unlimited (for a limited time).Anthology Blurb: We've got a smorgasbord of steamy delights that'll make your toes curl and your cheeks flush. From forbidden fruit to second helpings of love, we've got more flavors than your local ice cream shop - and trust us, you'll want to sample them all. Whether you like your romance sweet and subtle or hot enough to set off smoke alarms, we've got a story to tickle your fancy (and maybe a few other places).So go ahead, indulge in these not-so-guilty pleasures. After all, it's for charity - you're practically a saint!Not-So-Guilty Pleasures is a charity anthology benefiting World Central Kitchen (for help with the hurricane relief).Exercise your sexuality daily! Sexual health is mental health! Marinate in your sexuality daily and enjoy your relationships, cherish them! Enjoy the spicy entertainment!Get more of Laney and John's Story:Servicing the Work Men audiobook https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/servicingtheworkmenherfilthyhotwifeadventuresaudiobookebook https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/servicingtheworkmenherfilthyhotwifeadventuresAnderson Comes Home: https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/andersoncomeshomeSee all the books in this hotwife series: https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/hotwifebooksPodcast Host Ruan Willow's Books:http://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/Learn more about Ruan's open door Romantasy book "The Siren Who Couldn't Sing" ARC You can access it here: https://booksirens.com/book/S9V46LO/QZKZJU1Get your copy of the book: https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/thesirenwhocouldntsingTomorrow is the last day of the Smashwords Sale. My ebooks are 50% OFF!See the books on saleSupport the showSubscribe for exclusive episodes: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1599808/subscribeSign up for Ruan's newsletters: https://subscribepage.io/ruanwillowhttps://linktr.ee/RuanWillowI Dare You book https://books.ruanwillowauthor.com/idareyouthesaturdaysexchallenge

Up-and-coming Vancouver trans author Harman Burns joins NBN host Hollay Ghadery to talk about Burns' novella, Yellow Barks Spider (Radiant Press, 2024). Yellow Barks Spider takes place in the Canadian prairies, but it seeks to explore this landscape through the intimate lens of a ten-year-old trans kid. Set against the backdrop of the placid countryside, dusty summers and barren winters, it is both a queer coming-of-age novella as well as a deeply psychological character study, reflecting on the nature of memory, trauma, and self-discovery. More about Yellow Barks Spider: In the threadbare prairie town where Kid grew up, life moves slowly. For a troubled ten-year-old, the vast landscape of open skies and barren winters is a place of elemental magic and buried secrets. As the summers pass by, Kid explores a world of weed-choked yards, murky lakes, and a traveling carnival. But when Kid finds himself increasingly haunted by strange spider-infested visions of his next door neighbor's shed, he falls deeper and deeper into his haunted inner world, eventually turning to mind-altering substances to combat his growing torment. Confronted by this psychic pressure, the book itself begins to crumble, splintering into disparate narrative voices as the workings of Kid's imagination become animate, tactile—and language self-destructs. Emerging from this crucible, Kid surfaces into adulthood as she moves through love, sex, and self-discovery as a trans woman. But when she returns to her hometown following the death of a family member, she is forced to reckon with all the fears she once left behind. Yellow Barks Spider is an unforgettable portrait of trauma, isolation, and self-compassion. At its heart, it is a deeply-felt exhumation of memory, love, and the human spirit. About Harman Burns: Harman Burns is a Saskatchewan-born trans woman, filmmaker, sound artist and writer. Her practice is informed by folklore, nature, the occult and bodily transfiguration. Her writing has been published in Untethered Magazine and Metatron Press, and was shortlisted for The Malahat Review's Far Horizons Award for Short Fiction. Burns currently resides on the unceded ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples (Vancouver). About Hollay Ghadery: Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian multi-genre writer living in Ontario on Anishinaabe land. She has her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Fuse, her memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health, was released by Guernica Editions in 2021 and won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award for Nonfiction/Memoir. Her collection of poetry, Rebellion Box was released by Radiant Press in 2023, and her collection of short fiction, Widow Fantasies, was released with Gordon Hill Press in fall 2024. Her debut novel, The Unraveling of Ou, is due out with Palimpsest Press in 2026, and her children's book, Being with the Birds, with Guernica Editions in 2027. Hollay is the host of the 105.5 FM Bookclub, as well as a co-host on HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM. She is also a book publicist, the Regional Chair of the League of Canadian Poets and a co-chair of the League's BIPOC committee, as well as the Poet Laureate of Scugog Township. Learn more about Hollay at her website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

Up-and-coming Vancouver trans author Harman Burns joins NBN host Hollay Ghadery to talk about Burns' novella, Yellow Barks Spider (Radiant Press, 2024). Yellow Barks Spider takes place in the Canadian prairies, but it seeks to explore this landscape through the intimate lens of a ten-year-old trans kid. Set against the backdrop of the placid countryside, dusty summers and barren winters, it is both a queer coming-of-age novella as well as a deeply psychological character study, reflecting on the nature of memory, trauma, and self-discovery. More about Yellow Barks Spider: In the threadbare prairie town where Kid grew up, life moves slowly. For a troubled ten-year-old, the vast landscape of open skies and barren winters is a place of elemental magic and buried secrets. As the summers pass by, Kid explores a world of weed-choked yards, murky lakes, and a traveling carnival. But when Kid finds himself increasingly haunted by strange spider-infested visions of his next door neighbor's shed, he falls deeper and deeper into his haunted inner world, eventually turning to mind-altering substances to combat his growing torment. Confronted by this psychic pressure, the book itself begins to crumble, splintering into disparate narrative voices as the workings of Kid's imagination become animate, tactile—and language self-destructs. Emerging from this crucible, Kid surfaces into adulthood as she moves through love, sex, and self-discovery as a trans woman. But when she returns to her hometown following the death of a family member, she is forced to reckon with all the fears she once left behind. Yellow Barks Spider is an unforgettable portrait of trauma, isolation, and self-compassion. At its heart, it is a deeply-felt exhumation of memory, love, and the human spirit. About Harman Burns: Harman Burns is a Saskatchewan-born trans woman, filmmaker, sound artist and writer. Her practice is informed by folklore, nature, the occult and bodily transfiguration. Her writing has been published in Untethered Magazine and Metatron Press, and was shortlisted for The Malahat Review's Far Horizons Award for Short Fiction. Burns currently resides on the unceded ancestral territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh peoples (Vancouver). About Hollay Ghadery: Hollay Ghadery is an Iranian-Canadian multi-genre writer living in Ontario on Anishinaabe land. She has her MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Guelph. Fuse, her memoir of mixed-race identity and mental health, was released by Guernica Editions in 2021 and won the 2023 Canadian Bookclub Award for Nonfiction/Memoir. Her collection of poetry, Rebellion Box was released by Radiant Press in 2023, and her collection of short fiction, Widow Fantasies, was released with Gordon Hill Press in fall 2024. Her debut novel, The Unraveling of Ou, is due out with Palimpsest Press in 2026, and her children's book, Being with the Birds, with Guernica Editions in 2027. Hollay is the host of the 105.5 FM Bookclub, as well as a co-host on HOWL on CIUT 89.5 FM. She is also a book publicist, the Regional Chair of the League of Canadian Poets and a co-chair of the League's BIPOC committee, as well as the Poet Laureate of Scugog Township. Learn more about Hollay at her website. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/literature

A Gentleman in Moscow by: Amor Towles The Humans by: Matt Haig Super-Cannes: A Novel by: J. G. Ballard Monster Hunter: International by: Larry Correia Monster Hunter: Vendetta by: Larry Correia

In this twenty-second installment of fictional horror written and narrated by Dan Cummins.... we continue following Brent, Lori, Cam, and Rosie Collins, as they try to survive the apocalyptic Red Plague by making it to Brent's stepdad and mother's ranch near Whitebird, Idaho. Will an unexpected detour into the doomsday compound of the insane zealot who wrecked their SUV before saving them from some Red Eyes destroy their chances?This episode was scored by Logan Keith. We recommend listening with headphones to experience the full effect of all the creepy background noises! If you like this episode, please let us know wherever you rate and review podcasts. Thanks so much!For Merch and everything else Bad Magic related, head to: https://www.badmagicproductions.com

This time we discussed Voyage of the Damned, written by Frances White and narrated by Nathan Foad. We also discussed some of our favorite recent short fiction listens in our short fiction spotlight. Voyage of the Damned [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] / [Audible]   Raybearer [Libro.fm] / [OverDrive/Libby] / [Audible] / [Episode 91]   The Locked Tomb (Series): Gideon the Ninth [Libro.fm] / [Overdrive/Libby] / [Audible] The Cemeteries of Amalo (Series): The Witness for the Dead [Libro.fm] /  [Episode 116] Short Fiction Spotlight: ”Fractal Karma” written by Arula Ratnakar, narrated by Kate Baker [Clarkesworld] - Issue 217: October 2024 ”Something Crossing Over, Something Coming Back” written by Arula Ratnakar, narrated by Kate Baker [Clarkesworld] - Issue 215: August 2024 ”Woodmask” written by Adrian Tchaikovsky, narrated by Erika Ensign [Uncanny Magazine] - Issue Sixty-One ”A Strange and Terrible Wonder” written by Katie McIvor, narrated by Devin Martin [PodCastle 862] ”Conversation with a Dragon” written and narrated by Cat Rambo [Beneath Ceaseless Skies] - Issue 414 “Salemo” written by David Marino, narrated by Stefen Rudnicki [Lightspeed] - April 2024 (Issue 167)

Companionship, featuring excerpts and poems by Andrew Brown, Gary McClain Gannaway and R. A. Stewart.Support the show

In this twenty-first installment of fictional horror written and narrated by Dan Cummins.... we head to Couer d'Alene, Idaho, where Brent and Lori Collins, and their children, Cam and Rosie, are attempting to make it to Brent's stepdad and mother's remote ranch near Whitebird, Idaho, to survive a new and apocalyptic pandemic known as the Red Plague. A deadly new pathogen is turning people into murderous conspiratorial monsters. Can they survive the journey and weather the deadly storm? This episode was scored by Logan Keith. We recommend listening with headphones to experience the full effect of all the creepy background noises! If you like this episode, please let us know wherever you rate and review podcasts. Thanks so much!For Merch and everything else Bad Magic related, head to: https://www.badmagicproductions.com

A brief take on James Baldwin's “Sonny's Blues,” a frequently anthologized story exploring brotherhood, identity, and the power of the blues.Script by Kenton Rambsy Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Zora Neale Hurston's Sweat, first published in the 1926 magazine Fire!!, which showcased realities of Black life and paved the way for enduring discussions in African American literature.Script by Kenton Rambsy Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on Edward P. Jones's intricate storytelling and his role as a chronicler of Washington, D.C.'s neighborhoods and landmarks.Script by Kenton Rambsy Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on how Edward P. Jones's short stories document and celebrate the history and culture of Washington, D.C.'s Black neighborhoods, resurrecting forgotten landmarks and local heritage.Script by Kenton Rambsy Read by Kassandra Timm

A brief take on how Toni Morrison's short story Recitatif captivates readers by challenging them to determine the race of its main characters, sparking debates shaped by their own assumptions and experiences.Script by Howard Rambsy IIRead by Kassandra Timm

This time we discussed Countess, written by Suzan Palumbo and narrated by Chanté McCormick. We also discussed some of our favorite recent short fiction listens in our short fiction spotlight. Countess [Libro.fm] Short Fiction Spotlight: ”A Stranger Knocks” written by Tananarive Due, narrated by Matt Peters [Uncanny Magazine] - Issue Sixty ”Nine Tenths of the Law” written by K.J. Parker, narrated by Heath Miller [Beneath Ceaseless Skies] - Issue 417 ”Sturdy Ladders and Lanterns” written by Malka Older, narrated by Valerie Valdes [Escape Pod 953] ”LuvHome™” written by Resa Nelson, narrated by Kate Baker [Clarkesworld] - Issue 218: November 2024 ”A Short Biography of a Conscious Chair” written by Renan Bernardo, narrated by Valerie Valdes [PodCastle 852&853] “The Heist for the Soul of humanity” written by Filip Hajdar Drnovšek Zorko, narrated by Susan Hanfield [Lightspeed] - July 2024 (Issue 170)

Christina Chatel shares her expert insight and recommendations as a middle school librarian. I would like to thank composer Nazar Rybak at Hooksounds.com for the music you've heard today.   Capstone *use UNITED for $20 off $100 or more on print and ebooks Editable PD Certificate FAQ's and ISO (In search of…) Online Doctoral Programs APA format for citing a podcast/podcast app SLU Playlists Search by title, guest and location!   Christina Chatel Twitter: @medialoguer Instagram: @troymsmedia The Girl Who Fell to Earth by Sophia Al-Maria Open Letter to MG Authors Response on X to article Jason Reynolds response SLJ Where's All the Short Fiction 286 Middle School Manifesto with Marcia Kochel 116 #OwnVoices and MiSelf Author Erik Slangerup Troybery program, now in its 25th year  3rd Annual Troybery Author Blitz  2024 Troybery Award Ceremony  MISelf in Books app  MISelf 2024 list 

173 Have you ever encountered a person who changed the course of your life forever? Such was the case when Nadine took Patty McNair's creative writing MFA class 19 years ago. In this episode, the two discuss why Patty's teaching style is so effective, Patty's path to becoming a writer, and the single most impactful component of a creative writing lesson.Covered in this episode:The unique components of The Story Workshop Method that Patty and Nadine were trained in as teachers The ways in which Patty changed the trajectory of Nadine's lifeWhy Patty resisted writing at firstThe personal experiences that propelled both Nadine and Patty to publish their writingThe writers that have inspired Patty's writing and teaching Join Patty and Nadine for a Collaborative MasterclassWant to experience Patty's magic? Join her (Extra)ordinary Content masterclass on Nov 19 at 10 am CT. The replay will be sent if you can't make it live. Patricia Ann McNair Associate Professor Emerita of Creative Writing at Columbia College Chicago, McNair was nominated for the Carnegie Foundation U.S. Professor of the Year. She facilitates adult writing workshops online and in-person, is Artistic Director of Interlochen College of Creative Arts' Writers Retreat, and is on the faculty of the Yale Writers' Workshop. She has left Chicago winters behind to live in Tucson with her husband, visual artist Philip Hartigan, and a yard visited by feral cats.McNair's first collection of short stories, The Temple of Air, has been re-issued in 2024 as a second edition with new stories and content. Originally published in 2011, The Temple of Air won the Chicago Writers Association Book of the Year Award, Southern Illinois University's Devil's Kitchen Readers Award in Fiction, and was a finalist for the Society of Midland Authors Award in Adult Fiction. Her second story collection, Responsible Adults, was selected for the Legacy Series in Short Fiction by Cornerstone Press and was named a Distinguished Favorite by the Independent Press Awards. And These Are the Good Times, McNair's essay collection, was a Montaigne Medal finalist.Website: https://patriciaannmcnair.com/IG: @patricia.a.mcnair.7FacebookAbout Nadine:Nadine Kenney Johnstone is a holistic writing coach who helps women develop and publish their stories. She is the proud founder of WriteWELL, an online community that helps women reclaim their writing time, put pen to page, and get published. The authors in her community have published countless books and hundreds of essays in places like The New York Times, Vogue, The Sun, The Boston Globe, Longreads, and more. Her infertility memoir, Of This Much I'm Sure, was named book of the year by the Chicago Writer's Association. Her latest book, Come Home to Your...

In this nineteenth installment of fictional horror written and narrated by Dan Cummins.... we head to New Orleans, where a man is found in dead in his home that he had boarded up in the final days of his life. He'd also smashed his phones and TV and posted sticky notes all over the walls, many of them centered on being tormented by something that was calling him on the phone. And then the phone of one of the paramedics declaring the man dead starts to ring. An unknown caller. The first of many, many, many calls from this increasingly disturbing unknown caller...This episode was scored by Logan Keith. We recommend listening with headphones to experience the full effect of all the creepy background noises! If you like this episode, please let us know wherever you rate and review podcasts. Thanks so much!For Merch and everything else Bad Magic related, head to: https://www.badmagicproductions.com

In this episode we chat with novelist, academic and short story writer Philippa Holloway about her new short fiction collection "Untethered" which was published last month by Parthian.   Along the way we hear excerpts from the collection performed by Emily Inkpen and Chris Gregory.  In this podcast you heard excerpts from the following stories A Cloud of Starlings - read by Emily InkpenHandprints - read by Chris GregoryBeached - read by Emily InkpenSound design, editing, music and interviewing were by Chris Gregory You can follow Philippa Holloway on X, formerly twitter here https://x.com/thejackdawspenAnd on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/thejackdawspen/Find out more about Parthian Books and purchase a copy of "Untethered" here https://www.parthianbooks.com/Follow Parthian on X here https://x.com/ParthianBooksAnd on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/parthian_books/ You can listen to Philippa's first podcast with Alt Stories in which we talked about her novel "The Half Life of Snails' here https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/episodes/10479070-the-half-life-of-snailsPlease follow Alternative Stories on social media herehttps://x.com/StoriesAlthttps://www.instagram.com/stories.alt/And to contact the podcast please drop us an email at office@alternativestories.comor visit our website here https://alternativestories.com/Support the show

While we're on season break with Reckon True Stories, here's a sneak preview from Season Three of Ursa Short Fiction, Deesha's other podcast with author (and True Stories producer!) Dawnie Walton. Show notes: Follow Season Three in your favorite podcast app. Support the show with a membership or one-time contribution, and get access to bonus episodes: ursastory.com/join Read more about Dawnie Walton's next novel! Contact us via email: hello@ursastory.com Produced by: Dawnie Walton, Deesha Philyaw, and Mark Armstrong Associate Producer: Marina Leigh Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices