Alternative Stories and Fake Realities

Send us Fan Mail In this edition we look at The Half Life of Snails, the debut novel by writer and academic Philippa Holloway.   The novel deals with issues surrounding nuclear energy and the communities it affects and we talk about Philippa's trip to the Chernobyl exclusion zone as part of our interview.  We have excerpts from the book read by Phoebe Holmes In the Half-Life of Snails you hea...

Send us Fan Mail Ghostlore is an anthology of writing inspired by the folklore of ghosts and the supernatural. Edited by writer and audio dramatists Lyndsey Croal our second episode Hauntings, features the work of 11 writers and explores folklore from around the world.  The readers are Sally Walker Taylor, Marie-Claire Wood, Lindz McLeod, Lyndsey Croal, Hadiya Morris, Chris Gregory, Amy Boucher an...

Send us Fan Mail Ghostlore is an anthology of writing inspired by the folklore of ghosts, spirits and the supernatural. Edited by writer and audio dramatists Lyndsey Croal this first edition, Wilderness, features the work of 11 writers and explores folklore from around the world.   Ghostlore Part One, Wilderness is presented and edited by Lyndsey Croal.  The readers are Sally Walker Taylor, Marie-...

Send us Fan Mail In this first edition of season 6 we look at the other podcasts Alternative Stories have been working on.  We chat with novelist Madeleine White about the pdcast for writers, Write On! Audio and novelist and audio dramatist Emily Inkpen about our new science fiction audio drama The Dex Legacy.  We also preview some of the content you’ll be able to hear in season 6.   In this editi...

Send us Fan Mail Midwinter Monologues is a collection of seasonal short fiction by 13 different writers.  We feature stories written and performed by Alternative Stories regulars such as Lewie Watson and Marie-Claire Wood and introduce some new writers and voices.  This anthology will put you in in a festive mood and help you to consider some alternative versions of Christmas.  We all have our own...

Send us Fan Mail In this special edition guest-edited by Signe Maene we look at the folklore and folk stories associated with animals, beasts and familiars.  Our guests are Terri Windling, Zoe Gilbert, Willow Winsham, Icy Sedgewick and Natalja Saint-Germain Thank you to Signe Maene, Terri Windling, Zoe Gilbert, Willow Winsham, Icy Sedgwick and Natalja Saint German for being out guests on the podca...

Send us Fan Mail In this edition we resume the theme of storytelling, this time looking at the art and techniques of telling stories from real life. Our guest, Lily Dunn is a novelist, memoirist and teacher whose debut memoir, Sins of My Father will be out in March 2022.   Excerpts from Sins of My Father in this podcast are read by Lily Dunn The interviewer is Chris Gregory Production, sound desig...

Send us Fan Mail Mastrocherry is a tech company making poppets - highly realistic replicas of real humans.  Senior engineer Catherine Antonio and Junior Reclaim Engineer Fox Cameron have a problem.  A poppet has been returned by a VIP customer and they must diagnose the reasons for some alarming behavioural traits it has been displaying.  Can it really be possible that the poppet has become self-a...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast we look at the art and techniques of storytelling.  We speak to novelist Zoe Gilbert about the ways in which she uses folklore and folk tales as inspiration and backdrop for her storytelling and actress Tiffany Clare about telling stories through characters and narration. Our first guest in this edition is Zoe Gilbert.  Zoe won the Costa Short Story prize in 2014. ...

Send us Fan Mail Bonds is the debut short story collection by poet, dramatist and friend of the podcast Sarra Culleno.  Dealing with the bonds between mothers and children as its main theme it skips genres between science fiction, fantasy and folklore.  We have an interview with Sarra and excerpts from the stories. You can order a copy of Bonds directly from the CAAB Publishing website here https:...

Send us Fan Mail In this edition of the podcast we look at “Somebody Loves You”, the debut novel by acclaimed poet Mona Arshi.  We’ll bring you extracts from the novel read by actress Rakhee Sharma, an interview and some of Mona’s poetry.  The presenter in this edition is Sally Walker Taylor, the readers are Rakhee Sharma and Tiffany Clare. and the interviewer is Chris Gregory.  Sound design, prod...

Send us Fan Mail In this edition we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Seren Books, the publisher from south Wales responsible for launching the careers of many poets and for putting out a series of memorable poetry collections including a few featured previously on Alt Stories   In this podcast you can hear an interview with Seren’s outgoing poetry editor Amy Wack who leaves the press at the end o...

Send us Fan Mail In this edition of the podcast we hear from poet and activist Roy McFarlane.  Roy has two collections from Nine Arches Press and a third collection to be published in 2022.  In the podcast we share a selection of Roy’s poetry and hear about what inspires and influences his work. In this podcast you heard the following poems    Papers read by Kam Elliott Clinton McCurbin 1987 read...

Send us Fan Mail Joshua Gillingham is a fantasy writer whose work is heavily inspired by Norse Mythology and the Icelandic  sagas.  In this edition of the podcast we have an interview with Josh and we hear his short story "An Empty Thing" Read by Alex C Stewart The presenter in this edition is Sally Walker-Taylor Sound design and music are by Chris Gregory The interview with Josh Gilling...

Send us Fan Mail Welcome to our special anthology podcast celebrating the UK’s National Poetry Day 2021. We have a mix of poems from the podcast in the past year and new poems in forthcoming collections.  The presenter is Tiffany Clare  Readers (where not read by the poets themselves) are Marie-Claire Wood, Niall Wright and Charlie Richards Sound design, soundscapes, and production are by Chris Gr...

Send us Fan Mail In this special edition we look at “A Wild and Precious Life” an anthology of writing on the theme of recovery which was published by Unbound in May 2021.  We have a selection of pieces from the collection read by our actors and insight from some of the writers who submitted pieces to the collection.  We also speak to Lily Dunn and Zoe Gilbert who had the idea for the anthology, c...

Send us Fan Mail Maskwork is a 2020 collection by poet and academic Gregory Leadbetter.  Themes of folklore, ritual, theatre and nature combine in these vivid and resonant poems brought to life by the voices of our actors and with a commentary by Greg himself.   In Maskwork by Gregory Leadbetter you heard the following poems   Musician read by Charlie Richards  Doe read by Charlie Richards  Lapse...

Send us Fan Mail Following the deployment of the Rone Missile (in our drama The Bomb) tension is rising in Dex Industries.  Ren, Isra and Varian continue their fight in the Domonos Mountains but the rebels have new tricks up their sleeves.  The Hunt is part 2 of Emily Inkpen’s audio drama series based on her Dex Legacy universe.  In “The Hunt” by Emily Inkpen you can hear  Warren Graham as Tristan...

Send us Fan Mail In this podcast, we celebrate the publication of “Jane Is Trying” the eagerly awaited debut novel by writer, actor and comedian Isy Suttie.  Listeners will know Isy from the channel 4 series Peep Show, her BBC Radio 4 show “Isy Suttie’s Love Letters”, her critically acclaimed stand-up performances and from numerous other radio and TV appearances.   Jane Is Trying is Isy’s first no...

Send us Fan Mail In this special edition we look at the folklore and folk tales associated with the stone circles and standing stones of the British Isles.   Our guests are Anna Chorlton, Kevan Manwaring, Amy Boucher, Chloe Germaine and Catherine Munro and we visit stone circles from Cornwall up to Orkney and Shetland taking in Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire and Cumbrian circles along the way....

Send us Fan Mail Mrs Death Misses Death is the acclaimed debut novel from poet and activist Salena Godden.  Telling the story of a female death figure and a young writer called Wolf who strikes up an unlikely rapport with her, this podcast has  excerpts from the novel and a full length interview with Salena.  Listeners should note that this podcast contains swearing and descriptions of death.  If...

Send us Fan Mail Kizzy is listening back through old recordings of her mother, Silva talking about the mystery of a missing folk singer, Molly Marrison who disappeared on the cusp of fame in the late 60s.  As the mystery deepens an older story, that of the runaway lovers from Derbyshire folklore, becomes entwined in the investigation.  The Keeper of Songs is adapted from the new novel by Fiona Mou...

Send us Fan Mail 100 Words of Solitude is a collection of writing on the subject of the solitude and isolation resulting from the Covid lockdowns.  100 pieces of  of exactly 100 words each by 100 writers from all around the world based on the Rare Swan Press publication and from the original concept by Simon and Philippa Holloway. Trigger warning:  The podcast contains descriptions of death, lonel...

Send us Fan Mail At the height of the UK's lockdown Holly travels to Cornwall to visit her family.   As she learns more about the folklore and customs of the county her story becomes enmeshed with that of Hedrek, a hurler from Cornwall's distant past.  In the Silver Ball by Anna Chorlton you heard, in order of appearance   Tim Cartwright As Conan  Michael Fenner as the Vicar of St Cleer ...

Send us Fan Mail In this special edition we’ll be listening to poems from four regular contributors to the podcast and hearing a little about their approaches to writing poetry.   The presenter is Sally Walker-Taylor Sound recordings in this podcast were made by the contributors and sound design, mixing and music were by Chris Gregory  The poems in this podcast are   Binder’s Blue by Marie Claire...