Let's Deconstruct a Story

Hi! I am so happy to share my podcast interview with the esteemed Southern writer George Singleton. We delved into some serious subjects: the legacy of racism in the South, gun control, and substance abuse, but despite all of that, we managed to laugh every now and then because he is hilarious! (And I said the word "interesting" about a gazillion times--Why? Why did I keep saying the sam...

Chad B. Anderson's story "The Kelley Street Disappearances" has been lodged in my brain for almost a decade, so I decided to track him down, and I was so grateful when he agreed to be on the podcast. I'm sure if you are an avid reader like me, you know how rare it is to have a story resonate for that long. I hope you feel the same way I do about this one! Thanks also to LDAS-feat...

Hi Everyone, I'm happy to welcome Jason Ockert to show! We discussed his story, "The Peoplemachines" in StorySouth Spring 2023. It blew me away! Who reminds me of a modern-day ⁠ Agathocles ⁠ ??...hmmmm....I can't imagine. Please read the story (available below) before listening to our discussion. Thank you SO MUCH to storySouth for publishing this thought-provoking dystopian stor...

Hi Everyone! I'm thrilled to welcome Caroline Kim on the podcast today! We will be reviewing her story "Motherhood" which is available for free from August 1st-31st on the Story Magazine website. Thank you, Michael Nye! Please see my website to access the story: https://kellyfordon.com/lets-deconstruct-a-story/ CAROLINE KIM is the author of a collection of short stories about the Kor...

Hi Everyone, I'm thrilled to host fiction writer, Anna Caritj this month on "Let's Deconstruct a Story." The Sewanee Review has graciously taken down the paywall for Anna's story for the month of June so you can read the story all month for free! They have also offered readers/listeners of LDAS 10% off a subscription to The Sewanee Review with the code: SISTER. I am definitel...

Hi Everyone, Robin and I have been good friends and writing buddies since we met at a writer's conference in 2008. Since then, she has won numerous awards for her work and I am so thrilled to feature her brilliant writing here. We did something a little different for this episode. We are taking a look at two of Robin's stories: 1969 is available at The New Orleans Review and Through the Ho...

Hi Everyone,  This month I'm thrilled to welcome Meghan Louise Wagner to the podcast! First, because I love the story. Secondly, because I am from NE Ohio and she lives there! Yay! So happy to be promoting fellow Midwesterners.  Her story, "Elephant Seals" is available in these two places:  Agni Online here or in Best American Short Stories 2022.  Please read the story first before listening to ou...

Hi Everyone, So glad to be back after a short hiatus! I’m grateful to the Grosse Pointe Public Library for allowing me to use their recording studio for these next few episodes. It was fantastic; however, there was a little learning curve…I apologize for a couple of staticky moments during this podcast. Luckily, it only happened when I was talking! Julie sounds fantastic–and that’s all that matter...

Hi Everyone! I'm really looking forward to sharing this discussion with Toni Ann Johnson. I loved this collection! We will be talking about the story "Time Travel" winner of the 2021 Miller Audio Prize. Please listen to the story at the link below before you tune in to our podcast discussion. This is the last post of 2022. Thanks so much to the Grosse Pointe Public Library in Michigan and Pages Bo...

Well, I'm not going to lie. It was one of the top ten thrills of my life speaking with George Saunders. I was so excited, I thought I might pass out partway through the interview. But he could not have been more unpretentious, kind, and engaging. I learned so much from him, and hope you do too! Every story he writes reminds me that we are all multifaceted and precious, despite our flaws--what a gi...

Hi Everyone,       "Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. Today I'll be talking about the short story "Chance" with the author, Peter Ho Davies. ***Content warning: This episode deals with pregnancy/childbirth, miscarriages/abortion***      Please read the story first and then listen to the podcast, available on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Mu...

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. This week I am talking to Jacob M. Appel about his story "The Frying Finn" first published in Agni and available here. Please read the story first before listening to our discussion. Learn more about Jacob M. Appel on my blog here .  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other...

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. This week I am talking to Selena Anderson about her Oxford American and later, Best American Short Story , "Godmother Tea!" Please read the story on my website and then enjoy the podcast!  All best, Kelly Bio: Selena Anderson is a writer from Texas. Her stories have appeared in Fence, BOMB, Conjunct...

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. In this episode, Lydia Conklin and Lillian Li will be discussing the story "Sunny Talks" first published in One Story in January 2022. This conversation was recorded live at Pages Bookshop in Detroit on June 24, 2022. This episode is part of a series of "Let's Deconstruct a Story" podcasts offered i...

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. For this episode, please read "Goodbye" by Maurine Ogbaa, first published in Agni.   **Please note we will be talking about suicide on this episode.** This summer I am posting two episodes with writers who have not yet published their first short story collections. This podcast is dedicated to the w...

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. For this episode please read or listen to the audio recording of "Shape-Ups at Delilah's" in The New Yorker before listening to our discussion. This is part of a series of "Let's Deconstruct a Story" podcasts offered in collaboration with the Grosse Pointe Public Library in Michigan. The GPPL has co...

Hi Everyone, I'm thrilled to welcome Ellen Birkett Morris to the show today. Please read her story, "Inheritance" (available at www.kellyfordon.com ) before listening to our discussion. During our talk, Ellen also mentioned a book by Ron Carlson called "Ron Carlson Writes a Story" which is out of print unfortunately but you might find a used copy here. Next month, Rion Amilcar Scott will record hi...

Hi Everyone, I'm excited to share my interview with Sara Majka about the title short story, "Cities I've Never Lived In." Here's a brief description of the collection from the publisher Graywolf Press: "Fearlessly riding the line between imagination and experience, fact and fiction, the linked stories in Sara Majka’s debut collection offer intimate glimpses of a young New England woman whose life...

Even though I am mostly working on "Let's Deconstruct a Story" these days, every now and then I still like to feature a stellar Michigan poet! Today's post includes a reading by Ken Meisel from his new book, Studies Inside the Consent of a Distance published in January by Kelsay Books. Poems in the recording include "Fatherhood," "Two Portraits of Hunger, South Carolina" and “The Angel of the Wond...

Lily King discusses the title story from her collection "Five Tuesdays in Winter."  The story is available at most local libraries and should be read before listening to the podcast. I apologize--normally I am able to provide a copy of the story on my website but apparently Grove Atlantic does not have serial rights to the individual stories. Lily King is the award-winning author of five novels. H...

Caitlin Horrocks discusses her story "On the Oregon Trail" from her short story collection, Life Among the Terranauts. The story is available and should be read before listening to the podcast at www.kellyfordon.com/blog . Caitlin Horrocks is the author of the story collections Life Among the Terranauts and This Is Not Your City, both New York Times Book Review Editor’s Choice selections. Her nove...

“Let’s Deconstruct a Story” is a podcast for the story nerds--those who know that examining the components of a good story is the key to writing one. In each episode here, I interview a writer about one of their own stories, delving deeply into their choice of POV, plot, setting, and tone. The stories are available for listeners to read (below) before they listen to our discussion at www.kellyford...

**Note use of strong language and adult content.** Please read Natalie's story, "Children are Magic" first at www.kellyfordon.com /blog. Natalie Serber  is the author of a memoir about her experience with breast cancer entitled,  Community Chest,  and a story collection,  Shout Her Lovely Name,  a  New York Times  Notable Book, and an O, the Oprah Magazine Summer Read. Twice nominated for a Pushca...

Welcome! “Let’s Deconstruct a Story” is a podcast for the story nerds! This is a podcast for aspiring writers who know that examining the components of a good story is the key to writing one. In each episode here, I interview a writer about one of their own stories, delving deeply into their choice of POV, plot, setting, and tone. The stories are available at www.kellyfordon.com for listeners to r...

Welcome! “Let’s Deconstruct a Story” is a podcast for the story nerds! This is a podcast for aspiring writers who know that examining the components of a good story is the key to writing one. In each episode here, I interview a writer about one of their own stories, delving deeply into their choice of POV, plot, setting, and tone. The stories are available at www.kellyfordon.com for listeners to r...