SoundPages Podcast

Corry Venema-Weiss longed to write about strange worlds from her youth, but was deterred by the daunting task of imagining them from scratch. Then she discovered a fascinating world ready-made: the 18th century. The result of nearly ten years of research, her novel, The Genius of Desire, is the story of Will Theroux, his fall […] The post Anatomy Lesson – Corry Venema-Weiss appeared first on...

Pulling ideas from his experience in the world of theater, Jay McAleer takes the reader behind the scenes of a traveling show. The cheeky interaction of his characters lends authenticity to his portrayal of stage life. THIS PODCAST CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE. Music by the Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble, produced as part of the Jack Straw […] The post Delicate Strangers – Jay McAleer appeared f...

Using bright humor to render dark subject matter more readable, Jeannine Hall Gailey offers fresh verse on classic characters. Music by the Seattle Jazz Composers Ensemble, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post The Robot Scientist’s Daughter – Jeannine Hall Gailey appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

With details from her well-kept travel journals, Kaia Chessen takes readers through Africa in a genuine account of her journey. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post To Timbuktu and Back – Kaia Chessen appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Stacey Bennetts shares stories from her extraordinary childhood in her memoir about family drug smuggling. While the circumstances are unusual, aspects of the family dynamic and relationships are universal. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Trial By Error: Confessions of an Eight-Year-Old Drug Smuggler – Stacey Bennetts appeared first on...

With sensitivity and courage, Lacey Jane Henson shares the shifting emotion in a mother-daughter relationship. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post New Year’s Day, 1993 – Lacey Jane Henson appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Carol Light blends traditional forms to create innovative, distinctive verse. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Experimenting with Form – Carol Light appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Johanna Stoberock often looks to physical forms to guide her writing. Stories emerge from the landscape and fill pages with vivid sensory description and poignant scenes. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Shelter – Johanna Stoberock appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

As a writer and traveler, Nick Wong contemplates the world of boxing and the common ground shared by every fighter. During his time in other countries, he could always find a safe place in the gym and his writing shares the culture of the sport with many who will never enter a ring. Music by […] The post A Fight For Shared Spaces – Nick Wong appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Sharon Hashimoto captures her father’s voice in her new work, Eh, Bruddah. It’s a touching, humor-infused story of family told with a cultural bent. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Eh, Bruddah – Sharon Hashimoto appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Sally Neumann presents colorful, touching portraits of her kin. Humorous banter and raw descriptions are cleverly knit together in this piece. THIS PODCAST CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Smiling Peanuts – Sally Neumann appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Claudia Rowe documents her four-year correspondence with a serial murderer in her manuscript, Prey. The poignant narrative expresses true vulnerability and depth of emotion. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Prey – Claudia Rowe appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

Gabriela Denise Frank takes a closer look at American cities; ruminating on the character of a place. Her travels abroad inspired her to capture regional distinctions in the United States. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Hidden City Diaries – Gabriela Denise Frank appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

With innocent curiosity and an open mind, Kathleen Alcalá delves into her community of Bainbridge Island to explore food. Through interviews with local farmers, bee keepers, and neighbors, Alcalá raises new questions about sustainability. Music by Rachel Matthews, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post The Clueless Eater – Kathleen Alcalá appeared first on Jack Straw C...

Mitsu Sundvall takes you back to San Francisco in 1953 where multi-generations of a Japanese family play out their roles. Backstage at a nightclub, readers take in the atmosphere in a cultural context. THIS PODCAST CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE. Music by Rachel Matthews and produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post White Shoulders, San Francisco 1953 – Mitsu Sundvall appeared f...

With easy humor and an engaging voice, Robert Lamirande relays the encounters of a young adult in the dating world. Readers feel embarassed, hopeful, reminiscent, and discouraged as they experience the characters’ travails. Lamirande’s narrative is a breezy look into modern courtship. THIS PODCAST CONTAINS ADULT LANGUAGE. Music performed by Grand Hallway and recorded as […] The post She Love...

Drawing from her own experiences abroad, Nassim Assefi creates true to life scenarios playing on today’s world politics. Her characters bring different perspectives to a story that requires multi-layered explanation. From the streets of Kabul, Assefi shares the world of war in a contemporary context. Music performed by Srivani Jade, produced as part of the […] The post Real Context – Nassim...

Larissa Min reflects on global migration through her own family’s journey from Korea to Brazil to the United States. Her intimate story is told with poignant lyricism and brings to light not only her own history, but also the transformations that families experience through migration. Music by Randal Bays, produced as part of the Jack […] The post Moving through History – Larissa Min appeare...

In his exploration of trade, Donald Fels brings to light stories of rich, cultural heritage. As a world traveler, artist, and writer, Fels weaves together his experiences and research, resulting in an intricate account of history. Music by August Denhard and Munir Nurettin Beken, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Travel through Trade – Donald Fels appeared first o...

Anne McDuffie creates a sensory portrait of fog in a set of essays from an earlier chapter in her life. Her descriptions are immersive, and saturated by deep hues. The reader learns of her time in Madrid as a student and joins her for a long walk through the fog. Music by the Black Cat […] The post The Color of Fog – Anne McDuffie appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

In his work, Harold Taw explores voice and perspective. Readers travel through cultural and emotional territory with complex characters, moving through stories with remarkable storytellers. Music by Victor Noriega, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post A Cultural Journey – Harold Taw appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .

In her Jack Straw residency, Ann Teplick shares her grief, wrestling the difficulties and pain of losing parents. Her poetry imparts sorrow, beauty, love, and loss. Each word is chosen with courage, leaving the reader absorbed in the fragility of human life. Music by the Bird Tribe Orchestra, produced as part of the Jack Straw […] The post By the Bedside – Ann Teplick appeared first on Jack...

Through her study of a Mies van der Rohe glass house in Illinois, architect and poet Nora Wendl illuminates the life of Dr. Edith Farnsworth. Yearly visits to the home and extensive research inform Wendl’s portrayal of the house and the character of Farnsworth. With an architectural lens, Wendl brings life and sentiment to marble […] The post Architecture of Poetry – Nora Wendl appeared firs...

In her writing, Maritess Zurbano depicts the little known world of a female magician. Her work brings to light racial and gender issues surrounding the art and captures the intrigue of performance. Original subject matter and dramatic delivery make for a captivating read. Music by the Owcharuk Sextet, produced as part of the Jack Straw […] The post That’s Magic – Maritess Zurbano appeared fi...

As a poet and fiction writer, Katharine Whitcomb serves a complex blend of sentiment. Her playful wording often frames serious content. Music by Lori Goldston, produced as part of the Jack Straw Artist Support Program. The post Shades of Sensibility – Katharine Whitcomb appeared first on Jack Straw Cultural Center .