Story Discovery Podcast [Short Stories | Poetry | Flash Fiction | Audiobook]

Content Warning: This episode includes descriptions of potential child and sexual abuse. A seemingly innocuous email sets off a cascade of hard-feelings, memories, and past trauma. Type along with Kathleen as she works through her emotions. You’ll experience a slow-reveal of a troubled history as she crafts her response. After the reading, Tomas Zandir discusses the ins-and-outs, as well as the ‘w...

Young Eusebio is caught in a spiral, trying to turn back time, as he struggles with the consequences of violence – not least of which is his own. Giles Kelvage’s profound story explores elements of choice, friendship, and innocence in a world of poverty and guns. Afterward, Giles shares his approach to writing (hint: it takes work) and discusses why he focuses on the major themes of humanity. If y...

A coffee shop, a dog park, a coterie of liars attract and repel in this humorous story by V.J. Hamilton. Without giving anything away, suffice it to say that our pets may be smarter than we know. After the reading, V.J. delves into the roots of this story and her choice to have a unique narrative perspective. We also learn how her ultra-rural Canadian childhood, current big-city living, as well as...

A 1960s VW Bug, a graduate research student, and a wet t-shirt contest come together during the Flower Power generation to provide some surprising lessons for the narrator and her readers.  Author Deborah Wilbrink, a self-described embellisher of fiction, as well as musician, engages in lively conversation about ghostwriting, memoir versus autofiction, and her years in the tumultuous era of Free L...

Poetry that is spare yet profound might best describe the beautifully crafted poems of Larissa Peters whose subjects range from love to children to all that we can lose in both a single moment or a single year. JW and Becky learn about Larissa’s childhood with her missionary parents in Indonesia and then her discovery of love during COVID lockdown in California. Young writers out there with small...

In his gorgeously understated short story, John Irving Clarke quietly challenges the British myth of Keep Calm and Carry On. Set in England between WWI and WWII, a family with four sons struggles with the aftermath of war and the high stakes test of a coming war. Join JW and Becky as they learn about John’s varied publishing career of both poetry and fiction, his early life teaching English and hi...

Stacy’s poems will have you smiling at society’s prim modesty, slap you with the reality of fundamentalism, and inspire you to laughter (and maybe tears?) all while reaching into your heart and breaking it open. Still, in the end, you'll feel heard. Stacy is one of those rare poets who combines rhythm, meter, shape, and theme to craft poems from a place of love and empathy. After the reading, awar...

Names written on slips of paper, a crumpled brown bag, a life measured in relationships - some lost but never forgotten. Alan Bell’s story recalls the personal journey of those impacted by AIDS and the fears and uncertainties of the gay community in the early years of the epidemic. After the reading, Alan relays his connection to the story, his personal experience with the Names Project, and the p...

Walk with poet Renee Rigdon as she travels along paths in parallel worlds, overhears the language of the garden, wrestles with her ancestors, and wonders on the impact of childhood trauma. These poems are steeped in reflection and rooted in organic metaphor. Due to scheduling conflicts, this episode includes poetry readings only. If you’d like to read these poems or learn more about Renee, head ov...

This quirky tale about a man, a cat, a dogmatic preacher, and a wise elder, will take you on a fun journey into the mind of a feline and up the side of a mountain. During the show, high school student Maddie Rosales shares her old-soul wisdom about editing, submitting, and staying off social media. You’ll also learn how a single teacher can change your life and how food can become a love-language....

The death of a turtle in the road forces Ann Markham Bailey to reflect on the tenuous relationship between humans and nature, while also celebrating the wisdom and beauty of the humble turtle. Anne believes that turtles carry the stories that we don’t remember in our headlong rush for tomorrow. After the reading Anne discusses her devotion to the forests of Alabama, forest therapy (it’s a thing),...

A new farmhand’s arrival stirs unfamiliar feelings in an adolescent youth as she wrestles with childhood joys and burgeoning emotions. Jessica Cull weaves an atmospheric coming-of-age story that is equal parts sinister,  sensual, and tragic. After the reading, learn how Jessica’s career as a copy-writer and her experiences in rural England influence her stories about women seeking control over the...

Two best friends, one tragic event, a cascade of choices that result in changed lives. Danny Giancioppo weaves a story of decisions, consequences, and life struggles that might just have you reflecting on your own. After the reading, Danny relays the influence of family, as well as comics, on his writing and provides some surprising advice on the difference between writing literary fiction, specul...

Richard Vetere’s writing and creative journey is a story of its own. His early life as a poet in the 1970s led to a career as a screenplay writer, a playwright, a producer, a novelist, and a memoirist turned movie-cult-classic creator. After the reading, Richard slowly unwinds his past to reveal a path that strayed far from the straight and narrow, yet graced him with experiences both sobering and...

When you put together an eccentric neighbor, a potential serial killer, and a fruitcake, do you create a problem or a solution? Delbert Griffith’s story will have you guessing. After the reading Delbert reveals his process for creating a female assassin, as well as his technique for teaching H.S. math by using creative writing. If you’d like to read Delbert’s story or learn more about his amazing...

Experience the frustration, the anger, the bewilderment that a naive young Jehovah’s Witness encounters as she is betrayed by the system and the elders she trusts. This potent First Place Prose winner of Etched Onyx’s 2024 Writing Contest explores the convergence of doctrine and emotional, psychological, and domestic violence. After the reading, award-winning author, Summer Hammond, talks about so...

A first-generation boy learns through the cruelty of his classmates that his given name is not a blessing but a curse at his American school. Second Place Prose winner, Jill Martin, tells a poignant and relevant story for the Etched Onyx 2024 Writing Contest. Afterward, Jill talks about her writing process, the importance of prompts, submitting pieces, and how to get inspired by rejection. If you’...

Vengeance is a drink best served cold. Etched Onyx’s third place prose winner, Lindsay Marshall, weaves a web of intrigue, slowly revealing the cause and effect of male predation of women. During the interview, Lindsay spills the tea about dancing bartenders, the value of MFAs, and the uniquely inspiring performances of both Green Day and the show Supernatural. If you’d like to read Lindsay’s stor...

From mistresses and tornadoes to what to take as you leave a life behind, Nancy Beauregard’s collection of poetry will make you smile, and all the while, her everyday silken wisdom will leave you reverent. Nancy won First Place for poetry in the Etched Onyx 2024 Writing Contest. Nancy really did survive tornadoes, inspiring her to move to New Mexico where she began a career as a writer and teacher...

Storms, history, humanity, the wild, and the wild within us come together in these lyrical diaspora poems by Ryan Caidic. From home-country longing, to lives in the past and present, these poems will transport you into thought spaces you probably avoid. After the reading, Ryan discusses diaspora poetry, how creative advertisers and poets have the same goals, and what it’s like to raise a family in...

At times luscious, then heartbreaking, then steeped in memory, the poems of Etched Onyx’s 2024 Writing Contest 3rd place poetry winner Jennifer Harrison will have you reading them repeatedly, making new discoveries each time. After the reading, multi-award-winning Australian poet, Jennifer Harrison, tackles topics such as what inspires our writing and why poems should be read aloud. Her projects r...

From dream-crafted poems to a six word, three-line composition, Mike Wilson’s works search for connection and understanding through a lens of mortality and maybe a little absurdity. After the reading, Mike reveals his process for recalling and creating dream poems that we know you’ll find fascinating. Mike also talks about the stories he’s written as a small-town lawyer, including the unusual insp...

Take a deep dive into the brutal world of fish breeding, mating, and raising offspring. You might find more than a story about cichlids and catfish, leading you to think hard about human resilience and adaptation. After the reading, Petra Elliott delves into the horror genre, comic-cons, head-eating fungi, and how she learned to love roller coasters. If you want to read Petra’s story or learn more...

Hardy Coleman’s humorous and poignant poetry will surprise listeners with its combination of clever turns and wistful imaginings. Tragically, Mr. Coleman passed away before his interview and we are unable to share this wonderful poet’s voice and thoughts with our Story Discovery listeners. But like all good poetry, Hardy’s inner world and unique voice is forever captured in his writing. We hope yo...

A chance meeting at a sportsbook in vegas turns out to be more than coincidence. After losing his marriage and some serious cash, can Ron turn it around? Find out in this short story by former sports journalist Matt Roberts. During the interview, Matt reveals his path to fiction writing and gives the lowdown on the high pressure art of sports writing. If you’d like to read Matt’s story or learn mo...