Stories, But Shorter

Campfire Media
  • 4.9 (12)
  • BOOKS

Stories, But Shorter showcases the sprawling world of creative writing fiction/non-fiction and the beautiful people who choose to bare their soul on digital paper. Each guest author will get a chance to read their short story or selections from a larger story aloud. This is followed by a conversation on the topic of their work, inspiration, and heck, maybe just life with host and comedian, Cassi Jerkins.

  1. 01/27/2020

    Rebecca Makkai on Writing in the Airport

    Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Finalist writer Rebecca Makkai joins us to conclude Season 2 of “Stories, But Shorter.” This Chicago-based writer shares “Everything We Know About the Bomber” from her short story collection, Music For Wartime. In the talkback, Cassi, Jeremy and Rebecca discuss character development and the difference between writing short fiction vs a novel. Rebecca Makkai is also the author of the novels The Great Believers, The Hundred-Year House, and The Borrower. Makkai is on the MFA faculties of Sierra Nevada College and Northwestern University, and she is Artistic Director of StoryStudio Chicago. http://rebeccamakkai.com https://twitter.com/rebeccamakkai

    20 min

  2. 01/20/2020

    Adam McOmber on Queer Historical Fiction

    Writer Adam McOmber joins us to read “Petit Trianon,” a short story from his book My House Gathers Desires. "Petit Trianon" was inspired by a real queer historical paranormal event! Adam shares how he combines his love of the paranormal and exploring different time periods through a queer lens. He even indulges us with a real paranormal experience he and his boyfriend had at a San Francisco hotel. Adam McOmber is the author of My House Gathers Desires, The White Forest and This New & Poisonous Air. Look out for his book Jesus and John coming out in June 2020! Pre-order Jesus and John

    31 min

  3. 01/13/2020

    Misa Sugiura on Young Adult Fiction

    Misa Sugiura reads two amazing short stories, “Hanging Gardens” and “Not What I Meant.” Both stories share the theme of young love. “Hanging Garden” explores young love through magical realism, while “Not What I Meant” explores it through the grounded, dreaded reality of high school. Misa is the author of the award-winning novels, It's Not Like It's A Secret and This Time Will Be Different. Misa shares what it’s like to become a writer after a career in teaching high school English and how she’s able to tap so well into writing young adult fiction. She sends a great message of it’s never too late to become a writer. Please enjoy! http://www.misasugiura.com

    35 min

  4. 01/06/2020

    Christine Sneed on Being a Monkey's Uncle

    Author Christine Sneed joins Stories, But Shorter to read her wonderful short story, “The Monkey’s Uncle Louis.” Christine Sneed is the author of the novels Paris, He Said and Little Known Facts, and the story collections Portraits of a Few of the People I've Made Cry and The Virginity of Famous Men. She has received the Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction, the 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation, and the Chicago Writers’ Association Book of the Year Award twice. She has also been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She teaches for the graduate creative writing programs at Northwestern University and Regis University. https://www.christinesneed.com https://twitter.com/christinesneed https://smile.amazon.com/Am-Not-Your-Enemy-Transform/dp/1513805932/

    45 min

  5. 12/23/2019

    Stories, But Shorter on "A Visit From St. Nicolas"

    A special “Stories, But Shorter” holiday episode! We bring you the classic short “A Visit From St. Nicolas,” more commonly known as “Twas’ The Night Before Christmas” read by 28 people. This poem was first published anonymously in 1823 and later attributed to Clement Clarke Moore in 1837. Supposedly Moore composed this piece on a snowy winter’s day during a shopping trip on a sleigh. This poem is argued to be one of the “best-known verses written by an American.” “A Visit From St. Nicolas” is also widely regarded as the story that gave popularity to the Santa Claus character we know today and had a massive impact on Americans’ tradition of gift-giving. However you celebrate your winter days, we hope it is filled with love and you enjoy this classic tale. Enjoy! Our “Stories, But Shorter” readers in order: Cassi Jerkins, Amalia Aquino, Rian Kountz, Quinn Boyes, Joey DeMers, Karen Baughn, Cory P Willis, Katelyn Hempstead, Cara Meyers, Tim Neumann, Wayne Schmidt, Bryan Rainstein, Michael Rosenbaum, Leonard Jr. Smith, Lorraine DeGraffenreidt, Rachel Van Nes, Vic Michaelis, Max Sosna Spear, Joliene Bratton, Deborah Schmidt, Olivia Bratton, Jaclyn Chavira, Melia Mills, Feodor Chin, Clark Canez, Jen Curcio, Joey Clift, Rosie Leisure, Will Choi

    5 min

  6. 12/16/2019

    E’mon Lauren on Hood Womanism

    E’mon Lauren is a Chicago born-and-raised poet who was named Chicago’s first Youth Poet Laureate. She writes poetry and playwriting to explore a philosophy of hood womanism. She hosts “The Real Hoodwives of Chicago,” a podcast for artists of color to talk love, sex, romance, and ratchetry. On “Stories, But Shorter,” E’mon shares four pieces from her first published chapbook of poems “COMMANDO.” E’mon and host, Cassi Jerkins, have quick talkbacks in between each poem to dive deeper into what it’s really like to grow up in Chicago vs. how the media depicts Chicago life and culture. -- The Real Hoodwives of Chicago Podcast via Anchor Podcast via Soundcloud Young Chicago Authors

    57 min

  7. 12/09/2019

    Michael McRay on Peacebuilding

    Author Michael McRay reads from his upcoming book, I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World. For this book, Michael McRay traveled the world to places like Israel, Palestine, Northern Ireland, and South Africa to interview activists, peacebuilders, and former combatants about their personal experiences with conflict, justice, and reconciliation. I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World is a collection of those interviews as well as Michael’s own experience with his travels and forming deep relationships with the people he met along the way. Michael McRay also works for the global empathy nonprofit, Narrative 4. Narrative 4 brings people across the world together by creating a network for people to share their personal stories with one another. Through story exchange, people use their stories to build empathy, shatter stereotypes, break down barriers and ultimately, make the world a better place.

    39 min

  8. 12/02/2019

    S.L. Wisenberg on Friendship & Religion

    S.L. Wisenberg is the author of The Sweetheart Is In, Holocaust Girls: Memory, & Other Obsessions and The Adventures of Cancer Bitch. Today S.L. Wisenberg shares two short stories “Brunch” and “That Old Time Religion.” Afterward, host Cassi Jerkins and S.L. Wisenberg go in-depth about the complexities of romance, political activism, and religion, as well as pushing through with our creative work when dealing with doubt. S.L. Wisenberg’s Blog The Sweet Heart Is In Holocaust Girls: History, Memory, and Other Obsessions The Adventures of Cancer Bitch

    45 min
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4.9
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Stories, But Shorter showcases the sprawling world of creative writing fiction/non-fiction and the beautiful people who choose to bare their soul on digital paper. Each guest author will get a chance to read their short story or selections from a larger story aloud. This is followed by a conversation on the topic of their work, inspiration, and heck, maybe just life with host and comedian, Cassi Jerkins.

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