Stories, But Shorter

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

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

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

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.

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

Juan Martinez is the author of Best Worst American: Stories. He was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia and now resides in Chicago. On “Stories, But Shorter,” Juan reads “Character Limit,” a short story originally published in The Mississippi Review, about a Latinx navigating with his family through Chicago the day after Trump won the presidential election. Afterward, Juan and Cassi reflect on pulling from real-life experiences for writing, sci-fi and how to have a healthy relationship with Twitter. Juan teaches at Northwestern University. Juan Martinez’ Website: https://fulmerford.com Twitter: @fulmerford Instagram: @fulmerford

Samira Ahmed is the New York Times best-selling author of “Love, Hate & Other Filters” and “Internment.” She was born in Bombay, India, and grew up in a small town in Illinois. On “Stories, But Shorter,” Samira shares her short story “Election Day” which beautifully depicts a widowed man remembering his wife and the gift of voting on Election Day in Bombay. Afterward, Samira and Cassi discuss politics in art. Samira’s next novel “Mad, Bad and Dangerous To Know” is due in April 2020. https://samiraahmed.com New York Times “10 Young Adult Novelists Spin Fiction From Vintage Photos”

Cassi Jerkins and Jeremy Schmidt are returning for season two of Stories, But Shorter. This time they hit Chicago. Subscribe now so you don't miss the first episode. 

For our last episode of the “Stories, But Shorter” season, the wonderful Daniel Olivas joins us to read his short story, “The Great Wall”. This powerful story is in response to Donald Trump’s inhumane treatment of immigrants, specifically families, and his insistence of constructing a wall between Mexico and the United States. Daniel does an excellent job of showing the power artists possess in reminding people that we must be and do better. Daniel A. Olivas is the author of nine books including The King of Lighting Fixtures: Stories (University of Arizona Press), and Crossing the Border: Collected Poems (Pact Press). He is also the co-editor of The Coiled Serpent: Poets Arising from the Cultural Quakes and Shifts of Los Angeles (Tía Chucha Press), and editor of Latinos in Lotusland: An Anthology of Contemporary Southern California Literature (Bilingual Press). Olivas has written for The New York Times and the Los Angeles Review of Books.

“Stories, But Shorter” has it’s first live show at the Last Bookstore in Downtown Los Angeles with two great short story writers! Xuan Juliana Wang reads “Future Cat” from her upcoming book “Home Remedies”, and Matt Sumell reads “Toast” from his book, “Making Nice”. Host Cassi Jerkins, producer Jeremy Schmidt and the audience ask questions after each short story.. We have a great discussion about using humor to deal with the hardships of life, the uncertainty and agony of transitioning from young adult to adult, and grief. Links to Share Xuan Juliana Wang - http://www.xuanjulianawang.com Matt Sumell - https://www.mattsumell.com Follow “Stories, But Shorter” on Twitter & Instagram - @storiesbutshorter The Last Bookstore - http://lastbookstorela.com

Writer Marisa Matarazzo shares “Ions” from her short story collection “Drenched: Stories of Love and Other Deliriums”. Marisa’s stories show how boundless love is by fusing magical realism and fantasy with heart. “Ions” is a wild adventure about a woman on the rebound having an unexpected encounter with an otherworldly water engineer. Marisa Matarazzo’s works have been published in Faultline, Hobart, Fivechapters, Unstuck and more. She has taught at UCLA Extension Writers’ Program and is currently an Assistant Professor in the MFA Writing Program at Otis College of Art and Design. Links to Share http://www.marisamatarazzo.com Follow “Stories, But Shorter” on Twitter & Instagram - @storiesbutshorter

“Stories, But Shorter” shakes things up a bit and showcases poetry from writer, Elisa Gabbert! Cassi visits Elisa in Denver, Colorado. Elisa welcomes her into her home and reads from “L’Heure Bleue, of the Judy Poems”, a book of poems that study a woman’s reflection in solitude while engaging deep questions of memory, identity, desire, surveillance, and fear.

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

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/

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

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, we have on Amy Silverberg who shares with us an honest portrayal of modern dating with “One Rough, One Tender”. This great story takes us on a ride of passion, dissatisfaction, irrational jealousy and the naive attempt of trying to find yourself through another person or two.

Writer Agatha French joins us with a few short stories from her chapbook Goodnight Nobody. Through her stories “Stages”, “Back Then” and “Next Year”, we find a theme on the complexity of longing. Longing to be seen, to transform and to be complete.

“Stories, But Shorter” gets experimental and turns cartoonist Sam Alden’s comic “Dragon Year” into a short story for your ears! Actress Diona Elise Burnett and host, Cassi Jerkins, lend their voices to Sam’s characters as Sam brings alive his illustrations through narration.

Writer Dana Johnson reads, “Because That’s Just Easier” from her praised collection In the Not Quite Dark. This collection truthfully portrays race, gender, and class in Los Angeles. Dana’s collection has been championed by critics and fellow writers alike. Publishers Weekly reviews it as, “An insightful collection of stories that paint diverse portraits of present-day Los Angeles.” And writer Roxane Gay says “Johnson has, truly, written an unforgettable collection.

Aimee Bender is an American novelist and short story writer. On “Stories, But Shorter” she reads “The Devourings” and has a talkback with host Cassi Jerkins and producer Jeremy Schmidt. “The Devourings” explores and questions classic fairy tale archetypes, magical items and tropes readers frequently encounter in the folklore genre of wonder and magic.