January 24, 2025

10 Collage Pieces by Joe Suh

Posted by Malik White in Featured Posts, Fine Art, Member Writing & Art

We have something special for you all on FC this week. Our Arts and Design barista, Yucen Yao, has been working hard since she joined, and we finally have a chance to show some of the work she has curated for us. First up, we have a set of collage pieces by Joe Suh. I especially resonated with Joe’s artist statement because I feel like it embodies what Fictional Café stands to be – a creative space for artists to express and share their passions. I’m happy Joe decided to share his work with us, and I hope he shares more of his creations with us in the future. Artist Statement: My personal practice focuses on the physical and meditative exploration that comes from creating physical collages in a digitally dominated profession. As a contrast…

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January 22, 2025

“Less is Morgue” A Praeps Collective Production

Posted by Ruby Fink in Audio Arts, Featured Posts

Less is Morgue is an award-winning comedy fiction podcast that’s equal parts hilariously offbeat and unexpectedly heartfelt. At its core are two unlikely co-hosts: Riley, a paranoid and somewhat abrasive ghoul, and Evelyn, a bubbly ghost whose life ended in spectacularly ironic fashion at a Nickelback concert in 2004. Together, they broadcast their quirky basement talk show, where the supernatural is just another day in the office, and things rarely go as planned. Set in an alternate version of Tallahassee, Florida, where monsters roam freely and the paranormal is perfectly ordinary, the show delivers a wild mix of absurdist horror-comedy and heartfelt storytelling. Each episode introduces a parade of delightfully eccentric characters—from zombies and vampires to otherworldly entities—all while exploring surprisingly relatable themes. Beneath the layers of chaos and dark humor, Less is Morgue weaves…

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January 18, 2025

“Wire Man” by Andrew Newall

Posted by Malik White in Featured Posts, Writing

*Featured image courtesy of FenesiKinga on Pixabay.com* Heroes can come in all shapes and sizes, and Andrew Newall proves that in his wonderful piece, “Wire Man”. This is a very unique story that I’m sure all of you will enjoy, and I look forward to seeing more stories from Andrew in the future. A little man made from one rod of wire, no more than eight inches tall, shrugged off his motionless pose and walked to the edge of his high shelf to look across the studio. Strewn with drawing and painting utensils, it was standard chaotic clutter uplifted by striking watercolours, pastels and models lying here and there. The artist had left for lunch. That familiar sound of the door locking signalled play time for the wire man and his colleagues. Papier mâché figures…

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January 8, 2025

“From Now” by Rhys Wakefield and William Day Frank

Posted by Ruby Fink in Audio Arts, Featured Posts

If you’re a sci-fi fan, this podcast deserves a spot on your playlist. The story begins with a spaceship that mysteriously vanished in 2025, only to reappear in 2060. When the ship’s door opens, the world is left speechless as crew member Eddie steps out, looking exactly as he did 35 years ago. Experts are baffled, unable to make sense of what’s happened. The only person who might have answers is Eddie’s identical twin, Hunter, now an aging man with a lifetime of distance between him and his brother. The podcast follows their reunion as they piece together the mystery of Eddie’s disappearance and grapple with the implications for their future. Starring Richard Madden and Brian Cox, the show features exceptional performances and immersive sound design that bring the story to life. It’s an easy…

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January 7, 2025

8 Poems by John Grey

Posted by Malik White in Featured Posts, Member Writing & Art, Writing

*Featured image courtesy of Tama66 on Pixabay* Happy New Year! Let’s kick it off with a wonderful set of poems from longtime FC contributor, John Grey. CAR NERD On his wall, he’s hung a poster of an automobile cutaway. It’s his version of Miss August in a swim-suit. The poster’s so detailed you can see the ball joint, the bushings, tie rod, disc brake rotor, universal joint. The tiny boxes with the arrows are unnecessary. He knows each part by name and function. I’m a book worm. I accept that. But he’s this other kind of worm, hatched in floor pans, fed on exhaust, dressed in STP. And, on his dresser, there’s this photograph of a bright red mustang circa 1965. One loving glance at it and he’s on the highway, foot to the floor, …

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December 27, 2024

“Rescuing Ravenstocke” by Svenska Spindlar

Posted by Ruby Fink in Audio Arts, Featured Posts

Happy Holidays, Fictional Cafe listeners! To celebrate this special time of year, we’re thrilled to present a feature-length, full-cast audio drama: Rescuing Ravenstocke. This captivating story masterfully weaves romance, mystery, and speculative fiction into an unforgettable experience. It all begins with artist and designer Ava, who agrees to house-sit for her friend George in his eclectic London apartment. Amid his intriguing collection of vintage TVs and radios, one peculiar item stands out: the Ravenstocke Transopticator—a stunning, mysterious device from the 1930s with a distinct Dieselpunk flair. Drawn in by its intricate design and enigmatic aura, Ava becomes fascinated with the tragic story of its inventor, a young prodigy whose life was cut short under mysterious circumstances. Her curiosity about the device and its creator soon takes on a life of its own, leading Ava on…

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December 13, 2024

“Counterbalance” by Blighthouse Studio

Posted by Ruby Fink in Audio Arts, Featured Posts

“Counterbalance” by Blighthouse Studio is a high fantasy audio drama set in a world disrupted by a catastrophic tear in the magical weave. This rupture allows malevolent spirits to invade the mortal realm, threatening its very existence. The story follows three protagonists, each with unique abilities and secrets, united in their perilous quest to repair the fabric of magic. Along the way, they face trials that test their strength, resolve, and trust, all while uncovering a deeper mystery: who or what caused the tear? As they delve into a world of ancient secrets and magical conflict, each revelation brings new dangers, forcing them to confront choices that could restore balance—or plunge their world into chaos. Aþæanuka – 95th day of Bäkkos, 5th year of the Vær, 101st Generation The journey to the Skundr begins—a perilous…

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December 9, 2024

“Ashes to Ashes” by Brian O’Dea

Posted by Malik White in Featured Posts, Member Writing & Art, Writing

*Featured image courtesy of MiVargof on Pixabay* We start off strong this week with a very unique piece from Brian O’Dea. “Ashes to Ashes” is Brian’s first work on FC, and I sincerely hope he creates another great piece for us to read in the future. Ashley Fetterman When she checked ‘yes’ on the note I slid into her locker, I knew I’d finally found the feeling all the songs and movies promised. Before Christmas break, we were married behind the swing sets in sacred preteen ritual before our teary eyed classmates. Her blue eyes watered as we swore to one another to always share our snacks, to always sit by one another in assembly, and to never let a teacher, principal, or any power pry our hands apart. After just one semester of elementary…

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December 3, 2024

Three Poems by Roger Singer

Posted by Malik White in Featured Posts, Writing

*Featured image courtesy of Michelle_Raponi on Pixabay* Hello FC readers! We’re coming back from the Thanksgiving holiday with three excellent poems from Roger Singer. Roger excels at writing immersive lines that really captivate the reader. Don’t just take my word for it, have a look below! MIDNIGHT DINER fogged windows low lights strangers in and out wooden booths aged vinyl cigarette stains on tables edge unmatched silverware yesterday’s coffee paper towel napkins ketchup fingerprints on the menu the waitress torn hairnet stained apron name tag upside down it’s a harbor for the lost and alone MOTEL ROOM #13 the key turned to the right the door knob to the left a strong aroma walked slowly out the door of the unkept room shattered sunlight coursed through a torn curtain the only window bandaged with black…

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December 1, 2024

Does Not Want the Hill to Die

Posted by Jack B. Rochester in Featured Posts, Member Writing & Art, Writing

Featured Image photo courtesy of Mandana-r at en.wikipedia A Short Story by Fereshteh Rostami We’re pleased to introduce a new voice from Iran to our international Coffee Club membership. Fereshteh Rostami’s native language is Persian, but she wrote this transcendent story in English . . . with a little editorial help from her husband. “Does Not Want the Hill to Die” is a very contemporary narrative, yet one which explores some of the oldest and most fundamental issues humans confront: the nature of life, the delicacy of our relationships with other people, and our responsibility to the land on which we live. Does Not Want the Hill to Die Forestgirl knows that she is gnawed bit by bit; not just her, everything, from the time she was a little girl, she knew. That time things…

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