March 4, 2022

“The Adventures of Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe”

Happy March, Fictional Cafe Listeners! The month of March is known for quite a few things: March Madness, St. Patrick’s Day, Mardi Gras, Pi Day, Daylight Savings, but one of my favorites is International Women’s Day. And who better to represent women but a tough-as-nails, galactic gumshoe who who doesn’t take sass from anyone? Written by Thomas Lopez and produced by ZBS Foundation in 1982, “The Adventures of Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe” is a podcast of a tough, intergalactic detective at the heart of this expansive storyworld, where sci-fi meets film noir in the style of Blade Runner, but with a unique blend of slapstick comedy, cosmic consciousness, and stunning sound design. In this third season – a fan-favorite and great introduction to the series – Ruby traverses space and time as she investigates a…

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February 28, 2022

“Painting for Personal Joy,” by Hume Baugh

Posted by Mike Rochester in Fine Art

Artist’s Statement: I’ve been painting for five years. I am mostly self-taught. When I started painting, I decided right away that I was going to paint for my own joy, not to please other people. I wasn’t going to worry about whether the paintings were thought to be good or bad but was going to celebrate whenever someone found something in them. I have worked in other artistic contexts and there is always pressure to do well, to excel. But what this resolution regarding painting did for me was free me to simply play. Like when I was a child and I had paints. Sheer playing. This has been my method of operation since. I learn all the time, I am always experimenting, facing challenges, correcting mistakes, following unexpected paths – that is part of…

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February 23, 2022

“Peter Roget,” Poems by Charles Rammelkamp

Posted by Mike Rochester in Writing

Little Red Man My minister father composed sermons. My uncle praised their “taste and elegance”: a word man long before me. Son of a Geneva clockmaker, mon pere, Jean Roget – “little red man,” from the French rouge – immigrated to London at 24 to become pastor at Le Quarré, the French Protestant church in Soho. Papa preached in the little Huguenot church on Little Dean Street, a few blocks north of St. James’s, the colossus near Piccadilly Circus, Christopher Wren’s  largest church – where I was christened in 1779. Papa’d married Catherine Romilly a year before, in St. Marleybone Church, welcomed into their family without reservation. My uncle, Samuel, rhapsodized about our happiness, “as complete as is ever the portion of human beings,” but only months after my birth, Papa was “seized with an…

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February 18, 2022

“Carl” by Liz Bartucci

Posted by Ruby Fink in Audio Arts

Happy Friday Fictional Cafe Listeners, it’s the week of Valentine’s Day, and if you are already sick of the candy and hearts, here is the perfect episode for you. Presenting 2013 Award-winning episode “Carl” by Liz Bartucci. It’s night, it’s Valentine’s day and we are on a dark highway in the middle of nowhere (or is it everywhere?). Join Jeff Cannata as Aaron and Conrad Allan as our title character CARL as they hit the road on a journey that is, shall we say, “Golden.” Carl is spending the first Valentine’s Day alone after his divorce and wondering who would want to spend any time with a miserable person like himself. And then he finds someone who does want to spend time with him. We hope you enjoyed this episode of “Carl” by Liz Bartucci. If you…

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February 16, 2022

“Python,” An Excerpt by Rob Swigart

Posted by Jack B. Rochester in Writing

Rob Swigart brings Lisa Emmer back for Python, Book Three of his fascinating mystery series. I met Rob Swigart on the afternoon of April 29, 1977, at the University of Oregon Bookstore, where he was autographing copies of his first novel, Little America. Although we lost touch with one another for many years, Rob published more novels, many of which I’ve read. One day, perusing my bookshelf, I picked up Little America again and read Rob’s inscription. I turned to my computer and quickly found an email address for him! I’m very happy to know Rob once again, today as a friend and fellow novelist. Rob shared “Water,” a short story with us on FC a few years ago, and today we’re helping bring attention to his latest work, Python, the third book in his…

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February 13, 2022

Valentine’s Day 2022 at the Café

Posted by Jack B. Rochester in Audio Arts, Writing

Three of our Coffee Club Members Share Their Valentine Stories Thank you, thank you everyone, for sending us your Valentine stories! We baristas have read your work and have tried to select works which portray different human perspectives – this in these days of a seemingly endless pandemic which has darkly colored the Be My Valentine emotions for a lot of folks. Our first Valentine’s Day winner is Wiam Najjar’s short story,”Valentine.” Wiam Najjar is a writer at heart and a school principal in mission. She leads teachers and students then goes home to her sacred haven; writing. She’s been published in online magazines and writing blogs and was shortlisted in the 2018 Memoir Magazine #MeToo Essay Contest. You can check out her articles on MyDramaList and her blog WiamNajjar’s Haven. Valentine “Valentine, you forgot your coffee!” She turned…

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February 8, 2022

A. Rayan El Nadim Presents Performance Poetry

Posted by Mike Rochester in Writing

Editor’s Note: A. Rayan El Nadim is an Egyptian poet whose work has been translated from Arabic into English here for your enjoyment on The Fictional Café. He categorizes his work as conceptual and performance poetry, specifically, “a deep dive into myths, folklore, and the secrets of inherited improvisational folk songs that deeply express pain, suffering and dream; the history of the Egyptian folk treasures; the songs of Rababa, a rediscovery of the true history buried in the walls of Egyptian houses; and the rituals of joy and sadness that lived for thousands of years on both banks of the Nile.” My name has been crossed out a long time ago on a brick wall -1- I searched for my name in my body I found it engraved in aversion, estrangement, and revulsion I searched…

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February 4, 2022

“My Amazing Woman” by James C. Taylor

Posted by Ruby Fink in Audio Arts

Happy February, Fictional Cafe Listeners! In honor of the holiday of love just around the corner, we thought you would enjoy a romantic comedy. Which is why we, your humble baristas present you with “My Amazing Woman,” by James C. Taylor. A newly-married Trevor Waring is ready to enjoy his honeymoon with his new wife, Anna Kat Waring, but she has another objective to accomplish. She needs to tell her new husband that she is the the famous super heroine, Amazing Woman. On top of that, the island they’re vacationing on is in imminent peril and Anna’s super team needs her help. Our favorite power couple has a crimefighting houseguest, as Penny (the Coin Wonder) separates from Millionaire Man! And lurking in the background is the notorious former criminal, the Queen of Clubs! Trevor Waring…

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February 3, 2022

“A Hail of Stone,” A Short Story by Jane Nkiwane

Posted by Mike Rochester in Writing

The cry of the KWEREKWERE A hail of stones ran through Shoko’s Shack. His heart pounded so hard as he heard the thundering of the rocks every time they hit his corrugated iron shack. It was a chilly day but he found himself drenched in sweat, his mind was in turmoil. The only instinct he had was to save his life from the marauding monsters outside who were baying for his MaKwerekwere blood. “Come out you maggot!” “Cockroach!” “Scavenger” different voices called out from the mob gathered outside his one roomed shack. On top of the bed was a buttered and worn-out black suitcase with his meager belongings which he had hastily packed inside resting on a threadbare greasy quilt. The zipper had ceased to function. Shoko had wrapped a thick red string around it…

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February 1, 2022

Let’s Celebrate Valentine’s Day Together!

Posted by Jack B. Rochester in News

It isn’t a contest, but you can be one of the winners Dear Fictional Cafe Coffee Club members,Valentine’s Day is just two short weeks away and what the world needs now is love, more love. How would you like your flash fiction, short story or poem on the theme of love to be chosen for our Valentine’s Day blog post? If you’re interested, please send your manuscript, following our usual FC submission guidelines here to me personally at [email protected]. Your story will be reviewed by three FC baristas and the ones we choose will be our Valentine’s Day gift of love to all the world (really! FC is read in 67 countries!). Please get your entry in ASAP – the deadline is Feb. 12. I can’t wait to read your poems and stories! Jack Jack B….

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