A New Book by Jasmine A. Stirling Jasmine returns to grace these e-pages with her story of the woman who led the struggle to give American women the right to vote in the early 20th century. Yes, the twentieth century, just a hundred years ago. Yet to this day, the same kinds of issues continue to plague this so-called enlgihtened country. But who was Carrie Chapman Catt, and what exactly happened 103 years ago this month? Jasmine writes: “As a child, Carrie Chapman Catt asked a lot of questions: How many stars are in the sky? Do germs have personalities? And why can’t Mama vote? Catt’s curiosity led her to college, on to a career in journalism, and finally to becoming the president of The National American Woman Suffrage Association. Catt knew the movement needed a change,…
“Vector Control,” A Short Story by Micah Thorp
Laughter and revelry permeated the ceremony. At least until the explosion. Red balloons, firecrackers, a brass band and the entirety of the Mayoral staff were in attendance as the coffin was marched from the back of a flatbed truck into the midst of Portland’s South Waterfront Square. The coffin was an ostentatious thing, painted in red and gold, with the lid cracked open just enough to expose large Papier-Mache ears and giant snout, complete with whiskers and buck teeth. The laughter was misplaced, though the participants at the City’s mock funeral celebrating the beginning of “Vector Control Week” could not have foreseen the devastation about to befall the event. After all, when is frivolity at a mock funeral interrupted by domestic terrorism? Particularly unaware were two young men who would eventually “claim” responsibility for the explosion. Not…
“Gafgarn the Eternally Unfurnished” by Jeremiah French
Chronosphere Fiction is a story telling anthology podcast where writers’ creations come to life with sound effects and music. Story #1 begins. Welcome to the world of Gafgarn the Eternally Unfurnished. A swords and sorcery type adventure written by Jeremiah French. Narrated with voices by Mike Bethel. Music and sound design by Daniel French at Fishbonius Sound Design. Gafgarn meets Smidgen, King of Bandits, written by Jeremiah French. Illaeda the Bounty Hunter is on a mission that brings her into the path of Gafgarn and Wither. We hope you enoyed listening to Gafgarn the Eternally Unfurnished written by Jeremiah French. If you wish to listen to more episodes, you can find them on Spotify or their website. And if it’s not to your taste, check out the Fictional Cafe’s Audio Arts Page. We have a…
“Wind Fall,” by Ian Carass
Lila stood at the window as what passed for daybreak began to light her room. Her bed was unmade and would stay unmade until she returned to it. A twitch of the coverlet and a brief smoothing of the sheets was all she would do to make it ready for sleep. The bed bore the indentation of her body. No longer did she turn the mattress, as her mother had taught her. Sheets were washed irregularly. The mould of her form and the residue of her own body odour were comforting when she retired each night. She slept alone. Lila’s husband had left many months before, seeking work up at the Confluence. He had heard that labouring was well paid there and living was cheap, that the air was more consistently purified, that grass grew…
Shehab Hossain’s Mesmerizing Light Paintings
Digital photography has opened up a plethora of new forms of creative expression, such as you see here in the works of Shehab Hossain. But who better to explain his artistic process than the artist himself? I bend and freeze time in my photos. What’s your superpower? I am a Bangladeshi/Nigerian/American artist specializing in urban night photography and light painting. My craft is making photos of my light painting strokes in urban environments. I use various camera exposure durations to paint objects and places with light. My strokes become a performance as I dance my orchestrated layers of light through a scene while drawing and painting objects to build my composition. At times, I use existing light sources and trails to complement the scene. The shutter closes and freezes the movements and light strokes within…
“EOS10” by Justin McLachlan
Follow the adventures of Dr. Ryan Dalias on an intergalactic travel hub on the edges of deep space. Doctors in space, a deposed alien prince, a space pirate and a fiery nurse who’ll help you win your bar fight, written by Justin McLachlan. Dr. Ryan Dalias arrives on EOS 10—an intergalactic travel hub on the edges of deep space—on a mission to save the station’s chief medical officer … from himself. Series Premiere starring Dan Barry, Justin McLachlan, Charles Lipper, Lena Winter, and Natalie Cutcher. After Dr. Urvidian comes to grips, sorta, kinda, maybe just a little with his new and not entirely voluntary sobriety… he learns a secret about Dr. Dalias. Starring Dan Barry, Justin McLachlan, Charles Lipper, Lena Winter and Natalie Cutcher. While Jane plots a new relationship for Dr. Dalias, Dr. Urvidian…
“The Retribution Squad,” A Novel by J.M. Henderson
If you’re upset by the shenanigans in American politics and government, this is a story for you. Author J.M. Henderson, a veteran and lifelong observer of the American Way, pulls no punches in this novel about eight patriots who go after the insurrectionists and their ilk who defiled Congress and attempted to stop Biden’s presidential election vote count on January 6, 2021. The Retribution Squad, born from the chaos of the January 6 insurrection in the nation’s capital, is operating outside the law. Led by old timers and vets, they are on a patriotic crusade to defeat the forces plotting an even bigger, more successful, much more deadly insurrection. They risk life, limb and incarceration to carry out lethal operations against the greedy and power-hungry who are destroying the Constitutional fabric of American democracy. Will…
“New Tricks,” by Fiona Sinclair
Lugging shopping up the path, she leaned against the back door to open. Dumped bulging bags on the kitchen floor, exhaled with relief; the food shopping, top of her weekly chore list, was completed. “You shouldn’t have left me alone,” her husband grinned as Olivia entered the sitting room. A grumpy “Oh” as she plonked herself down on the sofa and regarded him with a frown. She wondered when they had tacitly agreed to this division of chores. Whilst she tackled the weekly shop, her husband checked his emails and pottered about the internet. Oblivious to her body language he turned the laptop to face her. “What do you think of this?” On the screen, a motor bike, retro in shape, glossy black with chrome trim. “It’s pretty,” she replied, wondering where he was going…
“No Man’s Ghost,” A Novel by Jason Powell
The Fire: Is fire alive? Does it possess intent or emotions or is it simply one of the four forces of nature, indifferent to human life? What would a fireman say if you asked this question? We asked Jason Powell, author of No Man’s Ghost, a brand-new, engrossing novel about a rookie New York fireman. See the interview with him following the Chapter 1 excerpt where he answers this question. No Man’s Ghost: This may be the most popular quotation among firefighters: “Let no man’s ghost ever come back and say his training failed him.” The Tale: Charlie Davids, freshly graduated from the New York City Fire Academy, is starting his first day at the firehouse. He’s considered on probation and thus called a “probie” by the other firefighters at Engine 99 and Ladder 88,…
“The Great Detectives of Old Time Radio”
Are you ready for a mystery? Get ready to unleash your inner sleuth. Every day Monday-Saturday, Host Adam Graham will feature a different detective audio drama from the Golden Age of Radio. Our current mystery-solving line-up of radio detectives includes Sam Spade, Yours Truly Johnny Dollar, Dangerous Assignment, Philo Vance, and Tales of the Texas Rangers. Whether you’re wanting to listen to a mystery before going to sleep or enjoy some drama while driving, or just feel nostalgia for old-school radio fiction, we have you covered with six audio dramas every week. First up, “The Man Called X: Operation Cabal” Ken goes to a country in the southern hemisphere to prevent a revolution. Original Air Date: May 27, 1952 Next up, “Yours Truly Johnny Dollar: The Cut Bono Matter” Johnny continues his investigation into the…