March 18, 2022

“Midnight Burger” and “A Haunting Beyond the Lake”

Hello Fictional Cafe listeners! Rather than just giving you one Award-Winning podcast to end the month of March, I’m giving you two! First up, 2021 Audio Verse Awards Finalist “Midnight Burger” by Joe Fisher. Listen to episode one here, then listen to the rest over at the MB site! In episode one Gloria, now jobless in the pandemic era, takes a job interview at a lonely diner outside of Phoenix. What could possibly go wrong? https://podcasts.apple.com/ee/podcast/midnight-burger-ep1-by-joe-fisher/id894353107?i=1000524981187 Cast:Gloria – Siouxsie SuarezCaspar – Joe FisherAva – Finlay StevensonZebulon Mucklewain – Neal StarbirdEffie Mucklewain – Julie Cowden-StarbirdLeif – Tom Moorman Second, 2021 Winner of the UK International Radio Drama Award written by Richard H. Brooks. England, late 1990s. He has been in love with Lucy for as long as he can remember, and now might be the last time…

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March 4, 2022

“The Adventures of Ruby the Galactic Gumshoe”

Posted by Ruby Fink in Audio Arts

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 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 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 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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