No Extra Words: One Person's Search For Story

Do you think the cop in your rearview mirror knows you are "Tipsy?" By T.E. Cowell, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read T.E.'s bio. Lunch with a friend teaches us that in so many ways there is a "First Time for Everything." By Amanda Staples, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Amanda's bio. What's truth and what's fiction in "The Afternoon Sleepwalk?" By Cara Lopez Lee, copyright 2012, used with permission. Visit Cara's website. Back for Episode 82, Writing Spaces! Past contributors share with us where they write. First up is Charles O'Hay, who shared his poem with us back on Episode 45. Click here to see his writing space. Next up the master storyteller Eldon Reishus from Episode 71 takes us into his world. Click here to see his writing space. Coming next episode! A two year anniversary and a jam-packed episode with 11(!) stories. Let us know what you want to know about No Extra Words history.

Everyone's on some kind of a journey today. No border wall could ever keep out the "Dust." By Patty Somlo, copyright 2009, used with permission. Visit Patty's website. Episode 67 contributor and poet Anuja Ghimire is our guest on the Poets' Corner today. Born in Kathmandu and always seeming to visit her homeland in periods of great tumult, she tells us how poetry and place entwine in her life and shares with us some poetry. Read Anuja's bio. A brief encounter reveals so much of "The Fishermen of Dragon-Tooth Beach." By Michael Paul Hogan, copyright 2001, used with permission. Read Michael's bio. Not all journeys are long or grand. Sometimes it's the small distances that mean the most, like the search for the "Thrush." By Norbert Kovacs, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Norbert's bio.

For those who love books, they become almost human beings standing there in their “Dust Jackets.” By Samantha Dutton, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Samantha’s bio. Some things just cannot be escaped, especially “The Curse of the Virgin.” By Richard Sensenbrenner, copyright 1992, used with permission. Read Richard’s bio. In the first ever installment of our Poet’s Corner segment, Kelli Russell Agodon invites me into her office where she shares poetry and we discuss poetry, small presses, and the importance of finding your voice. Visit Kelli’s website or the website for Two Sylvias Press. For photos of the field trip and Kelli's writing space, check out the show notes. All editors are the same, such sticklers about reading the “Guidelines.” by T.E. Cowell, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read T.E.’s bio.

A literary celebration of a national pastime. Come with Shawn Aveningo Sanders for "One Final Inning in St. Louis." Copyright 2011, used with permission. Visit Shawn's website. Susan Vollenweider was with us back on Special Episode #3. She is back with a special guest telling us how she came to know "Baseball: My Way." Copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Susan's website. Niles Reddick's famous name has him throwing out a "First Pitch." Copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Niles's website. In a brand-new segment, we are diving into the archives to bring back Angela Lombardo's story from last year's baseball opening day special...a gift for you Cubs fans. Copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Angela's website. Most of us had someone who helped us learn to love the game. In Bill McStowe's story, it's "Astrid from Sweden." Copyright 2017, used with permission. Check out Bill's previous contribution to No Extra Words and visit his website. You never know what will help you in this game. Caroly

Somehow life got "Lost at Sea." By Drew Lovell, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Drew's website. Can't go gator hunting without "Gator Bait." By Paul Rousseau, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Paul's bio. Sometimes life puts you in just the right uncomfortable place, and in this case it involves "Bodily Fluids" By Ron Riekki, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Ron's website. Don't forget to share podcasts with your family and friends and us the hashtag #trypod all March long. Writing Spaces has a sponsor for this episode! Visit Matt Keefer over at the Ravings of a Mad Music Man blog to hear his Writing Spaces essay. Jen McConnell, Episode 54 contributor shares all about where she writes. Click here to see her writing space. Marina Frances Mularz is behind "What We Talk About When We Talk About Homer" from Episode 20. She shares all about where she writes. Click here to see her writing space. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

It really can all change in "One Moment." By Amanda Staples, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Amanda's website. If only all fairy tales ended like "The Frog Prince." By Clive Collins, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Clive's bio. Back for Episode 77: Writing Spaces, featuring No Extra Words contributors. Pat Obermeier was with us back on Episode 36. Click here to see her writing space. Joan MacIntosh was featured on Episode 57. Click here to see her writing space. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com  

No matter how far you run away, you never escape who you are and what your past is. After not being able to slow down a friend who is struggling, those left behind must deal with the fact that there was "Nothing They Could Do." By Kim Farleigh, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Kim's bio. New segment today! You Be the Producer, with No Extra Words contributor Arden Wren Sawyer. Arden wrote "Caffeine, Cancer, Coco, Candida," copyright 2016 and used with permission, with a special secondary character. Read Arden's bio. It's not always your choice, sometimes it's "Policy." But that doesn't mean it doesn't haunt you. By Timothy Boudreau, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Timothy's bio. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com  

No one knows life in the ring like "The Undercard." By David Whippman, copyright 2000, used with permission. Read David's bio. "First a Woman Then a Man" is a fictional story about the real-life Guevedoce of the Dominican Republic. By Justin Fenech, copyright 2016, used with permission.Visit Justin's website or read more about the Guevedoce. Writing Spaces returns this episode featuring two more previous No Extra Words contributors. Korey Wallace was featured on Episode 52. Click here to see his writing space. T.J. Peters was featured on Episode 43. Click here to see his writing space. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com  

"How May I Help You?" is by Kris Baker Dersch, copyright 2015. Inspired by the #FridayFlash hashtag, which I won't link because some people...don't use it as intended. Another new segment! "Social Media Snippets," as inspired by Episode 14 contributor Jake Bible and his fun podcast "Writing in Suburbia." How many times have you been asked to "Please Hold?" By Genelle Chaconas, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Genelles' bio. Always always always hold on to your "Passport." By Marina Rubin, copyright 2008, used with permission. Visit Marina's website. I want to be the customer service rep who reads this "Complaint Letter to Bloomingdale's Cosmetics Department." By Sally Stevens, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Sally's website. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

Never has a family been so in need of "Healing Time." By Paul Beckman, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Paul's website. "Suebelle's Homecoming" may not be all it's cracked up to be. By Helen Grochmal, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Helen's bio. People have the oddest way of telling you to "Stay Away." By Thom Young, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Thom's website. The rules all change when you reach "Autumn." By Fred D. White, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Fred's bio. NEW THIS EPISODE, our Writing Spaces segment featuring two former No Extra Words contributors. Sarah Mitchell-Jackson was featured on Episode 39 last March, Episode 67, and Special Episode #5. Click here to see her writing desk. Click here to see her library. Edith Gallagher Boyd was featured on Episode 54 in July. Click here to see her writing space. The bookstore I mentioned in this show was Third Place Books in Lake Forest Park, Washington.

When I released our non-Election Day Election Day episode in November, I did not expect to be doing a non-Inauguration Day Inauguration Day Episode, but here goes. "Guinivere Tries a New Kind of In-Vitro" is one of those stories that is better when you don't try to describe it, so I'm going to let it speak for itself. It is by Dina Greenberg, copyright 2016, used with permission. I just saw a play in which they go a little bit into the legend of Cerridwen, mentioned in the story. If you don't know the reference, it is a wonderful tale of Welsh mythology and you should read more about it. Also, visit Dina's website. Ever wonder who decided which books get read and what becomes canon? It was decided in the "Blood Feud: Melville vs. Hawthorne." By James Bezerra, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit James's website. Today's show closes with the reading of an important historical document, inspired by my friend tweeting government documents to the President Elect. Check out her Twitter feed. Hey, while you'

Our special guest for today explains our unexpected three week hiatus. We appreciate all our listeners and followers and are glad to be back. As we look to the future of the No Extra Words Podcast, we want to hear what you think. What segments would you like to see? What is missing from our show? Contact us at noextrawords@gmail.com or find all our social media on our website noextrawords.wordpress.com For today's short story, I share the folk tale "The Tailor" or "Just Enough," a Jewish folk tale of Russian origin. The version I share is my own adaptation of the story. We will see you January 20, if not sooner, with a brand-new episode.  

For today's new content, I go into my own archives and share a personal story, "Green Angels," copyright 2000. The books mentioned on this episode are: The Littlest Angel by Charles Tazewell, copyright 1946. There have been many editions of this book, but our copy is illustrated by Sergio Leone and published by Watertower Books. A Cup of Christmas Tea by Tom Hegg, illustrated by Warren Hanson. Copyright 1982, published by Waldman House Press. Santa's Crash-Bang Christmas by Steven Kroll, illustrated by Tomie DePaola. Copyright 1977, published by Xerox Education Publications. For photos of the books and angels discussed, please visit our website at https://noextrawords.wordpress.com/2016/12/19/episode-72-a-christmas-serial-remix-part-4/ This episode ends with the conclusion of A Christmas Serial. Parts 1-3 were featured in Episodes 69-71. A Christmas Serial is written and read by Kris Baker Dersch and the current version is copyright 2015. The version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" featured on this episode

Fun new content today, the title says it all: "The Tiny House on Singing Wheels on the Prairie & The Army Corps of Engineers Container." By Eldon Reishus, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read his bio. Part 2 of our four-part "A Christmas Serial," takes us onstage, backstage, and points in between. Check out Episode 69 if you missed Part 1 and Episode 70 if you missed Part 2. This version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is played by the U.S. Marine Corps Band. It is in the public domain and comes to us courtesy of the Free Music Archive.  

Once again we start with new content! Everyone dreams of being an "Extra." By Charles Rammelkamp, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read his bio. Part 2 of our four-part "A Christmas Serial," takes us onstage, backstage, and points in between. Check out Episode 69f if you missed Part 1. This version of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" is played by the U.S. Marine Corps Band. It is in the public domain and comes to us courtesy of the Free Music Archive.

New content! Two people who start off one Christmas "Perfect Strangers." By Connie Armstrong, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Connie's bio. We are pleased to bring you Part 1 of the four-part Christmas serialized story. Serialized fiction has a long, proud history, carried on this day by a number of sources including our friends at channilllo.com. A Christmas Serial is by Kris Baker Dersch, copyright 2015. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

It's not unusual for family members to make things "Shiny." By Tina Tocco, copyright 2013, used with permission. Read Tina's bio. We all take "Measurements" of the relationships in our life. By Ingrid Jendrezejewski, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Ingrid's website. Is "The Singer" what she seems? By DeanJean Phng, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit DeanJean's website.

Tellabration (tm) is an international day of storytelling put on by the National Storytelling Network. Across the country and across the world, storytelling events large and small are put on, but to our knowledge No Extra Words' storytelling event is the only all-digital Tellabration (tm) event. We have invited podcasters large and small to tell their stories in their own special way to celebrate the audio storytelling done on podcasts every day. Podcasters telling their stories on this episode are: Hilda Wapf, Wise Traditions Natalie and Lala, Radio Tatas Levi Noe, Rocky Mountain Revival Amy Oestreicher on The Unmistakable Creative Civila Morgan, 21st Century Hannah Barbara Stevens, Breakup Recovery Hadas Ben-Tsur, Common Room Cody Gough, Game/Life Balance U.S. Nathan Pierce, MicroBrewr Autumn Beam, Write Your Own Story Links will take you to the podcast website or search for your favorite in your favorite podcast app. Help and inspiration for my commentary came from Anne Lamott's fabulous book Stitches: a

Some things are bigger than all of us. Some forces make their own rules.  A rough night may lead to some marks on "Stone Colored Pants." By Paul Rousseau, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Paul's bio. Sometimes a "Storm" ruins everything. By Sarah Mitchell-Jackson, copyright 2011, used with permission. Visit Sarah's website. "April, Quakes in Kathmandu" is fiction based on a true story. By Anuja Ghimire, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Anuja's website.

Welcome to your non-Election Day Election Day Episode. "A Wedding Jig" is a fractured fairy tale of the most fractured sort. By Sarah Haasl, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Sarah's bio. Chance plays a big part in how we live. Our lives really are the result of "A Lottery of Birth." By Donovan James, copyright 2010, used with permission. Read Donovan's bio. It's quite a trip when you go into "The Mind." By Levi Andrew Noe, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Levi's website. I was sorry I couldn't get permission to use an election year poem by Janet Wong, but do check out her book and her poems. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com