No Extra Words: One Person's Search For Story

Reinvention is an artistic endeavor in "Robots With a Vengeance." By Bill McStowe, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Bill's website. "Reinvention" is a family endeavor. By Tina Tocco, copyright 2013, used with permission. "Reinvention" was previously published in Fiction Fix (Winter 2014.) Read Tina's bio or check out her previous contributions to the show in Episodes 19 and 23. Everyone reinvents themselves at "Camp Athabasca," whether they want to or not. By Trystan Carter, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Trystan's website. This traveler will never be the same after "June 9, 2015." By Donte'vian Harris, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Donte'vian's bio. Check out all our previous four story, four contributor episodes: Episode 54, Episode 51, Episode 50, Episode 47, Episode 30, Episode 28, Episode 23, and Episode 19.

Gabriela gets a call she has been waiting for, but her broken heart has power in "The Greater Pain." By Jaclyn Adomeit, copyright 2014, used with permission. Visit Jaclyn's website. Kuki's artist retreat is heaven, but "The Bell" tolls. By Eric D. Goodman, copyright 2012, used with permission. Visit Eric's website. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

A Symphony of Everyday Life, in short story. Starting with the trio of short stories "Sights," "Sounds," and "Pitches," by Ben Berman. Copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Ben's website. Does life ever have spice in "The Suburbs?" By Jason Heroux, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Jason's website. Sometimes the sensory experience is overwhelming, and sometimes it's just "God Awful." By Robert Carnahan, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Robert's website. To learn more about the Carnegie Hall concert mentioned or to purchase tickets please visit https://www.carnegiehall.org/Calendar/2016/11/25/0800/PM/A-Christmas-Holiday-Spectacular/ http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

How well do we really know our oldest friends? Sometimes it takes someone who has really been there when you are "Low." By Harold Klae, copyright 2016, used with permission. Contact Harold. I've known "My Pal Rich" for a long time and never expected this. By Cam Lay, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Cam's bio. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

Those quiet moments in a relationship when it's just you and your partner. "Cowboy Nocturne" is a falling in love story by Evan Guilford-Blake. Copyright 2008. An expanded version of "Cowboy Nocturne will appear in Evan's forthcoming short story collection Love and Loss and Love. Read Evan's bio. Relationships have big dynamic moments, but they also have a lot of everyday moments, those involving "Cereal Bowls and Lukewarm Coffee." By Marika Brooks, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Marika's bio. Will "The Fart" come between Michael and his lady? By T.E. Cowell, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read T.E.'s bio. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

Senior in high school Molly has trouble learning from her elders in "A Nun's Arse." By James Mulhern, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit his website. The real Joan Galt is here to tell her story in "The Termite Squad: My Official and Authentic Report." By Joan Galt, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit the website, learn the truth...or some version of the truth. Is truth truth anymore?

It's been almost 50 years now. You know what happened. You've seen her picture. But you haven't heard her side of the story...until now. "The Attractive Brunette - Her Looks Now Ruined - Speaks" gives you a backstage pass to a story you thought you knew. By Nan Wigington, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read her bio. Will the road back end where you think it does? "Espresso Milkshakes in Nederland" is by James McGrath Morris, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read his bio. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

Sometimes it's not about what's going on but about who shows up to go through it with you in "Cost of Living." By C.S. O'Cinneide, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read her bio here. Security guard work has its drawbacks in "The Unfortunate Death of Martin Stephonopolus." By Jakob Weyms, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read his bio here.  

We're wrapping up a three day weekend here in the U.S. Maybe you spent it on an artist's retreat. Hopefully, not this kind... "Inspiration" is to be found on the retreat Joan McIntosh's character is headed to. Copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Joan's bio. "Paint the Walls Red" with second-time contributor Devyn Millette. Copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Devyn's bio. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

What lives in your family history? One family searches for the real home of "Opa and Oma." By Robert Wexelblatt, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Robert's bio. Second-time No Extra Words contributor Steven Mayoff tells us the story of "The Two Annes" of Prince Edward Island, Canada...and it isn't the story you think. Copyright 2006, used with permission. Visit Steven's website. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

Be wary of those who prepare the food. In "Pencils at the Ready," the school is ready to meet the new headmaster, although perhaps not in the way he expected. By Sarah Bigham, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Sarah's bio. In "Just a Microwave Dinner?" those who are behind the food finally speak. By J. Paul Cooper, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read J. Paul's bio. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

"Shingle Spit Road" is where what you think you know and what you actually know collide. By Meaghan Hackinen, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Meaghan's bio. Sometimes life doesn't crack open all at once. Sometimes there's "The Opening." By Edith Gallagher Boyd, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Edith's bio. "Not Dog People" is a 90-word short story that asks what if. By Jen McConnell, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Jen's website. Three-time No Extra Words contributor Sally Stevens finishes off today's episode with "Jasper," about the ways we experience the world. Copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Sally's bio. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

Being yourself is a constant struggle in "What Does Anyone Remember About High School, Anyway?" By Arden Wren Sawyer, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Arden's bio. Annabelle is about to have one "Last Night." By Mike Chin, copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Mike's website. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

"Ben Ailing" isn't sure how he ended up where he did, but there was a reason he was supposed to be there. By Dave Barrett, from his collection Republic, USA. Copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Dave's bio. "A Sometimes Kind Wolf" by Korey Wallace, is a blast from the past. Copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Korey's bio. "Firewood" is the story of one man and one day job. By Frank Haberle, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Frank's bio. Be sure to send us your summer camp flash fiction by July 5.  

Those who won't change and the rest of us who get to deal. Witness the creative destruction of "A New Heart." By Mitchell Krockmalnik Grabois, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read his bio. Grocery clerks are always the ones who hear your rants in "Blu-Ray/DVD." By Daniel Maluka, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read his bio. At what point do you get to call out the ridiculous? "Dean's Dilemma" is by Paul Beckman, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit his website. Did you ever wonder who is reading your submissions? After "The Party," will you wonder if it had remained a mystery. Written and produced by Adam Kluger, copyright 2016, used with permission. Featuring the voice work of Aesha Waks. Read Adam's bio. Don't miss your chance to be part of our 2016 Summer Camp Special! http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

It's our special anniversary episode! "Wrong Number" is a voice mail message from an old friend. Does her friend really want to hear from her right now? Written and read by Sally Stevens. Copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Sally's bio. "Contrast" takes us on a mission that you feel really never had a chance for success. By William C. Blome, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read William's bio. This super-sized episode also features listener feedback PLUS listeners' favorite stories from our archives...re-live some favorite moments! http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

Today's episode is super-sized because it contains some special bonus holiday content at the end. "Memorial Day" looks closely at an important holiday. By C.M. Gabbett, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read his bio. In "The Quiet Raspberry Wormhole," if you look at just the right angle you can see back a ways to what was. By Jefferey H. Toney, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Jeffery's bio. "Yasmina" is the story of a women who has experience great loss adjusting her vision of the future. By Evan Guilford-Blake, copyright 2013, used with permission. Read Evan's bio. Bonus Memorial Day content: stick around to the end of this one to hear the true story of one American hero. Sounds from this episode are courtesy of the Free Sound Project. Thank you to freesoundjon01 for the church bells and 18hiltc for "Taps." 50th episode and our one year anniversary coming next week! See you then! http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

"Saving Andie" is the story of a board room meeting in which the experts must decide whether to launch a rescue mission. By Lars H. Hoffmann, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Lars' website. In "Sunshine and Asteroids," a disaster survivor is alone in a new world. By Jason J. Nugent, from his anthology (Almost) Average. Copyright 2016, used with permission. Visit Jason's website. "Rewards" is a story of a fantastical person and an ordinary family. By Anne Elizabeth Weisgerber, copyright 2015, used with permission. Visit Anne's website. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

Back in January we had a Contributor Appreciation promotion, where we randomly drew four winners from our list of contributors. They received a prize from our sponsor, Channillo.com and the chance to have an interview feature on the show. Today I am delighted to bring you the last of those interviews. Brianne's delightful and funny story was featured all the way back in October as part of an episode with strong storytelling voices. She was kind enough to record her answers to my questions about writing, inspiration, and her background and it is an absolutely delightful listen. I hope you enjoy this special feature, and stay tuned for a new episode with three short stories coming next week. Please check out our Contributor Appreciation Month sponsor, your home for serialized literature online, Channillo.com http://noextrawords.wordpress.com

Four stories, four moments, about mothering, motherhood, and this thing called family. "Chicago, 1965" is one of those wonderful stories that pull you immediately into the writer's experience. By Rhonda C. Poynter, copyright 2016, used with permission. Read Rhonda's bio. "Heaven, Maybe" asks the often unanswerable question "What is this place?" By Jesse Glass, copyright 2015, used with permission. Read Jesse's bio. "Danger in the Summer Moon Above" is about the ongoing search. By Steven Mayoff, copyright 1996, used with permission. Read Steven's bio. "About Me Being a Big Brother" navigates one of life's many tough transitions. By Audra Kerr Brown, copyright 2014, used with permission. Read Audra's bio. Stay tuned to the end for a Mother's Day guest I hope you'll enjoy...had to bring it your way. http://noextrawords.wordpress.com