Chocolate, Thorns and Lust – The Word Count Podcast episode 54

R. B. Wood

Former technologist, world traveler, & storyteller.
lust

lustWelcome to Episode 54 of The Word Count Podcast!

We return to our “three word prompt” format, a little late for Valentine’s Day, with four stories based on:

Chocolate, thorns and lust.

Should have just said “write about RB’s favorite things.” Would have been quicker.

Anyway, before we introduce our cadre of writers and their most excellent stories, a bit about the show:

 What is The Word Count Podcast?

It is a free broadcast by writers for writers. Simply put, a theme for each show is announced via this site, Twitter and Facebook and writers are given a week or two to write AND RECORD their stories based on said theme.

 Why?

Why not, says I. It’s a great way to practice writing and public speaking. It’s another way for writers to get their work “out there.” And I love to meet fellow authors and have a blast putting the show together. It’s just that simple.

Okay. Where can I find it?

You can listen to the latest podcast below, subscribe via iTunes or listen at the show’s site.

 

Direct: http://thewordcount.libsyn.com/webpage

iTunes (and remember, iTunes takes their sweet time in posting.  If you don’t see it yet, keep trying!): http://itunes.apple.com/podcast/the-word-count/id392550989

 Our guests this week:

eden at benmcnallyEden Baylee “The Letter”

Eden Baylee left a twenty-year banking career to become a full-time writer. She incorporates many of her favorite things into her writing such as: travel; humor; music; poetry; art; and much more.

Stranger at Sunset is her first mystery novel, on the heels of several books of erotic anthologies and short stories. She writes in multiple genres.

An introvert by nature and an extrovert by design, Eden is most comfortable at home with her laptop surrounded by books. She is an online Scrabble junkie and a social media enthusiast, but she really needs to get out more often!

To stay apprised of Eden’s book-related news, please add your name to her mailing list.

Connect with her via her website | blog | twitter @edenbaylee | facebook

 CThomasSmith2C. Thomas Smith ”Take Me”

It has been brought to my attention that my bios are not “good”, that they are in fact, “silly” and I should do as the professionals do and extol my values and my work. Ok. Here goes:

C. Thomas Smith is the author of hundreds of short stories (99% have never left his hard drive) and half a dozen unpublished novels (50% cowardice / 50% self-doubt). He is a fan of common sense, free speech, noticing the truth in the absurd and caffeine. He sort of likes cats. He lives in Ireland with his partner, two children, a mortgage and a cat he doesn’t trust.

Wasn’t that a hoot. Of course the point of a bio is to tell someone who you are and what you are offering. I’m a highly strung neurotic scribbler who likes to write “silly” things in the hope that they make you smile, or laugh or shake your head in confusion. Or at the very least take a moment out of an otherwise challenging day to enjoy a little bit of the ridiculous for no other reason than it’s on offer from someone who wants to thank you for giving up some of your time. I’m not a professional, though I am working to change that. I’m someone who knows that the words don’t always work, but that once in a while when they do, they’re golden. I thank you for your time, I thank you for hearing and reading my words and I promise to always try and creep you out or make you laugh. Because that is who I am and that is what I offer.

Twitter = @KRSTVR

Web = www.infinity-forge.com

BillkBill Kirton “Genesis”

Before taking early retirement to become a full-time writer, Bill Kirton was a lecturer in French at the University of Aberdeen. He’s written stage and radio plays, short stories, novels, skits and songs for revues, and five non-fiction books aimed at helping students with their writing and study skills. His five modern crime novels, Material Evidence, Rough Justice, The Darkness, Shadow Selves and Unsafe Acts are set in north east Scotland and his historical crime/romance novel, The Figurehead, is set in Aberdeen in 1840. The Darkness won the silver award in the mystery category of the 2011 Forward National Literature Awards and his spoof mystery, The Sparrow Conundrum, was the winner in the humor category.

He’s published a novel for children called The Loch Ewe Mystery, and his latest publication is a satirical novella about online gaming and the real and virtual worlds.

He’s had radio plays broadcast by the BBC and the Australian BC.  His short stories have appeared in many anthologies, including three of the CWA’s annual collections, and one was chosen by Maxim Jakubowski for his 2010 anthology of Best British Crime Stories. It’s also been optioned by a film company in Los Angeles.

He’s been a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at universities in Aberdeen, Dundee and St Andrews.

Twitter: @carver22

Website & Blog: www.bill-kirton.co.uk

MariaHaskinsMaria Haskins “The Unicorn”

Maria Haskins is a Swedish-Canadian writer and translator with a passion for science fiction and fantasy. She was born and grew up in Sweden, but moved to Canada in the early 1990s and now lives just outside Vancouver with a husband, two kids, and a large black dog.

Maria debuted as a writer in Sweden, and has had several books published there. Her English language debut Odin’s Eye – a collection of science fiction short-stories – was published in March, 2015. Cuts & Collected Poems 1989 – 2015 – a collection of poetry – was released in November, 2015.

Website: https://mariahaskins.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mariahaskinswriter/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13459869.Maria_Haskins

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00UICDA2K

Smashbooks: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/mariahaskins

Twitter: @mariahaskins