The Word Count Podcast-Episode 68

R. B. Wood

Former technologist, world traveler, & storyteller.
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So, allow the host to have a bit of a Rant, if you will.

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First, my sincerest apologies to the listeners and the Word Count Irregulars for the tardiness of this Episode. I, in my wisdom and having forgotten why I did not upgrade my Podcasting software in the first place, clicked on the “upgrade” button.

That f%&king upgrade button.

I subsequently spent over two working weeks (96 hours–I kept track) trying to back out, reload, reapply and in general fix software that was working brilliantly to begin with.

Pictures are now broken in the AAC. Now, I get that pictures aren’t really SUPPOSED to be in Podcasts anymore…but our prompts in 2017 are all VISUAL.

So, until I figure out how to either A) reload the old software with all my old settings and/or B) Find and learn how to use something better, we are back to audio only.

But I wanted to get the stories to you. The Word Count Irregulars are so unbelievably talented and amazingly generous with their time–all to provide a bit of literary flash fiction for your continued enjoyment.

I invite you all to sit back, close your eyes (unless you’re driving or operating heavy machinery, then you probably should keep your eyes open) and listen to the words our cadre of authors have brought forth from their loins.

Rant over. Now, for Episode 68: The Narrows in July

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This is a photo I took while hiking in Zion National Park in Utah. This is the beginning of the Narrows hike, previous hikers sometimes leave their walking sticks for future hikers.

A reminder that we are looking to increase the number of likes on the show’s Facebook Page, so hope on over there and tell you friends about us (use the #WordCountPodcast hashtag).

We have a cracking good show this time around. As always, it’s FREE to download and listen  via iTunes or Libsyn. Here is an embedded player, if you prefer:

 

Screen shot 2016 04 16 at 1.41.13 PMEden Baylee – “Sticks and Stones”

Eden Baylee left a twenty-year banking career to write and is now a full-time author of multiple genres.

She has written three collections of erotic novellas and flash fiction ~ SPRING INTO SUMMER, FALL INTO WINTER, and HOT FLASH.

In 2014, she launched the first novel of her trilogy with Dr. Kate Hampton—a psychological mystery/suspense called STRANGER AT SUNSET. In addition to working on her next novel, Eden created Lainey Lee for the Lei Crime Series, a feisty divorcée who finds adventure and romance in Hawaii. Her novellas are available on Kindle Worlds.

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.

Website: http://edenbayleebooks.com

Blog: https://edenbaylee.com/blog/

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

Twitter: @edenbaylee

 

BillkBill Kirton – “What’s Love Got to Do With It?”

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, 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.

Website: www.billkirton.com

Twitter: @carver22

 

IMG 20161017 150015Maria Haskins – “Deathlight”

Maria Haskins is a Swedish-Canadian writer and certified translator. She writes speculative fiction and poetry, and debuted as a writer in Sweden. Since 1992 she lives in Canada, just outside Vancouver, with a husband, two kids, and a very large black dog.

Website: https://mariahaskins.wordpress.com

Twitter: @mariahaskins

 

Jack Gwaltney & John McCaffrey – “Of Human Bondage

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john and jack

Jack Gwaltney was born in Virginia, went to the University of Virginia and lives in New York, fortunate to perform as an actor on stage, television and in film. Collaborating with John McCaffrey is one of the wisest things Jack does. Thanks to The Word Count Podcast!

 John McCaffrey grew up in Rochester, New York, attended Villanova University, and received his MA in Creative Writing from the City College of New York. He is the author of The Book of Ash and Two Syllable Men. He lives in Hoboken, New Jersey.