The Word Count Podcast: Episode 89
R. B. Wood
Where Giants Walk
A lovely follow-up show to our LIVE show last month is in store for you, dear listener! I lived in the Republic of Ireland for five or so years back in the late nineties, early aughts. While a wonderful experience in of itself, my favorite bit about living in Europe was the amount of travel I got to do.
As you know, the theme this year is Landscapes.
This is a shot of the famous ‘Giant’s causeway’ in Northern Ireland–those six counties still owned by the British:
Stunning, right?
Four stories have been submitted and are presented to you for your listening pleasure!
Now, for those of you who are impatient, you can listen to the latest show here:
Before we get on with the show notes, a reminder that we are looking to increase the number of likes on the show’s Facebook Page, so hop on over there and tell your friends about us (use the #WordCountPodcast hashtag).
Second, as always, the WCP is FREE to download and listen via iTunes or Libsyn. This show is brought to you by writers who love the opportunity to share their stories with you. In many ways, the #WordCountPodcast is a hobby for us, as there are no advertisers or revenue streams. It’s just us, a microphone, a four channel mixing board and a passion for sharing our words with you.
We are not asking, nor have ever asked, for monetary compensation. This is our playground, and once a month we invite you to join us around a virtual campfire and listen for a bit.
However, I and my colleagues would very much appreciate it if you shared links for the podcast on social media, and perhaps check out each author’s links and bios (posted below).
In the meantime, allow me to introduce you to my talented friends:
Our Guests:
Maria Haskins – “For Old Time’s Sake”
Maria Haskins is a Swedish-Canadian writer and translator. She grew up in Sweden, but now lives in Canada, just outside Vancouver, with a husband, two kids, and a very large black dog. Her fiction has appeared in various anthologies and publications, and she loves flash fiction with every fiber of her old and shriveled heart.
Website: https://mariahaskins.wordpress.com
Twitter: @mariahaskins
Bill Kirton – “The Card”
Bill Kirton was born in Plymouth, England, studied French at Exeter University and graduated in 1962. While teaching at Hardye’s School, Dorchester, he started his PhD on the theatre of Victor Hugo and was a lecturer at Aberdeen University from 1968 to 1989.
He’s also been a voice-over artist, TV presenter and has extensive experience of acting and directing. His directing credits include many French language plays as well as works by Shakespeare, Orton, Beckett and Ionesco. He spent a sabbatical year at the University of Rhode Island Theater Department, which commissioned translations of 3 Molière plays from him, one of which he directed himself. The script also won third prize in the British Comparative Literature Association’s Annual Translation competition, 1999.
Bill wrote and performed songs and sketches in revues at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, stage plays, two of which were commissioned by Aberdeen Children’s Theatre, and radio plays for the BBC, two of which were also broadcast in Australia.
Since the late 1990s, his writing has concentrated on prose fiction. He has written many short stories and ten novels, three of which have won awards, with another being long-listed for the Rubery International Book Award.
Bill has held posts as a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at universities in Aberdeen, Dundee and St Andrews and, since 2015, has been organiser of a Scotland-wide scheme which places professional writers in schools to help students with the transition to writing at university. He still gives workshops in schools from Orkney to Dundee as part of the scheme and he’s written five books in Pearson Educational’s ‘Brilliant’ series on study, writing and workplace skills. Bill also co-authored ‘Just Write’ for Routledge.
Website (and blog): http://www.billkirton.com
Facebook pages: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=620980849 https://www.facebook.com/bill.kirton/
Twitter: @carver22
W. B. J. Williams – “The Giant’s Causeway”
W. B. J. Williams holds advanced degrees in anthropology and archeology. He is an avid historian, mystic, poet, and author who manages an information security program at a prominent New England firm. He is noted for his bad puns, and willingness to argue from any perspective. He is endured by his beloved wife and two daughters, and lives in Sharon Massachusetts. When he is not at home or at his computer, he can often be found haunting the various used bookstores of Boston.
Websites: http://www.wbj-williams.net https://www.facebook.com/wbjwilliams http://wbjwilliams.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @wbjwilliams
Rob Edwards – “Work Trip”
Rob Edwards is a British born writer and podcaster, currently living in Finland. His podcast, StorycastRob, features readings from his short stories and chapters from his novel Writ in Blood and Silver. His work can also be found in anthologies from Inklings Press, the Sci-fi Roundtable and in the superhero anthology Somebody, Save Me!
Podcast: www.storycastrob.co.uk
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/StorycastRob/
Amazon page: https://author.to/StorycastRob
