The Word Count Podcast: Episode 96
R. B. Wood
Who Goes There?
In the “Year of Hell,” it’s already May.
Time flies when you’re in quarantine, I guess. But my bright spots each month include receiving stories from the Word Count Irregulars based on a theme posted earlier in the month, and putting those stories in a FREE to Listen podcast just for you!
Our theme this year is Animals and I gave our intrepid author’s this creepy picture to get the creative juices flowing:
I do love owls–probably stems from me identifying with the Nite Owl character from Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons’ Watchmen comic of the 80’s.
But enough of my psychological baggage! You can listen to the episode here:
FIVE brand new stories this month for your listening pleasure!
Why? Because we love doing this podcast for you.
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 hope 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:
Bill Kirton – “Who Am I?”
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 Ph.D. 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 me, 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, two of which have won awards, with a third 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, have been the 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 the 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/
W. B. J. Williams – “What the Owl Brings at Night”
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:
https://www.facebook.com/wbjwilliams
http://wbjwilliams.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @wbjwilliams
Jack Gwaltney & John McCaffrey – “Jeopardy”
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.
Maria Haskins – “Owl, Girl, Rooks“
Maria Haskins is a Swedish-Canadian writer and translator. She writes and reviews speculative fiction, and her work has appeared in Fireside, Interzone, Black Static, Shimmer, Mythic Delirium, and elsewhere. Find her on Twitter at @mariahaskins, or find out more on her website mariahaskins.com.
Website: https://mariahaskins.wordpress.com
Twitter: @mariahaskins
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 STRANGER TRILOGY with Dr. Kate Hampton–a psychological mystery/suspense called “Stranger at Sunset.” In addition to working on her next novel, Eden created the LAINEY LEE SERIES about a feisty divorcée who finds adventure and romance in Hawaii.
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!
Website: http://www.edenbaylee.com
Blog: https://edenbaylee.com/blog/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/edenbaylee
Twitter:@edenbaylee
