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Earlier this year, I recorded the audiobook for Wes Blake’s debut novel, Pineville Trace. I’ve narrated several audiobooks, but this one was special for me. Wes and I met in grad school at the Bluegrass Writers Studio in 2014. We taught in the same school district in Jessamine County Kentucky. And we shared a few drinks and some adventures  in Lisbon. 

So when he asked me to narrate his novel, I immediately asked, "How much will you pay me?"

Critics have praised Pineville Trace; readers adore it:

--This was an utterly compelling read. 

--Pineville Trace is a quiet odyssey, an unexpectedly meditative journey of a minor outlaw. 

--Good first book

--The cat is my favorite, and not just because I am a super-fulfilled old cat lady.

--... an achingly beautiful story with a complex character at it center.

--... beautifully read by Michael Mau.

And I sure loved recording it. To hear the whole novel, you’ll have to buy it yourself, but I wanted to share a couple of chapters just to tease you. 

So here, for your listening enjoyment, is Pineville Trace by Wes Blake.

If you want to hear more, or even read the book yourself, you can go to https://wesblake.com/ . There you can read interviews with Wes, find out where he’ll be speaking, and look at his face, which doctors say is too small for his head. 

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks

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I promised some bonus episodes, and I'm bringing them to you. 

WELM, how do I begin to tell you about Daniel Wescott? I met Dan the way I have met many writers recently; he hired me to produce (and perform) an audiobook: The Alien, the first novel in a sci-fi trilogy that is at once a satire, an espionage thriller, and a bildungsroman for a man-child astronaut aptly named Michael. 

Dan himself is an adventurer and world traveler who makes his home in Maine, where all of his novels also make their homes (or on an alien planet; or a pub in Ireland). 

You can get any of Dan's novels at DanielWescott.com--paperback, Kindle, or audiobook, and there are plenty to choose from.

I released a chapter from The Alien during Season Two, so for a treat between seasons, I will bring you a couple of chapters from each of Dan's other books. For example, you will also hear chapters from two novels in his Love and Torment series, Inhabited and Captive with performances by Jennifer Keane @citizenkeane and Anastasia Wilson @anastasia.wil

For now though, Chapter One of Inhabited: Love and Torment Book One. Yeah, I'm doing it out of order because the first book in the series is on a hard drive that I left at my mom's house. And I'll get it later. It's a topsy turvy world, so deal with it. 

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks

You can leave a note for a writer or cast member. Click here to text the show.

From MauHaus Productions, A Blind Play. Bonus Episode. 

As promised, we have a few post-season episodes to delight and intrigue. Today’s episode is an excerpt from the novel A Wish & A Pear, the first in her Magical Layers series, by Mary B. Reinfeld. 

Performed by Irene Santiago.

Inspired by true events, A Wish and a Pear tells the story of two women, Angela and Soledad, whose lives are intertwined by pure fate.

From metropolitan Manhattan to the picturesque jungles of rural Guatemala, Angela experiences a profound journey of the mind, heart, and soul, enhanced by the charming characters who become her family and help her heal her past trauma. It’s Eat, Pray, Love meets Tuesdays with Morrie set in the jungle of South America.

Keep tuning in to A Blind Play for more bonus episodes, including an upcoming reading of Kentucky author Wes Blake’s debut novel, Pineville Trace.

Follow, rate, review, and share. And thank you for listening.

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks

You can leave a note for a writer or cast member. Click here to text the show.

MauHaus Productions presents A Blind Play. Episode 30. “Kadamati” 

Kadamati is Bengali for clay, the malleable matter capable of softness and hardness, of resilience and breakage. Kadamati is also the name of a dance devised by Akram Khan. A mass choreography open to the general public, it explores identity, connection, and belonging. It was performed in Trafalgar Square on the 24th of June 2016, the day after Britain broke, hardened and brittle, shattered by a referendum. 

Kadamati was adapted from the personal essay of the same name by Chiara Vascotto.

This episode was directed and edited by Michael Mau

STARRING

Samantha Jonczyk as Chiara
Sandie Keene as Jen
Malya Muth as Christina
Toni Poe as Fellow Dancer

ADDITIONAL VOICES
Drew Valins
Michael Mau
Anastasia Wilson
Ryan Gaiser
Carter Allen
Andressa DaSilva

Original music by Nitin Sawney and Trevor Tremaine.

The podcast cover art was created by Geneva Hicks.

Additional sound effects courtesy of Pixabay.

You can become a monthly supporter of the show starting at just $3 a month. Go to ablindplaypodcast.buzzsprout.com/ to find out how.

If you haven’t already, please show us some love with a 5-star rating on your podcast app. It takes seconds and makes a huge difference to the podcast.

I sat down with Chiara Vascotto and Jen Irons as well as members of the cast of “Kadamati” to talk about the story, its origin, and the effects of art on politics. It’s a lively chat that will make you want to listen to the episode all over again. Enjoy.

Rate, Review, and Follow, visit us at ablindplaypodcast.com, and spread the word.

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks

You can leave a note for a writer or cast member. Click here to text the show.

MauHaus Productions presents A Blind Play. Episode 30. “Cosmic Interference”

Interstellar talk show hosts El and Jay take their audience through the dim history of humankind with cameos from Oppenheimer, Jesus, Muhammad, Obama, and Donald Drumpf.

“Cosmic Interference” was adapted from the short stories of the same name by Gary Egan.

This episode was directed and edited by Michael Mau

STARRING

Ryan Gaiser as Jay

Julia Garlotte as El 

Featuring the voices of Gary Egan, Ethan Herschenfeld, Kenya Cabine, and Michael Mau\

Original music by Oleggio Kyrylkoww & Trevor Tremaine.

The show’s cover art was created by Geneva Hicks.

Additional sound effects courtesy of Pixabay.

You can become a monthly supporter of the show starting at just $3 a month. Go to ablindplaypodcast.com/ to find out how.

While I’m on the topic, if you haven’t already, please show us some love with a 5-star rating on your podcast app. It takes seconds and makes a huge difference to the podcast.

I sat down with Gary Egan as well as members of the cast of “Eye in the Garden” and  “Cosmic Interference” to talk about the stories, their origins, and how the actors navigated their characters.

Rate, Review,  Follow, and spread the word.

Next week on A Blind Play: Our last episode of the season and the winner of our season three contest. Episode 30: Kadamati, adapted from the personal essay of the same name by Chiara Vascotto.

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks

You can leave a note for a writer or cast member. Click here to text the show.

MauHaus Productions presents A Blind Play. Episode 29, "Eye in the Garden"

A religious organization creates a system of satellites that will take away free will. Now the two engineers from the Eden Society, Theresa and Marten, must decide if they will play God, the serpent, or both. Based on the short story by Kentucky author Gary Egan.

Directed and Edited by Michael Mau

STARRING
Elizabeth Pan as Theresa
Drew Valins as Marten
Michael Westmoreland as the Narrator
Tim Knutsen as The Voice
Rich Greene as Tom

The show’s cover art was created by Geneva Hicks.

Additional sound effects courtesy of Pixabay.

You can become a monthly supporter of the show starting at just $3 a month. Go to ablindplaypodcast.com to find out how.

If you haven’t already, please show us some love with a 5-star rating on your podcast app. It takes seconds and makes a huge difference to the podcast.

Next week on A Blind Play: Episode 30: “Cosmic Interference” adapted from the short story of the same name by Gary Egan.

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks

You can leave a note for a writer or cast member. Click here to text the show.

MauHaus Productions presents A Blind Play. Episode 28. “Jumbie Daddy” 

“Jumbie Daddy” was adapted from three flash fiction stories by Neala Luna Bhagwansingh: “Jumbie Daddy,” “Spoiling Fruit,” and “Children Playing While Shadows Walk.”

.

This episode was directed and edited by Michael Mau

STARRING

Bree Poppy as the Narrator

Asiyih N'Dobe as Anne

Vivia Armstrong as Canny and Mama

Sherese Reddick as Gramma and Ms. Rogers

Michael Rodney as Canny’s Husband and Head Boy. 

The show’s cover art was created by Geneva Hicks.

Additional sound effects courtesy of Pixabay.

You can become a monthly supporter of the show starting at just $3 a month. Go to ablindplaypodcast.com to find out how.

If you haven’t already, please show us some love with a 5-star rating on your podcast app. It takes seconds and makes a huge difference to the podcast.

Next week on A Blind Play: Episode 29: “Eye in the Garden” adapted from the short story of the same name by Gary Egan.

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks

You can leave a note for a writer or cast member. Click here to text the show.

MauHaus Productions presents A Blind Play. Episode 27. “Barbecue” 

"In suffering there is a core within that can only be touched by the death of distant stars," writes author Ron Pullins. Argentinian dissident Enrico is now a physicist living the quiet life with his wife Sarah. When acquaintances drop by for a barbecue, Enrico shares more than just his recipe for pork loin.

“Barbecue” was adapted from the short story "The Barbecue" by Ron Pullins. 

This episode was directed and edited by Michael Mau

STARRING
Juan Pablo Suarez as Enrico,
Aryeh Krause-Nadler as Michael,
Anastasia Wilson as Sarah,
Ethan Herschenfeld as Fat Thug,
Drew deMan as Thin Thug.

Original music by Trevor Tremaine.

The podcast’s cover art was created by Geneva Hicks.

Additional sound effects courtesy of Pixabay.

Special Thanks to the folks whose financial contributions helped produce this episode: Blaque Fowler, Brian Fifeld, and Daniel Ellis. 

You can become a monthly supporter of the show starting at just $3 a month. Go to ablindplaypodcast.com/ to find out how.

While I’m on the topic, if you haven’t already, please show us some love with a 5-star rating on your podcast app. It takes seconds and makes a huge difference to the podcast.

Next week on A Blind Play: Episode 28: “Jumbie Daddy” adapted from three flash fiction stories by Neala Luna Bhagwansingh.

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks

You can leave a note for a writer or cast member. Click here to text the show.

MauHaus Productions presents A Blind Play. Episode 26. “The River” 

Childhood friends Jason and Julia must hide their relationship after Julia is shunned from their strict religious community following a tragic event. When their relationship is discovered, Jason must decide where his allegiance truly lies.

“The River” was adapted from the short story of the same name by Jarred Robert Todd.

This episode was directed and edited by Michael Mau

STARRING
Rory Booth as Julia

Ronald Woodhead as Shawn

Carrie Gibson as Elder Linda

Andressa daSilva as Courtney 

Michael Mau as Jason

with additional voices by Aryeh Krause-Nadler, Julia Garlotte, Toni Poe, Anastasia Wilson, Catherine Gaffney, and Irene Santiago

Original music by Trevor Tremaine.

The show’s cover art was created by Geneva Hicks.

Additional sound effects courtesy of Pixabay.

Special Thanks to the folks whose financial contributions helped produce this episode: 

Executive Producer Daniel Ellis, Blaque Fowler, Brian Fifield, Erin Collins, Melody Herr, and Mary B Reinfeld.

While our Seed & Spark fundraiser is over, you can also become a monthly supporter of the show starting at just $3 a month. Go to ablindplaypodcast.buzzprout.com/ to find out how.

While I’m on the topic, if you haven’t already, please show us some love with a 5-star rating on your podcast app. It takes seconds and makes a huge difference to the podcast.

This is usually where I tell you to stick around for a lively discussion, but that is not happening this week. This episode took a lot out of me and a lot more time than I expected, so I didn’t have time for a cast and author talk. But there’ll be one. Sometime. I promise. 

Next week on A Blind Play: Episode 27: “Barbecue” adapted from the short story The Barbecue by Ron Pullins. 

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks

You can leave a note for a writer or cast member. Click here to text the show.

When biracial couple Charlotte and James argue too loudly on the street, James is arrested. As he is processed, Charlotte tries to bail him out while he deals with the racial prejudices of the justice system. Adapted from the stage play of the same name by Narineh Tahmasebian.

This episode was directed and edited by Michael Mau

STARRING
Thea Touchton as Charlotte
Markis Gallashaw as James
Kenya Cabine as Solomon
Ethan Hershenfeld as Nikolai
Catherine Gaffney as the Receptionist
Ryder Dunagan as Zach
Elliott Bales as Inmate
Vassilea Terzaki as Nikolai’s Mama

Anastasia Wilson performs the epigraph.

Original music by Trevor Tremaine.

The podcast's cover art was created by Geneva Hicks.

Additional sound effects courtesy of Pixabay.

You can also become a monthly supporter of the show starting at just $3 a month. Go to ablindplaypodcast.buzzsprout.com/ to find out how.

Following this episode,  Narineh Tahmasebian and members of the cast of “Processing” talk about the story, its origin, and how the actors navigated their characters. 

Rate, Review, and Follow, visit us on Seed & Spark, and spread the word.

Next week on A Blind Play: Episode 26: “The River” adapted from the short story of the same name by Jarred Robert Todd.

All episodes directed and edited by Michael Mau
Original Music by Trevor Tremaine
Podcast cover art created by Geneva Hicks