Happy Christmas Eve! Here is the final episode of the Advent series for this year.

This episode features the poem “The Winter Is Cold, Is Cold” by Madeleine L’Engle and concludes with a selection from the Book of Common Prayer that is often read on Christmas Day.

Merry Christmas from the Coffee Den!

Welcome to the third episode of the Advent series audio podcast.

In 2012, I composed a list of Advent poems. It is now one of the most visited Coffeehouse Junkie blog post.

This episode features “The House of Christmas” by GK Chesterton, “The God We Hardly Knew” by Óscar Romero and a selection from the Book of Common Prayer.

Also, special thanks to Folk Angel for permission to use “O Little Town Of Bethlehem” from their album Glad Tidings – Christmas Songs, Vol. 4. If you are looking for some great Christmas records, check out their website, FolkAngle.com. They are a Texas band that performs rearrangements of traditional Christmas songs. And I just found out that their latest album drops today! Right now they are offering a sale on the first five albums (42 songs) for $10.

Happy holidays from the Coffee Den!

This is the second special edition Advent audio podcast.

A couple years ago I composed a list of Advent poems. Since that time, it has gone on to be one of the most read Coffeehouse Junkie blog posts.

This episode features “Mosaic of the Nativity (Serbia, Winter 1993)” by Jane Kenyon, “Nativity” by John Donne, “A Christmas Carol” by Christina Georgina Rossetti and a selection from the Book of Common Prayer.

Also, special thanks to Folk Angel for permission to use “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” from their album Comfort & Joy – Christmas Songs, Vol. 3. If you are looking for some great Christmas records, check out their website, FolkAngle.com. They are a Texas band that performs rearrangements of traditional Christmas songs. And I just found out that their latest album drops today! Right now they are offering a sale on the first five albums (42 songs) for $10.

See you next time at the Coffee Den!

A couple years ago I composed a list of twelve Advent poems that has become on of the most read blog posts of Coffeehouse Junkie.

This episode features “Annunciation” by Denise Levertov, “Advent” by Donald Hall, “Into The Darkest Hour” by Madeleine L’Engle and a selection from the Book of Common Prayer.

As many listeners know, books are important here at the Coffee Den. First segment features three books and a question: where have all the fathers gone? Next, a tale of two city libraries. Sort of. And poets. And books. Finally in the last segment, a glimmering coming-of-age story by author Justin Grimbol.

If you would like to read along as well as support the authors, here is a list of their books: Memory Won’t Save You: A Haibun by Mimi White; After the Steaming Stops poems by Alice Osborn; Somewhere More Holy by Tony Woodlief; The Kid Who Climbed the Tarzan Tree by D. W. Rozell and Drinking Until Morning by Justin Grimbol.

And finally (because it is mentioned in the podcast), if you would like to support the podcast please consider purchasing Late Night Writing by Matthew Mulder.

Thanks! See you next time at the Coffee Den.

What would you tell someone if they told you that your internet behavior was categorically a mental illness? How much time do you spend on Facebook, Tumblr? or other social media sites? How does this affect your real life relationships? Do you prefer e-books to physical pulp and ink books? These and other confessions are the topic of this episode of the Coffeehouse Junkie audio podcast.

How does an artist translate visions and dreams into pigment on canvas? These and other topics are discussed with artist Eva Scruggs. Next, poetry readings and acoustic singer/songwriter sets are common at bookstores and cafés. Join me and take a glimpse behind the scenes of one of those events that takes place at Malaprop’s Bookstore in Asheville, North Carolina. Finally, visit the Grey Eagle music hall and meet Deborah Crooks as she shares a conversation about liberation and home.

Special thanks to the Anne Malin for permission to use her song "darling" for the music between each segments. Anne Malin is a folk musician from Boston, Massachusetts. Her albums "Bog Songs," "AM" and "Vessel" are available on iTunes and Spotify. New releases and a special edition of the album "Bog Songs" with art by Projekt Katharine is available at her Bandcamp page which is annemalin.bandcamp.com.

For more details and web links, visit coffeehousejunkie.net.

When was the last time your wrote a letter? Not an email, but a handwritten letter with pen, paper, envelope and postage. Learn about a legacy of letters from a WWII soldier discovered by his son. Also, a short story about poetry, jazz and a rainy afternoon.

This show is unofficially sponsored by Circa Celeste — a cafe located in historic downtown Racine, Wisconsin. Check them out at CircaCeleste.net.

Special thanks to John Hayes. He enjoys several musical incarnations from honky-tonk country to jazz to silent music scenes. His current incarnation involves old blues. More details about John Hayes and links to his music are available on the website coffeehousejunkie.net.

A light breeze from the south carries echoes of a recent place in memory. In this episode, stories about creative space, laptop versus hand-writing and more.

It is warm enough to finally open the windows and let the Spring air fill the house. The first segment touches on that in a story titled "Creative Space." Recently, the village where I currently live experienced the first tornado of the year. Everyone is fine. Thankfully, the only dangerous weather was thunder, hail, and rain. But it got me thinking of our culture's dependency on electricity and technology. "When the lights go out" is the second segment. The third segment answers listeners's question in "An audience of one." The final segment for this episode is titled "Life is lived as a messy first draft."

This episode's unofficial sponsor is The Steaming Cup located in the beautiful downtown area of Waukesha, Wisconsin. For more details, visit TheSteamingCup.com.

Very special thanks to Lee Tyler Post for permission to use his song "Life Without Fences" in between segments. I first heard his music on The Great America Music Hour hosted by Jerry Jodice. Learn how to get any or all of Lee Tyler's six studio albums on his website LeeTylerPost.com.

Thank you visiting the Coffee Den. And welcome to the relaunch of the Coffeehouse Junkie audio podcast. It is good to be back. A lot of things have happened during that time and there is much I plan to share with you, just not in this episode.

Yes, it is true. The last two years or so I have fasted from coffee. That’s right. Not a drop of my favorite bean beverage in more than 24 months. Almost had to rename this audio podcast. But Maniac Coffee Roasting in Bellingham, Washington came to the rescue. Specifically, the Decaf Espresso Royale blend. Check them out at ManiacCoffeeRoasting.com. They are the unofficial sponsor of this episode.

Very special thanks to Amy Annelle for granting permission to use her song "Will Try" between the segments. Visit the website HighPlainsSigh.com for more info about her music or find her music on Apple iTunes.

And here’s what’s coming up in this episode.

In the first segment, a story about how long it takes to write a haiku. Next, what do you think about when you see a stack of books? In this episode you will also hear what a creative director thinks of when he sees a stack of books. Next, we'll explore, Who is the audience for your poems? In the final segment, I'll share whether or not it is possible to write in your sleep, or not.