Midwest Weird

Today on Midwest Weird: “The Shape of Her Life” by E.F. Schraeder.

A Rhysling and Pushcart nominated poet, E.F. Schraeder is author of The Price of a Small Hot Fire (Raw Dog Screaming Press, 2023), What Happened Was Impossible (Ghoulish Books, 2023), and several other works. Schraeder’s creative work and nonfiction has appeared in Mystery Weekly Magazine, Ghoulish Tales, Vastarien: A Literary Journal, and other journals and anthologies. They believe in ghosts, magic, and dogs and hold an advanced degree in Library Science and PhD in ethics.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com.

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Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.

Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

A Woman is a God is an audio novel in seven installments. Written, narrated, and with original music by Amy Lee Lillard.

Sign up for weekly installments at patreon.com/redeemedrejections.

About A Woman is a God:

When Shannon and her queer chosen family turned seventy, they created a communal home, a place for them to live out their days together. But as years pass, and death takes her friends, Shannon becomes the last.

Until one day, when her dead friends return. And Shannon discovers how powerful she has become.

Over the course of one week, Shannon transforms her body into beasts, sees into the lives she might have lived, watches time spool and unspool, and visits a land of myth and legend to meet the original woman. And as the week nears its end, Shannon must grapple with her own life and death, and what comes next.

Get a text transcript and go behind the scenes.

Mentioned in this episode:

Sign up for weekly installments of A Woman is a God...

...at patreon.com/redeemedrejections.

Today on Midwest Weird: “The Ghosts of Us” by Daniela Barzallo.

An Ecuadorian-American writer from Peoria, Illinois, Daniela Barzallo is currently pursuing her MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Missouri - Kansas City. She has a special love for speculative fiction, but she enjoys writing poetry and autofiction as well. You can find some of her work in Broadside Literary Journal, Kansas City Magazine, and in the forthcoming Fall issue of Pleiades Magazine.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com.

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Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.

Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

Today on Midwest Weird: “Carnation” by Gabriella Paz Hoggatt.

Gabriella Paz Hoggatt is an MFA candidate at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where they work as an Editorial Assistant for Ninth Letter Magazine. Their work has previously appeared or is forthcoming in BarBar and elsewhere.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com.

Listen to an interview with Gabriella, and other bonus episodes, at our Patreon!

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Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.

Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

Today on Midwest Weird: “My Pretend Husbands” by Sara Spry

Sara Spry is a barista, pet sitter and writer living in Chicago, Illinois. She spends most of her time working and writing, but also enjoys arts and crafts, going to the movies, and relaxing at home with a hot drink and a vintage Saturday Night Live episode.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com.

Support more weird art in 2025! Join us at Patreon for behind the scenes bonuses, including an interview with Sara Spry.

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Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.

Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

Today on Midwest Weird: “Transcendental Boy” by Nick Thornton.

Nick Thornton is a speculative fiction writer whose work explores the intersection of cosmic weirdness and human connection. He lives in Michigan.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com.

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Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.

Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

Today on Midwest Weird: A special behind-the-scenes discussion with our editors, Amy Lee Lillard and Erin Johnston.

Mentioned in the show:

• Fuzzy Memories Podcast
• Broads and Books Podcast
• Wyrd Woman Audio Drama
• Donzerly Light, a column by Heath Smith
• Books: Exile in Guyville, A Grotesque Animal, Dig Me Out

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Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.

Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

Today on Midwest Weird: A special reading of Donzerly Light, our weird pop culture column from Heath Smith.

Heath Smith is a special pop culture contributor to Midwest Weird. Read his column, Donzerly Light, at midwestweird.com, and get it direct to your inbox when you sign up. Heath is co-host of Fuzzy Memories, the 80s and 90s pop culture podcast. Keep listening to the end of this episode for a short clip from the show, and listen to the new season in your favorite podcast player.

For a full transcript of this episode, and all of Heath's columns, visit www.midwestweird.com.

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Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.

Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

Today on Midwest Weird: “In-Home Party” by Erin Johnston.

Erin Johnston is the co-creator and editor of Midwest Weird. And with Heath Smith and Amy Lee Lillard, she hosts the 80s and 90s pop culture podcast Fuzzy Memories.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com.

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Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.

Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.

Today on Midwest Weird: “Corporeal” by Amy Lee Lillard.

Amy Lee Lillard is the co-creator and producer of Midwest Weird. She is the author of three books: Exile in Guyville, A Grotesque Animal, and Dig Me Out. Her fiction podcast, Wyrd Woman, has all episodes available now. And with Erin Johnston and Heath Smith, she hosts the 80s and 90s pop culture podcast Fuzzy Memories.

This story originally appeared in Exile in Guyville, and is included here with permission from BOA Editions.

For a full transcript of this episode, visit www.midwestweird.com.

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Midwest Weird is an audio literary magazine from Broads and Books Productions. We’re the home of weird fiction and nonfiction by Midwestern writers.

Submit your own work to Midwest Weird at www.midwestweird.com.