Stories, But Shorter

Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award Finalist writer Rebecca Makkai joins us to conclude Season 2 of “Stories, But Shorter.” This Chicago-based writer shares “Everything We Know About the Bomber” from her short story collection, Music For Wartime. In the talkback, Cassi, Jeremy and Rebecca discuss character development and the difference between writing short fiction vs a novel. Rebecca Makkai is also the author of the novels The Great Believers, The Hundred-Year House, and The Borrower. Makkai is on the MFA faculties of Sierra Nevada College and Northwestern University, and she is Artistic Director of StoryStudio Chicago.

http://rebeccamakkai.com

Writer Adam McOmber joins us to read “Petit Trianon,” a short story from his book My House Gathers Desires. "Petit Trianon" was inspired by a real queer historical paranormal event! Adam shares how he combines his love of the paranormal and exploring different time periods through a queer lens. He even indulges us with a real paranormal experience he and his boyfriend had at a San Francisco hotel. Adam McOmber is the author of My House Gathers Desires, The White Forest and This New & Poisonous Air. Look out for his book Jesus and John coming out in June 2020!

Pre-order Jesus and John

Misa Sugiura reads two amazing short stories, “Hanging Gardens” and “Not What I Meant.” Both stories share the theme of young love. “Hanging Garden” explores young love through magical realism, while “Not What I Meant” explores it through the grounded, dreaded reality of high school. Misa is the author of the award-winning novels, It's Not Like It's A Secret and This Time Will Be Different. Misa shares what it’s like to become a writer after a career in teaching high school English and how she’s able to tap so well into writing young adult fiction. She sends a great message of it’s never too late to become a writer. Please enjoy!

http://www.misasugiura.com

Author Christine Sneed joins Stories, But Shorter to read her wonderful short story, “The Monkey’s Uncle Louis.” Christine Sneed is the author of the novels Paris, He Said and Little Known Facts, and the story collections Portraits of a Few of the People I've Made Cry and The Virginity of Famous Men. She has received the Grace Paley Prize for Short Fiction, the 21st Century Award from the Chicago Public Library Foundation, and the Chicago Writers’ Association Book of the Year Award twice. She has also been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. She teaches for the graduate creative writing programs at Northwestern University and Regis University.

https://www.christinesneed.com

A special “Stories, But Shorter” holiday episode! We bring you the classic short “A Visit From St. Nicolas,” more commonly known as “Twas’ The Night Before Christmas” read by 28 people.

E’mon Lauren is a Chicago born-and-raised poet who was named Chicago’s first Youth Poet Laureate. She writes poetry and playwriting to explore a philosophy of hood womanism. She hosts “The Real Hoodwives of Chicago,” a podcast for artists of color to talk love, sex, romance, and ratchetry. On “Stories, But Shorter,” E’mon shares four pieces from her first published chapbook of poems “COMMANDO.” E’mon and host, Cassi Jerkins, have quick talkbacks in between each poem to dive deeper into what it’s really like to grow up in Chicago vs. how the media depicts Chicago life and culture.

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The Real Hoodwives of Chicago

Young Chicago Authors

Author Michael McRay reads from his upcoming book, I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World. For this book, Michael McRay traveled the world to places like Israel, Palestine, Northern Ireland, and South Africa to interview activists, peacebuilders, and former combatants about their personal experiences with conflict, justice, and reconciliation. I Am Not Your Enemy: Stories to Transform a Divided World is a collection of those interviews as well as Michael’s own experience with his travels and forming deep relationships with the people he met along the way.

Michael McRay also works for the global empathy nonprofit, Narrative 4. Narrative 4 brings people across the world together by creating a network for people to share their personal stories with one another. Through story exchange, people use their stories to build empathy, shatter stereotypes, break down barriers and ultimately, make the world a better place.

S.L. Wisenberg is the author of The Sweetheart Is In, Holocaust Girls: Memory, & Other Obsessions and The Adventures of Cancer Bitch. Today S.L. Wisenberg shares two short stories “Brunch” and “That Old Time Religion.” Afterward, host Cassi Jerkins and S.L. Wisenberg go in-depth about the complexities of romance, political activism, and religion, as well as pushing through with our creative work when dealing with doubt.

S.L. Wisenberg’s Blog

Juan Martinez is the author of Best Worst American: Stories. He was born in Bucaramanga, Colombia and now resides in Chicago. On “Stories, But Shorter,” Juan reads “Character Limit,” a short story originally published in The Mississippi Review, about a Latinx navigating with his family through Chicago the day after Trump won the presidential election. Afterward, Juan and Cassi reflect on pulling from real-life experiences for writing, sci-fi and how to have a healthy relationship with Twitter. Juan teaches at Northwestern University.

Juan Martinez’ Website: https://fulmerford.com

Samira Ahmed is the New York Times best-selling author of “Love, Hate & Other Filters” and “Internment.” She was born in Bombay, India, and grew up in a small town in Illinois. On “Stories, But Shorter,” Samira shares her short story “Election Day” which beautifully depicts a widowed man remembering his wife and the gift of voting on Election Day in Bombay. Afterward, Samira and Cassi discuss politics in art. Samira’s next novel “Mad, Bad and Dangerous To Know” is due in April 2020.

https://samiraahmed.com