The Apple Seed

It's no mystery that The Apple Seed Team loves a good detective story. On today's episode we talk to writer Peter Lovesey about his approach to mystery writing, share excerpts from classic detective stories, and try our hand at the first chapter of our very own mystery. Stories included in this episode:

Interview with Peter Lovesey, Mystery Writer

Peter Lovesey, also known by the pen name Peter Lear, is a British writer of historical and contemporary detective novels and short stories. His best-known series characters are Sergeant Cribb, a Victorian-era police detective based in London, and Peter Diamond, a moderyn-day police detective in Bath. In 1975, Lovesey left teaching to become a full-time writer. Since then, Peter Lovesey has won awards for his well-written fiction, including Gold and Silver Daggers from the British Crime Writers' Association, the Cartier Diamond Dagger for Lifetime Achievement, the French Grand Prix de LItterature Policiere, and first place in the Myster Writers of America's 50th Anniversary Short Story Contest. In 2019, Mr. Lovesey will be recognized by the Bouchercon Convention in Dallas for Lifetime Achievement. Lovesey's characters are known for their gumption, humanness, and accessibility. Learn more about Peter's work by visiting

The Case of the Blue Carbuncle

The Adventure of the Blue Carbuncle is one of 56 short stories written by British author Sir Arthur Conan Doyle about the famously brilliant detective, Sherlock Holmes. First published in 1892, this episode follows the disappearance of a near priceless jewel as London prepeares for Christmas. This story was performed in front of a live studio audience by Sam Payne and The Acting Company.

It's a Mystery!: An Exercise in Mystery Writing

Thinking about our favorite detectives made our hands itch to write a story of our own! Here's an excerpt of our attempt at the introduction of a detective story. Want more mysteries? Let us know Facebook Facebook or Twitter!

Stories featuring some of our favorite fairy tale creatures-- some that are helpful or mischievous, some that are clever, and others that are kind. Stories featured in this episode:

Little Orphant Annie

An 1885 poem by James Whitcomb Riley, written in Riley’s famous Hoosier dialect. The subject was inspired by Mary Alice "Allie" Smith, an orphan living in the Riley home during her childhood. Each stanza tells of a bad child who is snatched away by goblins as a result of their misbehavior. Storyteller Tim Lowry performs the poem that warns children to behave well, lest they fall to the same fate as the children in the poem. Find more of his work at www.storytellertimlowry.com

The Goblin and the Grocer

A Hans Christian Andersen classic performed by the late Diane Wolkstein. Read an article about the late and great Diane Wolkstein from The New York Times at this link.

The Changeling

A changeling child was believed to be a fairy child that had been left in place of a human child stolen by the fairies. Purposes of the changeling vary from story to story, some sinister and some sillier: one belief is that trolls thought that it was more respectable to be raised by humans and that they wanted to give their own children a human upbringing. This version of the folktale is performed by Richard Young, who comprises of half a storytelling duo with his wife Judy. You can learn more about them at www.yawp.com/stories

The Shoemaker and the Elves

1806 story, first collected in the German Grimm’s Fairy Tales. The Aarne–Thompson folklore classification system categorizes the story as type 503\*: Helpful Elves. You can learn more about Megan Hicks, who has a groundhog infused version of the same story, by visiting www.meganhicks.com

Slops

This is a story about a man who finds that he’s been dumping slops onto a tiny village of little folk and finds himself in a predicament as to how to right his wrong, reminding us to be a little more of our environment. Learn more about storyteller Pam Faro by visiting www.pamfaro.com

Tailybone

The Tailybone, or Tailypo, is a cryptid often associated with heavily wooded and rural areas, with yellow eyes and long craggly tail. David Holt uses his talents with a guitar to drive the story with a little bit of music. Find more of his work here www.davidholt.com

Words of wisdom and advice from a few of our favorite storytellers and the Apple Seed Team. Stories featured in this episode: 

It Takes Two to Tango

A bilingual snippet from Leeny’s childhood in which her father teaches her the key to creating healthy relationships. Learn more about Leen Del Seamonds by visiting leenydelseamonds.com

Dad's Day '04

Another story about the enduring quality of parental advice from Kevin Kling. Find more of his work at www.kevinkling.com

Apple Seed Advice

Whitney, Makena, Deidrene and Andre join Sam to discuss the best advice they've ever been given.

Maya's Story for Indira

This story from Lani Peterson features words of wisdom from the beloved poet Maya Angelou that inspire a woman who is struggling to rebuild her life after a tragedy. Learn more about Lani Peterson by visiting lanipeterson.com

How I Became an English Major... or The Frog Jumped Twice

Donald looks back on how the advice of a friend’s grandmother helped determine his career. Find more of his work at www.ddavisstoryteller.com

Pony Express riders rode for 18 months (1860-1861) of adventure. They encountered hostile Indians, bandits, blazing deserts and blizzards. Musician and storyteller Elaine Brewster brings to life the exploits of some of the riders such as Billy Fisher, William Henry Streeper, Elijah Nick Wilson, Howard Egan and George Edwin Little. Elaine has made extensive study of riders of the Pony Express, performing her program in many different venues. In this episode, Elaine and her hammer dulcimer join Sam Payne in the studio to share stories and songs about the Pony Express operation, including family history about Elaine's great grandfather who was the last living Pony Express rider in Utah.

Dalibor Talajic is a Croation comic book artist whose entered the comics market in 2005, having worked for Marvel since 2009. He is one of Marvel's most sought-after artists, whose hand can be seen in popular serials such as Deadpool, X-Men, and The Avengers. In 2016, Talajic accepted the job to illustrate the life of a mother trapped in the besieged Syrian town of Madaya. Using dispatches sent from a young mother he would only know as "Madaya Mom," Talajic would us his skills to bring awareness to the plight of the people of Madaya through pen, ink, and storytelling.

In this episode, Talajic joins Sam Payne in a conversation throughout the hour about art created to express life during warfare. You can find Dalibor Talajic & his work online here and here. Read an ABC News Article about Madaya Mom at this link.

In the last part of the hour, Sam Payne shares family histories that attest the nature of art, war, and human connection.

Tellers and Stories on BYUradio.

Names hold a great deal of power. With the right name, one can yield the greatest of reputations and associations. Names can live long after one dies, and the connotations associated with a name can remain long after anyone who has known that person has left the earth. Think, for example, of what someone means when they describe something as Wagnerian. Or how about Freudian? Or think about how anyone of a certain generation will know exactly what you mean when you say you MacGyver’ed something, or how most people will understand what it means to be called a Scrooge.On today’s episode, we’re sharing stories about heroes for whom a name becomes important to his or her story. Stories and songs included in this episode:

Escape (The Odyssey)

An excerpt from the Odyssey performed by Odds Bodkin. In Homer’s The Odyssey, we do not meet the hero Odysseus for the first four books of the epic poem. Throughout his adventures, Odysseus uses his cleverness and wit to make a name for himself among the Ancient Greek heroes. Dr. Stanley Benfell, of the Comparative Arts & Letters Department at Brigham Young University, helps us introduce this episode of The Odyssey in which Odysseus tricks the Cyclops, Polyphemus. Find other episodes of the Odyssey by searching "Odyssey" in the archive searchbar, and find more of Odds Bodkin's work by visiting www.oddsbodkin.net.

Rumpelstiltskin

It’s hard to talk about names & the troubles that come with them without mentioning the story of Rumplestiltskin. This German fairy tale was collected by the Brothers Grimm in their 1812 edition of Children’s and Household Tales. This version, by Rosie Cutrer, comes from a collection of stories called, "Mr. Bun and Other Stories." Learn more about Rosie Cutrer's work by visiting www.rosiecutrer.com

Your Name (song)

Ozma is a five-piece American rock band from Pasadena, California. The band’s sound is a mix of nostalgic new-wave–influenced power pop and contrapuntal Casiotone-driven melodies sustained by heavy guitar riffs. This song is from the album, Spending Time on the Borderline. Find more about their music by visiting www.ozmaofficial.com

Papito

Drawing from his Cuban-Irish-American heritage, Antonio Sacre shares stories about knowing who you are by knowing where you've been. This story is about language, nicknames, and family. Find more of Antonio Sacre by visiting www.antoniosacre.com

On this episode of The Apple Seed, we're joined in conversation by David Novak. Storyteller David Novak was recently a featured teller at the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival, where he delighted audiences with his wild creativity, intelligence, and wit. Highly energetic, David uses his voice, facial expressions and body to bring ancient tales, classic myths, and original stories to life. You can find the first part of our interview with David Novak by clicking here. Featured in this episode are interview excerpts from David's conversation with Sam Payne, as well as the story Pyramus and Sandy.

Stories from Fran Yardley, Anne Rutherford, Syd Lieberman, Betty Ann Wylie that included Southern Appalachian folklore, salmon, mothers, dating, music, and more! Included in this episode:

Barney McCabe

Fran Yardley shares her version of "Barney McCabe," a folk tale from the black tradition of St. John's Island, South Carolina that tells how a brother, sister and three dogs outsmart an evil witch.

I Need to Get Out

Anne Rutherford tells all kind of stories from the fantastically fictional to the delightfully factual. This story sheds a little insight into how Anne knew that stories were the right thing for her. Visit her website at www.annerutherford.com

My Mother's Love Life

To be a great storyteller, it helps to come from a family with lots of great stories. This story is about Syd Lieberman's mother and will resonate to all of us who feel young at heart at every age. Learn about the late great Syd Lieberman by visiting www.sydlieberman.com

M'Dear

Stories can help strangers become familiar, as Betty Ann Wylie shares in this story about her husband's grandparents. It is from a collection of stories called, "Pass it On: A Storyteller's Journey."

Stories through song from just some of our favorite storytellers who also happen to be musicians. Stories and songs included in this episode:

Well Made the World Go/Survivor

John McCutcheon gives thoughtful insight through story and song to a generous and enthusiastic audience. Find more of John's work at www.folkmusic.com

Big Frog Little Frog

Contemporary violinist, folk musician, singer and storyteller, Susan is a winner of multiple Parents' Choice Awards and gives classic stories a contemporary musical treatment. Find more of Susan's work at www.susanreed.com

Alicia & the Little Monster

What happens when the monster under your bed is just as worried as you are? Bill Harley lets us know through story and song. Find more of Bill's work here www.billharley.com

Jimmy and the Seed/Seed

Another story and song from Susan Reed, in which she enlists the help of family and friends to help us think about the seeds we plant. Find more of Susan's work at www.susanreed.com

Cleaning Out Mama's House/Old Things

An award-winning songwriter and veteran storyteller, Michael Reno Harrell brings the stories, songs, and spirit of the Southern Appalachian Mountains to audiences that applaud his signature "grit and wit." Find more of Michael's work by visiting www.michaelreno.com