Beste Fordon podcaster (2024)

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Brad Felver 35:53

2d ago35:53

35:53

Kelly Fordon talks to Brad Felver about his story "Orphans" which was first published in Subtropics and later chosen for The Best Short Stories 2024: The O. Henry Prize Winners by Amor Towles. For more information, and to access a PDF of the story, please visit Let's Deconstruct a Story on Substack. Brad Felver is a fiction writer, essayist, and te…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Sheila Kohler 39:40

6M ago39:40

39:40

Hi Everyone, We're a little late with this episode and it's all my fault! As I mentioned in my May 1st blog post (sign up here for updates), for the first time in four years, I conducted an amazing interview with Sheila Kohler and forgot to hit record on Zoom. Sheila--the most gracious person on Earth--forgave me for wasting 45 minutes of her time …

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Cara Blue Adams 44:07

8M ago44:07

44:07

Hi Everyone, I'm thrilled to host Cara Blue Adams today on the podcast. We talked about her stellar short story, "Vision," available from Joyland Magazine. I met Cara years ago at the Kenyon Writers Workshop (which I highly recommend by the way...) so it was great fun to reconnect on the podcast. Cara's work was recommended by Vincent Perrone, who …

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Leigh Newman 1:02:39

9M ago1:02:39

1:02:39

Hi Everyone, We had so much fun discussing Leigh Newman's short story, "An Extravaganza in Two Acts," available here from Electric Literature. You are going to learn so much about writing historical fiction. Leigh is a hoot! The conversation moved at a clip, so I have some discussion notes for you below. Also, check out the bonus question one of my…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Jai Chakrabarti 36:21

10M ago36:21

36:21

Hi Everyone! Welcome to Let's Deconstruct a Story! This month I'm talking to Jai Chakrabarti about his wonderful story, "A Small Sacrifice for an Enormous Happiness." Please find the link to the story at www.kellyfordon.com, It's best to read it before tuning into the podcast. Next month, I'll be talking to Leigh Newman about her story, "An Extrava…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Katherine Vaz 47:46

11M ago47:46

47:46

Hi Everyone! Welcome to Let's Deconstruct a Story! This month I'm talking to Katherine Vaz about her wonderful story, "Our Lady of the Artichokes." Please read the story (available at www.kellyfordon.com/blog) before tuning into the podcast. Also, please check out the link to her fantastic new novel Above the Salt which I read and adored. Sometimes…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Bonnie Jo Campbell 55:42

1y ago55:42

55:42

Hi Everyone, I had the best conversation with Bonnie Jo Campbell. Can't wait to share it with you! Please read "Boar Taint" in The Kenyon Review before you listen, or our discussion won't make a lick of sense. This episode is available on Apple, Spotify, Audible or anywhere you get your podcasts. If you would like a transcript, please get in touch …

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring George Singleton 26:58

1y ago26:58

26:58

Hi! I am so happy to share my podcast interview with the esteemed Southern writer George Singleton. We delved into some serious subjects: the legacy of racism in the South, gun control, and substance abuse, but despite all of that, we managed to laugh every now and then because he is hilarious! (And I said the word "interesting" about a gazillion t…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Chad B. Anderson 46:33

1y ago46:33

46:33

Chad B. Anderson's story "The Kelley Street Disappearances" has been lodged in my brain for almost a decade, so I decided to track him down, and I was so grateful when he agreed to be on the podcast. I'm sure if you are an avid reader like me, you know how rare it is to have a story resonate for that long. I hope you feel the same way I do about th…

1
"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Jason Ockert 43:35

1y ago43:35

43:35

Hi Everyone, I'm happy to welcome Jason Ockert to show! We discussed his story, "The Peoplemachines" in StorySouth Spring 2023. It blew me away! Who reminds me of a modern-day ⁠Agathocles⁠??...hmmmm....I can't imagine. Please read the story (available below) before listening to our discussion. Thank you SO MUCH to storySouth for publishing this tho…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Caroline Kim 38:14

1+ y ago38:14

38:14

Hi Everyone! I'm thrilled to welcome Caroline Kim on the podcast today! We will be reviewing her story "Motherhood" which is available for free from August 1st-31st on the Story Magazine website. Thank you, Michael Nye! Please see my website to access the story: https://kellyfordon.com/lets-deconstruct-a-story/ CAROLINE KIM is the author of a colle…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Anna Caritj 35:00

1+ y ago35:00

35:00

Hi Everyone, I'm thrilled to host fiction writer, Anna Caritj this month on "Let's Deconstruct a Story." The Sewanee Review has graciously taken down the paywall for Anna's story for the month of June so you can read the story all month for free! They have also offered readers/listeners of LDAS 10% off a subscription to The Sewanee Review with the …

1
"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Robin Luce Martin 33:16

1+ y ago33:16

33:16

Hi Everyone, Robin and I have been good friends and writing buddies since we met at a writer's conference in 2008. Since then, she has won numerous awards for her work and I am so thrilled to feature her brilliant writing here. We did something a little different for this episode. We are taking a look at two of Robin's stories: 1969 is available at…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Meghan Louise Wagner 32:37

1+ y ago32:37

32:37

Hi Everyone, This month I'm thrilled to welcome Meghan Louise Wagner to the podcast! First, because I love the story. Secondly, because I am from NE Ohio and she lives there! Yay! So happy to be promoting fellow Midwesterners. Her story, "Elephant Seals" is available in these two places: Agni Online here or in Best American Short Stories 2022. Plea…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Julie Ann Stewart 37:19

2y ago37:19

37:19

Hi Everyone, So glad to be back after a short hiatus! I’m grateful to the Grosse Pointe Public Library for allowing me to use their recording studio for these next few episodes. It was fantastic; however, there was a little learning curve…I apologize for a couple of staticky moments during this podcast. Luckily, it only happened when I was talking!…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Toni Ann Johnson 46:45

2y ago46:45

46:45

Hi Everyone! I'm really looking forward to sharing this discussion with Toni Ann Johnson. I loved this collection! We will be talking about the story "Time Travel" winner of the 2021 Miller Audio Prize. Please listen to the story at the link below before you tune in to our podcast discussion. This is the last post of 2022. Thanks so much to the Gro…

1
"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring George Saunders 38:35

2y ago38:35

38:35

Well, I'm not going to lie. It was one of the top ten thrills of my life speaking with George Saunders. I was so excited, I thought I might pass out partway through the interview. But he could not have been more unpretentious, kind, and engaging. I learned so much from him, and hope you do too! Every story he writes reminds me that we are all multi…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Peter Ho Davies 41:01

2y ago41:01

41:01

Hi Everyone, "Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. Today I'll be talking about the short story "Chance" with the author, Peter Ho Davies. ***Content warning: This episode deals with pregnancy/childbirth, miscarriages/abortion*** Please read the story first and then listen to the podcast,…

1
"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Jacob M. Appel 27:12

2y ago27:12

27:12

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. This week I am talking to Jacob M. Appel about his story "The Frying Finn" first published in Agni and available here. Please read the story first before listening to our discussion. Learn more about Jacob M. Appel on my blog here.…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Selena Anderson 38:06

2y ago38:06

38:06

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. This week I am talking to Selena Anderson about her Oxford American and later, Best American Short Story, "Godmother Tea!" Please read the story on my website and then enjoy the podcast! All best, Kelly Bio: Selena Anderson is a writer from Texas. He…

1
"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Lydia Conklin 43:54

2+ y ago43:54

43:54

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. In this episode, Lydia Conklin and Lillian Li will be discussing the story "Sunny Talks" first published in One Story in January 2022. This conversation was recorded live at Pages Bookshop in Detroit on June 24, 2022. This episode is part of a series…

1
Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Maurine Ogbaa 43:51

2+ y ago43:51

43:51

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. For this episode, please read "Goodbye" by Maurine Ogbaa, first published in Agni. **Please note we will be talking about suicide on this episode.** This summer I am posting two episodes with writers who have not yet published their first short story…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story with Rion Amilcar Scott 30:30

2+ y ago30:30

30:30

"Let's Deconstruct a Story" is a podcast where we read and discuss one short story with the author. For this episode please read or listen to the audio recording of "Shape-Ups at Delilah's" in The New Yorker before listening to our discussion. This is part of a series of "Let's Deconstruct a Story" podcasts offered in collaboration with the Grosse …

1
"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Ellen Birkett Morris 29:25

2+ y ago29:25

29:25

Hi Everyone, I'm thrilled to welcome Ellen Birkett Morris to the show today. Please read her story, "Inheritance" (available at www.kellyfordon.com) before listening to our discussion. During our talk, Ellen also mentioned a book by Ron Carlson called "Ron Carlson Writes a Story" which is out of print unfortunately but you might find a used copy he…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Sara Majka 43:55

2+ y ago43:55

43:55

Hi Everyone, I'm excited to share my interview with Sara Majka about the title short story, "Cities I've Never Lived In." Here's a brief description of the collection from the publisher Graywolf Press: "Fearlessly riding the line between imagination and experience, fact and fiction, the linked stories in Sara Majka’s debut collection offer intimate…

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Poet, Ken Meisel, reads from his new collection, The Consent Of A Distance” Kelsay Press, January 2022. 11:06

2+ y ago11:06

11:06

Even though I am mostly working on "Let's Deconstruct a Story" these days, every now and then I still like to feature a stellar Michigan poet! Today's post includes a reading by Ken Meisel from his new book, Studies Inside the Consent of a Distance published in January by Kelsay Books. Poems in the recording include "Fatherhood," "Two Portraits of …

1
"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Lily King 39:24

2+ y ago39:24

39:24

Lily King discusses the title story from her collection "Five Tuesdays in Winter." The story is available at most local libraries and should be read before listening to the podcast. I apologize--normally I am able to provide a copy of the story on my website but apparently Grove Atlantic does not have serial rights to the individual stories. Lily K…

1
"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Caitlin Horrocks 35:12

2+ y ago35:12

35:12

Caitlin Horrocks discusses her story "On the Oregon Trail" from her short story collection, Life Among the Terranauts. The story is available and should be read before listening to the podcast at www.kellyfordon.com/blog. Caitlin Horrocks is the author of the story collections Life Among the Terranauts and This Is Not Your City, both New York Times…

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"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Alix Ohlin 39:48

3y ago39:48

39:48

“Let’s Deconstruct a Story” is a podcast for the story nerds--those who know that examining the components of a good story is the key to writing one. In each episode here, I interview a writer about one of their own stories, delving deeply into their choice of POV, plot, setting, and tone. The stories are available for listeners to read (below) bef…

1
"Let's Deconstruct a Story" featuring Natalie Serber 50:42

3y ago50:42

50:42

**Note use of strong language and adult content.** Please read Natalie's story, "Children are Magic" first at www.kellyfordon.com/blog. Natalie Serber is the author of a memoir about her experience with breast cancer entitled, Community Chest, and a story collection, Shout Her Lovely Name, a New York Times Notable Book, and an O, the Oprah Magazine…

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Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Sejal Shah 45:23

3y ago45:23

45:23

Welcome! “Let’s Deconstruct a Story” is a podcast for the story nerds! This is a podcast for aspiring writers who know that examining the components of a good story is the key to writing one. In each episode here, I interview a writer about one of their own stories, delving deeply into their choice of POV, plot, setting, and tone. The stories are a…

1
Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Clifford Garstang 31:29

3y ago31:29

31:29

Welcome! “Let’s Deconstruct a Story” is a podcast for the story nerds! This is a podcast for aspiring writers who know that examining the components of a good story is the key to writing one. In each episode here, I interview a writer about one of their own stories, delving deeply into their choice of POV, plot, setting, and tone. The stories are a…

1
Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Noley Reid 22:58

3y ago22:58

22:58

Kelly Fordon talks to Noley Reid about her story "Coming Back" on Split Lip Magazine available here or at www.kellyfordon.com/blog. Noley Reid’s third book is the novel Pretend We Are Lovely from Tin House Books. Her fourth book, a collection of stories called Origami Dogs, is forthcoming from Autumn House Press. Her stories and essays have appeare…

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Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Jeff Vande Zande 32:30

3y ago32:30

32:30

Jeff Vande Zande discusses his story, "Load," with host, Kelly Fordon. "Load" was first published in Fiction Circus: http://fictioncircus.com/story.php?storyid=load and later in his short story collection, "The Neighborhood Division." Please read the story first before listening to our discussion. The PDF is available at www.kellyfordon.com/blog. B…

1
Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Wendy Rawlings 34:23

3y ago34:23

34:23

Wendy Rawlings discusses her story, "Coffins for Kids," with host, Kelly Fordon. "Coffins for Kids" was first published in The Kenyon Review https://soundcloud.com/the-kenyon-review/coffins-for-kids-by-wendy-rawlings-read-by-allison-hetzel, and later in her 2019 short story collection, "Time for Bed" (LSU). Please read the story first before listen…

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Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Susan Perabo 37:02

3+ y ago37:02

37:02

Kelly Fordon and Susan Perabo discuss Susan's story, This is Not That Story. The story is available in The Sun Magazine and linked on Kelly Fordon's blog. Bio: Susan Perabo’s most recent books are The Fall of Lisa Bellow (2017) and Why They Run the Way They Do (2016), both from Simon & Schuster. Her fiction has been anthologized in Best American Sh…

1
Ellen Birkett Morris reads from her chapbook, Abide. 4:06

3+ y ago4:06

4:06

Abide by Ellen Birkett Morris published July 2021 Seven Kitchens Press.

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Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Treena Thibodeau 30:28

3+ y ago30:28

30:28

Welcome to "Let's Deconstruct a Story" where we read a story and then "deconstruct" it with the author. In order to get the most out of our interview, please read Treena Thibodeau's story first here: www.kellyfordon.com/blog. Treena Thibodeau's work has appeared or is forthcoming in The Rumpus, Atticus Review, Able Muse, Vol. 1 Brooklyn, Pithead Ch…

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Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Wandeka Gayle 41:12

3+ y ago41:12

41:12

Welcome to "Let's Deconstruct a Story!" This week I'm talking to Wandeka Gayle about a story called "Prodigal" from her new collection, "Motherland and other Stories." First, please read "Prodigal" by Wandeka Gayle And then enjoy our discussion! Kelly Fordon Bio: Wandeka Gayle is a Jamaican writer, visual artist, Assistant Professor of Creative Wri…

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Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Esperanza Cintrón 46:48

3+ y ago46:48

46:48

Kelly Fordon talks to Esperanza Cintrón about her award-winning collection, Shades, Detroit Love Stories, a collection of interconnected short stories published by Wayne State University Press (2019). The conversation focuses on the first story, "The Beard." To read the story please visit www.kellyfordon.com/blog. For more about Esperanza Cintrón, …

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Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Joseph Harris 38:28

3+ y ago38:28

38:28

Joseph Harris and Kelly Fordon discuss the first book from Harris's thrilling interconnected narrative, You’re in the Wrong Place. Charles Baxter stated that "Joseph Harris has a particular feeling for the Detroit suburbs and the slightly stunted lives of the young people there. . . . You’re in the Wrong Place isn’t uniformly downbeat—there are all…

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Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring Rachel Swearingen 31:48

3+ y ago31:48

31:48

Please read Rachel's story, Advice for the Haunted, on my website before listening to us "deconstructing" it. https://kellyfordon.com/2020/10/31/rachel-swearingen/ Rachel Swearingen is the author of How to Walk on Water and Other Stories, winner of the 2018 New American Press Fiction Prize (October 1, 2020). Her stories and essays have appeared in …

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Poet, Laura Van Prooyen, reads from her new collection, "Frances of the Wider Field." 20:44

3+ y ago20:44

20:44

Laura Van Prooyen’s collections of poetry are Frances of the Wider Field (Lily Poetry Review Books 2021), Our House Was on Fire, nominated by Philip Levine, awarded the McGovern Prize (Ashland Poetry Press 2015), and Inkblot and Altar (Pecan Grove Press 2006). She is also co-author, with Gretchen Bernabei, of Text Structures from Poetry—a book of w…

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Let's Deconstruct a Story featuring John McNally 42:43

3+ y ago42:43

42:43

#letsdeconstructastory is all about unpacking short stories to see how they work on a cellular level. It's a place for writers to geek out about the work of other writers and hopefully add some new tools to their own toolbox. Here's how it works: 1. Please read the story on my website first: https://kellyfordon.com/2021/02/01/john-mcnally/ 2. Liste…