Transit Insight

A midwestern woman takes a nine-month reprieve from her clockwork husband and average life to study cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. There she discovers sumptuous temptations beyond delicate pastries and French accents and embarks on a flight that leads to unexpected outcomes. After the story, award winning food writer, chef, and novelist, Mary Carroll Moore, reveals her own journey to writing, the types of stories she finds most engaging, and the idea of deserved happiness. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Mary Carroll Moore, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Addiction, redemption, death and Greek gods will inhabit your soul after hearing these poems by one of our Fall Contest Honorable Mention winners, Meggie Royer. After the reading, Meggie reflects upon her struggles and personal journey revealed through these works. She also discusses her passion for helping others and the creation of a literary and arts journal for abuse survivors, Persephone’s Daughters. If you’d like to read these poems or learn more about Meggie, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Birds, the evaporation of time, and constellations are all featured in these poems of reflection by one of our Fall Contest Honorable Mention winners, Delaney Gray. During the interview Delaney reveals her passion for food, cooking, and capturing everyday moments in words. She’s a Nashville resident with a treasure trove of cookbooks, as well as insights, into the recipe of productive writing and journaling. If you’d like to read these poems or learn more about Delaney, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Today’s show features our Fall Contest Third Place winner, Tess is her Name, by Michail Mulvey. Prose contest judge Katie McDougall said “With a voice that sings with subtle characterization and musicality, the narrator suggests “in-between” lives of his neighbors below and above, ultimately illuminating his own lonesomeness, a pining for meaning and connection. The author masters the art of flash fiction; short in length, Tess is her Name is expansive in aboutness.” Michail was unable to participate in our interview, so after the reading, Melissa and JW discuss Michail Mulvey’s background and how it relates to this flash piece. Melissa and JW also discuss the merits of NaNoWriMo, Writers Groups, some of the writing resources they've used over the years, and most importantly, how to sign-up for Melissa’s weekly newsletter and Onyx Publications’ mailing list! If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Michail Mulvey, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, an

Funerals, lost companions, and complicated doctors feature in these poems of grief by our Fall Contest Second Place winner, Smeep. Poetry judge AM Ringwalt said “I was struck by the author’s playful command of sound and syntax in Funereal Dis-ease. Grief and the grotesque are repeatedly alluded to as the speaker almost sings through an uncanny—and not-quite-dissectable—situation.” During the interview we hear Smeep’s inspiration for these poems, what it’s like to survive a plane crash, and how just living life will improve your writing. If you’d like to read these poems or learn more about Smeep, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Can a relationship built on movie-watching survive? Today’s show features our Fall Contest First Place winner, Rome, by all means Rome, by Kevin Broccoli. Prose contest judge Katie McDougall said “Rome, by all means Rome, takes the reader into the theater of a failing marriage, characterized by the couple’s obsession with the movies. The self-assured voice, artful structure, and robust use of metaphor work in tandem to create a nuanced narrative of the relationship and of the narrator’s own sense of self.” Afterward we talk with Kevin about his own experience with relationships and movies, and the inspiration for this story. Kevin also reveals how his background in theater influences his approach to writing. Most importantly, we learn his secret to writing a short story every week. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Kevin Broccoli, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Today’s show is a special edition from our archives. One of our Fall 2022 Contest judges, AM Ringwalt, discusses poetry by Dennis Maloney as well as reads and unpacks her own work, Some People. These six poems by Dennis Maloney will take you from beaches to mountains to bedrooms. Lush with imagery and loss, we're sure you'll enjoy them all. After the narration, special guest AM Ringwalt, professor of creative writing at Belmont University and a premier Nashville poet and singer-songwriter, talks with us about poetry basics.  All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Today’s show is a special edition from our archives. We hear the prologue for a work-in-progress by local Nashville writing fixture, and one of our Fall 2022 Contest judges, Katie McDougall.  It’s Allison Bosch’s sixtieth birthday and she’s hiking a seldom-traveled ridge in the San Juan Mountains where her husband died sixteen years prior. What happens when her dog, Jez, encounters a mountain goat will leave you wanting to read the next chapter. After the reading, we talk with Katie about her teaching background, writing method, working with agents on this novel-in-progress, and about The Porch, a Nashville non-profit that support writers through education and community. If you'd like to learn more about Katie McDougall, head over to www.katiemcdougall.com. Find more information about Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

In a futuristic, post invasion Taiwan, a woman reflects upon beauty, lovers, and things that never change. Afterward we speak with author Juan Torregrosa (a multi-lingual interpreter) about this work and his experience of living in China for over 15 years, writing in non-native languages, and the hot and cold relationship he has with reading and writing. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Juan Torregrosa, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.  

Noodle is pleased to discover a ‘special’ born amongst the newest chicks. His older sister is even more pleased, knowing this will keep Noodle occupied as she seeks enlightenment without interruption. Follow these siblings on their individual journeys that coalesce into a singular discovery. After the reading we talk Ronly Blau about the various inspirations for this work, as well as her own journey with meditation, yoga, and ayurveda. Ronly provides insight to the benefits of co-authoring her book, The Mindbody Cleanse: A 14-Day Detox and Rejuvenation Program from Ancient Ayurveda, and most importantly, she recalls the first book that brought her to tears, and revealed the power of storytelling. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Ronly Blau, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

On today’s show we talk with interdisciplinary artist, Skye Gilkerson. Her essay relays a personal journey revealing a parallel link between humanity’s connection with our planet and our bodies. During the interview, you’ll learn of Skye’s unique outlook on making both visual and prose art. She discusses burning her decades of journals as a form of creation, as well as the benefits of not completing your work. If you’d like to read this essay or learn more about Skye Gilkerson, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

After receiving repeated phone calls, messages, and inquiries asking to purchase her home, widowed Deloris sets out on a mission to deliver her own kind of justice to these phone spammers. What she discovers might surprise you. What she does about it reveals the true character of shrewd women. Afterward, we talk with Lynn about her previous work as a police lieutenant and how that influenced and impacted her writing. You’ll also hear how Lynn’s maverick ways, and role as one of the early women to take on police work, shaped her community and her personal life. If you’d like to read this work, or learn more about Lynn Hesse, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Today’s show feature five poems by Elaine Sorrentino. Find release in your breath, know the pain of violence and choice, and wonder at the seduction of luxury and the lack of courtesy. Elaine’s poems range from lighthearted reminiscence to  shadow filled rooms. Afterward, Elaine explores the inspiration for these works and shares the journey and joy of her upcoming, co-written book, The Girl Scout and the Hitchhiker. If you’d like to read these poems or learn more about Elaine, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

When a new-to-the-neighborhood arrival receives multiple unstamped and wax-sealed letters, she embarks on a quest to reveal the true-identity of the author. Journey with her as she discovers the surprising truth. After the reading, we talk with Sarah Butkovic about her ongoing studies in English and her exploration of creative writing. More importantly, she reveals a unique aspect of her home that served as an inspiration for the story. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Sarah, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Today’s show is a special edition where we hear an excerpt from Fake, a novel by John DeDakis. In the era of “fake news,” when facts are suspect and reporters are targets, White House Correspondent Lark Chadwick is thrust into the midst of a media-bashing frenzy. Fake is a real-life look behind the scenes at the ethical struggles of a female journalist in a #MeToo world walking the line between personal feelings and dispassionate objectivity – trying to discern the difference between what’s real . . . and what’s fake. After the reading, we talk with John about his background as a journalist, how he came to write a series with a female protagonist, and how the narrative spin by both supporters and detractors of the Vietnam War propelled John into journalism. If you'd like to learn more about John DeDakis or buy any of his Lark Chadwick series, head over to www.johndedakis.com. Find more information about Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022,

Today’s show features a work of non-fiction by Larry Patten about his personal writing journey. You’ll laugh, curse, and commiserate with Larry as he walks you through some early-highs and later-lows. Afterward, we talk with Larry about lesson’s learned, the relationship of ministry to writing, and most importantly, about the first book that made him cry. If you’d like to read this work or learn more about Larry Patten, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Not all choices are choices, and some result in devastating consequences -- on lives, on families, on relationships. After this flash fiction work, we talk with Gene Turchin about the germination of this story and its many iterations before landing at Onyx. Gene also espouses the benefits of writing every day and exploring multiple genres, including some that might surprise you. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Gene Turchin, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved

Rose is itching to get home and let the pencil loose on the page, but a chance encounter with a street evangelist changes her trajectory. Will she get the chance to etch the contours of his skin, or does the universe have other plans? Afterward, we talk with James Roderick Burns about how everyday encounters become small moments of inspiration that find their way into his stories. You’ll also hear Rod’s passion for New York history, and specifically Anthony Comstock, founder of the New York Society for the Suppression of Vice. Yep, it’s as interesting as it sounds! If you’d like to read this work or learn more about J. Roderick Burns, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Today’s show features a work of fusion by Brad Buchanan. Walk with Brad as he narrates a medical journey revealing interwoven links between life and poetry. Discover the unique medical battles he’s overcome only to face new challenges with his father’s strange symptoms. Afterward, we talk with Brad about the medical ordeal his life became, and how his wife, writing, and a lot of grit, helped him do more than just survive. If you’d like to read this work or learn more about Brad Buchanan, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

On today’s show we hear five poems by Sandra Newton. Travel to faraway lands with memories that are not your own. Know the challenge of creating verse from thought. Disappear like the memories of childhood, and laugh at the loss brought by aging. Sandra’s poems explore the experience of being human with all its wonders and regrets. Afterward, she shares her journey to writing, which might include a stop in the middle-ages, and advice on improving your craft through determination. If you’d like to read these poems or learn more about Sandra, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.