Transit Insight

A co-ed middle school sleep over, filled with awkward boys and confident girls, leads to competitions, dares, and firsts -- pleasant memories that not even chocolate can destroy. During the interview, Francis Miller reveals the inspiration for the story, and how memoir-turned-fiction equals fun and creative story telling. He also elucidates his path for leaving a high-paying day job to pursue his passion. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Francis, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

You’re sitting shirtless on the front porch with a coffee and no job. You imagine your self-loathing is seated beside you, awaiting your next dumb-ass move, ready to spin you further into derision. Does redemption await across the street, or is that another step toward alcoholism? After the story, we talk with Rebecca Cuthbert about her cobbled together path toward writing, her work as an editor, and the inspiration behind this story. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Rebecca, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

On today’s show we hear four poems by award winning writer and newspaper editor, Dana Yost. Escape into the woods. Laugh about the joke gone wrong. Discover solace in a lonely super power. Know the lure of obsession. Dana’s poems are raw and honest, as is his interview.  After the reading, Dana shares details about struggles with an illness always jockeying for the front seat of your mind, and provides insight on believing in your writing. If you’d like to read Dana’s poems or learn more about him, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

An unexpected visit by his father-in-law while his pre-teen daughter and friend are crafting ‘happy memory’ homework is enough to make Paul see phantoms of his dead wife. The question is, does anyone else see them too? During the interview we talk with Stephen Policoff about this chapter from his upcoming book, The Dangerous Blues, as well as his fascination with delusional beliefs and the supernatural. Stephen discusses how playwriting has improved his fiction writing and give tips for minding your writing feedback. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Stephen Policoff, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

On today’s show we hear five poems by Kimberly Thornton. Her works take you from soaring skies and intimate connections to dark places where death worms its way into your being. Afterward, we talk with Kimberly about how relationships are key to her writing and the importance of observation in understanding others and ourselves. If you’d like to read these poems or learn more about Kimberly Thornton, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, poetry, and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Heather welcomes the challenges of modern frontier living with her childhood sweetheart and their children, but as time and things change, she wonders if the parts of her she’s lost are gone for good. During the interview, we talk with Jerri Jerreat about her love and respect for nature, and how that weaves its way into her work. You might also learn a surprising lifelong wish, and we guarantee it will surprise you! Jerri also offers insight into ways writers can improve their craft by riding the bus. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Jerri, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2022, all rights reserved.

Peter is wrestling with the passing of his mother and what it means for the choices he’s made and is making. A chance meeting at a local bar finds him wandering small town backroads looking for something -- maybe even answers. After the story, we talk with Tacheny Perry about the roots of this story and how her personal experiences filter in. She also provides a perspective on getting an MFA in Writing and how that helped focus her energy. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Tacheny, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

An energy healer struggles through the pandemic by lightening the load of the locals. When the lockdown restrictions are lifted, she finds that the tangled past of her newest client is irrevocably enmeshed with her own. After Tiffany Vojnovski reads her own work, we talk with her about the inspiration for the story and how the struggles in her childhood impact the way she creates, as well as the unique process she uses to take a story from notes to manuscript. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about T. Vojnovski, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

Patrice worries about her determined aging mother who refuses to leave her three-story Queen Anne Victorian home. In search of a caregiver, mother and daughter discover the challenge and gravity of taking care of one another. During the interview, author Kendall Klym explains the motivation behind the story, the impact of dance on his writing style, and how he interprets storytelling. It might just ‘move’ you. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Kendall, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

The pandemic lockdown has everyone on edge and the outside world is a place where friends and relatives are trapped inside little boxes on screens. Some are more trapped than others. When the lockdown lifts, what will old high-school acquaintances do to protect one of their own? After the reading, we talk with Cheryl Rieger about the impetus for the story, her writing journey, and her ‘seventh’ novel. She also offers great tips for tracking the complexities of writing mystery and writing in general. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Cheryl, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

On today’s show we hear five poems by award winning author, Kate Banks. Experience the silence of stillness, the succulence of figs, and the grandeur of an ancient orange tree. Her poems explore that space between known and intimated, and once you’re there with her, you might not want to leave. Afterward, Kate shares her view on discovering stories and getting inspiration. We also discuss her skills as a certified hypnotherapist as well as some turning-point life experiences that have shaped her inner journey. This is an interview rich in energy and information. You’ll get more out of it than you think. If you’d like to read Kate’s poems or learn more about her, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio, story, and poetry material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

A dead lawnmower, teachers dropping like flies, and a neighbor bent on enforcing homeowner association rules. What more is there to say? This is a story of death, dereliction, and dandelions from the perspective of a high school teacher whose summer break is becoming wilder by the day. During the interview, we talk with author John Eric Vona about the inspiration for the piece, his approach to discovering stories, and how his musician father-in-law taught Eric the most valuable lesson about writing. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Eric, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved. 

Today’s show is a special edition where we hear the audiobook prologue for Beneath the Marigolds, a debut novel by Nashville writer Emily Whitson.  When her friend and sponsor, Reese Marigold, goes missing after attending Last Chance, an exclusive singles’ retreat on a remote island off the coast of Hawaii, no-nonsense lawyer Ann Stone infiltrates the retreat. Ann quickly realizes there’s more to Last Chance than meets the eye. The extravagant clothes, never-ending interviews, and bizarre dates hint that the retreat is a front for a reality dating show. Could Reese be safe, keeping a low profile until the premier, or did something sinister occur after all? Afterward, we talk with Emily about her inspiration, her strong belief in writers’ groups, and the importance of editors. If you’d like to read this book or learn more about Emily, head over to her website at www.emilycwhitson.com. For more information about Etched Onyx Magazine, you can find us at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material, e

The tale of Louis’ downward trajectory is one that every attendee at his AA meeting can relate to. Circumstances, bad choices, chemistry, aligning like chemical bonds. His story of addiction and disaster unfolds on the streets of Baltimore. Will it end with hope? After the story, we talk with Henry Cherry about how his photography, poetry, and letter writing has improved his craft as a writer. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Henry, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

Earl has taken a turn for the worse, and Alice believes she was never meant to be a mother. The blue room offers her escape, and a place to conjure on futures and pasts. Where will the signs lead? After the reading, we speak with Peter Gooch about his own conjuring, the writer's muse, and that place where inspiration hides -- between the conscious and unconscious mind. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Peter, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

Brianna encounters a stranger on the NYC subway who inserts himself in her life. Despite her attempts to shun him, he persists. Follow Brianna and her unborn child as they navigate the travails of NYC streets and strangers. For today’s show, Melissa and JW talk about the unique circumstances of John Mahoney and his story. Although John was unable to participate in-person for the interview, JW and Melissa discuss the answers he provided in advance. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about John, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

Nellie’s state of mind leads to a crash that breaks her arm, but her limb isn’t the only thing that’s broken. Follow Nellie as she smooths the sharp edges of her life into curves while hiding the truth from her brother. After the reading we talk with Piper Gourley about her writing style, her inspiration for the story, and writing about people in that space before crisis and intervention. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Piper, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

On today’s show we hear five poems by Lila Rutishauser. Her works plumb the space between past and present, parent and child, and the purity and wonder of youth. Afterward, Lila shares her ‘Old Soul’ perspective on writing a crappy first draft and the power of pen on skin. If you’d like to read these poems or learn more about Lila, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

The Russian phone roulette has begun, and you wonder if you’re next. Find out what happens in this flash fiction story that too many of us have faced in these trying times. Afterword, we talk with Donald Capone about his path to writing, his unique day job, and his approach to cranking out the stories and books. If you’d like to read this story or learn more about Don, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.

Rising star Roy Ashcroft fears his career is on a downward trajectory. When seeking help from a studio kingmaker, Roy is offered a lifeline, but will it come at an unspeakable price?  After the reading, we talk with Jordan about his tenacious approach to writing and get several nuggets about improving your craft. We also discover whether Jordan’s love of music will lead him to become the next big musician to rise from the Nashville soundscape. If you’d like to read this story and learn more about Jordan, head over to Etched Onyx Magazine at www.onyxpublications.com. All audio and story material are copyright 2021, all rights reserved.