Fiction Is First

Recorded as the winter slowly, angrily, just barely came to an end, here now is the Second Fiction is First House Show. Present in this compact package are songs from Michael Patrick Flanagan Smith, non-fiction by Michelle Dwyer, and fiction by Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson and Ben Forstenzer. I mean, come on, this is everything you…

What do sandwiches, naps and a series of very small shampoo and perfume containers have in common? Hint: pretty boys, Clint Eastwood and wheezing in the other room. Take a visit with Michelle Dwyer on her trip to Arizona to see her dad. We have some conversation about life and death. We hope you enjoy…

Some people run away and join the circus. Some people become magical erotic creatures named Heather. For the rest of us, we get to listen to Rachel Anne Warren read her essay Love on the Block and have a conversation about her night as a shooter girl in a strip club in Baltimore. We hope…

The mystery of life and the mystery of death are close relatives. Maybe they are mothers and sons, maybe grandmothers and granddaughters. The only way to know is to look deeply. Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson looks deeply and reads her essay “Notes From A Suicide.” Ben Forstenzer asks questions. A discussion ensues. We hope you enjoy…

Birds, food and death, and of course the word YES. Dead Bird Stories for Non-believers is about family, loss and the strange connections we cannot shake, even if we don’t believe. Alis Sandosharaj shares her essay. Ben Forstenzer asks some questions. A good time was had by all. Podcast: Download  

The south has alligators, murder and Amish people. But don’t we all? No? Gladys and the Geek will get to the bottom of strange things in the endless and fruitless effort to make the world a little more fair. Be careful who you love and how you show it. Someone could get killed. Podcast: Download…

Cancer, fear, loathing and children. This is a small piece of my sister’s life and how she came to have a family. Part story, part interview, all the hard parts and a big dose of the good stuff.   Podcast:Download

Hello Fiction is First, this is Fiction is First, I missed you. Please find below Ben Forstenzer reading his poem/ode/freak out “The In-Betweens.” The “In-Betweens” was inspired by Kristen Toedtman and written for her show at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson on June 27th. It was very fun. Check her out, she rules: www.kristentoedtman.com…

Fictionisfirst is super excited to post another story by MPFS. Mr.Smith is a writer, musician and factotum. Currently, he is writing a book about his experience working as a field hand in the North Dakota oil boom. Check out more about that project at: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/north-dakota-oil-boom-book   Podcast: Download Podcast: Download

Fiction is First is extremely excited to present Michael Patrick Flanagan Smith reading his story “Scrambled Eggs.” Mr.Smith is a writer, musician and factotum. Currently, he is writing a book about his experience working as a field hand in the North Dakota oil boom. Podcast: Download

A story about very small towns, brothers, talking bears, love and hate and the perils of change. Written and read by Ben Forstenzer

A story about how right before things get really serious, they sometimes get really strange. The internet, a serial killer and a mother-in-law all participate. Written and read by Ben Forstenzer  

A story about how great mysteries can be extremely close by and about terrible, filthy, disgusting former roommates. Written and read by Ben Forstenzer