Short Story Today would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy new year. We'll be taking some time off in 2026 to explore some parts of the world we've be meaning to visit, so we hope you'll check back with us for updates about Season 6 in the spring. See you in the summer!

OUT NOW! Our "Found Fiction" holiday episode features a story by the German author Ludwig Fulda, from Short Story Classics, published by P. F. Collier & Son in 1907. Its called "The Fur Coat: The Story of a Matrimonial Difference." In matters of the heart, some things never seem to change...

Wow! Sounds intriguing. I‘m in. 📚

THIS WEEK! We're bringing Season 5 to an end with a special "Found Fiction" holiday episode featuring a literary gem unearthed from the vaults of Project Gutenberg. It's from an early 20th century anthology of German stories - and it still resonates in remarkable ways. www.shortstorytoday.com

Another podcast I love is @shortstorytoday.bsky.social. Check out this episode with @ladiwoods.bsky.social, interviewed by @andrewbertaina.bsky.social!

My very favourite podcast featuring one of my favourite writers! 🥰. Just reading @ladiwoods.bsky.social new collection (The Great Grown Up Game of Make Believe) RIGHT NOW!!! @shortstorytoday.bsky.social

OUT NOW! Anna Monardo's stories, essays, & poems have been published in Prairie Schooner, The Sun, Indiana Review, Poets and Writers, Salon.com, etc. The prologue from her first novel THE COURTYARD OF DREAMS was featured on NPR’s “Selected Shorts” reading series. www.shortstorytoday.com

THIS WEEK! Author Anna Monardo joins me to discuss her books AFTER ITALY: A FAMILY MEMOIR OF ARRANGED MARRIAGE and COURTYARD OF DREAMS (Bordighera Press). She reveals the unique connection shared by these books (one CNF and the other fiction) and the writer's journey that made them both possible.

These episodes will be good, as always, but did you know that past episodes include stories by @andrewbertaina.bsky.social @sfreligh.bsky.social @amystuber.com @tommydeanwriter.bsky.social and @ladiwoods.bsky.social ? Thought you might not know, so treat yourself and have a listen. ❤️x

THIS WEEK! We celebrate Nebraska author Anna Monardo, an award-winning fiction writer, essayist, poet, and memoirist. Her memoir AFTER ITALY: A Family Memoir of Arranged Marriage (Bordighera Press) was the winner of Creative Nonfiction's Writing Pittsburgh Contest.

I do enjoy the diverse voices which @shortstorytoday.bsky.social features. (Good to know Vishwas Gaitonde is on his way to Scotland where I am!) Some lovely short clips read by Vishwas himself, then the main story which I really enjoyed. The writer has a flair for well chosen detail. ❤️

SEASON'S GREETINGS! SEASON 5 continues in December with award-winning author Anna Monardo and a special holiday episode. Look for the new episodes on 12/10 and 12/24. www.shortstorytoday.com

OUT NOW! Vishwas R. Gaitonde's writing has appeared in The Iowa Review, Bellevue Literary Review, Santa Monica Review, Epiphany, Gargoyle, and Mid-American Review. "In his hands, the characters are given what we all need: grace." ~ Sameer Pandya, author of Our Beautiful Boys

THIS WEEK! Vishwas R. Gaitonde joins me to talk about the stories in his debut collection ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN (Orison Books). "[A] fantastic new voice in world literature." - David Heska Wanbli Weiden, author of WINTER COUNTS www.shortstorytoday.com

THIS WEEK! We celebrate North Carolina author Vishwas R. Gaitonde! His debut collection ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN was the winner of the 2023 Orison Prize for fiction. "An absorbing and deeply pleasurable collection." - Margot Livesey, author of THE ROAD FROM BELHAVEN www.shortstorytoday.com

Another fabulous story on @shortstorytoday.bsky.social, this time from Ian Forth. I loved the detail and the setting in this one. ❤️

OUT NOW! Ian Forth's stories have been published in Lit eZine, The Mocking Owl Roost, These Pages Sing, Fragmented Voices, & Literally Stories. The Syncopation Literary Journal is where we first learned of his writing. Thank you, Natalie Welsh! shortstorytoday.com

THIS WEEK! Welsh author Ian Forth joins me to talk about the stories in his debut collection HAZLITT AND THE MOBILITY SCOOTER (Hard Travelling Books). "Wicked stories full of fascinations. Brilliantly written" - Geoff Baker, The London Weekly News www.shortstorytoday.com

THIS WEEK! We celebrate Welsh author Ian Forth! His debut short story collection HAZLITT AND THE MOBILITY SCOOTER (Hard Travelling Books) was released in July. "Hugely enjoyable, unconventional and great fun." - Victoria Corby, author of UP TO NO GOOD. shortstorytoday.com

Season 5 continues in November with two more extraordinary fiction writers talking about their recently published collections: Ian Forth (Hazlitt and the Mobility Scooter) and Vishwas R. Gaitonde (On Earth as it is in Heaven). Next episode: 11/12. shortstorytoday.com

OUT NOW! OUT NOW! Michael Hopkins's stories have won awards from Glimmer Train & The Mill, and received 1st prize in the Wisconsin Academy of Science, Arts & Letters annual fiction contest. Jim Knipfel, author of SLACKJAW, has called Hopkins a writer with "an unparalleled imagination."

THIS WEEK! Season 5 continues with author Michael Hopkins, whose debut collection NEVER STOP EXITING (UW-Stevens Point) was released in May. You'll also find him in COOLEST AMERICAN STORIES 2022. "A bold and compelling collection." - Mark Wish, author of NECESSARY DEEDS www.shortstorytoday.com

THIS WEEK! We celebrate Wisconsin author Michael Hopkins. His debut collection NEVER STOP EXITING (UW-Stevens Point) was released in May. "Stealthily complex and persistently compassionate." - Phong Nguyen, author of Bronze Drum. www.shortstorytoday.com

Well, this was perfect! I absolutely loved ‘Clementine‘ by @ladiwoods.bsky.social A coming of age story, sad, but relatable, beautifully written (and read!). And the bonus of @andrewbertaina.bsky.social doing the interviewing! Fascinating listening!

Illuminating!

OUT NOW! Washington DC author Lauren D. Woods' debut collection THE GREAT GROWN-UP GAME OF MAKE-BELIEVE was the winner of the 2024 Autumn House Fiction Prize. “Beautifully strange and incredibly satisfying." - Kristen Arnett, author of NY Times bestseller MOSTLY DEAD THINGS. www.shortstorytoday.com

THIS WEEK! Washington DC author Lauren D. Woods speaks with husband and SST alum Andrew Bertaina (Ep 10) about her debut collection THE GREAT GROWN-UP GAME OF MAKE-BELIEVE, winner of the 2024 Autumn House Fiction Prize. "(A) tender and resonant debut." - Kirkus Reviews www.shortstorytoday.com

This was such a brilliant story. Listened a few days ago, but it’s still in my head. ❤️

Lauren D Woods AND Andrew Bertaina! This will be fantastic! 🤩

THIS WEEK! We celebrate Washington DC author Lauren D. Woods, whose debut collection THE GREAT GROWN-UP GAME OF MAKE-BELIEVE will be released next week. It was the winner of the 2024 Autumn House Fiction Prize. She's interviewed by husband & fellow writer Andrew Bertaina (SST guest author, Ep. 10).

OUT NOW! After 7 novels and 5 YA books, Missouri author David Haynes's long-awaited debut story collection Martha's Daughter has finally arrived. It is the 6th volume in McSweeney's OF THE DIASPORA series. "An absolute triumph.” - Laila Lalami, author of The Moor’s Account www.shortstorytoday.com

LAUREN D WOODS!! Omg I’ll be listening to this one! (Actually I listen to them all, but I’ll listen extra specially hard to this one! 😊) @ladiwoods.bsky.social

THIS WEEK! Missouri author David Haynes is interviewed by SST alum Stanley Stocker. David's debut short story collection MARTHA'S DAUGHTER was published by McSweeney's in September. "A treasure trove of warmth, smarts, and wisdom." - Kirkus starred review www.shortstorytoday.com

This looks good! I heard Olajibe Omojarabi’s story Messenger Meg on @shortstorytoday.bsky.social and I’d love to read the rest!

Loved the story this week ‘Manuel’, but was particularly interested in the fact that Lisa Alvarez, at the age of 64 is working on her first collection of short stories. I can identify with that so was listening intently for advice! 😀 @shortstorytoday.bsky.social

Featured 3 years ago in @shortstorytoday.bsky.social

We continue Season 5 in October with three more extraordinary writers! David Haynes, Lauren D. Woods and Michael Hopkins bring their unique voices to the the short story form with their debut collections. www.shortstorytoday.com

OUT NOW! Lisa Alvarez writes about Los Angeles, her ciudad, with deep affection. Some Final Beauty & Other Stories (U of Nevada Press) chronicles lives affected by pivotal moments in the history of the city and of the world beyond. "Luminous and empathic." - Héctor Tobar, author of Our Migrant Souls

@shortstorytoday.bsky.social is always wonderfully diverse and it was lovely to hear the Nigerian voice of Olajide Omojarabi reading his story ‘Messenger Meg’.

THIS WEEK! We celebrate California author Lisa Alvarez, whose debut collection Some Final Beauty and Other Stories was just released by Univ of Nevada Press. "An essential story collection for this moment." - Victoria Patterson, author of The Secret Habit of Sorrow shortstorytoday.com

THIS WEEK! California author Lisa Alvarez joins me to talk about her collection SOME FINAL BEAUTY and Other Stories, released by University of Nevada Press this summer. She codirects the annual Community of Writers summer conference in Olympic Valley, CA. shortstorytoday.com

Look Everybody!!! @shortstorytoday.bsky.social is over here on the Bluesky now! All is right with the world.🌍 After a short break they’re back with a new episode. This will, as every episode, be fabulous. Follow them now so you don’t miss any. 😊

Yippee!!! 🎉🎉 @shortstorytoday.bsky.social is back! Just noticed. And @sfreligh.bsky.social was on April 2nd. I’m going to listen the hell out of this later. Best podcast in the world in my opinion. You’ll find it at www.shortstorytoday.com

OUT NOW! This week we celebrate Nigerian author Olajide Omojarabi, whose story "Messenger Meg" was published in the Ploughshares Summer 2025 issue. He's currently a PhD candidate at the University of Nebraska. He's interviewed by fellow writer Daniel Dykiel. shortstorytoday.com

THIS WEEK! Nigerian author Olajide Omojarabi is interviewed by his colleague Daniel Dykiel, a fellow graduate creative writing student at the University of South Florida. They discuss his story "Messenger Meg," which was published in the Summer 2025 issue of Ploughshares.

SEASON 5 BEGINS THIS MONTH! We've got lots more outstanding literary talent to bring to you in Season 5, starting with these two rising stars. Olajide Omojarabi and Lisa Alvarez are just 2 of the distinctive voices you'll hear in Season 5, starting Sept 3. shortstorytoday.com

OUT NOW! We've got a holiday treat for listeners this year! Our '22 ep w/new content. Stories by Amy Cipolla Barnes, Andrew Bertaina, Laura Cooney, Bonnie Weinstein Crowe, Sarah Freligh, June Gemmell, Kerry Langan, Pamela Painter, Jared Povanda, Chelsea Stickle, & Myles Wren. www.shortstorytoday.com

I had the best conversation over the weekend with author Grant Faulkner (10/18), who spoke from his home in Berkeley. We got to explore stories from his collections FISSURES and ALL THE COMFORT SIN CAN PROVIDE, and talk about NaNoWriMo, where he's executive director. shortstorytoday.com

OUT NOW! Italian author Eleonora Balsano (who lives in Brussels) speaks and writes in multiple languages - but feels most at home writing in English. While it's not her mother tongue, it's a language she's come to believe affords her more freedom as a writer. www.shortstorytoday.com

It's nearly October and that means a whole new roster of literary wonders, e.g. my guest Erica Plouffe Lazure! I had the pleasure of discussing her New American Fiction prize-winning collection PROOF OF ME, a brilliant crazy-quilt of linked stories. Hot damn! shortstorytoday.com