This week's episode is a special feature that may be some of the best comedy writing I've ever done. "The Box with No Name" created title character Dick Winchester, a protagonist so zany and fun that he in turn inspired me to create the Dick Winchester Adventures, a series that just debuted with Book 1: The Opening Salvo. "The Box with No Name" kic…

This week's episode is a special feature near and dear to your author. "Sinking Prospects" not only netted me my first ever Vocal challenge win, Runner Up in the Vocal Ship of Dreams Challenge, but it also inspired an entire series around our indomitable protagonist Martin Williams that is now Stephen's first-ever book. "Sinking Prospects" follows …

This week's episode follows a fictitious figure during the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Though our protagonist Ezra and his actions are the product of the author's imagination, they are based on the real heroes who fought back against their Nazi captors in the dark days of 1943. You can read the episode transcript as well as the Author's Note on Vocal t…

This week's episode follows the sailors of Oyster, a lifesaving ship stationed on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. When a distress call goes out that a merchantman is sinking in a winter gale, Oyster's crew jumps to, unaware that they will soon come to face with the United States' newest enemy: a hunter that prowls the depths and claims its victi…

This week's episode presents Stephen's first and only fan fiction to date. Inspired by his editing work on Book 2 of the Echoes trilogy, he set out to predict how it would all end in the third and final installment. Along the way, he had a heck of a lot of fun introducing time travel to the series and thrusting the series protagonists Laura and Mav…

This week's episode features "The Rocks," a nautical tale of stoicism and faith in the face of a withering storm set in the 17th century. This story was written for the Vocal Painted Prose challenge and placed 2nd overall. As part of the challenge, "The Rocks" is based off a real painting: Ships in Distress off a Rocky Coast by Ludolf Backhuysen (1…

We're so back (⌐■_■)

Jon reads "Beyond the Cape," a tension-filled story of a lighthouse keeper on the rocky shores of Maine and his only companion: a shark. View the original story on Vocal to read along: https://vocal.media/history/beyond-the-capeCover photo by Daniel Gregoire and licensed through Unsplash.

Creative Conversations show page: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1781288 Creative Conversations, meet Recorded Readings. That’s right, we’re practicing brand synergy by sharing another podcast’s episode (with permission, of course). Fortunately, Stephen just happens to be featured in this interview. Marissa also has a new book out, which Stephen copy e…

Jon reads "Dash Point," a tale of the paranormal set in a lighthouse on the tip of Cape Cod. View the original story on Vocal to read along: https://vocal.media/fiction/dash-point Cover photo by Quaid Lagan and licensed through Unsplash.

Jon reads "Outside Mission Parameters," a story based on the final journey of the Space Shuttle Challenger and told from the perspective of pilot and astronaut Michael J. Smith. View the original story on Vocal to read along: https://vocal.media/fiction/outside-mission-parameters Cover photo by NASA and licensed through Unsplash.…

Jon reads "Hunting Shadows," a tale of action and suspense inspired by Tiger King and the Zanesville Animal Massacre. View the original story on Vocal to read along: https://vocal.media/fiction/hunting-shadowsCover photo by Geran de Klerk and licensed through Unsplash.

Jon reads "King of the World," a post-apocalyptic tale of survival in the American plains. View the original story on Vocal to read along: https://vocal.media/fiction/king-of-the-world-daxp8e06yoCover photo by Stefano Valicchia and licensed through Unsplash.

Stephen (briefly) steals the spotlight from Jon to introduce their podcast. Want to get ahead on the reading list before the next episode? Check out Stephen's Vocal profile for the full list of stories featured on this podcast: https://vocal.media/authors/stephen-a-roddewig