38 episodes
Ursa Short Fiction Ursa Story Company
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- Arts
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3.7 • 214 Ratings
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We love short stories. Join authors Deesha Philyaw (The Secret Lives of Church Ladies) and Dawnie Walton (The Final Revival of Opal & Nev) for author interviews, book club discussions, and immersive short stories. We celebrate storytelling from some of today's most thrilling writers, with an emphasis on spotlighting underrepresented voices. (Photo credits: Vanessa German / Rayon Richards)
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Shows We Love: Black & Published
While we put the final touches on Season Three, we wanted to share an episode from another podcast that we think you’ll love: Black & Published, hosted by Nikesha Elise Williams.
On today’s episode, Nikesha’s guest is Dolen Perkins-Valdez, author of the historical fiction novel TAKE MY HAND. It's a story based on the real-life Relf sisters of Montgomery, Alabama, who were forcibly sterilized by the workers of a federal family planning clinic in 1973.
Subscribe to listen to more episodes from the latest season of Black & Published:
https://blackpublished.buzzsprout.com/
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That's a Wrap on Season Two! A Special Message from Deesha and Dawnie
Thanks to our guests, contributors, and listeners for a wonderful second season!
Help us fund Season Three of Ursa Short Fiction by becoming an Ursa Member:
https://ursastory.com/join/
You can also make a one-time contribution to help fund future episodes.
We’ll be back very soon — get email updates by signing up for our newsletter: https://ursastory.com/newsletter/
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What Denne Michele Norris Learned as a Writer and Editor
Deesha and Dawnie chat with Denne Michele Norris, editor-in-chief of Electric Literature and author of the forthcoming debut novel, When The Harvest Comes (Random House). She is also the first Black, openly trans woman to helm a major literary publication.
Norris discusses her approaches to both writing and editing, sharing insights for writers on working with editors. She also talks about the ways different genres — from fiction to essay to memoir — all require their own approaches. Norris asks questions of herself and of the work, aiming to edit “ethically and responsibly and [tell] a beautiful story.”
Support our show by becoming an Ursa Member: ursastory.com/join
Reading List: Stories and Writers Mentioned
Denne Michele Norris
McSweeney's 62: The Queer Fiction Issue
Food 4 Thot Podcast
"An Almanac of Bones" (Dantiel W. Moniz)
The Bluest Eye (Toni Morrison)
Everyday People: The Color of Life Anthology (edited by Jennifer Baker)
"Daddy's Boy" (Denne Michele Norris)
Jade Jones
Going To Meet The Man (James Baldwin)
Friday Black (Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah)
Milk Blood Heat (Dantiel W. Moniz)
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw)
What It Means When A Man Falls From The Sky (Lesley Nneka Arimah)
Difficult Women (Roxane Gay)
About the Author
Denne Michele Norris is the editor-in-chief of Electric Literature, winner of the 2022 Whiting Digital Literary Magazine Prize, where she is the first Black, openly trans woman to helm a major literary publication. A 2021 Out100 Honoree, her writing has been supported by MacDowell, Tin House, VCCA, and the Kimbilio Center for African American Fiction, and appears in McSweeney's, American Short Fiction, and ZORA. She co-hosts the critically acclaimed podcast Food 4 Thot, and mentors emerging writers of color with The Periplus Collective. Her debut novel, When The Harvest Comes, is forthcoming from Random House.
More from Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton:
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw)
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Dawnie Walton)
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Associate producer: Marina Leigh
Episode editor: Kelly Araja
Executive producers: Dawnie Walton & Mark Armstrong
Author photo: Hilary Leichter
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[Free teaser] Member Exclusive: Deesha’s 7-Figure Book Deal, Listener Questions
This week we’re excited to share a very special episode of Ursa Short Fiction — a Member Exclusive where Dawnie Walton chats with Deesha Philyaw about this week’s big news: Deesha has just signed a seven-figure book deal with Mariner Books for a new novel, THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF FIRST LADY FREEMAN, and short story collection, GIRL, LOOK. The novel is due out in 2025.
Enjoy this free teaser from our Member Exclusive episode. To access the full episode, become an Ursa Member: ursastory.com/join.
Links
Author Deesha Philyaw has a 7-figure deal for her next two books (Associated Press)
“Back Then” (Mike Jones)
Peach Pit: Sixteen Stories of Unsavory Women (anthology edited by Molly Llewellyn and Kristel Buckley)
Mariner Books
Rakia Clark
Punch Me Up to the Gods (Brian Broome)
More from Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton:
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw)
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Dawnie Walton)
Produced & edited by Mark Armstrong
Associate producer: Marina Leigh
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Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://ursastory.com/join -
Member Exclusive: Deesha’s 7-Figure Book Deal, Listener Questions
Thank you Ursa Members for your support!
This week we’re excited to share a very special episode of Ursa Short Fiction — a Member Exclusive where Dawnie Walton chats with Deesha Philyaw about this week’s big news: Deesha has just signed a seven-figure book deal with Mariner Books for a new novel, THE TRUE CONFESSIONS OF FIRST LADY FREEMAN, and short story collection, GIRL, LOOK. The novel is due out in 2025.
More from Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton:
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw)
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Dawnie Walton)
Produced & edited by Mark Armstrong
Associate producer: Marina Leigh -
Story: ‘What Got Into Us,’ by Jacob Guajardo
Deesha and Dawnie introduce “What Got Into Us,” a short story by Jacob Guajardo, performed by Vicki Valdeon.
The story is a candid look into queer adolescence, first loves, recklessness, and unbridled vulnerability. It was originally published in Passages North, and featured in The Best American Short Stories 2018.
Listen to the story, then stay tuned at the end for Guajardo in his own words, sharing how the story came together, and how he approaches the writing process.
Support our show and help fund future episodes: https://ursastory.com/join/
Reading List: Stories and Writers Mentioned
The Best American Short Stories 2018 (edited by Roxane Gay)
“I Only Did What Anyone Would Have Done” (Jacob Guajardo)
“Moonmilk” (Jacob Guajardo)
“Widowers” (Jacob Guajardo)
“Good News Is Coming” (Jacob Guajardo)
“The Seminar” (Jacob Guajardo)
“Two Queens Walk Out Of A Bar” (Jacob Guajardo)
Amy Hempel
Ocean Vuong
Garth Greenwell
About the Author Jacob Guajardo lives and writes in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His fiction appears in The Best American Short Stories 2018 and Small Odysseys: Selected Shorts Presents 35 New Stories, among other publications. He is the recipient of the 2020 Robert Maxwell Fellowship from MacDowell. He works from home as a Narrative Designer.
More from Deesha Philyaw and Dawnie Walton:
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies (Deesha Philyaw)
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev (Dawnie Walton)
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Performed by Vicki Valdeon
Associate producers: Marina Leigh, Ashawnta Jackson
Executive producers: Dawnie Walton & Mark Armstrong
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Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://ursastory.com/join
Customer Reviews
For the Love of Short Stories
I absolutely love this podcast and the beautiful behind the stories perspectives Ursa provides.
Love this!
Absolutely! This is something that I have been looking for. I love the interviews with the writers you’ve introduced. I’ve read most of the books over the summer and thoroughly enjoyed them. Please continue the great work you are doing!!
Nice and Flowy
This is honestly great to listen to while doing chores or work because it’s nice and flowy. It’s not to deep or traumatic. You get to imagine being part of the story and witnessing everything yourself. I highly recommend.