I long to see the solan-goose
Wing over Ailsa crag
At dusk again—or Girvan gulls at dawn;
To see the osprey grayly glide
The winds of Kamasaig:
For grayness now my heart is set upon.
The grayness of sea-spaces where
There's loneliness alone,
Save for the wings that sweep it with unrest,
Save for the hunger-cries that sound
And die into a moan,
Save for the moaning hunger in my breast.
For grayness is the hue of all
In life that is not lies.
A thousand years of tears are in my heart;
And only in their mystery
Can I be truly wise:
From light and laughter follies only start.
I long to see the mists again
Above the tumbling tide
Of Ailsa, at the coming of the night.
There's weariness and emptiness
And soul unsatisfied
Forever in the places of delight

A Thousand Years Of Tears

Narrated by Tom Newton. "The zodiacal light is very faint and so are we, from hunger, a hunger for the stars, the stars we can never reach. Yes, it is faint and so are our hopes, but that doesn’t matter if we enjoy the standing and reaching, on the shoulders of our friends, on a ladder, on chairs piled on chairs. We are nearer the stars that way." 

Like a few gems in one's palm, here are several very short fictions that explore, from angles you've never seen before, the signs of Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo...

The Zodiacal Light

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:
In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Deirdre Simon Dore. Deirdre is the author of A Reluctant Mother. A Reluctant Mother is a finalist for the 2025 Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize. In this epiosde, Deirdre how she came up with her protagonist, Frida. She also talks about why she wrote about memory and the perception of reality through Frida's story.

To find out more about A Reluctant Mother visit: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/project/a-reluctant-mother/

To view the 2025 BC and Yukon Book Prizes shortlists: bcyukonbookprizes.com/2025/04/10/bc-…sts-announced/

ABOUT DEIRDRE SIMON DORE:

Deirdre Simon Dore is a Canadian writer. Her short fiction has won, among other awards, The Journey Prize and has been published in numerous journals and translated into Italian. Her plays have been produced in Vancouver and Calgary. Originally from New York and a graduate of Boston University, she has an MFA in creative writing from UBC. After homesteading on a remote island in BC, she moved inland where she acquired a woodlot license on which she planted trees and learned to use a chainsaw. She lives near a large lake in the interior of British Columbia with her husband, black lab and assorted livestock. She has two children.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:
Megan Cole the Interim Executive Director for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based on the territory of the Tla'amin Nation. Megan writes creative nonfiction and has had essays published in Chatelaine, This Magazine, The Puritan, Untethered, and more. She has her MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King's College and is working her first book. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

S7 E5:  Deirdre Simon Dore on why we need messy and complicated protagonists

Praise for Joanna Hickson:

‘An intriguing tale, told with confidence’ The Times

‘Rich and warm’ Sunday Express 

 Will his ambition be her destiny or her downfall? 

When Isabel Williams is betrothed to John Seymour, Lord of Wolf Hall Manor, she hopes that love and respect will come, despite his cold streak of ruthless ambition.

Jess the shepherdess tends her flock on the wild spaces of Avebury close by, dismissing those who believe it is work for men. Forced to flee after falling under suspicion for the disappearance of a young man, Isabel’s offer of life with the growing Seymour family is the only refuge available to her.

As John’s ambition draws them into the orbit of the divided court of the young King Henry VI, his hunger to succeed takes on a darker edge. Isabel realises her husband will pay any price to get what he wants, even if it means destroying those he has sworn to protect…

The House of Seymour, By Joanna Hickson, Read by Clare Corbett

Type On Paper - 15.07.25

The instant No.1 Sunday Times bestseller! 

The gripping and exciting first book in a brand new crime thriller series from the international sensation Karin Slaughter. 

 'A thriller of breadth and depth—a powerful and gripping read' Shari Lapena

'Explosive from the very start' Cara Hunter

'This is a huge novel with an even bigger heart' Jane Casey

'Karin Slaughter is always a must read' Harlan Coben

‘A dark, shocking and visceral story … Absolutely brilliant’ Janice Hallett

'Powerful, beautiful, brimming with heart and grit – an astonishing novel. I adored it' Andrea Mara

***

Welcome to North Falls. A small town where everyone knows everyone. But nobody knows the truth.

Emmy Clifton has lived here all her life. She thinks she knows her neighbours. She's wrong.

She thinks it’s just another hot summer night: a night like any other. She's wrong.

When her best friend's daughter asks for help, she thinks it’s just some teenage drama. She thinks it can wait. She’s never been more wrong in her life.

As the town ignites in the wake of the girl's disappearance, Emmy throws herself into the search. But then she realises: You never really know a town until you know its secrets.

Is Emmy ready for the truth?

***

'Karin absolutely nails small town America with complex family lives filled with secrets and paranoia' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review

'Brilliant, heart-breaking, tense, disturbing and another impossible to put down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review

'A compelling and intricately woven thriller that will keep readers hooked from start to finish' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ reader review

We Are All Guilty Here, By Karin Slaughter, Read by Kathleen Early

Check out this week's discussion with Brad and Ro and thanks to follower Loki Jarson for suggesting the topic. We explore the concept of 'Death of the Author' in this deep dive where it's postulated once a work of art is out, it no longer belongs to the author. We explore the idea that the consumer attaches meaning to said project and that the author's original intent is no longer valid. Does it apply to long standing franchises like Star Wars where the original author is no longer in charge of the message? Do new authors need to refer back to the original text to formulate new stories? If they don't what may or may not be missing? We get into the weeds on this. Another Scarif deep dive. We hope you enjoy it. 

Got any thoughts on this episode? Reach us at ScarifScuttlebutt@gmail.com and tell us what you think. Enjoy this episode and remember, interact with us and the rest of the Red5Network, wherever you find your other favorite pods. 

EP227 Death of the Author

Alternately titled The Dying Ground

Similar track https://soundcloud.com/greggyguitar/journey-through-darkness-2007
Merch @ gregblock.printify.me

Sol 2007

Running from Shadows by Tony Gibbs
All rights reserved © ℗ 2025 Tony Gibbs

Running from Shadows performed by Cadence Road

Huge fan of progressive rock from the 70s and 80s. Had fun generating this with SUNO. Enjoy!

Menagerie

This upbeat, sophisticated track features a melodic trumpet lead over a smooth, groovy rhythm section, perfect for cultural and literary TV programs, magazine shows, or radio segments. The composition combines a catchy groove with elegant harmonic textures, creating an inviting and intellectual atmosphere. Ideal for intros, outros, transitions, or background music that needs to convey creativity, curiosity, and refinement.

Trumpet of Knowledge (32s)

ABOUT THIS EPISODE:
In this episode, host Megan Cole talks to Shari Green. Shari is the author of Song of Freedom Song of Dreams, which is a finalist for the 2025 Sheila A. Egoff Children’s Literature Prize. On the episode Shari talks about why she loves writing novels-in-verse. She also talks about the way protest music inspired her book.

To find out more about Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/project/song-of-freedom-song-of-dreams/

Find the classical playlist to pair with Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://sharigreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/playlist-1.pdf

Find the modern playlist to pair with Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams here: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://sharigreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/playlist-2.pdf

To view the 2025 BC and Yukon Book Prizes shortlists: bcyukonbookprizes.com/2025/04/10/bc-…sts-announced/

ABOUT SHARI GREEN:

Shari Green is the author of several novels in verse, including the ALA Schneider Family Book Award winner, Macy McMillan and the Rainbow Goddess. Her books have been included on international “best of” lists and nominated for multiple state and provincial readers’-choice programs. Shari is also a poet, musician, and former nurse. She can often be found wandering the beaches or forest trails near her home on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

ABOUT MEGAN COLE:
Megan Cole the Interim Executive Director for the BC and Yukon Book Prizes. She is also a writer based on the territory of the Tla'amin Nation. Megan writes creative nonfiction and has had essays published in Chatelaine, This Magazine, The Puritan, Untethered, and more. She has her MFA in creative nonfiction from the University of King's College and is working her first book. Find out more about Megan at megancolewriter.com

ABOUT THE PODCAST:
Writing the Coast is recorded and produced on the traditional territory of the Tla'amin Nation. As a settler on these lands, Megan Cole finds opportunities to learn and listen to the stories from those whose land was stolen.

Writing the Coast is a recorded series of conversations, readings, and insights into the work of the writers, illustrators, and creators whose books are nominated for the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. We'll also check in on people in the writing community who are supporting books, writers and readers every day. The podcast is produced and hosted by Megan Cole.

S7 E11 Shari Green, author Song of Freedom, Song of Dreams, talks about how she learned that novel writing could be a refuge

The Trial of Katterfelto - Michael Redhill

"Song-Reading Version" is a lyrical voyage across uncharted waters of the mind — a meditation on treasure, knowledge, and the stories that shape us. With imagery of ships, smugglers, and krakens lurking in the deep, it blends the spirit of a sea shanty with the intimacy of spoken word. The piece invites listeners to embark on a metaphorical journey where each page turned and each wave sailed reveals the fleeting yet eternal treasures of thought, memory, and imagination.

Treasures Untold hip-hop

Donna Tartt likes Stories. 
Video and speech sampled from Charlie Rose's 1992 interview with Donna Tartt

Stories

We Still Have Sky

Tomorrow

Pick a Colour: A Novel - Souvankham Thammavongsa

On February 19, 2025, we held our Big Texas Author Talk featuring Joaquin Zihuatanejo, moderated by Natasha Carrizosa.

Starting from long-form works of literature by straight, white men, Joaquín Zihuatanejo occupies their pages, erasing words and sections, leaving only his poetry behind — the white space that remains becoming colonized Brown verse.

Occupy Whiteness is an act of rebellion that reclaims spaces and highlights a history of erasure of Brown life. An unflinching look at the present day, the collection is haunted and blessed by the image of ancestors who braved the river and desert to travel into border states for the opportunity of freedom. These are poems meant to agitate and create unease, to make the reader realize that neither their author nor the immigrant children he describes are Other. Through poems and interspersed photography from the border, Zihuatanejo poignantly depicts this equally beautiful and brutal place we call home.

About the Author
Joaquin Zihuatanejo is a poet, spoken word artist, and award-winning teacher. Born and raised in the barrio of East Dallas, in his work Joaquín strives to capture the duality of the Chicano culture. He’s been called, “one of the most dynamic and passionate performance poets in the country, melding equal parts comedy, poetry, and dramatic monologue into a crowd-pleasing display of verbal fireworks… always thrilling, Joaquín’s hilariously manic presentation is full of compassion and nuance, never sacrificing substance for style.” Joaquin was a National Poetry Slam Finalist, a Grand Slam Spoken Word Champion, and HBO Def Poet, performing at universities, conferences and poetry slams all over the North America and Europe.

About the Moderator
Natasha Carrizosa is a vessel of the word – poet, writer, speaker, and teaching artist. Her grounding work is deeply rooted in her BIPOC living experiences, mindfulness, and truths. Author of mexiafricana, heavy light, and crown. Her work has been published in Manteca! – an anthology of Afro-Latino poets, CONTRA: Texas Poets Speak Out, The Ascentos Review, Learn Then Burn 2, defunkt & cutthroat magazines, R2: The Rice Review, huizache #9, and AfroLatinas and LatiNegras (Critical Africana Studies.)

The Big Texas Author Talk featuring Joaquín Zihuatanejo

(っ◔◡◔)っ ♥ Edinburgh community radio ♥

𝓵𝓲𝓼𝓽𝓮𝓷 𝓵𝓲𝓿𝓮: www.ehfm.live
𝓰𝓮𝓷𝓮𝓻𝓪𝓵 𝓮𝓷𝓺𝓾𝓲𝓻𝓲𝓮𝓼: hello@ehfm.live

Gemini Ink’s mission is to teach the craft of writing to people of all skill levels so they can bring their stories to life. As San Antonio’s writing arts center, we provide a supportive home for readers and writers of all levels through our online and in-person workshops and literary community. We believe everyone has a story and writing that story is powerful. Our strategic vision is to teach 12,000 people how to bring their stories to life by 2022.

Publishers of award-winning fiction and non-fiction audiobooks for adults and children. Listen to exclusive clips from our books and free audioook extracts here on Soundcloud.

The Strange Recital is an audio anthology of short fiction. We delight in perceptions of reality that warp and fold in unexpected ways. Each episode runs about 25 minutes and features a story by one writer, plus an author interview with a twist. For older episodes, visit our website.

Music Studio, covering any genre, any kind of artist.

Welcome to Writing the Coast! This is the weekly podcast where we chat with the authors and illustrators of the books who make up the shortlist of the annual BC and Yukon Book Prizes. On the episodes you'll hear host and podcast coordinator Megan Cole chat with the folks who are creating some of BC and Yukon's best books. We'll also check in with the literary community in our region. For more information about the BC and Yukon Book Prizes visit: https://bcyukonbookprizes.com/

ᗪEEᑭ ᗪIᐯEᔕ! GEEK TᗩᒪK! Honest discussions, weekly about movies with a concentration on a galaxy far, far, away, and other sci-fi or fantasy lore! Plus our #ScarifLIVE on #Youtube Saturdays. Proud member of @Red5Network! #WeAreRed5 #Red5Family

UK songwriter. Featured songs have been produced thanks to the talent of Cadence Road, Ryan Arthur, Donna Hazelton, Esther O'Connor, Tim O'Connor, Graeme Duffin, Sandy Jones, John Harley Weston, Kim Copeland, Erin Caldwell, Rachel Williams, Tim Buppert, Pete Dymond, Marcie Summers, Stuart Brayson, Buddy Hyatt, Jim Hyatt, Brian Fullen, Glen Duncan, Bob Britt, Wayne Killius, James Mitchell, Doug Grieves, and Ray Curtis. 

All music and lyrics © Tony Gibbs unless shown otherwise

New tracks tagged #Literary