Hardy Coleman’s humorous and poignant poetry will surprise listeners with its combination of clever turns and wistful imaginings. Tragically, Mr. Coleman passed away before his interview and we are unable to share this wonderful poet’s voice and thoughts with our Story Discovery listeners. But like all good poetry, Hardy’s inner world and unique vo…

A chance meeting at a sportsbook in vegas turns out to be more than coincidence. After losing his marriage and some serious cash, can Ron turn it around? Find out in this short story by former sports journalist Matt Roberts. During the interview, Matt reveals his path to fiction writing and gives the lowdown on the high pressure art of sports writi…

What happens when you give a grilled cheese sandwich to the homeless man camped on your stoop in Manhattan? Lisa del Rosso unravels the true-life events that inspired this story and her unlikely journey to writing (and teaching) through theater. Lisa reveals the writing advice she gives her college students and may just help you discover that what …

Pennie Bisbee Walters exhibits bravery beyond measure, recounting her family’s harrowing journey as they struggle to understand and cope with their son’s drug addiction in this soul-bearing flash fiction piece. After the reading, Penny is no less forthcoming as she explores what it’s like to be a writer trying to truthfully, yet artfully, give a li…

Gorgeously lyrical epic poems written to our mothers are not often about our lovers, but Anna Kosiarek’s poem is exactly that and much more. During the interview, Anna speaks to theatre, dance, writing, self-discovery and the joy of change. Her unique writing advice applies across all art forms and her daily sketching practice will surprise and may…

You may revise your views on love, marriage, and the space between, after hearing Daneen Bergland’s profound excavation of these concepts with images and metaphors sure to jolt your imagination. After the reading, Daneen explores how art connects humanity and teaches us about the diversity of experience and observation so crucial to humans understa…

What’s a superhero sister to do when her brother, who happens to be a supervillain, has gone missing? High school student Olivia Liao’s imaginative story was pulled from her novel which she wrote and self-published for a class in school. After the reading, JW and TJ talk with Olivia about her very early literary career as well as her other skills i…

Can you teach yourself how to be a con man by reading the right books and watching the right movies? Well, maybe, if you have half a brain. Self-named friends, Slash and Dash, literally sledgehammer their way through their first con attempt in Debra Every's hilarious story. Debra not only writes memorable voices for her characters, she narrates her…

Recall the prehistoric days of 2004, traveling with a high schooler on her family vacation as they explore the American West. Their journey is fraught with strange weather, family dynamics, and lots of red rocks. The author goes on their own personal journey as the literal distance of summer trips becomes emotional distance between friends. Due to …

Experience the world through a mother’s eyes, looking back on life, love, and connections that grow deeper than roots. These poems express truth you’ll recognize in the core of your being. This week's guest, poet, teacher, and journalist, Marianne Tefft, provides fascinating insights and inspiration for the creative soul. Her poetry, rich with imag…

Cruelty, kindness, the everyday plight of humans and mythical beings, collide in this short story by John Mahoney. This is John’s second work published in Etched Onyx Magazine. Melissa and JW talk about John’s approach to writing stories and the unique circumstances of his situation. Although John was unable to participate in-person for the intervi…

Travel through a metaphoric landscape of playgrounds, gardens, and seasons to discover love, loss, and vulnerability. This week's creator and poet, Charlotte Pruett, takes us on a journey into her creative life, discusses writing poetry for generation Z, and does a deep dive into the loamy richness of her poems. If you’d like to read these works or…

An Italian funeral, undoing choices of the past, the multiverse, and more are manifest through space and time in the poetry of Andi Myles. After she reads her own works, Andi reveals how she coaxes creativity from her fingers (hint, it involves writing prompts) and has a goal of reaching 1000 submission rejections. You’ll also learn of the ways her…

Within the earth and beneath our feet lie the flesh and bones, the past, of everyone, of every thing, that has gone before us. Zoe Mize takes us on all too short a journey through the woods of loss with this flash fiction piece. WARNING this story includes references to suicide. During the interview Zoe discusses her penchant for writing personal e…

Find yourself immersed in this story of failures, collisions, and imaginary friends. Failures of mother and daughter to connect, collisions among parents, principals, and spouses, and the solace of imaginary friends (or imaginary lives.) Keilly Ulery’s story explores the protagonist’s faults -- which includes racism, among others -- and dares you n…

A statuette, a yellow teapot, a negotiation, and maybe a swindle, converge in this non-fiction account of a personal journey, battle, and discovery in Shanghai, China. WARNING, this story and interview contain references to incest, eating disorders, alcohol addiction, and thoughts of suicide. Alle C. Hall discusses the genesis for this story and op…

Grief and loss hit us all eventually. Prepare yourself for these emotionally packed poems of passing by Suzanna de Baca. Suzanna walks us through each poem and the related experience of grieving. During the interview we explore the difference between writing for business and writing to create, and Suzanna reveals the secrets of how she fits writing…

A vagabond, a coin-filled paper cup, and a homemade comb-kazoo collide to create this flash fiction piece that moves as quickly as stepping between train cars. After the story we talk with director-producer-writer-extraordinaire Gina Angelone about her journey into, and through, the creative arts. She reveals her art-making process and makes a call…

A story of curiosity, love, and implication spills from the curves and turns of an inherited landmark hotel spoon. Journey with the author as she explores the wonder and meaning of time, dreams, and humanity through all of their complexities and conundrums. After the reading we talk with Arlene Tribbia about the creative process, how some of her st…

A party, a bridge, a crash. Once Mystic Canyon has you, it keeps you. This excerpt from a work-in-progress novel by Peter Gooch will make you want to read more. We interviewed Peter in August of 2021 and recommend you listen to that show to get a sense of Peter Gooch the author, painter, and all around creative spirit. If you’d like to read this ex…

When a husband feels compelled to learn ice fishing, trying to be that father-figure for his son, bad things can happen. Travel onto the ice and experience the wonder of a lonely night sky and the father-son bond that makes adults do crazy things. After the reading, we talk with Chad Broughman about the spiritual nature of this story, his path to w…

On today’s show we hear A Selection of Poems by Claire Scott. You'll experience the world through paper doll gods and accidents, alcoholic mothers, and stressed therapists. You'll smile as you cringe at the introvert's funeral and laugh at the search for lost purpose. Afterward, we talk with Claire about how her work as a therapist led to emotional…

Red. Blue. Which are you? Journey with Chloe and Ashland as they search for lost relatives after the partition. What they discover might just change both of them, and you. After the reading Eric Diekhans talks about the historical inspiration for the story and how he's built confidence as a writer. He also reveals a writing resource you won't want …

What do you get when you mix a beat-down-silicon-valley-exile-turned-High-School-teacher and an attractive student with a dangerous proposition? You get Man-man by Bruce Overby. During today's show we talk with Bruce about the inspiration for this piece and his proclivity for writing about challenging societal topics and his focus on character in s…

Broken hips, sick calves, and the snake-like strike of COVID coalesce in this narrative poem before unwinding into grief and choice. After the reading, Cathy Hammond reveals the unfortunate circumstance that created this piece and the iterative process she went through to create it. You'll learn how she writes when inspiration crashes into her, and…

A midwestern woman takes a nine-month reprieve from her clockwork husband and average life to study cooking at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris. There she discovers sumptuous temptations beyond delicate pastries and French accents and embarks on a flight that leads to unexpected outcomes. After the story, award winning food writer, chef, and novelist, Mary …

Addiction, redemption, death and Greek gods will inhabit your soul after hearing these poems by one of our Fall Contest Honorable Mention winners, Meggie Royer. After the reading, Meggie reflects upon her struggles and personal journey revealed through these works. She also discusses her passion for helping others and the creation of a literary and…

Birds, the evaporation of time, and constellations are all featured in these poems of reflection by one of our Fall Contest Honorable Mention winners, Delaney Gray. During the interview Delaney reveals her passion for food, cooking, and capturing everyday moments in words. She’s a Nashville resident with a treasure trove of cookbooks, as well as in…

Today’s show features our Fall Contest Third Place winner, Tess is her Name, by Michail Mulvey. Prose contest judge Katie McDougall said “With a voice that sings with subtle characterization and musicality, the narrator suggests “in-between” lives of his neighbors below and above, ultimately illuminating his own lonesomeness, a pining for meaning a…

Funerals, lost companions, and complicated doctors feature in these poems of grief by our Fall Contest Second Place winner, Smeep. Poetry judge AM Ringwalt said “I was struck by the author’s playful command of sound and syntax in Funereal Dis-ease. Grief and the grotesque are repeatedly alluded to as the speaker almost sings through an uncanny—and …

Can a relationship built on movie-watching survive? Today’s show features our Fall Contest First Place winner, Rome, by all means Rome, by Kevin Broccoli. Prose contest judge Katie McDougall said “Rome, by all means Rome, takes the reader into the theater of a failing marriage, characterized by the couple’s obsession with the movies. The self-assur…

Today’s show is a special edition from our archives. One of our Fall 2022 Contest judges, AM Ringwalt, discusses poetry by Dennis Maloney as well as reads and unpacks her own work, Some People. These six poems by Dennis Maloney will take you from beaches to mountains to bedrooms. Lush with imagery and loss, we're sure you'll enjoy them all. After t…

Today’s show is a special edition from our archives. We hear the prologue for a work-in-progress by local Nashville writing fixture, and one of our Fall 2022 Contest judges, Katie McDougall. It’s Allison Bosch’s sixtieth birthday and she’s hiking a seldom-traveled ridge in the San Juan Mountains where her husband died sixteen years prior. What happ…

In a futuristic, post invasion Taiwan, a woman reflects upon beauty, lovers, and things that never change. Afterward we speak with author Juan Torregrosa (a multi-lingual interpreter) about this work and his experience of living in China for over 15 years, writing in non-native languages, and the hot and cold relationship he has with reading and wr…

Noodle is pleased to discover a ‘special’ born amongst the newest chicks. His older sister is even more pleased, knowing this will keep Noodle occupied as she seeks enlightenment without interruption. Follow these siblings on their individual journeys that coalesce into a singular discovery. After the reading we talk Ronly Blau about the various in…

On today’s show we talk with interdisciplinary artist, Skye Gilkerson. Her essay relays a personal journey revealing a parallel link between humanity’s connection with our planet and our bodies. During the interview, you’ll learn of Skye’s unique outlook on making both visual and prose art. She discusses burning her decades of journals as a form of…

After receiving repeated phone calls, messages, and inquiries asking to purchase her home, widowed Deloris sets out on a mission to deliver her own kind of justice to these phone spammers. What she discovers might surprise you. What she does about it reveals the true character of shrewd women. Afterward, we talk with Lynn about her previous work as…

Today’s show feature five poems by Elaine Sorrentino. Find release in your breath, know the pain of violence and choice, and wonder at the seduction of luxury and the lack of courtesy. Elaine’s poems range from lighthearted reminiscence to shadow filled rooms. Afterward, Elaine explores the inspiration for these works and shares the journey and joy…

When a new-to-the-neighborhood arrival receives multiple unstamped and wax-sealed letters, she embarks on a quest to reveal the true-identity of the author. Journey with her as she discovers the surprising truth. After the reading, we talk with Sarah Butkovic about her ongoing studies in English and her exploration of creative writing. More importa…

Today’s show is a special edition where we hear an excerpt from Fake, a novel by John DeDakis. In the era of “fake news,” when facts are suspect and reporters are targets, White House Correspondent Lark Chadwick is thrust into the midst of a media-bashing frenzy. Fake is a real-life look behind the scenes at the ethical struggles of a female journa…

Today’s show features a work of non-fiction by Larry Patten about his personal writing journey. You’ll laugh, curse, and commiserate with Larry as he walks you through some early-highs and later-lows. Afterward, we talk with Larry about lesson’s learned, the relationship of ministry to writing, and most importantly, about the first book that made h…

Not all choices are choices, and some result in devastating consequences -- on lives, on families, on relationships. After this flash fiction work, we talk with Gene Turchin about the germination of this story and its many iterations before landing at Onyx. Gene also espouses the benefits of writing every day and exploring multiple genres, includin…

Rose is itching to get home and let the pencil loose on the page, but a chance encounter with a street evangelist changes her trajectory. Will she get the chance to etch the contours of his skin, or does the universe have other plans? Afterward, we talk with James Roderick Burns about how everyday encounters become small moments of inspiration that…

Today’s show features a work of fusion by Brad Buchanan. Walk with Brad as he narrates a medical journey revealing interwoven links between life and poetry. Discover the unique medical battles he’s overcome only to face new challenges with his father’s strange symptoms. Afterward, we talk with Brad about the medical ordeal his life became, and how …

On today’s show we hear five poems by Sandra Newton. Travel to faraway lands with memories that are not your own. Know the challenge of creating verse from thought. Disappear like the memories of childhood, and laugh at the loss brought by aging. Sandra’s poems explore the experience of being human with all its wonders and regrets. Afterward, she s…

A co-ed middle school sleep over, filled with awkward boys and confident girls, leads to competitions, dares, and firsts -- pleasant memories that not even chocolate can destroy. During the interview, Francis Miller reveals the inspiration for the story, and how memoir-turned-fiction equals fun and creative story telling. He also elucidates his pat…

You’re sitting shirtless on the front porch with a coffee and no job. You imagine your self-loathing is seated beside you, awaiting your next dumb-ass move, ready to spin you further into derision. Does redemption await across the street, or is that another step toward alcoholism? After the story, we talk with Rebecca Cuthbert about her cobbled tog…

On today’s show we hear four poems by award winning writer and newspaper editor, Dana Yost. Escape into the woods. Laugh about the joke gone wrong. Discover solace in a lonely super power. Know the lure of obsession. Dana’s poems are raw and honest, as is his interview. After the reading, Dana shares details about struggles with an illness always j…

An unexpected visit by his father-in-law while his pre-teen daughter and friend are crafting ‘happy memory’ homework is enough to make Paul see phantoms of his dead wife. The question is, does anyone else see them too? During the interview we talk with Stephen Policoff about this chapter from his upcoming book, The Dangerous Blues, as well as his f…

On today’s show we hear five poems by Kimberly Thornton. Her works take you from soaring skies and intimate connections to dark places where death worms its way into your being. Afterward, we talk with Kimberly about how relationships are key to her writing and the importance of observation in understanding others and ourselves. If you’d like to re…