Anklecast 85 - Artificial Christmas

When Chris and Jessie became empty-nesters, they were finally able to take that big vacation they'd never tried when the kids were still around. On a beach in Tahiti on Christmas Eve, they saw a very famous person, and couldn't understand what he could be doing here instead of harnessing his team and setting out on his annual journey. Little did they know that this was just the beginning...

Afterward, Rish and I talk about the story and the possibilities that artificial intelligence may bring to all of our lives.

As usual, special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the music.

You can find the story on the podcast feed or download by right-clicking HERE. Or, you can just hit the play button down below and listen here and now!

Anklecast 84 - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) Part 2

It's part two of Separate Ways (World's Apart)! Something weird is going on for Kurt. He was blindsided by his wife, who announced she wanted a divorce. She then ran out the door when their daughter, Corley, came down the stairs asking what was going on. Corley didn't take the abandonment well. She lost all control, and Kurt had to intervene to keep her from getting run over as she chased her mother's car down the street...but something weird happened. The next morning, his wife was back, and more pleasant than ever. It didn't make sense, but what could Kurt do?

Afterward, Rish and I talk about the story, and just what to do with the conundrum of splitting long stories into pieces. You know, your comments on the matter would be greatly appreciated!

As usual, special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the music.

ou can find the story on the podcast feed or download by right-clicking HERE. Or, you can just hit the play button down below and listen here and now!

Anklecast 83 - Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) Part 1

Kurt's life has been going downhill, but he wasn't even quite aware of it...that is, until his wife came home from work one day, packed a suitcase, and said she wanted a divorce. His daughter didn't take the abandonment well, and, well, things got weird...

Afterward, Rish and I talk about the story, why I made some of the decisions that I did, and whether this one counts as a Christmas story or not...

As usual, special thanks to Kevin MacLeod for the music.

You can find the story on the podcast feed or download by right-clicking HERE. Or, you can just hit the play button down below and listen here and now!

Anklecast 82 - Pre-Owned (Part 2)

It's the September episode of The Anklecast! Today we have the conclusion to my story called "Pre-Owned." Clint is trying to sell his old car off...except something keeps going wrong...he can't seem to figure out what it is, so he makes sure to come along on the test drive...and that's when the craziness begins!

Afterwards, Rish and I talk about the story, including a lot of the stuff that wasn't recorded last time around. Hopefully this episode is a little more satisfactory.

As always, thanks to Kevin McCleod at incompetech.com for the music.

You can find the story on the podcast feed or download by right-clicking HERE. Or, you can just hit the play button down below and listen here and now!

Anklecast 81 - Pre-Owned (Part 1)

It's the August episode of The Anklecast! Today's story is called "Pre-Owned." It's about a guy named Clint who is still driving the old beater that his parents got for him when he turned sixteen. It's having a pretty deleterious effect on his love life, however, because the car is the ultimate turn off. He's saved up for years, and now he's ready to upgrade. He just has to sell his old car off...except something keeps going wrong...

Afterwards, Rish and I talk a little about the story...it would have been more, except somebody messed up when hitting record the first time around. That guy ought to be smacked. That's all I've got to say.

As always, thanks to Kevin McCleod at incompetech.com for the music.

You can find the story on the podcast feed or download by right-clicking HERE.

Anklecast 80 - Dr. Claw

Today, I have a story that I wrote back in 2014 as part of a live-blogging story event. It's called Dr. Claw, and it comes from the premise "Despite being warned about them, someone plays a claw vending machine game...and wins big." We get to hear the story of Brody, what the claw machine game had for him, and what he did with his winnings. Afterward, Rish and I talk about the story, and how hard it is to share your work as a writer and not take comments too much to heart.

You can find the story on the podcast feed or download by right-clicking HERE.

Anklecast 79 - Black Angel

It's time for an all-new story. In this one, Pete comes upon some misfortune. His girlfriend, Cindy, in an effort to cheer him up, buys him a revenge crystal from a local shop. But then the revenge crystal turns out to work all too well...

Afterward, Rish and I talk about the creation of this story, how it came to be and how it holds up all of these years later.

You can find the story on the podcast feed or download by right-clicking HERE.