March 8, 2024

“Past Due” by Xperience J

“Past Due” by Xperience J

Underwhelmed by life and overwhelmed by disappointments, a 30-year-old writer and entrepreneur takes an introspective look at her life, and its shortcomings. Has her time come and gone, or is she simply a late bloomer? Meet Keena. She’s a 29-year-old, struggling artist/writer attempting to balance life as an entrepreneur while dealing with the everyday woes of working a 9 to 5. Keena explains why in life, there are no do-overs. Keena opens up a little bit more about both life and love…and how the two always seem to lead her down an unexpected yet very interesting path. Y’all still rocking with us? In other news, if you want to be a part of more shows like “Past Due”: Xperience J’s Black Audio Dramas Exist Database is NOW OPEN! https://bit.ly/blackaudiosinfo A Black Audio Drama: An audio…

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February 23, 2024

Dungeons and Damsels by Unchained Productions

Dungeons and Damsels by Unchained Productions

Dungeons & Damsels is a medieval fantasy sword and sorcery audio drama series by Unchained Productions. Episodes are stand-alone short stories of different characters throughout the same fantasy world. (Since each episode is very short, I’m posting several of them) In the Nurmi region, tavern entertainer Tarin uses magic to create illusions to tell his stories for coin, and finds he unwittingly auditioned for a different kind of gig.   Tavern server from Sylvanwood, Skeyo tells her companions at campfire how she discovered her innate talent reveals to her unexpected things, and brings unexpected danger. Running errands for a peculiar lord in Gardur, Tuntemus takes an unexpected journey into a strange realm. In a mountain monastery in remote Luostari, an acolyte of The Discipline is presented with a seemingly impossible challenge. And its solution, the…

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February 9, 2024

A Brief Legacy of Steve Schleicher

A Brief Legacy of Steve Schleicher

It is not often that The Fictional Cafe does a page to honor someone who has passed. But when a person like Steve Schleicher leaves this mortal plane, he deserves to have his accomplishments shared with the world, just one last time. So without further ado, a brief legacy of Steve Schleicher. Stephen Lloyd Schleicher was born on September 14, 1965 to James and Joan (nee Wiley) at St. Mary’s Hospital in Watertown, WI. He attended the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater from 1988 to 1990 where he obtained a Bachelor’s of Science in Education, in Social Studies Teacher Education. From 1996 to 1999, he attended the Aurora University where he obtained a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education and Teaching. He then moved to his hometown of Watertown and taught Government at Watertown High School for 25 years…

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January 26, 2024

Bulletproof Pt. 1-3, The Other Stories

Bulletproof Pt. 1-3, The Other Stories

If you could never be killed, how would you use your gift? Saving lives? Making a difference to mankind? Or would you join the Callaghan Brothers Space Circus and entertain the masses by being killed over and over again for your adoring fans? Immortal Audrey and Elastic girl, Kalinda, must escape from the Callahan Brothers Carnival, but how do you escape a circus in space? Roll up, roll up, we’re going into the abyss. Bulletproof Audrey awakes from a long bloody slumber and is tasked with bringing down the mastermind behind the space carnival that imprisoned and tortured her. Will she do as she is told, or will she enact the revenge she so desperately needs? Written by Joanne Askew (https://twitter.com/j_askew_author) Narrated by Erika Ventura (https://www.facebook.com/bioartsy/) Edited by Karl Hughes (https://twitter.com/karlhughes) With music by Andrew…

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January 12, 2024

“Mathilde 253” by Paul Knierim

“Mathilde 253” by Paul Knierim

It’s the year 2198. 92 years ago, the asteroid 253 Mathilde began humanity’s first interstellar mission with a crew of 200 people. Now accelerating through the Oort cloud at a millimeter per second per second, the descendants of the original crew have as yet no inkling of where the next 42 years of their lives will take them. The Asteroid 253 Mathilde is an asteroid from the main belt, discovered in 1885 and first visited by a human spacecraft in 1997. In the early 22nd century, with some help from advanced extraterrestrial technology, it was fitted with engines fueled by refined asteroid ore. Launched on humanity’s first interstellar mission, it has been accelerating ever since. Now 92 years into a 780 year journey, generations of inhabitants have come and gone in the colony built just below…

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December 22, 2023

A Fictional Cafe’s Christmas Episode! “God Rest Ye Merry Physicists”

A Fictional Cafe’s Christmas Episode! “God Rest Ye Merry Physicists”

A Fictional Cafe Christmas Adventure Like Nothing You’ve Ever Heard! On Christmas eve, a team of brilliant scientists hit a major breakthrough in their portal to another universe. They can’t imagine how dearly their curiosity will cost them when they decide to go through to the other side. You’re just seconds away from full immersion in your new favorite high-concept, original, and, it must be said: bonkers, audio drama. Strap in. Sci-fi and Christmas collide in our latest audio drama podcast! Follow a team of scientists on their quest to save the holiday season from a monstrous inter-dimensional threat. ‘God Rest Ye Merry Physicists’ was written and directed by Derek Toombs Ableman – Dino DeRosa Bachus – Derek Toombs Caffrey – Shelby Reynolds Danhke – Ray Alvarez Grace/Cashier – Isabel Barbato Crystal – Alexis Jackson Ableman’s Son – Shawn Murray Mrs. Ableman…

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December 9, 2023

“Witchever Path” by You and The Fans!

“Witchever Path” by You and The Fans!

Who hasn’t felt an emotional urge to tell a protagonist what to do at key moments in the story? “Don’t open that door!”“Take the overgrown path.”“Call for Help.”  We hear you. Witchever Path is an anthology series where your decisions effect the story. Our stories are based in America’s NorthEast, featuring characters finding themselves in the thick of the unknown while tackling issues like queer identity, gender, race, and spirituality. Stories often focus on the communities not typically seen in stories taking place in New England, and giving voice to the perspectives of those communities while uniting under some universal themes. And the supernatural happens. A lot.  To get a feel for what we do, start here: Witchever Path isn’t like a lot of audio dramas. We’re a fiction anthology series that allows you to help determine…

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November 17, 2023

“The Nest” by Other Stories Podcast

“The Nest” by Other Stories Podcast

We might be on the other side of Halloween, but that’s no reason why we can’t post a few more spooky stories! Presenting “The Nest” by Other Stories Podcast. No school. No parents. No way out. The disappearance of four single parents leads to an investigation by the children they leave behind. The youngsters are convinced that a sinister supernatural force is responsible. Jamie has been left a strange offering.Valerie has heard a screeching sound in the night sky.Raheem claims to have seen a creature with wings.Isabel believes that she knows the location of a ‘nest’. ACT 1 – JAMIE There’s something not quite right in Creekwood Pines. Jamie, a kid with far too much responsibility for a boy his age, returns home after a successful day playing truant to find his mother missing and his younger brother over…

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November 2, 2023

“Maeltopia” on Rusty Quill

“Maeltopia” on Rusty Quill

In honor of the spookiest of holidays only a few days away, here is Maeltopia, a horror and dark fiction podcast featuring interconnected series and stories set in the ever-expanding literary world, hosted by Rusty Quill.  Rusty Quill is an industry leading independent production company and podcast network. It was founded in 2015 and works to originate, find, develop, fund, produce and distribute exceptional media content around the world. “Marvin doesn’t have a shadow? Of course not. Marvin is the shadow.” – Helena The Great Darkness of 1999 left enigmatic structures and artifacts known as Obscuruum in its wake, casting a grim shadow over humanity. Years later, a mysterious organization called the Esoterium founds the Obscuary – a team of extraordinary individuals tasked with uncovering the secrets behind these sinister artifacts. Endowed with rare abilities, the…

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October 13, 2023

“The Secret Society” by Rachel Gonzalez

“The Secret Society” by Rachel Gonzalez

“The Secret Society of the Women’s Bathroom” ~ An Audio Arts Short Story One of the most innovative and interesting positions we’ve developed here at The Fictional Café is the Writer in Residence. We choose a poet and a fiction-writer every two years from among our contributors, creative people in whom we see great merit and potential. We hope our two Writers in Residence, who are chosen in alternating years, will help FC grow in new creative directions, and we’ve not been disappointed. Be sure to click over to the Residency link to learn more about our Residency Program, past and present.Since assuming her new position in January, Rachel Gonzalez most assuredly has met and exceeded our criteria. One of the most innovative and distinctive ideas she came up with was to chronicle her hike up and down…

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