Tag: fairleigh dickinson university

Episode 67 – No Regrets Anthology Reboot

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As we’re readying the release of our ten-year anthology this fall from Palm Circle Press, we’re rebooting some of the podcasts with improved audio so you can listen while you read.

Here’s our first ever tri-flip at Fairleigh Dickinson’s MFA in Creative Writing summer residency, featuring stories by Letisia Cruz, Tazio Ruffilo, and Heather Lang-Cassera.

Original artwork by Letisia Cruz inspired by her performance of Tazio Ruffilo’s story, “In Spite of Ourselves”

Keep an eye out for these No Regrets stories in the anthology, along with a special introduction from series creator, Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons, describing how this FDU show represents one of the core values of our series: Cooperation over Competition.  

NO REGRETS performed on August 14th, 2016

Fairleigh Dickinson University | New Jersey

“The First Tattoo” written by Letisia Cruz and performed by Heather Lang-Cassera

“In Spite of Ourselves” written by Tazio Ruffilo and performed by Letisia Cruz

“A Midwestern Purgatory” written by Heather Lang-Cassera and performed by Tazio Ruffilo

 

 

 

August 16, 2022 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , , , ,

Episode 53 – Stargazing

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Our first story transports us to Lake Sunapee on a summer afternoon. Sounds peaceful enough, right? Except, once there, we find the narrator and his brother plotting over how to bait a porcupine (read: wild turkey hunter). The afternoon of googling best practices for said task leads to an examination of fear and how similar we actually are to our furry, or spiky, friends.

Today’s podcast is a #throwbackthursday to 2015 and our inaugural show at Fairleigh Dickinson University’s summer MFA creative writing residency. Read for us here by his story partner Becky Fine-Firesheets, give a listen to “Ascension” written by Cory Johnston.

We are thrilled to share that Cory’s story was recently published by the Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Review.

Click here to read along.

Stargazing Storytellers

Right: Cory Johnston; Left: Becky Fine-Firesheets

Switching it up, our second tale considers a different type of stargazing in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. A not-so-glam neighborhood is overrun with Boardwalk Empire and Girls extras, leading our narrator to dream of how her messy, poop-dancing, newly adopted boxer Bear could become a dog legend. As nostalgia for a neighborhood not to return increases alongside her rent, she strives for happiness in spite of the big city working against its own residents.

Cory Johnston reads “A Bear is Born” written by Becky Fine-Firesheets.

Happy Birthday to Becky!! As well as a big congratulations for being awarded a 2020-2021 Pen Parentis fellowship for her story, “2021.”

“Ascension” and “A Bear is Born” were directed by Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons.

August 20, 2020 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , , ,

“Schooled” at FDU

What a fabulous show this weekend at the summer residency for Fairleigh Dickinson University’s Creative Writing MFA program!! After working together throughout July to develop their stories on the page, Tiffany L. Berryman, Andrew Condouris, and Eliot Schrefer took the stage Sunday morning, August 5th, to perform each other’s true-life tales inspired by the theme “Schooled.”

The tri-flip was directed by our own Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons and we couldn’t be happier by the ecstatic reception from FDU students, alums, and faculty in attendance.  Podcast of the live show coming soon. SUBSCRIBE today!

Left: Tiffany L. Berryman, Top: Andrew Condouris, Eliot Schrefer, Tiffany L. Berryman

Click here to see more pictures from the show. Learn more about our switched-up “Schooled” storytellers below!

Left: Eliot Schrefer, Top: Andrew Condouris, Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons, Bottom: Lovely FDU applause!

 

TIFFANY L. BERRYMAN is a former YES Network TV Personality who still believes in the mystical power of the curveball. A former publicist and high school English and creative writing teacher, she fancies herself an inspired-type with an insatiable thirst for knowledge. Now, as an educational consultant, Berryman relishes the opportunity to help others find their own authentic voice. She is the co-creator of www.mybookship.com  and has a Masters in Theology from Georgian Court University and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Fairleigh Dickinson University with a concentration in the Young Adult genre. Happily sharing her creative journey on social media as she writes the next chapter and tries to dispel the great myths of New Jersey.  And while she prefers her maltipoo, Merlin, to most humans, she promises not to bite if you follow her on twitter @TiffyInspired

ANDREW CONDOURIS has been writing since he was eight years old. One night, the stars in the sky mixed up with the city lights, and he wrote a little poem about it. Since that night, he has always been inspired by shadows and the strange beasts he finds there.

ELIOT SCHREFER is a New York Times-bestselling author and has twice been a finalist for the National Book Award. In naming him an Editor’s Choice, the New York Times has called his work “dazzling… big-hearted.” He is also the author of two novels for adults and four other novels for children and young adults. His books have been named to the NPR “best of the year” list, the ALA best fiction list for young adults, and the Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best.” His work has also been selected to the Amelia Bloomer List, recognizing best feminist books for young readers, and he has been a finalist for the Walden Award and won the Green Earth Book Award and Sigurd Olson Nature Writing Award. He lives in New York City, where he reviews books for USAToday. Visit www.eliotschrefer.com UPCOMING: His next novel, Orphaned, comes out 9/25!!

August 7, 2018 Post Comment Live Shows Tags: , , , , ,

Episode 42 – My First

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Give a listen to this alternate No, YOU Guess It?! version of our show featuring switched-up stories from students, faculty, and alums of Fairleigh Dickinson University’s MFA in Creative Writing program. Plus, our own Kelly Jean talks about her inspiration behind creating No, YOU Tell It!

These six stories, inspired by the theme “My First,” were written by Aminah Abutayeb, Hayden Bergman, Walter Cummins, Anthony Gramuglia, Amanda Ramirez,  and Gracelyn Weaver. But not in that order! Part of the fun is guessing who wrote what??

“Into the Rapids” artwork by Letisia Cruz. Click here to see more pictures and artwork from FDU’s “My First” show on our Facebook page. And please LIKE us while you’re there!

The stories – My First Plaster & J Sandwich, Sight, Travelers & Malibu, Into the Rapids, The First Time, and My First Failed Driving Exam – were recorded live on August 6th, 2017 as part of FDU’s summer writing residency.

 

September 18, 2017 Post Comment Podcast Tags: , , ,

Special No, YOU Tell It! “No Regrets” Show at FDU

Our own Kelly Jean Fitzsimmons was stoked to spend the week at Fairleigh Dickinson University working with the incredible students in *FDU’s low-residency MFA program in Creative Writing on how to read their fiction, nonfiction, or poetry with a little oomph (as we like to call it). She also produced a special No, YOU Tell It! show with a trio of alums from the program.

After an intense 10-day writing residency at the Florham campus in Madison, NJ packed with workshops, lectures, visiting authors, and a killer outdoor dance party – No, YOU Tell It! “No Regrets” (theme intentional) had the formidable time slot of 10 am on the final Sunday morning.

No Regrets collage

But switched-up storytelling knows no bounds as the crazy talented Heather Lang, Letisia Cruz, and Taz Ruffilo (pictured left to right in the top row) wrote and performed three amazing pieces, keeping everyone captivated down to the residency’s last moments.

Over the past month, the trio participated in intensive story workshops and rehearsals with Kelly Jean, and the final result both broke and warmed our hearts. A huge thank you to René Steinke and all of the brilliant faculty, students, and alums at FDU’s summer residency, especially our “surprise guests” at the show Renee Ashley and Patrick Joshua Laskey!

Want to bring a No, YOU Tell It! workshop to your school, organization, or office? Click here to learn more or contact us at noyoutellit@gmail.com.

*FDU’s low-residency MFA program in Creative Writing is ideal for students who want a more flexible academic schedule. Students attend two 10-day residencies each year, one in August at FDU‘s Florham campus in Madison, New Jersey, and one in January at the university’s Wroxton campus in Oxfordshire, England. Throughout the remainder of the school year, as they write and revise their creative work, students work one-on-one with their mentors and participate in online workshops. Click here to learn more about the program and how to apply.

August 15, 2016 Post Comment News Tags: , ,

Writing Residency at Fairleigh Dickinson Show

Last week, we were honored to do a No, YOU Tell It! show as part of the summer writing residency for Fairleigh Dickinson’s low-residency MFA program in Creative Writing.

No, YOU Tell It! “Stargazing” featured four alums of the program: Kahle Alford, Christopher Brown, Becky Fine-Firesheets, and Cory Johnston. They brought down the house with switched-up stories about an unexpected encounter at Comic Con, the limits of love, porcupines vs. wild turkeys, and an unfortunate ‘poop dance.’ Select audio from the evening will be available as part of our new NYTI podcast launching this fall!

Speaking of the Fall, SAVE THE DATE for NYTI “3 Strikes” on Sept 16th, 7 p.m. at Jimmy’s No. 43.

For this special edition, we are joining forces with The Literary Review, an international journal of contemporary writing published quarterly by FDU, to celebrate TLR’s new issue and the Brooklyn Book Festival. I am happy to announce that two of our switched-up storytellers are TLR greats:

Tim Waldron, the Online Fiction Editor of The Literary Review and author of the short-story collection WORLD TAKES published by Word Riot Press.

Kahle Alford, Associate Prose Editor of TLR who is back by popular demand after her amazing work both writing & performing in NYTI “Stargazing.”

They will swap nonfiction stories inspired by the theme “3 Strikes” with:

Jenn Wehrung, stand-up comedian and host of Laugh It Up, Astoria! 

Daniel Mahler, actor& co-founder of The Harborside Shakespeare Company

Want to keep up with all the No, YOU Tell It! happenings this fall?

Sign-up here for our monthly newsletter for info about upcoming shows, the podcast, and available workshops.

August 16, 2015 Post Comment Live Shows, News Tags: , , ,