Stars On The Ceiling

by Tina McElroy Ansa

A woman describes how her father’s risky entrepreneurial endeavors kept her close-knit Southern family in flux.

Elna Baker

Elna Baker is a writer and comedian whose book The New York Regional Mormon Singles Halloween Dance was published by Penguin in 2009. She currently resides in New York.

To Russia With Love

by Elna Baker

A woman raised as a Mormon is terrified that her parents will disown her when she confesses that she has left the faith.

Amy Rood

Amy Rood is a librarian with a lot of hobbies. She likes improv, knitting, sewing, decorating, baking and cocktails... but her pole dancing days are over.

I Don't Do Sexy

by Amy Rood

Amy Rood thinks she can learn to be seductive if she takes a pole dancing class.

Don Ray Smith

Don Ray Smith, from Louisville, Kentucky, is a humorist, a journalist, storyteller. author of two very funny books and e-mailer of a weekly laugh column. He continues to pursue his lifelong dream of creating humor both for fun and virtually no money. To date, he has been wildly successful on both counts.

Wilson Avenue and the Land of No Return

by Don Ray Smith

A man reflects on the segregated neighborhood of his childhood.

Judith Benezra

Judith Benezra is a writer, actress and comedian in Los Angeles. She's a brickhouse with a baby voice and a poised klutz. Heroes: David Sedaris, Mae West and Golda Meir. Villains: sport hunters, Ann Coulter and Baroness Paula Von Gunther.

No Cheese Sandwiches

by Judith Benezra

A sardine sandwich teaches a girl an important lesson.

Jamaica Kincaid

Jamaica Kincaid's short fiction has appeared in The Paris Review and The New Yorker, where her novel Lucy was originally serialized. Her first book, At the Bottom of the River, was nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction. She lives and teaches in Vermont.

The Letter

by Jamaica Kincaid

A girl is sent to live with her aunt after the birth of her little brother.

Alisha Brophy

Alisha Brophy currently lives in Los Angeles, but you wouldn't know it from her cowboy boots and New York accent. Brophy's anecdotes often come via her backstory, which includes carnival work, barrel racing, and trapeze. She aspires to become a television writer and a vegetarian, but neither have happened yet.

The Model Couple

by Alisha Brophy

A woman is an unwitting witness to a prank show.

Gabe Bullard

Gabe Bullard is a journalist and news director at Louisville Public Media and WFPL. He's always happy to share stories of personal embarrassment with strangers.

Love At First Blister

by Gabe Bullard

A man is treated differently after getting a bad burn.

Giant Lizard Eating My Pants

by Jeff Simmermon

An American tries to prove himself on an Australian adventure.

A One Year Sentence

by Bobby Stoddard

A construction worker discovers the upside of his girlfriend’s one-year prison sentence.

John Crotteau

John Crotteau loves New York, lives in LA, and is on the production staff of Conan. His recorded jingles and podcast theme songs can be heard on his website.

Penitentiary

by John Crotteau

A young man faces the fullest extent of the law.

Ed Koch

Edward Koch (1924-2013) served three terms as Mayor of New York, from 1978 to 1989. Mr. Koch is the author of numerous books including his most recent book entitled The Koch Papers: My Fight Against Anti-Semitism. He is currently a partner in the law firm of Bryan Cave LLP, hosts a Friday evening call-in radio program on Bloomberg AM 1130 WBBR and lectures around the country.