Not About Lumberjacks

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Christmas Miscellany 5

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A gold glitter Christmas tree ornament hangs from a branch. Blurred background. Text: Christmas Miscellany 5. Written by: Christopher Gronlund. Narrated by: Christopher Gronlund and Cynthia Griffith.

Four stories, most of which take place during the holiday season…

  • “Stories of Fine Taste”: The stories behind two recipes (“Grandma’s Olive Loaf” – Something wicked is back in Kirkland’s Holler) and (“Fred’s English Muffin Garbage Pizzas” – A young boy finds out what’s behind a mysterious door).
  • “Reply All”: Cheryl’s not standing for office gossip about her and a co-worker.
  • “Drifted”: A character from the second Christmas episode ends up stranded on a mountain with something more naughty than him… (Listen to the last story of this episode if you need a reminder of a naughty little boy…)

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Credits:

Music: Theme – Ergo Phizmiz. Story – Frizz Oli, Earle Belo, Golden Fern, Howard Harper-Barnes, Martin Landström, and pär licensed from Epidemic Sound.

Story: Christopher Gronlund

Narration: Christopher Gronlund. and Cynthia Griffith.

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Behind the Cut – In Cypress Slough

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Left side: A cross section of a tree in grass. Text: Behind the Cut - The Not About Lumberjacks Companion. Right side: A painting of an ivory-billed woodpecker. Text: In Cypress Slough - Commentary By Christopher Gronlund

“In Cypress Slough” includes two gay characters, but it’s not a story about being gay in East Texas.

In this behind-the-scenes look at the latest Not About Lumberjacks story, I talk about representation, the stories I’d never write (and why), and how I approach writing disenfranchised characters who have experienced lives I can only imagine.

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Links to some people and things mentioned in this episode:

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In Cypress Slough

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Painting of an ivory-billed woodpecker head. Text reads: In Cypress Slough Written and Narrated by: Christopher Gronlund

Two deadhead loggers find something remarkable in the Piney Woods of East Texas, putting them at odds with a large timber company.

Content Advisory: In Cypress Slough deals with bullying, violence (including gun violence), homophobia, the destruction of wildlife and habitat, structure fires, mention of suicide, and swearing. Also, if you’re driving: be aware there’s a scene with approaching emergency sirens and one LOUD jump-scare (a gunshot).

Mitch Todd’s Andromeda Factory trailer.

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Credits:

Music: Theme – Ergo Phizmiz. Story – River Foxcraft, licensed from Epidemic Sound.

Story and Narration: Christopher Gronlund.

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Behind the Cut – Calling Out of Time

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Left side of image: Rings of a cut tree in grass. Text on the tree rings reads: "Behind the Cut. The Not About Lumberjacks Companion." Right side of image: A glowing phone booth on a quiet city street at night. Text: "Calling Out of Time. Commentary by: Christopher Gronlund."

“Calling Out of Time” started with a tweet. Without a random thing I saw on Twitter, it’s unlikely this story would exist.

Ideas are everywhere if you’re open to them, but it’s not as easy as picking them out of the air — it helps to know which ideas are worth working through vs. those best ignored.

While there is an effort involved in writing any story, ideas aren’t so hard when you know the one simple test I talk about in this behind-the-scenes look at the latest Not About Lumberjacks story…

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Calling Out of Time

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A glowing phone booth on a city side street at night. Text: Calling Out of Time Written and Narrated By: Christopher Gronlund

What would you do if you could call back in time and leave a message to your younger self?

When Amir discovers a phone booth that seems to magically appear on the corner in his neighborhood, he does everything he can to change the worst thing that ever happened to him and his family…

Also, I mentioned that I’d leave a link to Jennifer Moss’s novel, TOWN RED. Here it is!

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Credits:

Music: Theme – Ergo Phizmiz. Story – Gabriel Lewis, licensed from Epidemic Sound.

Story and Narration: Christopher Gronlund.

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Behind the Cut – Christmas Miscellany 4

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This year’s annual Christmas episode was anchored by a story based on real life. But what is “real life” when it comes to stories — even those claiming to be true? I discuss how fiction and truth have a way of coming together to create even greater truths in the process of their mingling.

Also, I chat a bit about 2021 plans for Not About Lumberjacks…

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Christmas Miscellany 4

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For the fourth year in a row, it’s a handful of stories (five, in fact) to make your holidays merry and bright! This year’s lineup:

Tracks – A tale of drifting teenage friendship.

Homecoming – Callan returns home for his annual visit with his father.

The Last Wish – If a genie grants you three wishes, and the first two don’t work out as planned, what should you do with the third?

Monkey-Wrenching Suburbia – A story about misplaced teen angst in 80s suburbia.

Christmas in Kansas – Most people reach an age when they recognize their parents’ flaws. Is it a gift, or a curse?

Blooper Reel – Yep, you read that right! Stick around until the very end for a gift many have requested.

Content Advisory: Some swearing, family loss, alcohol consumption, vandalism, divorce, and minor gore.

Also, I mentioned that I’d leave a link to Jennifer Moss’s novel, TOWN RED. Here it is!

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Credits:

Music: Theme – Ergo Phizmiz. Story – Johannes Bornlöf, licensed through Epidemic Sound.

Stories: Christopher Gronlund.

Narration: Christopher Gronlund.

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The Cold of Summer

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Four strangers come together when they contract a mysterious illness from an old woman in line at a pharmacy.

Content Advisory: This story deals with illness, including mentions of COVID-19. It’s also not without moments of anxiety, regret, abandonment, nightmares, and even death. I know that makes it sound like it’s a rough tale, but this is still a story of hope.

Oh—and just like almost every episode—there’s some swearing…

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Credits:

Music: Theme – Ergo Phizmiz. Story – Oscar Colling, Ethan Sloan, and Sionya (featuring Emmi), all licensed from Epidemic Sound.

Story and Narration: Christopher Gronlund.

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Behind the Cut – Pepper

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My good friend, Curtis Hart, requested this episode. He wanted to know why sometimes I tease an episode…only to release it much later — sometimes even releasing multiple episodes before it.

He gets his answer in this behind-the-scenes look at what goes into an episode of Not About Lumberjacks.

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Pepper

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A father returns as a reincarnated, talking dog in an attempt to make amends with his estranged son.

Content Advisory: Language, some [gloriously] crude humor, and discussions about the death of a family member from cancer. Yeah, Pepper dies, so it’s technically a dead-dog story…but it’s the protagonist’s dad.

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Credits:

Music: Theme – Ergo Phizmiz. Story – Chad Crouch.

Story: Christopher Gronlund.

Narration/Voices: Christopher Gronlund, Rick Coste, Cynthia Griffith, and Mandie Coste.

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