Orastories – Original Short Stories cover art

Orastories – Original Short Stories

Orastories – Original Short Stories

By: Don McDonald
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About this listen

From the creator of the popular Litreading podcast comes a new collection of original short fiction.


Orastories are carefully crafted stories new short stories that echo the spirit of classic literature while venturing across time and place—from the distant past to imagined futures. Surprising, thoughtful, sometimes unsettling, these stories explore the enduring power of narrative in a world that keeps changing. The storyteller of old – just a tap away.


Orastories – the classic short story, reimagined for today.

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Don McDonald Art Entertainment & Performing Arts Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • A Chance of Death–an Original Short Story by Don McDonald

    A Chance of Death–an Original Short Story by Don McDonald
    Oct 7 2025

    While this story is purely fictional, it unfolds in the shadow of a real disaster—one that affected communities close to my own family in Asheville, where my mother, sister, and niece live. I want to express my sincere concern and empathy for those who were impacted. That said, this is not a story about the tragedy itself. It’s a tale of personal escape, buried secrets, and a woman who may have used chaos as cover for something darker—or perhaps something justified. The events are imagined, but the setting was chosen for its emotional weight, and I’ve tried to treat that weight with care.


    Author's Note

    Publishing this story has been one of the scarier things I’ve done in my life. Reading the works of others is far different than narrating a creation of my own. Honestly, I haven’t written fiction since high school—but I’ve always wanted to. I first published this on my Litreading podcast, but as I have now written more stories, I decided to give these stories their own stage, Orastories.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    27 mins
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