In episode four of Short Wonder, author and lecturer Sofia Samatar shares her short story Broken Thorn, discusses the power of the oral literary tradition, her approach to outlining, and black forest gateau.

Sofia is an author and lecturer based in Virginia, USA. She has published two novels - A Stranger In Olondria and The Winged Histories - and the short story collections Tender and Monster Portraits. She’s been nominated for and won numerous awards for her work, including the World Fantasy Award for A Stranger in Olondria.

When she’s not writing, Sofia is teaching African literature, Arabic literature and speculative fiction at James Madison University.

Find out more about Sofia with these links:

• Sofia on the web
• Sofia on Amazon

Other links:

• Tayeb Salih, Season of Migration To The North on Amazon
• Kelly Link website
• Carmen Maria Machado website
• Amina Cain website
• Kate Zambreno on Amazon
• Christine Sharp website
• Teju Cole website
• Moyra Davey on Amazon
• Renee Gladman on Wikipedia
• Dione Brand on Amazon
• Title music Hey Man by Multiscreen
• Supported by Arts Council England

In episode three of Short Wonder, poet and life coach Ushmi Dosaja shares five poems and talks about the relationship between her writing and coaching practice, poetry as a document to exploring the unknown, and searching for "more than".

After a divorce in her mid-twenties, Ushmi set out on a journey to explore her own life choices and goals, examining authenticity, societal conditioning and self-realisation. She has qualifications in Humanistic Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Quantum Coaching and Eriksonian Hypnotherapy & Energy Re-Sourcing, all of which she employs in her coaching and writing.

Poems in this episode:

• Crumble To Create
• You Are A Force To Be Reckoned With
• I Choose Wonder
• Storied Cloaks
• Beyond The Play Of Light And Dark

Find out more about Ushmi with these links:

• Ushmi on the web
• Ushmi on Instagram
• Ushmi on Facebook

Other links:

• 'Bloom In Your Own Time' on Amazon
• Title music 'Hey Man' by Multiscreen
• Supported by Arts Council England

In this second episode of Short Wonder, writer and director Dan Horrigan shares his short story 'A Kiss From Back Home', and talks about his creative process, eighties pop music and "catching the fox".

With MAs in Theatre and Dramatic Writing, he’s as prolific on screen as he is off, frequently shifting from writer to director and back again, or taking time away from his production company to focus on literary fiction. His short film credits include Better Angels, Skin Jacker and Devotion.

'A Kiss From Back Home' is read by Annabel Wright.

Find out more about Dan with these links:

• Dan on Instagram
• Dan on Twitter
• SkyortheBird on Twitter

Other links:

• Annabel Wright on Spotlight
• Living Record website
• That 'Pilgrim' book
• Title music 'Hey Man' by Multiscreen
• Supported by Arts Council England

In this very first episode of Short Wonder, inter-disciplinary performance artist and writer Naomi Wood reads 5 poems and talks about her experiences as a writer and performer. Naomi is a regular at Poetry Brothel and appears on stages from festivals to intimate readings in Brighton, London and across the UK.

Poems in this episode:

1. Scooters & Cathedrals
2. Lockdown
3. Hibernation
4. Zoom Parties
5. Letter To A Girl Crying in The Other Car

Find out more about Naomi with these links:

• Naomi on Instagram
• Naomi on Facebook
• Naomi's website

Other links:

• Title music 'Hey Man' by Multiscreen
• Supported by Arts Council England