An audio collection
of five short stories.
Written and read by S. Pearl Sharp.

Directed by Iona Morris
CD (2 discs):

$14

Miss Lily finally decides to marry the man who has been her “steady” for forty years. But has he changed his mind? Music by Florence Price, performed by Althea Waites. With a poem by Ruth Forman, read by Teddy Angelo Robinson. (28 min.)

A bride-to-be flirts with Death in a dream, then faces wide-awake consequences. A mystery. Music by Derf Reklaw, with a poem by Lucille Clifton, read by Iona Morris. (26 min.)

Edgar makes his living writing jingles, but one writing assignment challenges him beyond his imagination. Music by William Roper, with a poem written and read by Bernie Casey.

A former activist makes a surprise visit to the site where she had volunteered in the Civil Rights Movement decades earlier. Music by Damu Vusha, with a poem written and ready by Tamara Smiley Hamilton. (25 min.)

A young wife refuses to attend her husband’s funeral. A love story. Music by Bruno Martino, performed by S. Pearl and Michael Ligon, with a poem by Faythe Bell Sharp. (27 min.)

This collection of stories is inspired by a line from folklorist Zora Neale Hurston. For dramatic impact I cheated a little, editing the lines to “Death….bowed …and left us to act out our ceremonies over unimportant things.” Read the actual passage in her insightful autobiography Dust Tracks On A Road (1942). www.zoranealehurston.com

Written, read and edited by me. My stellar production team includes:

Iona Morris, director
Dave Fennoy, recording engineer
Mark Maxwell, music recording engineer
Roy Hurst, post-production audio engineer
Mark Maxwell, announcer
Beverly Hawkins Hall, logo artist
and special appreciation to KPFK Pacifica Radio in Los Angeles

Produced in collaboration with Rise.

I’m deeply grateful for the family of writers who helped me grow these pieces, contributing insight, sensitivity and truth, in Nancy Padron’s Back Porch Fiction Workshop, Ruth Forman’s Flow Workshop, workshops led by Leslie Schwartz and by Anthony Lyons, and the after dinner readings at Hedgebrook. I’m awed by the divine writing space given by Hedgebrook women writer’s retreat. And I thank the late Vince Cannon for believing so strongly in the work.

Having this caliber of musicians and poets mingling their art with mine is a serious blessing! Deep honoring to Mark Maxwell for offering his perfect guidance with grace, appreciation for technical support to Mike Varela and the SAG DLF Voiceover Lab, and KPFK-FM Pacifica Radio.

Bunches of praise songs to my director and coach, Iona Morris, whose fierce spirit and awesome ear took me places I had no intention of going to, but needed to get there.