Tag: trail reading

By on

I prepared this reading for the online book launch of Best Microfiction 2025. The story first appeared in the stellar flash fiction journal Wigleaf.

The reading is from the Indian Creek Trail at Giant City State Park in Southern Illinois. The caves along the bluffs there are referred to as shelter caves. The wildflowers are from Giant City (the black-eyed Susans) and the pink ladies are from the Quetil Trail near Alto Pass. The coyote is from Coyote Creek.

This version—complete with head bonk and head shake—was probably my 25th take. I had a good one from further back in a different section of cave, but something happened with my phone mic and I had no sound. Grrr!

I’ve said it’s handy I had a cave to film in, but really, the caves in the area inspired the story. I was at a local dive bar called Fuzzie’s one night—and understand I say dive bar with deep affection—and met a guy who literally was living in the caves south of the bar. Interesting dude.

Anyway, this video is 2 minutes long. I’d love to hear what you think of it!

By on

I read this story, A Mother Could Go Mad, in the wine cave at Walker’s Bluff, one of our local wineries. The additional footage of a doe and her fawn is from Coyote Creek, which wraps around Underhill, where my husband and I live.

The story first appeared in Tilted House.

The germ of the story was from a newspaper article about unusual circumstances surrounding the return of a young soldier’s body to his family. I hope you enjoy!

By on

Bluebeard’s Third Wife first appeared in Ghost Parachute, always a favorite journal for flash fiction. A huge bonus to Ghost Parachute is the artwork that accompanies each story. I love the creepy illustration from Kay Stedman of the bride!

Most of this video is about a year old. Oops. The reading is from Cliffview Park in Alto Pass. I climbed stone stairs from the bottom of the bluff almost to the top—would have been easier to start at the top, I guess. When people visit me from out of the area, Cliffview is one of my favorite places to bring them. It’s easily accessible. You park, get out, walk 10 feet, you are at the top of a bluff. The trail below the bluff is cool too. It’s an area that attracts rock climbers. They use ropes and hand holds, not stairs like I did.

Other footage is from Mt. Lemon, near Tucson, Arizona. The wolf at the beginning is a Mexican gray wolf at the Sonoran Desert Museum near Tucson. Tim and I were visiting son Will and his girlfriend Jensen. I hiked at Mt. Lemon with them, but Tim had messed up his knee and couldn’t hike.
The wildlife footage is from Coyote Creek. A HUNTING BOBCAT! How’s that for an amazing capture on trail cam?? And a young coyote.

I hope you enjoy!

By on

Snow day! This is like a Michigan snow down here in Southern Illinois today. And a great change from the ice storm we had just a few days ago that knocked out our power for 75 hours. Just pure snow joy!

I’ve been waiting for a snowy day to make this reading video. The first take was good—but a snowflake on the lens made it blurry. It took me another half a dozen takes to get it right. As good as I can do, anyway.

The bit in this story about the vehicle crash is mostly true. It’s a story I heard in a town where I lived for a couple years. I wanted to write it into a bigger story but every attempt failed. And then one day I was enjoying a solo lunch at a café, half-heartedly eavesdropping as writers tend to do in such environments, and I heard a woman giving her friend several reasons she was reluctant to break up with her boyfriend even though she knew the relationship wasn’t working. Bingo.

This is filmed in a section of the Shawnee National Forest near my house.

Here’s a link to the story: https://sleetmagazine.com/selected/ferrell_v12n1.html

By on

At the end of September, my husband Tim and I traveled to my home state of Michigan to visit my siblings on my mother’s side, and to meet cousins on my father’s side. From there, we took a two-day jaunt to the Upper Peninsula for my first look at Lake Superior. And then home through Wisconsin, where I visited my sister and nieces on my father’s side.

These are long-lost family. I’m adopted. This is birth family I’ve found and been getting to know over the past several years. I’ll have plenty more to say on this subject!

For now, though, here’s a trail reading of my story Crossing Over, from Ghost Parachute magazine.

This story is one of those that went quickly once I started writing it. Though this story took a tragic turn, writing fast as I did with this story is a blast! The narrator’s voice came through loud and clear, and I followed along.

The reading is alongside the Cedar River near the Cedar River Natural Area, Bellaire, Michigan. We stayed at a phenomenal Air BnB near there. I hope to stay there again my next visit north.

Additional footage is from, in order: 12 Oaks Vineyard (Carlyle, Illinois); foot bridges over the Kaskaskia River in central Illinois; Rocky Bluff trail near Devil’s Kitchen Lake in Southern Illinois; Falls of Rough, Kentucky.

I hope you enjoy!

PS – Tell me about your favorite bridges!

By on

I don’t know how I missed posting this reading here! It hit social media in June…

Doodles is an old one. It appeared in a journal called Cooper Street Journal, which is gone now, I think. It was a journal out of Rutgers University.

I filmed this in segments during our train trip home from Tucson, Arizona. So, you’ll see train stations in Temple, Fort Worth, and Dallas, Texas, and footage during the train trip, and in Sabino Canyon, Arizona. It was very windy at some of the locations!

Overnight train travel is an experience! I’m glad we did it, and I’d do it again. But it ain’t the cheapest way to go. We got a sleeper car, which I highly recommend if you will be over night. Also, since your dinner’s are included—and access to the first class dining car—that helps a whole lot.

I’m not sure where the story came from. It’s about going home when you aren’t sure you belong there and have been away a long time. And it’s about how much things change. And how some memories we cherish are simply forgotten by others.

By on

After the amazing Scarelastic Book Fair, I got up early for a morning hike at Fort Harrison State Park near Indianapolis before heading for home. I chose the Fall Creek Trail—good choice! I love running water, and a walk through the woods is always good for the soul.

I tried something different with the video. Since the trail was relatively smooth and level, I tried reading while walking. And filming—three things at once! Woo. I got a bit out of breath toward the end!

When I first started writing this story—from word prompts—I intended it to go a whole other way. I was thinking more Yellow Wallpaper-vibe but told from the antagonist’s point of view. The story did not go that way at all. The characters really took it over and set me straight about what was really happening. I’m satisfied!

I hope you enjoy!