Episodes

  • In this edition of the podcast we're chatting with writer, folklorist and historian Amy Boucher about plans for more from the world of her folk horror audio drama The Best of Men which was originally broadcast on this podcast.

    If you would like to find out more about the project to make season 2 of The Best of Men and to pledge your support to the project via our kickstarter campaign you can do so here. Remember the campaign runs until 23rd May so please back it by then to enjoy our rewards and support our project.

    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/cgregory/the-best-of-men-a-folk-horror-audio-drama

    To listen to the first two episodes of the drama via this podcast’s archive please go to

    Part one https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/12499890-the-best-of-men-an-audio-drama-part-one

    Part two https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/12600423-the-best-of-men-an-audio-drama-part-two

    And to find out more about writer Amy Boucher and the folklore of Shropshire please follow her on X formerly twitter here https://twitter.com/g0blinegg

    Support the Show.

  • Following the loss of her father, Margo is trying to come to terms with bereavement and the unkindness of her classmates at school when she begins to experience some strange encounters. In this moving drama by Gemma Johnson, performed by members of the Creative Youth Company we explore Margo's journey towards recovery and the individuals and communities that help her.

    In Margo’s story by Gemma Johnson you can hear

    Margo: Sophia Horton

    Aggie: Aubrey Johnson

    Mum: Gemma Johnson

    Bev the Librarian/TV Narrator: Jade Taylor

    Kelly: Millie Millington

    Kelly's Friend: Millie Dyson

    Daz: Charlie Woodhouse

    Daz's Mate 1: John Paul Harrison

    Daz's Mate 2: Shaye Williams

    Mr Bradley: Chris Gregory

    Simon: Michael Johnson

    Auntie Pat: Sehra Hussain-Choudhry

    The sound effects for Toby were provided by Poppy Sue the labrador

    Margo’s story was Recorded on location at St Martin's Church, Castleton. Greater Manchester.

    The cast of young actors are members of the non profit group The Creative Youth Company: [email protected]

    Margo's story is based on an original script by Gemma Johnson

    The audio drama was directed by Chris Gregory and Gemma Johnson

    Production, sound design and editing were by Chris Gregory for Alternative Stories

    Gemma Johnson is co-founder of a non profit organisation that supports children and young people with paranormal education. To find out more please visit the website: www.juniorparanormalevents.co.uk or email [email protected]

    We would like to thank everyone who generously backed and supported this project via our fundraising campaign or through offering their time and expertise.

    The script for Margo’s Story is copyright Gemma Johnson and may not be copied or reproduced in whole or part except with the permission of the author.

    Support the Show.

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  • Camlann is the new audio drama from Tin Can Audio written by Ella Watts. In this special edition we chat with Ella and sound designer / composer Amber Devereux of Tin Can Audio about the creation of the show.

    Chris Gregory and Dex Legacy writer Emily Inkpen chatted with Ella and Amber via zoom so the sound quality isn't always perfect. We hope this doesn't spoil your enjoyment of the conversation.

    Camlann is a post-apocalyptic drama based on folklore and Arthurian legend
    You can listen and subscribe by searching "Camlann" in your favourite podcast app or....

    To listen via Apple please click here https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/camlann-an-audio-drama/id1714630550

    And Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/show/1sXRFAqZoVduDQ0NgcD8Fl?si=f585aedabd2f40ba

    Follow the Camlann team on X here https://twitter.com/camlannpod

    As always for new audio drama productions, if you enjoy episode one (which is out on Monday 15th January) please subscribe, leave a rating or review. These small acts of kindness go a long way to raising the profile of the show

    Find out more about Amber Devereux and their Tin Can Audio production company here https://www.tincanaudio.co.uk/

    Follow Tin Can Audio on Twitter here https://twitter.com/TinCanAudio

    And visit Ella's website here https://www.ella-watts.com/

    And follow her on twitter here https://twitter.com/GejWatts

    Emily Inkpen is the writer of The Dex Legacy audio drama (which you can find out more about here https://www.thedexlegacy.com/ ) books and short fiction.

    You can follow Emily on twitter here https://twitter.com/emilyinkpen

    and instagram here https://www.instagram.com/emilyinkpen/

    Support the Show.

  • Flood survival operations are underway aboard the Ark and Captain Noah has delegated command to his sons and their partners. But as the voyage begins a spate of mysterious deaths prompt Parphia to turn detective and embark upon the world's first ever murder mystery. She is determined to record every last clue and discovery as she tries to solve the crimes, but has she bitten off more than she can chew and can she survive the mysterious Ark killer?

    In Ark by Stephanie Weston you heard

    Tiffany Clare as Parphia

    Charlie Richards as Japhet

    Emily Inkpen as Olla

    Stephanie Weston as Leah

    And Chris Gregory as Ham

    Ark was directed by Chris Gregory and Emily Inkpen

    Sound design, music and editing were by Chris Gregory

    Ark was recorded at Orpheus Studio in London and by Richard Campbell

    Ark by Stephanie Weston was the winner of the 2023 Pen to Print Audio Play competition. If you would like to enter the 2024 competition which is aimed at new and first time writers you'll need to be a resident of the UK and submit a script of approximately half an hour. You'll find a full set of regulations and more details about the competition on the pen to print website
    https://pentoprint.org/get-involved/competitions-2023/

    You can find out more about Stephanie Weston by visiting her website https://tabb.cc/stephanie-weston

    And you can follow Stephanie on instagram here https://www.instagram.com/stephanie__weston/

    This will be our final podcast of 2023 but we'll resume our seventh season early in 2024

    Ark is an alternative stories 2023 production for the Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast.

    Support the Show.

  • Our guest on this edition of Alternative Stories is writer, writing coach and teacher Dr Rachel Knightley. We chatted on zoom about Rachel’s short story cycle “Twisted Branches”

    To buy a copy of Twisted Branches from the publisher Black Shuck Book please click the link below https://blackshuckbooks.co.uk/twisted-branches

    And find out more about Rachel and her wider work you can visit her website here https://www.rachelknightley.com/

    You can follow Rachel Knightley on X, formerly twitter, here https://twitter.com/DrRKnightley

    And on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/drrachelknightley/

    Read Rachel’s work on Substack here https://substack.com/@drrachelknightley


    To find out more about Alternative Stories and our work please visit our website https://alternativestories.com/
    You can follow us on X (formerly twitter) https://twitter.com/StoriesAlt
    On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt/
    And on Threads https://www.threads.net/@stories.alt

    Thank you for listening to this edition of the Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast. The interviewer was Chris Gregory who also did the sound design, music and editing.

    Support the Show.

  • In this edition we look behind the scenes at the making of our science fiction drama The Dex Legacy

    This podcast originally went out as an episode of The Dex Legacy Podcast and was released before the current season started.

    You can find out more about The Dex Legacy, subscribe and listen by searching The Dex Legacy in your favourite podcast app or by clicking the link below.
    https://www.thedexlegacy.com/

    You can follow The Dex Legacy on X (formerly Twitter) at https://twitter.com/thedexlegacy

    On Facebook https://www.facebook.com/thedexlegacy

    And on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/thedexlegacy1/



    Unfortunately the London Lit Lab workshop led by Chris Gregory and Emily Inkpen has now passed but you can join further Alternative Stories writing for audio workshops with London Lit Lab here https://www.londonlitlab.co.uk/courses/

    And a free writing workshop looking behind the scenes at the Dex Legacy with Chris and Emily will be run by Pen to Print on 7th December and you can book here https://pentoprint.org/about/events/

    Watch out for details of more writing workshops from Alternative Stories in the new year.

    Support the Show.

  • The second season of the Seren Poetry Podcast begins this week and in this preview edition we chat with Sarah Johnson from Seren who will be the interviewer in this series and hear poems from the featured poets.

    Thank you to Sarah Johnson from Seren for being our guest in this edition

    Sound design and production are by Chris Gregory for Alternative Stories

    Subscribe to the Seren Poetry Podcast in your favourite podcast app by searching “the seren poetry podcast” or click the link below

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035359


    To find out more about the Alternative Stories audio workshop series with London Lit Lab which features Chris Gregory and guests including actor and presenter Tiffany Clare go to the London Lit Lab website here https://www.londonlitlab.co.uk/courses/

    Workshops will be running weekly between now and mid-December

    Find out more about Alternative Stories by visiting our website https://alternativestories.com/

    And follow us on social media

    On X (twitter) https://twitter.com/StoriesAlt

    On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt

    And on Threads https://www.threads.net/@stories.alt

    Support the Show.

  • Thank you for listening to this edition of the Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast in which we chat with poet Matthew Stewart about his new Happenstance collection “Whatever you do, just don’t”

    You can order a copy of the collection via Happenstance here https://www.happenstancepress.com/index.php/shop/product/47818-whatever-you-do-just-don-t/category_pathway-64


    And visit Happenstance to find out more about their work and publications here

    http://www.happenstancepress.com/

    Find Happenstance on x here https://twitter.com/Nell_Nelson


    To find out more about Matthew Stewart you can follow him on X, formerly twitter, here https://twitter.com/roguestrands

    And read Matthew’s blog Rogue Strands here http://roguestrands.blogspot.com/


    This podcast is presented and edited by Chris Gregory

    You heard a trailer for the Seren Poetry Podcast series two as part of this podcast. You can listen to season one and subscribe to be alerted when new episodes are available by searching for “The Seren Poetry Podcast” in your favourite podcast app or clicking the link below https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035359

    To find out more about the Alternative Stories audio workshop series with London Lit Lab which features Chris Gregory and guests including actor and presenter Tiffany Clare go to the London Lit Lab website here https://www.londonlitlab.co.uk/courses/

    Workshops will be running weekly between now and mid-December

    Find out more about Alternative Stories by visiting our website https://alternativestories.com/

    And follow us on social media

    On X (twitter) https://twitter.com/StoriesAlt

    On Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt

    And on Threads https://www.threads.net/@stories.alt

    Support the Show.

  • In this edition we chat with author Lyndsey Croal about her novelette "Have You Decided on your Question?" her audio drama "Daughter of Fire and Water" and the kickstarter campaign for the forthcoming climate change edition of the "Shoreline of Infinity" magazine which she will be editing.

    Find out more about Lyndsey Croal by visiting her website here https://lyndseycroal.co.uk/

    Follow Lyndsey on twitter here https://twitter.com/writerlynds

    And instagram here https://www.instagram.com/lyndscroal/

    Order a copy of Lyndsey's novelette "Have You Decided on your Question?" from Shortwave Publishing here https://shortwavepublishing.com/catalog/have-you-decided-on-your-question-novelette/

    Find out more about Shoreline of Infinity and back the kickstarter campaign we talked about in the interview here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/soig/shoreline-of-infinity-the-climate-change-issue

    Listen to both parts of Lyndsey's Alternative Stories audio drama "Daughter of Fire and Water" here
    https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/7925203-daughter-of-fire-and-water-an-audio-drama-part-one

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/8017320-daughter-of-fire-and-water-an-audio-drama-part-two

    We'd like to thank everyone who backed the Dex Legacy kickstarter campaign. With your help we reached our first stretch goal target meaning that all our recording costs have been covered. Your generosity means that season 2 will definitely be happening. Recording will start soon and we are aiming for a release in the autumn.
    Find out more about The Dex Legacy by visiting our website at https://www.thedexlegacy.com/

    Editions of alternative stories will be a little more sporadic over the summer period as our focus shifts to recording and editing new drama productions that we'll be sharing as part of our autumn season. Listen out though for a couple of guest edited editions and more from our spell sounds soundscape series

    Subscribe by searching alternative stories in your favourite podcast app to have new editions delivered to you the moment they are released.

    If you have enjoyed the podcast and are new to Alt Stories please check out more of our work by visiting our website https://alternativestories.com/

    You can follow us on twitter https://twitter.com/StoriesAlt

    And on instagram https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt/

    And you can contact us via email at [email protected]

    Support the Show.

  • Performed by Carole Pluckrose and Ria Knowles https://www.spotlight.com/1418-7861-2841

    Produced in association with The Boathouse Barking CIC. https://www.boathousebarkingstudios.com/ Instagram Facebook

    ©Carole Pluckrose 2023

    Dedicated to Edgar, Anne and Sheelagh

    Script editors :Claire Steele, Jill Glenn, Constellations Consultancy

    With thanks for their enduring support and critical friendship to: Tony Humphreys, Nick Crean, Carl Blackburn. Mark and Dan Horn, Martin Heaney, Julie Wedge, Dorinda Hulton, Pen to Print and Grace and Phoebe Pluckrose-Oliver

    I started writing Notes From Dad's Room in 2017, a few months following my dad, Edgar's death in November 2016. As a writer and theatre maker it was the natural place to go. In 2015 Edgar had been given 3/4 weeks to live following a heart condition which he had managed for over 30 years. With an imminent terminal diagnosis when no more could be done to improve his health he came back from hospital to die at home. Despite all the predictions however he lived for a further 15 months. In large part this was to do with an attitude of mind and a full engagement still in the world, family and thought despite being bedridden and confined to his bedroom. Somehow he managed to live this period largely with grace and positivity by looking outside himself into the world, and stubbornly refusing to reduce his rich imagination and sheer love of life. He travelled through this time and space in much the way he had told me stories when I was a child.

    During this time I began a Facebook group, firstly for updates about Edgar's progress, but soon it turned into an open, tender and insightful conversation about death and dying. It was full of rich reflections and the resounding message was that it was a much welcome space to open up the often taboo discussion about mortality, our own and those we love. It was also a space to share stories of parent/child relationships, about the things we lay down in our children's lives that have a lifetime of significance.

    The play is a result of these conversations and it has been through many iterations in the intervening years, with a rehearsed reading at UEL with Ria Butler, a Zoom reading during the pandemic. It's been scrutinised by critical friends, supported by writers and writing mentors Claire Steele, Tony Humphreys, Nick Crean, Carl Blackburn.

    Through making this piece we want to share the story of a journey of love and caring and the liminal space inhabited in the time of impending loss. We know that so many of us live lives of caring behind closed doors and the toll emotionally and economically can be enormous. We want to share this story as an act of commonality and solidarity with those travelling this path right now.

    I am also a celebrant and have learnt so much from my work with families in grief when supporting them in writing and officiating funeral ceremonies.


    https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolepluckrose/
    Carole Pluckrose instagram

    Tickets and further details of our writing workshop day on 1st July https://tinyurl.com/354ut7s3

    Support The Dex Legacy Season 2 fundraiser https://tinyurl.com/9ryhppyz

    Support the Show.

  • Spell sounds is an audiofiction soundscape series in which we combine poetry and prose with sound effects to evoke places, spaces and landscapes


    In this edition you heard the voices of Tiffany Clare, Sally Walker Taylor, Cee Cee and Chris Gregory

    You heard writing by

    Lyndsey Croal

    Ange Wilson

    Anna Chorlton

    Josh Holton

    Joana Varanda

    Cee Cee

    And Chris Gregory


    Soundscapes, music, mix and editing were by Alternative Stories

    Sound effects were by Alternative Stories and from Freesound.org

    Please listen out for more from our Spell Sound series soon. Thank you to everyone who has contributed pieces for the series.


    Next week on Alternative Stories we'll bring you Audio drama : Notes from Dad's Room by Carole Pluckrose


    Subscribe by searching alternative stories in your favourite podcast app to have all editions delivered to you the moment they are released.

    Support the Show.

  • In this edition we speak to science fiction writer Frasier Armitage about his novel New Yesterday which was published earlier this year. Frasier is the author of our award winning audio drama Postcards from Another World and several pieces of short fiction. Chris Gregory met Frasier over zoom to discuss the writing process and his influences.

    The excerpts from New Yesterday were read by Chris Gregory and the excerpts from Postcards from Another World featured the voices of Sarah Golding, Marie-Claire Wood and Emily Inkpen

    Music and sound design were by Alternative Stories and the interviewer was Chris Gregory


    You can buy a copy of New Yesterday and Frasier’s other publications by visiting his author page on Amazon here https://www.amazon.co.uk/Frasier-Armitage

    You can find out more about Frasier by visiting https://frasierarmitage.com/

    And follow him on twitter here https://twitter.com/FrasierArmitage

    And you can hear Postcards from Another World here https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/11897671

    If you enjoy science fiction you may like our sci fi serial drama The Dex Legacy which is written by Emily Inkpen. You can listen and subscribe by searching The Dex Legacy in your favourite podcast app or click the link below

    https://www.buzzsprout.com/1868546

    If you would like to support us to make season 2 of The Dex Legacy and gain some unique rewards along the way you can make a pledge to our kickstarter campaign here https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emilyinkpen/the-dex-legacy-science-fiction-audio-drama-season-2

    and to listen to more science fiction and climate fiction from Alternative Stories check out this podchaser playlist https://www.podchaser.com/lists/sci-fi-and-climate-fiction-on-alternative-stories-107aDoFzmM

    If you haven’t already subscribed to Alternative Stories and Fake Realities you can do so by searching Alternative Stories in your favourite podcast app.

    If you would like to work with us or enquire about our courses and workshops please contact us via email at [email protected]
    You can also follow us on twitter where we posts as https://twitter.com/StoriesAlt
    And Instagram where we are https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt/


    Our next workshop will be on 1st July and it will cover writing for audio drama, taking audio from page to production, monologues in audio drama and writing for audio fiction. You can find out more and book via Alex Davis Events here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/writing-for-audio-with-chris-gregory-and-emily-inkpen-tickets-634717375757

    Support the Show.

  • Storying our Futures is a new podcast series looking at the climate crisis in east Africa and the ways in which storytelling can help to spread information to the local population. Through the eyes of two Kenyan storytellers, Mara and John, we travel with them through South Sudan and northern Kenya to see how the crisis is affecting local communities.

    "Storying our Futures: climate resilience through indigenous knowledge" is a UK/East Africa collaborative project bringing traditional oral storytellers together with East African pastoralist communities, scientific meteorologists, journalists, and indigenous traditional climate forecasters known as Rainmakers, to amplify and explore the many ways that storytelling can support system change. Chris Gregory from Alternative Stories undertook the sound design and editing work for this podcast series.


    The podcast series is a joint venture between Adverse Camber, a UK based arts production company, ICPAC, a specialised organisation fostering climate services and knowledge to enhance community resilience in Africa, The British Council, Cath Heinemeyer of York St John University and storyteller / activist Hannah McDowall.

    To learn more and listen you can go to to the Adverse Camber website www.adversecamber.org

    or listen via Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/show/4Jof3zj7OY68TLjIfdndXw?si=2aa371d9d24f433a

    or YouTube here https://youtu.be/ZIOdlh80Rx4

    You can follow Adverse Camber and find out more about their work by following them on social media

    Twitter. https://twitter.com/adversecamber20
    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/adversecamberontour/

    If you would like to find out more about the Dex Legacy season two kickstarter campaign you can do so here
    https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emilyinkpen/the-dex-legacy-science-fiction-audio-drama-season-2

    Here you’ll find information about why we need funding, what your pledges will pay for and the rewards you can get by backing the project. You’ll also be able to find out about our cast and listen to a new and exclusive piece of music by our soundtrack composer Allen Stroud.

    You can follow The Dex Legacy on twitter here https://twitter.com/thedexlegacy
    And on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/thedexlegacy1/


    Thank you as always for listening to this edition of Alternative Stories and Fake Realities
    You can follow Alternative Stories on twitter here https://twitter.com/StoriesAlt
    And on Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt/

    You can contact us by email via [email protected]

    Support the Show.

  • Marc Hughes, the larger-than-life presenter of the supernatural investigation TV show Paranormal Takedown, is in Shropshire visiting his friend Jack who claims that the Devil is active in the county. Alongside co-host Emilie Daniels, Marc has decided to make a special edition about the weird goings-on but upon arrival in the county he starts to realise that the stories he is hearing are stranger and darker than he imagined.

    Catch up with part one of the drama here https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/12499890

    Content warning : this podcast contains swearing, suggestions of peril and references to violence , death and injury.

    In the Best of Men by Amy Boucher you can hear, in order of appearance

    Tiffany Clare as Emilie
    Alex White as Marc
    Carl Wharton as Jack
    Amy Boucher as the woman in the pub
    Chris Gregory as 'Owd Scratch
    Emily Inkpen as Laura

    Other parts are played by members of the cast



    Music, sound design, production and editing are by Chris Gregory for Alternative Stories

    Casting and actor direction is by Chris Gregory and Amy Boucher

    Sound effects are by Alternative Stories and from Freesound.org

    The script for The Best of Men is by Amy Boucher and may not be reproduced in whole or in part other than with the permission of the author.

    You can find out more about our writer Amy Boucher by visiting her blog here https://nearlyknowledgeablehistory.blogspot.com/

    And follow her on twitter here https://twitter.com/g0blinegg


    You can follow Alternative Stories on social media here

    Twitter https://twitter.com/StoriesAlt

    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt/

    And contact us by email here [email protected]

    Find out more about our lead actors, and hire them to voice your podcast or drama

    Tiffany Clare https://twitter.com/TiffanyEclair

    Alex White https://twitter.com/alexwhiteactor

    Carl Wharton https://twitter.com/carlwharton

    Emily Inkpen is the writer of our science fiction serial drama The Dex Legacy. Find out more and listen here https://www.thedexlegacy.com/

    If you've enjoyed The Best of Men please check out our other folklore and folk horror productions via this Podchaser playlist https://www.podchaser.com/lists/folklore-folk-horror-and-fairytale-on-alternative-stories-107a9Gdi9h

    We'd also like to recommend another podcast we think you'll enjoy - The Spectre of the Sea is by Owen Staton and Bethan Briggs Miller and features folklore, legend and history from the Welsh coastline. Listen and find out more here.

    podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/spe…

    https://twitter.com/spectre_sea

    We always appreciate ratings and reviews so if you have enjoyed this edition please rate or review the podcast on apple podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser or any podcast app that accepts ratings.

    Support the show

    Support the Show.

  • Thank you for listening to this edition of The Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast featuring the new novel "Spring Fever" by Thomas Legendre

    Readings from Spring Fever were by Tiffany Clare with Thomas Legendre playing Craig Merleau in the interview excerpt

    The interviewer was Chris Gregory

    Editing sound design and original music were by Alternative Stories

    Spring Fever is available now from publisher Valley Press and more widely from 1st June

    Order a copy directly from Valley Press here https://www.valleypressuk.com/shop/p/spring-fever

    Find out more about Thomas Legendre by visiting his website here https://www.thomaslegendre.com/

    And follow him on twitter here https://twitter.com/legendreality

    Readings in this podcast were by Tiffany Clare. You can find out more about Tiffany and hire her for your voice stage or film project by visiting her website here https://www.voicebytiffany.com/

    Get updates on forthcoming Alternative Stories podcasts and find out about our writers and actors by following us on social media where we post as

    https://twitter.com/StoriesAlt
    And https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt/

    Hire us to produce your drama or podcast. Get in touch via [email protected]

    Listen out for part 2 of The Best of Men by Amy Boucher coming soon.

    Support the Show.

  • When Marc Hughes, the larger-than-life presenter of the TV show Paranormal Takedown, receives a series of increasingly desperate voice mail messages from his childhood friend Jack claiming that a great evil is loose in Shropshire, he is sceptical. Realising that investigating the story might make for great television he sets off to debunk Jack's claims and finds himself at the heart of some dark and dangerous folk beliefs that seem to have spilled over from stories to reality.

    Content warning : this podcast contains swearing, suggestions of peril and references to violence , death and injury.

    In the Best of Men by Amy Boucher you can hear, in order of appearance

    Tiffany Clare as Emilie

    Alex White as Marc

    Carl Wharton as Jack

    Music, sound design, production and editing are by Chris Gregory for Alternative Stories

    Casting and actor direction is by Chris Gregory and Amy Boucher

    Sound effects are by Alternative Stories and from Freesound.org

    The script for The Best of Men is by Amy Boucher and may not be reproduced in whole or in part other than with the permission of the author.

    You can find out more about our writer Amy Boucher by visiting her blog here https://nearlyknowledgeablehistory.blogspot.com/

    And follow her on twitter here https://twitter.com/g0blinegg


    You can follow Alternative Stories on social media here

    Twitter https://twitter.com/StoriesAlt

    Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt/

    And contact us by email here [email protected]

    Find out more about our actors, and hire them to voice your podcast or drama

    Tiffany Clare https://twitter.com/TiffanyEclair

    Alex White https://twitter.com/alexwhiteactor

    Carl Wharton https://twitter.com/carlwharton

    The second part of The Best of Men will be out in April on this podcast. Please subscribe to have it delivered to you the moment it is released.

    If you've enjoyed The Best of Men please check out our other folklore and folk horror productions via this Podchaser playlist https://www.podchaser.com/lists/folklore-folk-horror-and-fairytale-on-alternative-stories-107a9Gdi9h

    We always appreciate ratings and reviews so if you have enjoyed this edition please rate or review the podcast on apple podcasts, Spotify, Podchaser or any podcast app that accepts ratings.

    Support the Show.

  • Thank you for listening to the Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast. Our guest in this edition is Alex Davis of the UK Ghost Story Festival

    You can find out more about the festival, book tickets and read more about the participants by visiting the festival website here https://www.ukghoststoryfestival.co.uk/
    Follow the festival on twitter here https://twitter.com/GhostStoryFest
    And Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/ghoststoryfestival/
    And follow Alex Davis on twitter here https://twitter.com/AlexDavis1981

    Our podcast was recorded at the Museum of Making in Derby.
    https://www.derbymuseums.org/museum-of-making/
    Follow the museum on twitter here https://twitter.com/MuseumofMaking
    And Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/derbymuseums/

    We share excerpts from the following audio books in this podcast

    The Ghost Woods by C.J. Cooke (Harper Collins) Read by Paula Masterton
    https://carolynjesscooke.com/
    Follow C J on twitter here https://twitter.com/CJessCooke

    The Whispering Muse by Laura Purcell. (Raven) Read by Sheila Atim
    https://www.laurapurcell.com/
    Follow Laura on twitter here https://twitter.com/spookypurcell

    The Witch in the Well by Camilla Bruce (Penguin) The audiobook of The Witch in the Well is narrated by Christina Cole, Emily Barber and Charlotte Davey
    https://camillabruce.com/
    Follow Camilla Bruce on twitter here https://twitter.com/millacream

    The House of Footsteps by Mathew West (Harper North) read by Joshua Manning
    https://harpercollins.co.uk/products/the-house-of-footsteps-mathew-west
    Follow Mathew West on twitter here https://twitter.com/mathewoneT

    Thank you to Alex Davis for being our guest in this edition and The Museum of Making in Derby for hosting our interview. We’d also like to thank the authors and publishers whose work is featured in this podcast.

    If you’ve enjoyed this podcast and would like to hear more ghostly fiction please check out our 2 part Ghostlore anthology

    Part one https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/10264614-ghostlore-an-audio-fiction-anthology-part-one-wilderness
    Part two https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/10353265-ghostlore-an-audio-fiction-anthology-part-two-hauntings
    Please also check out our ghostly audio drama The Gathering by Lewis Carter here https://www.buzzsprout.com/411730/11594709-the-gathering-an-audio-drama

    If this is your first time listening to our podcast please subscribe to have all future editions delivered to your podcast feed the moment they are released. You can find us by searching “alternative stories” in your favourite podcast app

    Support the Show.

  • In this podcast we look at working class writers, their work and experience with guest editor Amber Hall. We look at the difficulties that working class writers overcome and the limitations and expectation placed upon them by the wider world of literature. We speak to guests 1990s Chris and Lisa McKenzie both of whom ae part of the Working Class Collective, A community of working class creatives formed during the pandemic.

    This podcast was guest edited by Amber Hall. Amber also interviewed 1990s Chris and Lisa McKenzie for this podcast. You can find out more about Amber by following her on social media

    You can follow her on twitter here https://twitter.com/amber_marie_123
    And Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/amber.marie.123/

    Amber is a member of the editorial team for Write On! and you can read an interview with her here https://pentoprint.org/write-on-interviews-writer-amber-hall/


    Lisa McKenzie is a writer and academic from Nottingham. You can find out more about her and her work by visiting her website
    https://lisamckenzie1968.wixsite.com/website

    You can follow Lisa on Twitter here https://twitter.com/redrumlisa

    1990s Chris is a queer writer, poet, performer and film maker originally from Hereford and now living in Bristol You can find lots of Chris’s work via his Linktree here https://linktr.ee/1990schris

    And follow Chris on Twitter here https://twitter.com/1990sChris


    Lisa and Chris are both members of the Working Class Collective.

    Find out more about the collective and buy the book “Lockdown Diaries of the Working Class” via their website here https://www.workingclasscollective.co.uk/

    Follow the collective on Twitter here https://twitter.com/WorkingClassCol

    You can hear 1990s Chris performing his piece “Sink” as part of this podcast

    Join us next week for a podcast about the UK Ghost Story Festival

    https://www.ukghoststoryfestival.co.uk/

    Support the Show.

  • Thank you for listening to this edition of the Alternative Stories and Fake Realities Podcast.

    In this edition we speak to Cailean Steed, the author of a new novel “Home” which is published by Raven Bloomsbury on 19th January. The novel deals with Zoe, a young woman who has grown up as part of a repressive religious cult who returns to rescue her sister.

    Excerpts from the audiobook of “Home” in this episode were read by Paula Masterton. The audiobook is published on the same day as the hardback and e-book versions of the novel.

    The interviewer was Chris Gregory

    Sound design, editing and music were also by Chris Gregory

    To find out more about Cailean Steed you can visit their website here https://www.caileansteed.com/

    And follow them on social media here
    https://twitter.com/CaileanSteed
    https://www.instagram.com/caileansteedauthor/

    To order a copy of Home via the Raven Bloomsbury website follow this link https://www.bloomsbury.com/uk/fiction/crime-thriller-mystery/
    And follow Raven Bloomsbury on twitter here : https://twitter.com/bloomsburyraven


    If you have enjoyed this podcast please subscribe in your favourite podcast app if you haven’t already. Just search for alternative stories wherever you listen to podcasts. Coming up soon we have a podcast about working class writers with Amber Hall, a new audio drama “The Best of Men” by Amy Boucher and a feature on the UK Ghost Story Festival.

    You may also enjoy the other podcasts made by Alternative Stories

    The Seren Poetry Podcast https://www.buzzsprout.com/2035359
    Write On! Audio, a podcast aimed at writers which we make for Pen to Print : https://anchor.fm/pentoprint
    And our science fiction serial drama The Dex Legacy https://www.thedexlegacy.com/

    If you would like to contact us you can do so via [email protected]
    And follow us on twitter https://www.thedexlegacy.com/
    And Instagram https://www.instagram.com/stories.alt/

    Support the Show.

  • Making a life on a new world following a family tragedy, Lyra and Neeva reflect on their past lines as farmers on Epsilon while coming to terms with the realities of existence on their new home, Lunasetti. Postcards From Another World by Frasier Armitage is the winner of the 2022 Pen to Print audio play competition.

    In Postcards from Another World by Frasier Armitage you heard
    Sarah Golding as Lyra
    Marie-Claire Wood as Neeva
    Warren Graham as Zabo
    Emily Inkpen as the computer
    Rhiannon Armitage as the Lunasetti spaceport announcer
    Chris Gregory as Privik.


    Production, sound design and editing were by Chris Gregory for Alternative Stories
    The original score was composed and performed by Chris Gregory
    Sound effects were from Freesound.org
    Casting advice, actor coaching and beta listening were by Frasier Armitage.


    You can find out more about Frasier Armitage and his work by visiting his website here https://frasierarmitage.com/
    You can follow Frasier on twitter here https://twitter.com/FrasierArmitage
    And Instagram here https://www.instagram.com/frasierarmitage/


    You can contact and hire our lead actors by visiting them online
    Sarah Golding https://sarahgoldingvoiceactorandmore.weebly.com/
    Marie-Claire Wood https://linktr.ee/MarieClaireWood
    Warren Graham https://twitter.com/wg973
    Emily Inkpen https://www.emilyinkpen.com/


    The script for Postcards from Another World by Frasier Armitage was the winner of the 2022 Pen to Print audio play competition. We would like to thank Pen to print for their support in the making of this drama and for sponsoring this annual competition. The 2023 competition is open for entries now. We are looking for scripts of around half an hour (4- 5000 words) and the competition is open to UK residents only. You have until 31st March to submit your entires and you can find out more and enter the competition here
    https://pentoprint.org/get-involved/competitions-2023/


    We hope you’ve enjoyed listening to Postcards From Another World. Please join us in 2023 for more audio drama, poetry and fiction podcasts You can subscribe by searching for alternative stories in your favourite podcast app.

    If you’ve enjoyed this audio drama please check out our other science fiction , fantasy and cli fi productions. Here’s a link to a podchaser playlist https://www.podchaser.com/lists/sci-fi-and-climate-fiction-on-alternative-stories-107aDoFzmM

    You’ll also enjoy our science fiction serial drama The Dex Legacy by Emily Inkpen – search The Dex Legacy in your favourite podcast app to listen and subscribe.
    https://www.thedexlegacy.com/

    We’d like to end this podcast with a recommendation for an audio drama we think you’ll enjoy.. Set in the wilds of British Columbia, Darkstead is a fantasy crime drama by writer / director Lucy Gib Smith. You can listen and subscribe to Darkstead here https://www.darkstead.com/

    Support the Show.