S2E3: Extinct
Hi, I’m Darcie T. Kelly and this is Story Time with Darcie. In every episode you hear a piece of my own short fiction. I’m an eclectic writer, so you may be surprised by the genres and situations, but what these stories have in common is their exploration of big ideas.
I am delighted that Allison Moro is with us again and that another listener, Brooke Houle has joined as well. This is the first episode that features only guests that sprang from our listenership! So exciting!!
As a child of the 80’s, March will always be about Earth Day and caring for the planet. As the ice lets go of my beloved Canada and the earth begins its long process of reawakening, I consider how I can best care for my small corner of our planet.
In today’s story, Extinct, we explore a future world where a planetary catastrophe has ended animals’ ability to procreate. Like all sci-fi, this story takes one small detail of our current society and explores the potential long-term results of its exaggeration.
As you may have already guessed from the small synopsis I just provided, today’s Content Warnings include Animal Death and the big group of Pregnancy/Childbirth/Miscarriages/Abortion. These triggers are handled with a gentle touch and looked at sideways, but if this isn't the right episode for you I completely understand and I look forward to seeing you next month.
I wrote Extinct for the NYC Midnight Flash Fiction Challenge in 2018. It was one of the first stories I wrote that I shared and I was surprised when it took fourth place for my heat! This is the story that made me believe I could actually do it. That I had something worth saying. That I could be a writer.
Looking back at it now, I’d like to take another pass at this one, there’s lots of space for improvement. Maybe I’ll revisit it in the future.
I hope you enjoyed this episode of Story Time with Darcie. If you have, please, help me keep the podcast going by sharing it! Leave a five-star rating on Apple podcasts, write a review, or give us a shout out on social media to help more people find us. If a friend is looking for something new to listen to, suggest Story Time with Darcie. If an episode make you think of someone in particular, send it their way! Every time you share it makes a difference!
Thank you, Brooke and Allison, for joining me today!
If you, dear listener, would like to become a voice on Story Time with Darcie, please, reach out! My eclectic stories need a variety of voices, and yours will be a welcome addition!
Thank you for listening. To read more of my stories and perhaps inspire my next one, check out my website: www.darcietkelly.me and join me on facebook @DarcieTKelly. If you’re interested in purchasing a copy of Musings: A Collection of Short Stories, get in touch through the facebook page or email me (you can find my email address in the episode notes). And please, subscribe on your podcatcher of choice for future episodes of Story Time With Darcie.
Until next month, stay well, and keep smiling.
(Extinct is not available in digital text format. You can read it in Musings: A Collection of Short Stories. To purchase your copy, contact Darcie.)