Tea with Mrs. Bradley

Posted on by wotif

Tea with Mrs. Bradley  This is a favourite story of mine for three reasons.  First, it was written quite a while ago and made into a short film with the title Mrs. Bradley’s Hat,  with the then active Brisbane QPix.  It was directed by a VERY young Judd Tilyard, who is now an Australian film director and producer, based in Toronto since 2010 where he is now the co-owner and head of Production at Dimeworth Films.

It was also read on 4RPH by Kim Dodsworth the Queensland StoryTeller. Kim read many of the stories that are now being dramatised by FastFictionPodcasts. However, this production features Michael Wilkins, who read our emotive war story Wheeled Prison in our April launch.

Finally, it is a truly unusual sad/funny/ story, with many layers and complex issues still pertinent today.

However, one word of caution. Do not confuse it with the equally delightful, but completely different detective series starring Diana Rigg, 1998 (A forerunner of the Phyrnne Fisher Mysteries)/ They are very different ladies who share only the name.

  • 19.06m
  • Audio Drama
  • Written by Breanda Cross
  • Performed by Breanda Cross, John Cross, Michael Vilkins

Below you may see your Editor ‘Wotif’ playing an ‘old woman’ when she was a comparatively ‘young woman’. Nowadays there isn’t much difference.

                        

Note, Update March 2019 –

Highlights

Posted on by wotif

Highlights is the latest podcast for the month of June.  It is the first entry in a new series, LifeInTheSlowLane, a.k.a. Suburbia.

There are times when many mothers would like something to happen a little outside of the regular routine, and indeed may even be tempted into a new shade of hair colour. However, in this particular instance it was immediately obvious that the timing was not the best.

Written and read by Breanda Cross

NOTE: A few regular subscribers have indicated that they use some of the podcasts as an English Language learning tool. If this is case, please feel free to write and request the script, which may be useful as an additional aid.

Decisions

Posted on by wotif

Decisions is a dark story just released to iTunes. It is also sad. It asks the question of whether or not we govern our own destiny by the choices we make, or are we simply destined to follow the path that fate has decreed for us. Why not listen – and make your own decision!

Note: Update March 2019. Beyond Blue is taking on a higher profile than ever before. which makes this story more relevant.

FastFictionPodcasts have been submitting stories to iTunes, for just over a month and can now boast a dozen stories in the library.  So far stories have covered a mix of three basic series – Makes You Think, Crime Without Grime,  and The Spouse Trap. But we promised you four -and yes, there is another one, as yet not represented. Life in the Slow Lane are stories, or, maybe more like anecdotes, of family life in the suburbs.

  • 9.26m
  • Monologue
  • Written by Breanda Cross
  • Narrated and Produced by Breanda Cross.

Highlights – Life in the Slow Lane,  Highlights  begins – “I was in the shower when the telephone rang…..” Nothing unusual with that, but it may give you a few minutes mirth when you hear what happens next.

Sometimes it makes life seem to much easier when you know the mess other people make of their lives.

  • 14,03m
  • Monologue
  • Written and Narrated by Breanda Cross

A Natural Accident and Home Alone

Posted on by wotif

A natural accident – Makes You Think Series

Written by Breanda Cross, Dramatised by A. Nunn

Cover Art – Unsplash

Our recent podcast certainly makes you think.  Here in Australia most of us abhor the idea of gun violence, or even the casual way Americans seem to take their natural right for gun ownership. Yet every day we drive cars with as little thought.  Not realizing that it is as much a death weapon as a gun.

A natural accident is a thriller. We open up inside the mind of a man who knows exactly what use he will put his car to, and the results he expects. But will they be the same? Wotif…?

Note: Update March 2010. In the year since this podcast was released we have had a constant deluge of mass shootings in the USA and terrorist killings all over the world. And yes, carnage on the road.

There were 34,247 fatal motor vehicle crashes in the United States in 2017 in which 37,133 deaths occurred.

In Australia

  • 1,226 people were killed in road related deaths, over 3 people a day
  • 34% of fatal crashes occur in major cities
  • 1 in 10 crashes resulted in multiple deaths

It certainly makes you think, doesn’t it?

And now for something completely different….

Home Alone 

  • 5.54m
  • Monologue
  • Written and Narrated by Breanda Cross

Home Alone is a crime story. and while custard may not be the actual murder weapon it features quite prominently in this short and sharp story.

And yes, the 1990 movie Home Alone was inspirational to the story

Grave Consequences

Posted on by wotif

Grave Consequences   fits comfortably into our three themes, a marital discord, (TheSpouseTrap,TST), there may be a crime (CrimeWithoutGrime, CWG), and without giving a spoiler of who, how what or why, we have to add a (MakesYouThink,MYT). Compared with the previous pods its fairly long, (20minutes), but I promise it will keep you in suspense. After all, a dead husband, a Merry Widow and an isolated homestead. Everything you need for a Nightmare. This drama was once made into a short film and won a small video competition.

The best time to listen is on a dark and starry night…. Need I say more?

  • 20.14m
  • Dramatised story
  • Written by Breanda Cross
  • Performed by Breanda Cross, A. Anon

Note: March 2019 Update: The print version first appeared in one of the annual Crimewriters Queensland anthologies, which are now only available through the National Library.

For Sale

Posted on by wotif

For Sale: Buying a house is a big decision involving a great deal of money and incurring many life changes. So real estate agents should be patient when guiding prospective buyers through the process of choosing the right house for their needs. And they in turn are simply looking for the perfect house. However, this is one of those occasions when you just may find your sympathies with the real estate agent.

While we hope you enjoy it I would like to share a secret (which I hope is not too evident).  The skit was recorded nearly twenty-five years ago and needed to be remastered to bring it up to date with modern currencies.  If you listen closely you may be able to find where the changes were made.

However, even today, I can testify that those real estate agents who have listened to the podcast agree, the scenario is as pertinent to the market today as it was a quarter of a century ago.

NOTE: March, 2019: Although this little skit was recorded a quarter of a century ago, I reckon it could pass for today – not exactly mind – yes, the cost of houses has gone up considerably, but house-hunting couples – well, they’re still the same – or are they?

  • 12.55m
  • Skit
  • Written by Breanda Cross
  •  Performed by Breanda Cross, John Cross, Denzil Reader

THE FAST FICTION LAUNCH

Posted on by wotif

To commence our library off to a good start the selection of pods is varied in length, genres and delivery. They can be found on iTunes – Performing Arts, Podcasts – Fast Fiction. Or it may be easier to click on the link below.

With April being the month we think of ANZAC you may give a special thought to Wheeled Prison, a tribute to all military personnel the world over and at the same time provides a little insight into those sharing a similar disability.

Wheeled Prison – MakesYouThinkSeries

Written by Breanda Cross and Dramatised by Michael Vilkins,

Cover Art, jd-mason-128089 Unsplash.

An old soldier reflects on his life.

However, there are more to enjoy, that will hopefully give you a few minutes Interest, Intrigue, or Entertainment.

A bad luck day – Crime without GrimeSeries

Written and Narrated by Breanda Cross.

Cover Art …Jeff Smith,Unsplash

A criminal on the run thinks he has outwitted the police, but  finds he is out to experience the worst day of his life.

All or Nothing – MakesYouThinkSeries

Written by Breanda Cross and Dramatised by Breanda Cross and Natalie Mullins.

Cover Art …Matthew Kane, 1  13948 Unsplash

Some people have everything and think they have nothing. Others have nothing, then find they have something that someone wants – very badly.

 

Front Window – General, 

Cover Art … Martin Wellesley,  209 Unsplash

Written by Breanda Cross and Dramatised by B.C. and Robin Reader

Two city dwellers intend to watch The Oscars on television, but find themselves in their own drama.

 The Wake – The Spouse Trap. Cover Art …Unsplash

A businessman is found dead in suspicious circumstances. A detective inspector interviews the main suspect. But everything ends a little oddly.

Guest House Ghost Story.

Cover Art … Aaron Mellow, Unsplash

Written and Narrated by Breanda Cross

A couple of young women miss their train, and get stranded in an old house, but is made welcome by an old lady, who just loves to gossip.

The odd couple – Makes You Think Series –

Cover art … Christina Gottardi, 227407, Unsplash

Written by Breanda Cross, Dramatised by John Cross

Even after 50 years of marriage there can be a few surprises.

That’s all folks – until the April release.

It is almost a year since our first release on April 1 of A bad luck day. Back then I had little idea of how podcasts or social media works.  I’m a little more experienced about the podcasting, but clueless on social media.  So I hope this gets to you the listeners – somehow!

A bad luck day

Posted on by wotif

A Bad Luck Day:

CrimeWithoutGrime

Just a few hours ago I posted my very first pod onto Whooshkaa and iTunes. The first of many I hope.  It’s called A bad luck day.  As it is a crime story with a twist I won’t say too much about it right now, other than to say that while it is fiction it is based on a good deal of fact.   However, if you want to know the back story, let me know via the contact form. It’s quite funny and gives a little idea of how a ‘wotif’ scenario can present itself.

  • 12.07m
  • Monologue
  • Written and Performed by Breanda Cross

I will just add that the ‘inspiration’ for this story was once a Spitfire pilot in World War 2, and is still married to his wife of 78 years. And that’s an achievement.

He was piloting his Cessna when nearly 80 – doing aerial photography – with the door taken out in order to get a better view.