Mason Out Loud

Helon Habila reads sections from his book The Chibok Girls

In this unflinching personal essay, "Fractures", Kerry Folan examines friendship, honesty, and brokenness while deconstructing the emptiness at the heart of her glamorous, successful New York life. A short discussion with the author follows. Kerry Folan writes about fashion, retail, art, and culture. After a stint editing Women in the Arts magazine in DC and an internship at The Believer in San Francisco, she headed to New York to kick off Ralph Lauren's Rugby Blog in 2007. From 2011 to 2013 she covered all things retail and fashion as the Editor of Racked National. These days, she writes about the ethics of fashion and conscious consumerism for multiple publications, creates editorial for sustainable businesses, and directs outreach for DC's annual literary festival, Fall for the Book. She's also a third year nonfiction MFA candidate at George Mason University. You can follow her on the web at: http://kerryfolan.flavors.me/.

In this Halloween Double Feature, Lisa Short reads GMU alumni P.J. Devlin's story "The Witch". Eerie and emotionally fraught, this bittersweet return to childhood burns with a feverish intensity. Our supernatural fascination continues with chilling, fast-paced poetry that will set your heart pounding: Kristopher Heaton's "His Waiting Arms." Kristopher Heaton is an undergraduate student in George Mason University's Bachelor of Fine Arts program. He writes fiction and poetry. PJ Devlin received the MFA in creative writing from George Mason University in 2011. Before changing careers in 2008, she served as Fiscal Services Director of the Fairfax County, Virginia, Fire and Rescue Department. A longtime resident of Fairfax County, she's a Philadelphia native and much of her work is set there. Two novels -- Wissahickon Souls and Becoming Jonika – and her short story collection – Wishes, Sins and the Wissahickon Creek -- are available through Amazon in print and eBook. Wissahickon Souls is a 2016 Book Excelle

This week, GMU graduate student Jett Utah Watson reads his short story, "The Admiral," exploring questions of identity, family, the stories we choose to tell-- and the ones we choose to keep. Born in Amarillo, Texas, Jett Watson is a 2016 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and currently commissioned as an ensign in the Navy. After finishing his undergraduate coursework a semester early, he came to George Mason University to study English Literature at the graduate level. Upon degree completion in December, he'll be joining the Littoral Combat Ship Crew 201 in San Diego, California as a surface warfare officer.

Writer and MFA student Samuel Ashworth reads his darkly comic short story, "Stieglitz and Meyer, One Night Only." An enthralling examination of audience, family, and commitment, the reading is followed by a discussion with the author.

Art Taylor reads an excerpt from his Agatha Award winning novel, "On The Road with Del and Louise," and discusses the inspiration that led him to create one of crime's most sensational duos.

Announcing Mason Out Loud: the official podcast of George Mason University's creative community.