The Abandoned Scarf

 Dear Listener,

Welcome to Episode 64, a long time coming ... longer than you might think. At least one scene of this particular story has been living in my imagination since I was sixteen years old, and it has taken until now to find the right shape for it, and explore it to its conclusion. I'm rather glad it waited, for now seems to be its fitting moment.

In it you will meet two of the most celebrated and least knowable figures in all of music and literature, living quietly in a big white Georgian house in the English countryside, and the neighbour who finds himself drawn into their most ambitious summer project yet. There is a poolside recital, a green silk scarf, a blocked writer, an all-night creative session in a library, and a little light operetta performed under a full moon. Whether everything that follows was really orchestrated or just naturally flowed into place is something you may ponder with the narrator.

This one is set in high summer and I hope it brings a little warmth, whatever the sky is doing outside your window.

As always, here is a direct download link for those who prefer it, and you'll find the episode on your favourite podcast app by searching for Borders of Sleep.

Sweet dreams to you and all who are dear to you,

Seymour

The Cadillac in the Pond

 

Dear Listener,

I'm delighted to bring you Episode 55 - at last and thank goodness! With my apologies for another enormous gap since the last episode.

This one began as a short piece of whimsy but soon took on a life of its own, as they often do. I hope you find it entertaining and, most of all, soothing.

Part of the lateness of this episode has been due to me making some life changes recently so that I can give more regular dedicated time to writing and creating these stories for you. There were quite a few ducks to get lined up, and not a few challenges on the way. Nevertheless, I hope it means that I will be able to drop fresh material with greater frequency in the coming years and grow the creative projects surrounding the podcast in a more sustainable way.

Here is a direct download link for those who prefer that approach.

The soundtrack in this episode is by Juan Sanchez, available from Magnatune.

If you are enjoying the podcast and have not already done so, please consider joining my email list or following Borders of Sleep on Facebook. You can find out how to support me to keep writing on my Support and Donations page.

Thanks for coming along on this audio journey, and I hope we can travel together again at the borders of sleep soon.

Until then, sweet dreams!

Seymour

Monday Mechanical Club

Dear Listeners,

Here is Episode 49 for your listening pleasure: a story about a stenography machine. I had a lot of fun writing it, and the characters have since become good imaginary friends. I hope you like them too.

It's been a long wait, for which I apologise. The story flowed very easily at the composing stage but there seems to have been a mountain to climb to record it.

Here's your download link if you want the direct MP3. 

The background music is from Chad Lawson's Song of Prayer album on magnatune.com

May your sleeping be sweet and your waking be fresh,

Seymour

Horseless Carriage

Dear Listeners,

We bring you Episode 41: a pleasant little jaunt down memory lane wherein we discover some magical properties of a certain bird ... perhaps.

Thank you for your patience and many apologies for another long wait and lots of empty promises to bring you something "soon"!

This story all jumped out at me from an old postcard depicting Henry Ford and his son Edsel. Henry is sitting in the first vehicle they ever built while his son looks out at him through the window of a much more modern model. I know not a lot about vintage vehicles and have done a little research but left the details of makes and models to the imagination because someone out there is way more savvy about it all than I will ever be.

You can hear it by clicking on the media player above, get your direct link to download the MP3 here or listen on iTunes or your favorite app, of course.

I'd love to see you over at our Facebook page if you do Facebook. It's probably the best place to get updates and interact ... or there is twitter, too.

Music in this episode is by Chad Lawson, available from magnatune.com.

I plan to bring you another episode in a couple of weeks ... until then ... sweet dreams and thanks for listening.

Yours dreamily,
Seymour

Rehoming

Dear Listeners,

There are some things you will discover about plants in this episode that I hope will make you never see the world quite the same again. Moreover, Episode 40 must be some sort of milestone, and this one is appropriately a little different.

This story was inspired by and written for a couple of lovely listeners, one of whom helped with some ideas and the other of whom I hope didn't see it coming as a wedding anniversary surprise. I hope you enjoy listening in and sharing the experience; it's been a lot of fun to compose.

For those who need it, here's the direct link, but don't forget you can subscribe with iTunes or whatever your flavour of podcatcher, using the links on this page. Come on over to facebook or drop me an email or comment if you'd like to feedback or start a conversation. I love hearing from people around the world who are 'tuning in'.

The music this week is by Erik Ask Upmark, another beautiful offering from Magnatune. Thank you for listening. I hope you enjoy this one. And many thanks to Ben and Maria!

 Seymour

Poor Butterfly

Dear Listeners,

It has been a while - a long while - since the last episode was published. In the meantime I have had wonderful emails, comments and feedback from so many of you that I have finally found the time to get writing and recording again.

This story was sort of inspired by reading "Flappers" by Judith Mackrell and by a favorite song by Huw Williams, "The Summer Before the War". I hope it feels nostalgic.

Here's your direct link to the mp3, and you can get previous episodes on the "Archive" page.

I'm looking forward to bringing you more in 2018. If you're on the Facebook, join us there, too: https://www.facebook.com/bordersofsleep/

Thank you so much for listening!
Seymour