The Time Being [Shorts]

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Mole Man

20160115

The eighth season of the showcase for previously un-broadcast writers. Past series have brought new talent to a wider audience and provided a stepping stone for writers who have since gone on to enjoy further success on radio and in print - such as Tania Hershman, Heidi Amsinck, Sally Hinchcliffe, Joe Dunthorne and Rebecca F. John.

Episode 2: Mole Man by Matthew Abbott
Following the end of a relationship, a man becomes drawn to the unseen owner of a cottage who strings up dead moles outside.

Matthew Abbott is a teacher in a secondary school and, as such, Mole Man is his first foray into the world of published writing. Up to this point he has enjoyed writing purely for himself, family and friends. He is currently putting the finishing touches to a Young Adult novel. Matthew lives with his wife in Oxford.

Reader: Daniel Ryan
Writer: Matthew Abbott

Producer: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk production on BBC Radio 4.

By Matthew Abbott. After his girlfriend leaves, a man thinks about a strange cottage.

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

Symphony of Sighs by Karen Anstee

20150517

An orchestra cellist sets off to play at an outdoor concert with something less than enthusiasm.

Karen Anstee's short story read by Hugh Dennis.

Karen Anstee originally trained as a violinist at the Royal Academy of Music and in Boston, USA. Her experiences in the music industry have been the inspiration for a series of short stories. Karen graduated from the London Film School in 2012.

Producer: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4

A cellist sets off reluctantly to play at an outdoor concert.

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

Symphony of Sighs by Karen Anstee

20150517

20200704 (R4)

An orchestra cellist sets off to play at an outdoor concert with something less than enthusiasm.

Karen Anstee's short story read by Hugh Dennis.

Producer: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4

A cellist sets off reluctantly to play at an outdoor concert.

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

The Summer of Learning by Susmita Bhattarcharya

20150524

A Welsh girl visits her father's family in India for the first time.

Susmita Bhattarcharya's short story is read by Naomi Everson.

Susmita Bhattarcharya is from Mumbai, India. She received an MA in Creative Writing from Cardiff University. Her debut novel, The Normal State of Mind, was published in March 2015. Her short stories have appeared in several literary journals internationally and in the UK. Susmita lives in Plymouth with her husband and two daughters.

Producer: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4

A Welsh girl visits India to meet her father's family.

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

The Summer of Learning by Susmita Bhattarcharya

20150524

20200711 (R4)

A Welsh girl visits her father's family in India for the first time.

Susmita Bhattarcharya's short story is read by Naomi Everson.

Producer: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4

A Welsh girl visits India to meet her father's family.

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

The Love Songs Of Foxes by Amber Lee Dodd

20150531

A woman finds there are challenges in taking in her troubled brother when he is released on parole from prison.

Amber Lee Dodd's short story read by Tracy Wiles.

Amber Lee Dodd was a writer for the young playwrights programme at Chichester Festival Theatre. Her plays have featured at the Edinburgh Fringe, New Theatre Royal and the Minerva Theatre. She is currently studying an MA in Creative Writing at Chichester University and her debut children's novel, We Are Giants, is published in spring 2016.

Producer: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4

A woman takes in her troubled brother, newly-released from prison.

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

The Love Songs Of Foxes by Amber Lee Dodd

20150531

20200718 (R4)

A woman finds there are challenges in taking in her troubled brother when he is released on parole from prison.

Amber Lee Dodd's short story read by Tracy Wiles.

Producer: Jeremy Osborne
A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4

A woman takes in her troubled brother, newly-released from prison.

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

How To Conduct A Rishta Meeting, By Nafisa Muhtadi

20160108

Season 8 of the showcase for previously un-broadcast writers.

A woman shares her considerable experience of Rishta meetings, having by now met one or two potential husbands too many.

Sohm Kapila reads Nafisa Muhtadi's short story.

Nafisa Muhtadi is a writer based in the Black Country. She is part of the current cohort of Writing West Midlands' Room 204 Writers Development Scheme. She graduated with a Masters in Creative Writing (Distinction) at Birmingham City University.

A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2016.

By Nafisa Muhtadi. A woman shares her considerable experience of Rishta meetings.

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

The Sandwich

20160122

Season 8 of the showcase for previously un-broadcast writers

With no one to talk to and in a job that he hates, Pan Wong can't wait for lunchtime.

Thom Tuck reads Ben Pedroche's short story.

Ben Pedroche writes fiction, and also blogs about his two passions - London and hip-hop music. He has published books related to London history, and lives south of the river with his wife and daughter.

Producer: Jeremy Osborne

A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2016.

By Ben Pedroche. In a job he hates, Pan Wong can\u2019t wait for lunchtime. Read by Thom Tuck.

Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.

Episodes

Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
	Mole Man	20160115		The eighth season of the showcase for previously un-broadcast writers. Past series have brought new talent to a wider audience and provided a stepping stone for writers who have since gone on to enjoy further success on radio and in print - such as Tania Hershman, Heidi Amsinck, Sally Hinchcliffe, Joe Dunthorne and Rebecca F. John. Episode 2: Mole Man by Matthew Abbott Following the end of a relationship, a man becomes drawn to the unseen owner of a cottage who strings up dead moles outside. Matthew Abbott is a teacher in a secondary school and, as such, Mole Man is his first foray into the world of published writing. Up to this point he has enjoyed writing purely for himself, family and friends. He is currently putting the finishing touches to a Young Adult novel. Matthew lives with his wife in Oxford. Reader: Daniel Ryan Writer: Matthew Abbott Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk production on BBC Radio 4. By Matthew Abbott. After his girlfriend leaves, a man thinks about a strange cottage. Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.
01	Symphony of Sighs by Karen Anstee	20150517		An orchestra cellist sets off to play at an outdoor concert with something less than enthusiasm. Karen Anstee's short story read by Hugh Dennis. Karen Anstee originally trained as a violinist at the Royal Academy of Music and in Boston, USA. Her experiences in the music industry have been the inspiration for a series of short stories. Karen graduated from the London Film School in 2012. Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 A cellist sets off reluctantly to play at an outdoor concert. Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.
01	Symphony of Sighs by Karen Anstee	20150517	20200704 (R4)	An orchestra cellist sets off to play at an outdoor concert with something less than enthusiasm. Karen Anstee's short story read by Hugh Dennis. Karen Anstee originally trained as a violinist at the Royal Academy of Music and in Boston, USA. Her experiences in the music industry have been the inspiration for a series of short stories. Karen graduated from the London Film School in 2012. Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 A cellist sets off reluctantly to play at an outdoor concert. Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.
02	The Summer of Learning by Susmita Bhattarcharya	20150524		A Welsh girl visits her father's family in India for the first time. Susmita Bhattarcharya's short story is read by Naomi Everson. Susmita Bhattarcharya is from Mumbai, India. She received an MA in Creative Writing from Cardiff University. Her debut novel, The Normal State of Mind, was published in March 2015. Her short stories have appeared in several literary journals internationally and in the UK. Susmita lives in Plymouth with her husband and two daughters. Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 A Welsh girl visits India to meet her father's family. Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.
02	The Summer of Learning by Susmita Bhattarcharya	20150524	20200711 (R4)	A Welsh girl visits her father's family in India for the first time. Susmita Bhattarcharya's short story is read by Naomi Everson. Susmita Bhattarcharya is from Mumbai, India. She received an MA in Creative Writing from Cardiff University. Her debut novel, The Normal State of Mind, was published in March 2015. Her short stories have appeared in several literary journals internationally and in the UK. Susmita lives in Plymouth with her husband and two daughters. Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 A Welsh girl visits India to meet her father's family. Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.
03	The Love Songs Of Foxes by Amber Lee Dodd	20150531		A woman finds there are challenges in taking in her troubled brother when he is released on parole from prison. Amber Lee Dodd's short story read by Tracy Wiles. Amber Lee Dodd was a writer for the young playwrights programme at Chichester Festival Theatre. Her plays have featured at the Edinburgh Fringe, New Theatre Royal and the Minerva Theatre. She is currently studying an MA in Creative Writing at Chichester University and her debut children's novel, We Are Giants, is published in spring 2016. Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 A woman takes in her troubled brother, newly-released from prison. Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.
03	The Love Songs Of Foxes by Amber Lee Dodd	20150531	20200718 (R4)	A woman finds there are challenges in taking in her troubled brother when he is released on parole from prison. Amber Lee Dodd's short story read by Tracy Wiles. Amber Lee Dodd was a writer for the young playwrights programme at Chichester Festival Theatre. Her plays have featured at the Edinburgh Fringe, New Theatre Royal and the Minerva Theatre. She is currently studying an MA in Creative Writing at Chichester University and her debut children's novel, We Are Giants, is published in spring 2016. Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 A woman takes in her troubled brother, newly-released from prison. Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.
04	How To Conduct A Rishta Meeting, By Nafisa Muhtadi	20160108		Season 8 of the showcase for previously un-broadcast writers. A woman shares her considerable experience of Rishta meetings, having by now met one or two potential husbands too many. Sohm Kapila reads Nafisa Muhtadi's short story. Nafisa Muhtadi is a writer based in the Black Country. She is part of the current cohort of Writing West Midlands' Room 204 Writers Development Scheme. She graduated with a Masters in Creative Writing (Distinction) at Birmingham City University. A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2016. By Nafisa Muhtadi. A woman shares her considerable experience of Rishta meetings. Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.
06	The Sandwich	20160122		Season 8 of the showcase for previously un-broadcast writers With no one to talk to and in a job that he hates, Pan Wong can't wait for lunchtime. Thom Tuck reads Ben Pedroche's short story. Ben Pedroche writes fiction, and also blogs about his two passions - London and hip-hop music. He has published books related to London history, and lives south of the river with his wife and daughter. Producer: Jeremy Osborne A Sweet Talk production for BBC Radio 4 first broadcast in January 2016. By Ben Pedroche. In a job he hates, Pan Wong can\u2019t wait for lunchtime. Read by Thom Tuck. Radio 4 short stories. A showcase for new and original writing.