• Skywave Audio Theater for the Week of May 7, 2022

    5/7/2022 Gunsmoke “Jaliscoe” 5/10/1952
    5/7/2022 Father Knows Best “Missing Salesman” 5/3/1951
    5/7/2022 Counterspy “The Soaring Saucer” 5/2/1950
    5/7/2022 The Whistler “Death Has a Thirst” 5/8/1943
    5/7/2022 Suspense “Fear Paints a Picture” 5/3/1945
    5/7/2022 The Unexpected “Cargo Unknown” 5/2/1948
    5/7/2022 Bob & Ray “Rehearsing Mary Backstage with a Ghost”

    In this early episode, life in Dodge is even rougher than usual.

    Gunsmoke “Jaliscoe” May 10, 1952

    The Andersons on TV.
    Father Knows Best “Missing Salesman” May 3, 1951
    Who or what is in that saucer flying in from Mexico?

    Counterspy “The Soaring Saucer” May 2, 1950

    A change of scenery gets dangerous for three travelers.

    Suspense “Fear Paints a Picture” May 3, 1945

    Lana Turner recording this week’s episode of Suspense, May 3, 1945
    Suspense “Fear Paints as Picture’ May 3, 1945
    Millions in cash lies on the ocean floor, but brace yourself for The Unexpected!
    The Unexpected “Cargo Unknown” May 2, 1948….plus Bob and Ray rehearse with a ghost…..

  • The Maine Downeast Ledge Book Tour 2014

     

    Southwest Harbor Public Library — Tuesday, June 3, 5:30 pm***

    Jesup Library, Bar Harbor — Thursday, June 5, 7 pm***

    Sherman’s Books, Portland — Friday, June 6, 7 pm***

    Rumors abound of snickerdoodles and prizes….

  • “Knockback” Benefits a Florida School

    The two productions of my ’40s style radio mystery Knockback were a big hit and did their part to raise cash for Duval Elementary School in Gainesville, Florida.

    The dinner theater productions on February 8 and 9 at the Gainesville Woman’s Club got everyone into the mood for a ’40s immersion, and many in the audience were in ’40s attire.

    Kudos to our intrepid director Jeff Jurgens and our stalwart cast of city celebrities!

  • The Great Maine Downeast Ledge Book Tour Takes Shape

     

    Hear Downeast Ledge Come to Life Where It Takes Place!

    So far–

    Tuesday, June 3, 5:30pm–Southwest Harbor Public Library

    Thursday, June 5, 7 pm–Jesup Library, Bar Harbor

    Watch this space for more Downeast Ledge readings–and snickerdoodles!

  • Norman talks about Downeast Ledge on the Larry Meiller Show

    Join Norman on Wisconsin Public Radio’s Ideas Network on Tuesday, November 26, from 11 to 11:45 a.m. when he and Larry discuss Downeast Ledge and the mysterious process of writing during the Larry Meillor Show.

    https://www.wpr.org/listen-live

     

  • Midnight Catch Seance Scene Comes to Life at Mystery to Me

    As soon as I finished reading the seance scene from MIDNIGHT CATCH at Mystery to Me last Wednesday night, the video screen beside me started doing weird things and then spoke! Bookshop owner Joanne Berg had never head it say that. There was definitely some energy in the room that night, but nobody was expecting it to come out like that.

    I also read a short scene from DOWNEAST LEDGE–the arrival of The Intruder. A cliffhanger there!

    Sara Rath was also on hand to read from here latest mystery, NIGHT SISTERS.

    Next stop–the Big Launch for DOWNEAST LEDGE at A Room of One’s Own on Friday, December 6, at 6. I’ll read all of Chapter 1.

    Norman reads at Mystery To Me bookstore
    Photo by Frank Caruso

     

  • How We Got Beowulf Started off Right

    A thousand years after it was written, BEOWULF is still making news. It turns out that many translations of the Old English masterpiece may have been getting it wrong from the very first word. But the Dick Ringler version we used for our dramatization got it right. Get the lowdown:

    https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/listen-beowulf-opening-line-misinterpreted-for-200-years-8921027.html

     

  • Kelly Harms Talks with Norman Gilliland about Downeast Ledge–Part 3

    KH: …the sailing… oh the sailing. One character calls it “nothing but a lot of physics and a dash of determination.” Having never sailed myself, I’m with the narrator, Amber, who describes “gut-grabbing fear” at sea. Where do you fall on this spectrum?

    NG: Looking at sailing logically, I agree with Walt about it being physics and determination, but that’s an oversimplification. It’s like Bach saying that music is nothing but hitting the right note at the right time. Sailing is also about getting out of your comfort zone, and that means biting your nails from time to time. So I’m going with Amber on that one, but we’ve both expanded our comfort zones a lot.

  • Save the Date! Book Launch December 6, 2013

    The official launch of DOWNEAST LEDGE will take place at A Room of One’s Own,

    315 West Gorham Street in Madison, on Friday, December 6, at 6 pm.

    Norman will introduce Amber by reading Chapter 1, in which she tells us of her struggles with sports, boys, and one of the world’s worst ways of making Christmas money.

    Rumor has it that in celebration of Amber’s limited culinary skills, the event will include snickerdoodles.

  • Kelly Harms Talks with Norman Gilliland about Downeast Ledge–Part 2

    KH: I notice in the book the poorer areas are downtrodden, but the rich summer folk are taking a decent run at poor too. Which “side of the river” do you feel the most affection and affinity for, both in your writing and in your travels? Or do you feel divided?

    NG: Well, you know, between the flush summer people on Walt’s side of the river and the chronically poor people on the Dunning side, you have Amber’s house at the mouth of the river, which is an example of the middle class. I’d say that’s where my perspective comes from. It gives you insights into the extremes on either side.