PARADOX | New Fiction by Cor Zim
42 episodes
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Creator: Radio Verté | Cor Zim
Solo Realistic Serial Audio Book
Synopsis:
RADIO VERTÉ Presents: "PARADOX"
- A New Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cor Zim.
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
SEASON ONE: THE WILD WIND - An American Gothic Tale by Cor Zim
The Wild Wind is an American gothic tale about a woman born and raised on the grounds of a psychiatric institution—not as a patient but as the daughter of the asylum’s farmer—who learns of love and loss while grappling with the question of what it means to be sane when insanity is the norm. "What’s to be sane in the garden of madness?” That’s the question haunting Sarah, a centenarian writing about her life growing up at the asylum on the bank of the Illinois River. After a long-tormented life, Sarah intends to commit after completing a typewritten manuscript spoken to a man named Sam. Through a lens of lore and myth—the secrets that shaped Sarah’s twisted and mysterious life are revealed. In Sarah’s labyrinthine quest for healing and peace, she painstakingly deconstructs the most transformative moments of her life. Her journey, spanning a century, is marked by profound hardship and survival, leading her to the poignant realization: “Sanity is but paper in a world consumed by fire.” The Wild Wind defies convention, blending plot and character development in a refreshingly unique way. With an equally unusual structure and lyrical prose, Sarah’s account is intellectually intriguing and emotionally compelling. It sheds light on the darker aspects of American society and history, encouraging readers to view themselves and the world from a fresh perspective.
*Dedicated to Dr. George Anthony Zeller (1858-1938 ).
SEASON TWO: AHOOGA! - A Dime Novel by Cor Zim
AHOOGA! begins as a coming-of-age tale set in rural America. The protagonist, a young boy named Oscar, grapples with his father's strict rules and expectations. Despite this, Oscar forms a friendship with Josefina, a Mexican girl from the impoverished side of the tracks. The story, written in a lyrical style with vivid descriptions of the characters and settings, unfolds against a backdrop of profound societal changes and significant historical events, including the rapid rise of the automobile industry and the looming threat of World War I, culminating in a dramatic bank robbery and a chase that leaves a lasting impact on the town and its people. As Oscar and Josefina's relationship develops, they face adversity, including a violent encounter with a group of boys. This event has lasting consequences, shaping their understanding of societal divisions and personal resilience. Then tragedy strikes, leaving the young girl orphaned and on the precipice of yet another mortal tragedy that leaves Oscar broken and blaming his father personally for the loss. The second half of the novel finds Oscar hopping on a train for the city and the irresistible allure of the jazz culture of 1920s Chicago, where he meets Betty, a woman who introduces him to the hidden world of speakeasies and bootlegging. Oscar becomes enamored with the devil’s music and its flappers, finding solace and escape in the smoky haze of the underground clubs. Oscar's life takes yet another perilous turn when he meets Nevaeh, a talented jazz singer known as "Little Bird." Nevaeh is involved with a dangerous gangster, Silver Dollar Sam. Despite the risks, Oscar is drawn to Nevaeh, and they begin a passionate affair. Oscar's journey reflects the struggles of many during this era as they navigate the complexities of love, identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream. But no matter how hard Oscar tries, regardless of what vice he chases, be it jazz, liquor, or sex, he can never seem to part with the one who got away, young Josefina, and the ever-increasing desire to avenge her death.
Format: Audio Book
Continuity: Serial
Writing: Scripted
Voices: Solo
Genres: Realistic
Soundscape: Sound effects & music
Not tagged: [Maturity] [Creator demographics] [Character demographics] [Country of origin] [Transcript] [Completion status] [Content warnings]
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Episodes:
AHOOGA! | CONGO SQUARE - Act 3 / Act 4
Thu, 14 Nov 2024 04:54:52 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!,each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
AHOOGA! | CONGO SQUARE - Act 2
Tue, 12 Nov 2024 01:11:45 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!,each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
AHOOGA! | CONGO SQUARE - Act 1
Wed, 06 Nov 2024 22:59:08 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!,each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
AHOOGA! | LITTLE BIRD BLUES - Act 3
Thu, 31 Oct 2024 22:34:07 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!,each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
AHOOGA! | LITTLE BIRD BLUES - Act 2
Sat, 26 Oct 2024 23:44:59 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!,each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
AHOOGA! | LITTLE BIRD BLUES - Act 1
Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:13:20 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!,each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
Tue, 15 Oct 2024 02:10:57 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
Fri, 11 Oct 2024 22:09:06 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:23:18 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
Thu, 03 Oct 2024 22:58:38 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
AHOOGA! | BRED IN THE BONE - Act 2
Thu, 26 Sep 2024 21:23:47 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
AHOOGA! | BRED IN THE BONE - Act 1
Mon, 23 Sep 2024 22:27:03 GMT
Written & Narrated by Cor Zim
Produced by Radio Verté
Executive Producer, Cor Zim
Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.
Tue, 10 Sep 2024 22:26:48 GMT
SEASON TWO: AHOOGA! - A Dime Novel by Cor Zim
Wed, 04 Sep 2024 23:27:25 GMT
SEASON TWO: AHOOGA! - A Dime Novel by Cor Zim
Sat, 31 Aug 2024 21:17:46 GMT
The mayor purchases enough Krag carbine rifles for the new civilian police force on Mr. Olsen’s dime. At the nudging of the Mayor, Oscar is allowed by his father to fire one of the rifles at the town dump, and the experience leaves him with a loss of hearing in one of his ears. And as it turns out, the Mayor and Sgt. White has been up to no good, no good at all.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Sat, 17 Aug 2024 03:06:43 GMT
AHOOGA!—Riff Raff/Act 1 - Imaginative and carefree, Oscar spends his afternoons playing in the woods, envisioning himself as an Indian warrior. His peaceful world is disrupted when his father becomes deeply affected by the robbery at the bank, the deceptive news that R.C Saunders has escaped, and the death and destruction left in his wake. Mr. Olsen, once a respected figure, descends into paranoia and anger. He seeks solace in alcohol and the company of rough men at the local beerhouse, vowing revenge on all “filthy crooks.” The once idyllic town and its townspeople's reactions to the robbery reveal their underlying biases and fears as Oscar witnesses his father's downward spiral and the sudden sense of violence and darkness that surrounds him.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Wed, 14 Aug 2024 19:57:49 GMT
AHOOGA!—Misery Guts/Act 4 begins as bank robber R.C. Saunders, entering the First National Bank, struggles to take control, using threats and intimidation to force the stubborn bank employees and customers to comply with his demands. Things go further off the rails during the robbery as Saunders engages in a philosophical debate with the bank president, Mr. Olsen, about morality and the nature of crime.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Tue, 13 Aug 2024 19:27:43 GMT
AHOOGA!—Misery Guts/Act 3 is set in the town of Canton, where a newsboy announces Ford's one-millionth car rolling off the assembly line. The town square is beginning to bustle with activity as a new 1915 Paige Fleetwood arrives at the snobbish First National Bank. While opening the bank for the day, Mr. Olsen, the bank president, and Edward, a friendly but clumsy man, discuss Edward's wife’s award-winning meatloaf. Meanwhile, the mayor, known for his corrupt practices and love for Mr. Olsen's wife, Roxy, visits the bank. After a long meeting, the mayor leaves, expressing his disdain for the American President, and departs, singing praise for Roxy.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Mon, 12 Aug 2024 19:21:33 GMT
AHOOGA!—Misery Guts/Act 2 is set in the peaceful Spoon River Valley during the Great War and rising industrialization. Narrated by 12-year-old Oscar Clyde Olsen, it follows the Olsen family. Oscar admires his banker father, who opposes the Federal Reserve Act, causing outbursts that contrast with his mother's efforts for a peaceful home. The story captures a slice of life in the early 20th century and the clash between tradition and progress.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Sun, 11 Aug 2024 23:38:47 GMT
AHOOGA!—Misery Guts/Act 1 follows R.C. Saunders, a recently paroled inmate, as he faces post-prison life, including temptation, self-doubt, and the lingering pull of his criminal past. Set in rural Illinois, the narrative blends Saunders’ optimism with setbacks, including a farmer run-in and finding an abandoned Ford Model T, where he reflects on the past mistakes that led to his incarceration. A hidden map detailing a potential bank robbery becomes a turning point, forcing Saunders to choose between crime and redemption.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Fri, 09 Aug 2024 19:51:30 GMT
PARADOX | SEASON TWO: AHOOGA! - A Dime Novel by Cory Zimmerman
AHOOGA! begins as a coming-of-age tale set in rural America. The protagonist, a young boy named Oscar, grapples with his father's strict rules and expectations. Despite this, Oscar forms a friendship with Josefina, a Mexican girl from the impoverished side of the tracks. The story, written in a lyrical style with vivid descriptions of the characters and settings, unfolds against a backdrop of profound societal changes and significant historical events, including the rapid rise of the automobile industry and the looming threat of World War I, culminating in a dramatic bank robbery and a chase that leaves a lasting impact on the town and its people. As Oscar and Josefina's relationship develops, they face adversity, including a violent encounter with a group of boys. This event has lasting consequences, shaping their understanding of societal divisions and personal resilience. Then tragedy strikes, leaving the young girl orphaned and on the precipice of yet another mortal tragedy that leaves Oscar broken and blaming his father personally for the loss. The second half of the novel finds Oscar hopping on a train for the city and the irresistible allure of the jazz culture of 1920s Chicago, where he meets Betty, a woman who introduces him to the hidden world of speakeasies and bootlegging. Oscar becomes enamored with the devil’s music and its flappers, finding solace and escape in the smoky haze of the underground clubs. Oscar's life takes yet another perilous turn when he meets Nevaeh, a talented jazz singer known as "Little Bird." Nevaeh is involved with a dangerous gangster, Silver Dollar Sam. Despite the risks, Oscar is drawn to Nevaeh, and they begin a passionate affair. Oscar's journey reflects the struggles of many during this era as they navigate the complexities of love, identity, and the pursuit of the American Dream. But no matter how hard Oscar tries, regardless of what vice he chases, be it jazz, liquor, or sex, he can never seem to part with the one who got away, young Josefina, and the ever-increasing desire to avenge her death.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Thu, 01 Aug 2024 04:16:28 GMT
Season One—THE WILD WIND—Chapter 20: The circus arrives at the Hilltop. After BIG BEN escapes in search of blueberry pie, the commissioner leads a lynch mob to the doors of the Bronson Building in the dead of night. The day brightens with a loony game of Donkey Ball. But tuberculosis soon plagues the Hilltop, keeping the gravediggers busy around the clock, as a deathly toll is taken on the patient population. A supernatural occurrence happens before all eyes, leaving Sarah perplexed by a lurking crow. As she watches the patients plucking petals from the flowers, she considers splitting the crow’s tongue, asking, “What’s to be sane in the garden of madness?”
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Sun, 28 Jul 2024 01:16:18 GMT
Season One—THE WILD WIND—Chapter 19: Sarah feels safe amongst the insane and learns the simple joy of walking in circles, marching in place, spinning around, skipping, hopping, crying, lying, and laughing. She meets footloose patient Fannie in the rose garden, who teaches her to "swing it in that way that makes the boys go wild.” Sarah falls in love with Fannie and puts her newly acquired skills into practice, never forgetting to peek ever so slightly over the shoulder and batting her lashes, not once, but twice, to "get’em hooked" because "that’s how you get him to kill for ya!”. In turn, and feeling neglected by her father, young Sarah attracts the attention of the Wild One in the rose bushes.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Tue, 23 Jul 2024 22:23:31 GMT
Season One—THE WILD WIND—Chapter 18: Doctor Zolla commemorates a new monument and has a standoff with the COMMISSIONER over his progressive management of the Hilltop and the shocking amount of freedom he provides his insane patients. As reporters flock to the asylum, the doctor introduces them to Rose, whose toad-like figure is startling. And her unrelenting spirit leaves GOVERNOR PIERCE inspired with compassion. and a new generation with an increasingly humane philosophy on caring for the mentally ill--if even for a time.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Mon, 22 Jul 2024 22:38:56 GMT
Season One—THE WILD WIND—Chapter 17: The circus brings a drunken Wild One to the Hilltop, and he gets a job trimming rose bushes in the garden. Meanwhile, Fannie finally surrenders to Dr. Zolla, calling the Hilltop home, where she spends time in the rose garden with Bookbinder. But Fannie finds herself under the spell of the Wild One with his blonde, wind-swept bangs. As the two neck behind the Graveyard Elm, the Wild One’s aggression triggers her past traumas. When she pulls away, he attacks her, but Fannie fights him off and escapes. Despite Book’s jealousy, a glimpse into Book’s secret and tragic past is revealed as he soothes her frayed nerves.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Sun, 21 Jul 2024 22:42:45 GMT
Season One—THE WILD WIND—Chapter 16: During a blizzard on the first day of Spring in 1900, Momma goes into labor. Meanwhile, Pa’s down the road chopping wood for a widow he has fallen for, so Sam, a patient of the Hilltop, personal cook for the family, and recipient of this story, fetches Docter Zolla. Untangling the umbilical cord from Sarah’s neck, the doctor breathes life into her. Bedside, Sam reads Homer’s Iliad as snow blankets the Hilltop. Though her life is sometimes lonely, Sam, acting as Sarah’s surrogate grandfather, warms her heart with Swedish pancakes and enlightens her mind with books.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Sat, 20 Jul 2024 23:06:24 GMT
Season One—THE WILD WIND—Chapter 15: Pa teaches Sarah to barrel race. When she returns home after a competition, eager to show off her prize to Sam, a chasm forms—not only between the two but also in her mind as she hops off his knee. A darkness isolates Sarah in her room, where she pens Sam a story of trauma and ruin.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Tue, 16 Jul 2024 23:06:40 GMT
Season One — THE WILD WIND — Chapter 14: Fannie comes down with a case of tuberculosis before disappearing into the night. Her antics inspire other patients to seek escapades of their own. A shy and mysterious traveling nurse named AMY arrives, challenging Dr. Zolla to a battle of minds. But, who will be outsmarted in the end?
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Tue, 16 Jul 2024 01:20:24 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 13: Fannie arrives at the Hilltop State Hospital, where she receives a warm yet warning welcome from Dr. Zolla himself. Nonetheless, Fannie wastes no time taking advantage of the open-door policy and escapes with an itchy palm to the streets of Grandview while dressed as a man. Caught and returned, Fannie meets Bookbinder at a Hilltop dance, and it's love at first sight for Old Book.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Tue, 09 Jul 2024 23:58:06 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 12: Fannie is sent off to the inescapable confines of the penitentiary--a "Puritan vision of hell" --where she suffers starvation and abuse at the hands of sadistic GUARD LEWIS. As despondent the circumstance presents itself, Fannie plans her escape, nonetheless. After consulting with Cecil and initiating the first female riot in American history, Fannie sets a course of feigned insanity and a gruesome, unimaginable act of "breaking out," which solidifies her legacy once and for all in the great halls of injustice.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Sat, 06 Jul 2024 01:03:52 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 11: Meet FANNIE, a whiskey-guzzling swindler who is not your typical widow. She takes advantage of men for survival, who, in turn, attempt to take advantage of her. Fannie, the greatest escape artist the Midwest has ever known, engages in a capricious dialogue with her dead husband, CECIL, while on a quest for the finest food and drink saloons stretching the great plains have to offer. Her love of dance, the pursuit of late-night fun, and vengeance for the men who wronged her make for a life on the lam that seems to know no limits, as no cage can hold her. But Fannie's lackadaisical nature and her fondness for fainting can't save her this time from the judge and jury, who scold down their high-held noses, "Not this time, Fannie."
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Tue, 25 Jun 2024 01:56:08 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 10: Sarah meets a boy named Richie at the rodeo as a teen. The couple falls in love on horseback under the stars, but Richie is soon sent off to WWI, but not before proposing to Sarah, sliding a horseshoe nail ring upon her finger. A numbered collection of love letters to Richie illustrates her growing superstitious obsession as Richie’s shell-shocked mind gradually appears to present itself. Sarah eventually discovers she is pregnant with JUNIOR and grows worried as Richie fails to acknowledge a son born in his absence in dissonant, shaky-handed letters.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Thu, 20 Jun 2024 23:02:42 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 9: Richie returns from WWI, and only months later, Sarah is shocked to discover his shell-shocked, catatonic state as he stares off into the unknown with empty eyes in the stuffy confines of an old farmhouse on a grey winter day. After Richie's parents abandon him at the Hilltop—though the two can now never marry—Sarah devotes her life to caring for her "Dear Richie."
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Mon, 17 Jun 2024 03:45:28 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 8: Doctor Zolla tutors Junior under the Graveyard Elm and inspires him to become a doctor under mentorship about rounds on the Hilltop. Junior eventually goes off to college, marries, and has a child of his own, whom he introduces to his catatonic father, Richie, in Ward E.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Sat, 15 Jun 2024 21:45:16 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 7: It’s a dark time as PA dies in the cornfield he labored all his life, and the drums of war can once again be heard on the horizon. Sarah weighs the worth of empathy after Junior returns from WWII in a wooden box and Momma is found swinging from a twisted tree, having succumbed to lifelong grief.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:43:49 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 6: The last nail in the coffin of Sarah’s impending isolation is hammered by the death of Richie. Sarah confesses her relationship with “Nazi pills” she steals from the asylum, reformed in what she views as a fascist vision of hell since the death of the progressive Doctor Zolla. Sarah begins her rapid descent into a decades-long state of madness. Ronald Reagan closes the Hilltop, and the patients walk the streets of the nearby city of Grandview, where they eat out of dumpsters and freeze to death in the winter.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Thu, 13 Jun 2024 23:48:03 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 5: Hobos, angsty teenagers, and Satanic worshipers invade the deteriorating buildings of the shuddered Hilltop as Sarah stalks them under the influence of pills she scavenges from the abandoned pharmacy.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Mon, 10 Jun 2024 22:17:08 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 4: After being introduced to the array of colorful characters who occupy the dayroom, Doctor Zolla discovers ROSE in a poorhouse. Having been locked in a Utica crib for forty years, she is permanently hunched over like a toad and blind from gouging out her eyes after being haunted by OLD SCRATCH. The doctor brings Rose back to the Hilltop, where she undergoes a remarkable recovery, her enduring spirit becoming a totem of the Hilltop’s transformative vision.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Sat, 08 Jun 2024 21:05:20 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 3: As Sarah's stash of pills runs out, she is forced to endure the throes of a violent withdrawal. But upon finding a misplaced bottle on MOMMA's dresser that "shakes like a rattlesnake," she pops "two reds and blue," which send her on a drug-fueled, Homeric odyssey into the thicket after blackberries for jam.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Wed, 05 Jun 2024 03:44:44 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 2: NURSE KATE embarks on a poignant journey to join the ranks of young nurses at the Hilltop State Hospital after her brother's untimely and tragic death. On her first day, she meets DOCTOR ZOLLA, a figure of hope whose progressive ideals precede him. Later, she accompanies a mute, known simply as BOOKBINDER, at the beginning of a journey of healing from a rather severe nervous breakdown.
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Mon, 03 Jun 2024 21:31:30 GMT
Season One - THE WILD WIND - Chapter 1: When SARAH, an isolated old woman, awakes to see a spider in the corner drop down not once but three times, she knows she will die in the same old farmhouse where she was born. Sarah intends to kill herself by consuming a bottle of pills, leaving behind a peculiar manuscript addressed to a man named SAM. In a reverse chronology, an account of a long and often macabre life spanning the entirety of the twentieth century begins. Sarah, having been born and raised on the grounds of the Hilltop State Hospital—not as a psychiatric patient, but as the daughter of the asylum’s farmer on the cusp of her own death, expresses what she has learned over a lifetime of love and loss at the very crossroads of life and death. All the while, Sarah continually grapples with the existential question of what it means to be 'sane' when insanity is the norm, declaring, “Sanity is but paper in a world consumed by fire.”
A PLACE OF PARADOX is a Literary Fiction Podcast Written & Narrated by Cory Zimmerman.
A RADIO VÉRTÉ PRODUCTION
SEASONAL | WEEKLY
Thu, 06 Jun 2024 19:26:40 GMT
PARADOX | SEASON ONE: THE WILD WIND - A Novel by Cory Zimmerman
The Wild Wind is an American gothic tale about a woman born and raised on the grounds of a psychiatric institution—not as a patient but as the daughter of the asylum’s farmer—who learns of love and loss while grappling with the question of what it means to be sane when insanity is the norm.
“What’s to be sane in the garden of madness?”
That’s the question haunting Sarah, a centenarian writing about her life growing up at the asylum on the bank of the Illinois River. After a long-tormented life, Sarah intends to commit after completing a typewritten manuscript spoken to a man named Sam. Through a lens of lore and myth—the secrets that shaped Sarah’s twisted and mysterious life are revealed.
In Sarah’s labyrinthine quest for healing and peace, she painstakingly deconstructs the most transformative moments of her life. Her journey, spanning a century, is marked by profound hardship and survival, leading her to the poignant realization: “Sanity is but paper in a world consumed by fire.”
The Wild Wind defies convention, blending plot and character development in a refreshingly unique way. With an equally unusual structure and lyrical prose, Sarah’s account is intellectually intriguing and emotionally compelling. It sheds light on the darker aspects of American society and history, encouraging readers to view themselves and the world from a fresh perspective.
Written, edited & narrated by Cory Zimmerman
Executive Producer, Cory Zimmerman
Dedicated to Dr. George Anthony Zeller (1858-1938 ), whose vision and journals inspired this tale.