A Service of UA Little Rock
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Welcome To Hickory Ditch, 2012

Listen to the episode

 

Welcome to Hickory Ditch, Arkansas, 2012

". . . where nothing ever stops or happens but just hangs somewhere in the middle. . . Hickory Ditch, Arkansas--a city full of human-shaped mosquitoes suspended in amber."

 

On this episode of Arts & Letters, we talk with writer and University of Central Arkansas Alumnus Chase Night. 
 
His book for young adults, Chicken, published by Asymmetrical Press is based on a reality of the thousands of disenfranchised flesh-and-blood children who continue to live everyday. The protagonist Casper has a secret but his best friend Brant Mitchell has two.
 
 

In a steamy valley between the Ozark and Ouachita mountains of western Arkansas, the sleepy--alright, let's be honest, comatose--town of Hickory Ditch woke just long enough to celebrate the fourteenth annual, three day, Fourth of July festival known as Ditch Daze. . .

 

Author Chase Night

Chase Night was born and raised in Arkansas, which he claims is far better and worse than everything that has been said.

He graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a B.A. in Creative Writing, a mere thirteen years after first enrolling. He lives in Arkansas with his wife, three dogs, one cat, and an immortal garden snail.

Thank you to actors Bobby Ampezzan, Jacob Kauffman, and Jennifer Goss.

Thank you to musicians Birthday Club, Gringo Star, Humming House, Kevin and Gus Kirby, Three Miles From Providence, Mothwind, AdamFaucett. Joseph Fuller and DrewDeFranceYarn, and Daniel Martin Moore for the transcendent music, which inspires us to leap over all barriers. 

Generous funding for this episode was provided by the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanitiesand listeners like you.

This episode is dedicated to Mary Ellen Kubit, our incomparable story editor and producer, who is always, always, always a trier. 

 
 
 
Listen to the song "Lighten Up" by Birthday Club

lighten_up.mp3

Listen to the song "I'm A Bird" by Humming House

08_i_am_a_bird.mp3

Listen to the song "Life Is Weird" by Yarn

10_life_is_weird.mp3

Listen to the song "Proud As We Are" by Daniel Martin Moore

03_proud_ay_we_are.mp3

 

Executive Producer & Host: J. Bradley Minnick Producer: Mary Ellen Kubit Recorded by: Christopher Hickey Intern: Krista Hancock

Related Content