Franz Weinschenk

This week on Valley Writers Read, we hear a story by Oakhurst author Susan Norman titled "Learning the Ropes." It's about CJ, a precocious teenaged girl who had been sent to a school for delinquents. The parents come to see their daughter on visiting day and watch the youngsters climb a complicated jungle gym.  That afternoon, CJ's mother decides to climb the jungle gym herself.  This forebodes some big changes in family relationships. KVPR's Leigh Murray reads this story.

This week on Valley Writers Read, Auberry author James Benelli reads his story "Spaghetti Farming In Kansas." This is a satirical story about a millionaire, Nick Worthmore and his wife Penny who, when they stop to get their car repaired in Kansas, wind up on an unexpected adventure.

Clovis author David Borofka reads his story about Professor Grimshaw whose wife was in the habit of insulting him all the time-- so much so that he moves into the garage and sleeps in the Buick.  But things get even more complicated for Mr. Grimshaw, on this edition of Valley Writers Read.

This week on Valley Writers Read, we hear a story by Madera author Earline Holguin, titled "Vineyards of the San Joaquin Valley." This memoir recalls life on a grape ranch right next to the San Joaquin River, and gives the listener insights into agricultural life in the Central Valley.

This week on Valley Writers Read, we hear a story by Fresno State graduate and current Sacramento resident Anne Richards Da Vigo.  She reads her own story. “Two Women.” While Naomi is elderly, wealthy and bossy, her nurse Mary, is just the opposite; she is patient, compassionate and sympathetic.  

This week on Valley Writers Read we hear two stories from local authors. Our program begins with "Valley Song" a short story from Stephen D. Gutierrez, winner of a 2010 American Book Award for his book "Live from Fresno y Los." Gutierrez, who now teaches at CSU East Bay, previously taught at Fresno City College. In “Valley Song” we hear a story about the life and struggles of Mexican-American boxer. 

This week on Valley Writers Read, we hear several short stories from the book "Take Me to the River: Fishing, Swimming, and Dreaming on the San Joaquin." This collection of stories about the San Joaquin River was edited by Joell and Coke Halowell. The book is the result of a decade long series of interviews with people who have deep connections to the river.

Host and author Franz Weinschenk reads his story entitled “Home Room” which is about the lives of the author's former students at Edison High School in Fresno, Catherine Haw Chin. She worked for the Fresno County Courts for well over 40 years. 

This week on Valley Writers Read, we hear a story from local author Bonnie Hearn Hill. In her story "Part Light, Part Memory", we learn about some former slave holders in Texas at the end of the Civil War who still consider it a crime for a white person to teach black people how to read and write.

This week on Valley Writers Read, we hear works by two San Joaquin Valley writers.  In our first story, "Called",  Bakersfield author Jack Hernandez tells us how he originally wanted to become a minister, and about the interesting path that he eventually followed. In our second story, Fresno author Oscar G. Williams tells us about Fred and Mildred, two computer wizards who have figured out how to scam the scammers.