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The heroine of Amy Hempel’s road trip tale, “Jesus is Waiting,” seems to be driving away from something, driving towards something, or just plain driving, on America’s Interstate highways and turnpikes. Amy Hempel is the winner of the 2008 Rea Award for the Short Story, and currently teaches in the graduate writing program at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York. Her works include: The Collected Stories of Amy Hempel, and The Dog of the Marriage: Stories. “Jesus is Waiting” is read by Mary Stuart Masterson, who made her film debut at the age of seven in “The Stepford Wives,” and whose other credits include “Fried Green Tomatoes” and a recurring role on “Law and Order: SUV.”

Shaun Tan, the author of our second story, “No Other Country,” began drawing and painting images for science fiction and horror stories in small press magazines as a teenager, and has since become known for his illustrated books and his acclaimed wordless novel, THE ARRIVAL. This provocative short short gives us a glimpse of a world within a world, and is read by Campbell Scott.

Each year SELECTED SHORTS sponsors the Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Writing Contest (details are on our website, selectedshorts.org). The 2009 winner, “Swimmers” was written by Daniela Maristany, now a junior at Yale University. Her prize-winning entry—an affecting moment in the life of an extended family--is read by Mary Stuart Masterson.

Our final story is a haunting and utterly surprising work by master story writer, Edna O’Brien. In “Number 10” a husband and wife sleepwalk, or dream-travel, to a very special address, and find out things about one another that they are unable to express directly. The reader is the incomparable Marian Seldes.

The musical interlude in this program is “Preludio”, by Victor Villadingos, on “Guitar Music of Argentina.” The SELECTED SHORTS theme is Roger Kellaway’s “Come to the Meadow.”

“Jesus is Waiting by Amy Hempel,” read by Mary Stuart Masterson
“No Other Country,” by Sean Tan, read by Campbell Scott
“Swimmers,” by Daniela Maristany, read by Mary Stuart Masterson
“Number 10,” by Edna O’Brien, read by Marian Seldes.

For additional works featured on SELECTED SHORTS, please visit Symphony Space

We’re interested in your response to these programs. Please comment on this site or visit www.selectedshorts.org

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Contest Have you always wanted to try your hand at a story story? Here’s your chance: our annual writing contest. Go to https://www.symphonyspace.org/writing_contest/ for details of the 2009 contest.

Listener’s choice! On June 9th, 2010, SELECTED SHORTS at Symphony Space in New York will feature stories selected by our nationwide audience. Go to http://www.symphonyspace.org/shorts/audience_picks to submit your suggestions for a published story you think we should read. Then in the spring, you’ll vote for your favorite from among the final contenders.