096: Writing audio fiction for young audiences with Dania Ramos & Michael Aquino of Timestorm

March 15, 2020

Writing audio fiction for young audiences with Dania Ramos and Michael Aquino, the producers and creators of Timestorm. 

Timestorm is an audio fiction series for children in which the Ventura twins, Alexa and Benni, travel through time to preserve their culture’s true history. The twins visit three continents across the span of five centuries, meeting people who have left their mark on Puerto Rican heritage, all while managing twenty-first century life as middle schoolers in Newark, New Jersey.

Timestorm is produced by Cocotazo Media with support from PRX and the Google Podcasts creator program. Timestorm will be part of TRAX, a new podcast network that PRX is launching in 2020 with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The network will feature free on-demand audio content for ages nine through thirteen.

This piece, Writing for Young Audiences with Dania Ramos and Michael Aquino of Timestorm was originally published on HowlRound Theatre Commons on February 19, 2020. Please visit their website for a complete transcript.

Dania Ramos  is the series creator and head writer for Timestorm, and co-producer of the Cocotazo Audio Theatre podcast, both produced by Cocotazo Media. Her stage plays have been produced or developed by Luna Stage, Writers Theatre of New Jersey, Speranza Theatre Company, Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, and Teatro Vivo. She’s also the author of the middle-grade series the 7th Grade Sleuths. Dania is a drama and creative writing teaching artist for the New Jersey Performing Arts Center.

Michael Aquino is co-founder of Cocotazo Media. He is the audio engineer, sound designer, and composer for Timestorm and the Cocotazo Audio Theatre podcast. Michael has received three Audio Verse Awards for composition and engineering. He’s also a musician, actor, and teaching artist. 

Music: Spring Idyll by Pennee Miles.

A selection of audio fiction for kids (upper elementary and middle school):

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Artist Soapbox

Artist Soapbox is a platform for original scripted audio fiction and an opportunity for artists to discuss their creative work in their own voices. We do this through our interview podcast, our blog, live events, and original audio dramas.

Artist Soapbox is an anti-racist organization. We believe Black Lives Matter. In addition, as a podcast production company, ASBX has signed the Equality in Audio Pact on Broccoli Content.

Artist Soapbox is more than just a podcast.

We lead writers groups, accountability support, workshops, and events. We produce and create audio dramas too! Listen to the Master Builder, The New Colossus Audio Drama, Jesus Pancake, Declaration of Love, Food for Thought, and ASBX Shorts. Stay tuned to hear about more projects written by the Soapbox Audio Collective Writers’ Group.

Audio Dramas

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Jesus Pancake

Jesus Pancake is the newest scripted audio fiction series from Artist Soapbox. Nine episodes of zany dark comedy.

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The New Colossus

The New Colossus Audio Drama is a totally unhinged dark comedy reboot of Anton Chekhov’s classic play, THE SEAGULL.

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Master Builder

This audio drama was adapted from Tamara’s 2018 stage play produced by Little Green Pig Theatrical Concern and inspired by Henrick Ibsen’s classic, The Master Builder published in 1892.

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Declaration of Love

Co-producers Aurelia Belfield and Tamara Kissane of Artist Soapbox commissioned eleven NC playwrights to craft short audio scenes based on the prompt “Declaration of Love.”

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Food for Thought

Three pilot episodes of new scripted audio fiction series inspired by the prompt Food for Thought.

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ASBX Shorts

ASBX Shorts are six short audio fiction pieces created and produced by North Carolina artists. Artist Soapbox Shorts were specifically contributed by the artists to aid in fundraising and to get everyone excited about Jesus Pancake, our new audio fiction series in development.

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