Interview: Scott Holleran on “A Deal With God”

“The Patient and the Passenger” Author Interview

This interview is the third in a series of author Q&As about short stories available in audio episodes and in my anthology, Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One [https://books.apple.com/us/book/long-run/id6755129006]. My story of two women on an imperiled passenger airplane takes place in the near future. A national health system mandates control of medicine by the state in “The Patient and the Passenger.” The interview addresses this topic as it applies to today’s ObamaCare, an enactment which nationalized health insurance on this date in 2010. Incidentally, on this date last year, my fable and short story “Sesame Flanagan,” included in my e-book collection of short stories [https://books.apple.com/us/book/long-run/id6755129006], was accepted for publication in Classic Chicago magazine. Listen to me read “Sesame Flanagan” [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/sesame-flanagan-by-scott-holleran] aloud. Watch and listen to my interview about my first published fiction, “A Deal With God.” [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/interview-scott-holleran-on-a-deal] Watch and listen to me discuss the story catching notice in Hollywood, “Strapped.” [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/interview-scott-holleran-on-strapped] Listen to me read “The Patient and the Passenger” aloud. [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/the-patient-and-the-passenger-by] Buy Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One [https://books.apple.com/us/book/long-run/id6755129006]. Related Author Interview about “A Deal With God”: Watch Scott Holleran’s Movie Debut in “Henry Dances”: Author Interview about “Strapped: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Watch “Henry Dances” Debut Interview

This 38-minute video shows the moderated audience interview of Henry Dances [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/presenting-henry-dances] co-creators Mike Voutsinos and Scott Holleran. Short Stories by Scott Holleran is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. The question-and-answer session, conducted at the Henry Mingay campus of Burbank Adult School in Burbank, California, by Double Dutch executive and independent filmmaker David LaCour Simien, followed the movie’s 21 February 2026 debut screening. Henry Dances [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/presenting-henry-dances] debuted on Short Stories by Scott Holleran [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe] at midnight on George Washington’s Birthday (22 February 2026). The seven-minute motion picture is also available on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EY1abtEAnjY]. Henry Dances [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/presenting-henry-dances], featuring Scott Holleran’s on-screen motion picture debut and Sofia Isabella Flores, is directed by Mike Voutsinos, a former student of Mr. Holleran’s writing course at Burbank Adult School. Mr. Voutsinos read “Strapped [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/strapped-by-scott-holleran],” a short story by Scott Holleran (currently in development and available in Long Run: Short Stories: Volume One [https://books.apple.com/us/book/long-run/id6755129006]) and was inspired to write the script and direct Henry Dances [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/presenting-henry-dances]. The screening program in the video was presented by Short Stories by Scott Holleran [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe], Scott Holleran’s story podcast and fiction media, and Open Trail Productions. Burbank Adult School hosted the event. Related Posts and Episodes Watch “Henry Dances” uncut, distraction-free: Watch the interview with Scott Holleran about “Strapped”: Watch the interview with Scott Holleran about “A Deal With God”: This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

“Henry Dances”

Short Stories by Scott Holleran and Open Trail Productions present Henry Dances, inspired by “Strapped [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/strapped-by-scott-holleran],” my short story about a dancer (available to read in Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One [https://books.apple.com/us/book/long-run/id6755129006] my anthology of 16 stories). This seven-minute movie, co-produced and directed by Mike Voutsinos with dance, choreography and acting by yours truly, debuted yesterday at a theatrical screening in America’s media city, Burbank, California. The screening was followed by an interview with producer David LaCour Simien. Henry Dances marks my movie debut. Henry Dances debuts online on George Washington’s Birthday, 22 February 2026. Learn about the movie in last month’s announcement [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/henry-dances-to-debut-in-burbank] and the press release announcing Henry Dances on Ayn Rand’s birthday, 2 February 2026. The screening’s question and answer at the Henry Mingay campus of Burbank Adult School—where I taught the screenwriter, director and editor in my writing course and continue to teach reading, writing and media—will soon be available to watch. Watch and listen to my first interview about “Strapped.” [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/interview-scott-holleran-on-strapped] Related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Interview: Scott Holleran on “Strapped”

In this interview, Andrew Folkler asks about “Strapped [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/strapped-by-scott-holleran],” the tense story of Sammy, a dancer in a gay bar who is tackled by Islamic terrorists to showcase and annihilate Western depravity, fastened with a motion sensory bomb and ordered to “dance or die.” The short story’s been the topic of interest in Hollywood. Listen to this author read “Strapped [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/strapped-by-scott-holleran]” on Short Stories by Scott Holleran [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe]. Read “Strapped [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/strapped-by-scott-holleran]” in my book, Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One (buy the e-book direct from author via press@scottholleran.com, on Apple Books [https://books.apple.com/us/book/long-run/id6755129006] or Amazon [https://www.amazon.com/Long-Run-Short-Stories-One-ebook/dp/B0FYHHC924]). Attend the 21 February 2026 debut screening with Q & A of the first movie inspired by my fiction writing—“Strapped”—in Burbank, California, America’s media city. [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/p/henry-dances-to-debut-in-burbank] Thanks for reading Short Stories by Scott Holleran! This post is public so feel free to share it. Related This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Interview: Scott Holleran on “A Deal With God”

This is a podcast episode of Short Stories by Scott Holleran. It’s the debut of a new series exploring points, themes and ideas in my fiction writing. The topic is my first published fiction, “A Deal With God” (available in my new book of stories [https://books.apple.com/us/book/long-run/id6755129006]). Listen to me read “A Deal With God”, which is the first chapter in my recently published anthology of 16 previously published short stories, Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One [https://books.apple.com/us/book/long-run/id6755129006]. Preview, browse and read my book here (also on Amazon.com [https://www.amazon.com/Long-Run-Short-Stories-One-ebook/dp/B0FYHHC924]). Become a paid subscriber [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe] to listen to me read my stories aloud. The interview’s conducted by writer Andrew Folkler. Short Stories by Scott Holleran is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Related Episodes, Links and Stories This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe [https://shortstoriesbyscottholleran.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]