<![CDATA[Trowbridge Dispatch Audio]]>
trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/podcastSubstackSun, 11 Oct 2026 17:50:25 GMThttps://api.substack.com/feed/podcast/4764400.rssI.M. AIkenTrowbridge Dispatch is a series of short stories that explore fictional Trowbridge Vermont and the characters of my novels. I promise humor, irony, thoughtful stories that celebrating the joyful mess we all are. episodicI.M. AIkenc@iamAiken.comNo<![CDATA[The Valley]]>Hey, this is I. M. Aiken, in late August 2026. My third novel drops in late September. Captain Henry: 2 ½ Insurrections, 2 Wars, 1 ¼ Centuries, and a Story of Love has been described as a, “A contemporary perspective of American warfare that reminds readers of Hellers’ Catch 22 and Hooker’s MASH.” The stories are based on my first-hand journals from Iraq in 2006 and Reconstruction-era archives about my great grandfather, who enlisted as an underaged private in 1870 then later lead troops in Cuba during the Spanish-American War, providing infantry support to the Rough Riders, Teddy Roosevelt, and the Buffalo Soldiers. You’ll find it or can order it at any bookstore and/or listen to me read it to you as an audiobook available at all of the outlets: Libro.fm, Barnes & Noble Audio, Libby, and Audible.

Take care of each other. Few understand. My young friend (a woman I help raise) informed me this week that as she transports vets in her ambulance, they are universally informing her that therapists have asked them to open up and tell their stories, only to end the session early saying: please stop, you are traumatizing me, you’ll need to find a different therapist. This now forty-year-old medic was a young EMT on that stormy night above.

One love.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/the-valley-audiosubstack:post:212830222Wed, 26 Aug 2026 10:51:51 GMTI.M. AIkenNo641<![CDATA[It Matters]]>The Third Law of Honor dictates that those engaged in public service, who take then uphold oaths, put themselves at personal risk can expect an equal and opposite commitment from the government that asked them to step up. This bilateral commitment involves telling the truth when it comes to sacrifices made by people on behalf of our nation. We don’t get to discount the cost of sacrifice, we don’t get to dismiss benefits, injury, or death because it fails to meet the narrative of the day. When we memorialize a public servant, we put the right picture with the right name because it matters.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/it-matters-audiosubstack:post:208560756Sun, 26 Jul 2026 14:08:03 GMTI.M. AIkenNo103620268full<![CDATA[Echoes of a Lincoln Song]]>My tribute to the American Revolution, my childhood, the 4th of July and America's 250th. A short story of grow up on the battlegrounds of April 19th, 1775



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/echoes-audiosubstack:post:203541673Thu, 25 Jun 2026 12:10:58 GMTI.M. AIkenNo61820267<![CDATA[Stacy from M.E. (Middle East)]]>Thoughts of American Warriors engaged in Iraq during a 23 year war; expanded to Iran and beyond. An old campaigner’s hopes for peace.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/stacy-from-me-audiosubstack:post:193583742Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:01:07 GMTI.M. AIkenNo109720265<![CDATA[Cardboard Undies, Endless Wars & The Tides of History]]>I.M. Aiken spent 2006 as member of a military unit in Iraq as a government civilian. She has a new novel releasing this summer/fall that incorporate her journal entries and ties them to ancestral stories of a soldier during the Reconstruction Period that followed the American Civil War. This story is a revised chapter from that upcoming novel. Links to current events will pop for you. This journal entry is from precisely 20 years ago this month, the author (me) seems to pleading for a description of the end game. Not different from March of 2026. And actually, not too different from 1898 and 1871 America, either, a theme in the upcoming novel. Note that in fictionalizing the journals, the roll of the storyteller morphed from the author to a fictional soldier.

Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I.M. Aiken

* Author & narrator

* “The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County” (2024)

* “Stolen Mountain” (2025)

* “Trowbridge Dispatch” - fictional short stories/podcast

* “Captain Henry: 2½ Insurrections, 2 Wars, 1¼ Centuries and a Story of Love”



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/cardboard-undies-audiosubstack:post:190938027Sat, 14 Mar 2026 14:49:16 GMTI.M. AIkenNo228220264full<![CDATA[The Night the Plane Crashed]]>Please enjoy, if you enjoy this or other stories in Trowbridge Dispatch, please go buy a novel by I.M. Aiken. “Stolen Mountain” (Catalyst Press, Oct 2025) is available for pre-order now and shipping soon. Order from your favorite reseller including Libro.fm for the audiobook or any bookshop for the print version.

Trowbridge Dispatch is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/the-night-the-plane-crashed-audiosubstack:post:174825090Mon, 29 Sep 2025 11:22:40 GMTI.M. AIkenNo97020257full<![CDATA[Murmuration]]>Feel free to read along here:

https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/murmuration

Thanks for reading Trowbridge Dispatch! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Trowbridge Dispatch is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/murmuration-audiosubstack:post:172109655Wed, 27 Aug 2025 18:23:24 GMTI.M. AIkenNo111020257full<![CDATA[3 Faces of Raven]]>As always, there is a print version here..

If you enjoy these stories, keep listening and please buy books.

Stolen Mountain

Publication fall 2025, pre-order open

Print at Flying Pig Books

Print at Northshire Books

ePub at Bookshop.org

Audio link available soon

Of course, you can find these books at any vendor selling books.

The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County

Published fall 2025.

Print at Flying Pig Books

Print at Northshire Books

ePub at Bookshop.org

Audio at Libro.fm

Thanks for reading Trowbridge Dispatch! This post is public so feel free to share it.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/3-faces-of-raven-audiosubstack:post:170255661Wed, 06 Aug 2025 11:14:51 GMTI.M. AIkenNo79820256full<![CDATA[The Joker]]>

Trowbridge Dispatch is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Thanks for reading Trowbridge Dispatch! This post is public so feel free to share it.

If you want to send me $0.99 for the audio book or ePub, head to libro.fm or Amazon



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/the-joker-audiosubstack:post:167346417Wed, 02 Jul 2025 12:21:44 GMTI.M. AIkenNo79520255full<![CDATA[First Corn]]>Read along, if you’d like here: https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/first-corn

Trowbridge Dispatch is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/first-corn-audiosubstack:post:166588987Tue, 24 Jun 2025 10:30:00 GMTI.M. AIkenNo795202504full<![CDATA[The Curious]]>Join a small crew of EMTs and paramedics (characters from The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County) who undertake a hilarious and disgusting anatomy refresher as part of their on-going training requirements. Given the location (rural Vermont) and the season (hunting season), the crew explores the heart and lungs of a deer. The narrator warns the reader twice that what they may see, read, and smell may recall the grave robbers and ghouls of prior centuries. Don’t read this one on a full stomach. Trowbridge Dispatch is part of the Trowbridge, Vermont series of novels and stories, wherein I.M. Aiken draws on her roots in public safety to narrate stories of the everyday heroes that every community depends on.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/the-curious-audiosubstack:post:165015850Tue, 03 Jun 2025 10:30:35 GMTI.M. AIkenNo143015full<![CDATA[Rubber Duckies]]>Explore the dark humor of rural medic who deploys who tags select patients with rubber duckies hidden in their homes. Then discovers how this may gently slide off the rails — twice.

Trowbridge Dispatch is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Trowbridge Dispatch is part of the Trowbridge, Vermont series of novels and stories, wherein I.M. Aiken draws on her roots in public safety to narrate tales of the everyday heroes that every community depends on. Enjoy these, please order “The Little Ambulance War of Winchester County” or the upcoming novel “Stolen Mountain” from any of your favorite bookshops or order the audio book from your favorite vendor.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/rubber-duckies-audiosubstack:post:162815881Sun, 04 May 2025 13:30:26 GMTI.M. AIkenNo84114full<![CDATA[The Firefighter’s Statue]]>At midnight on New Year’s Eve, Trowbridge Vermont EMT Brighid Doran delivers the region’s ambulance to a three-alarm house fire. Afterward, she sits in a warm truck with her girlfriend Sam, a US Army officer fresh from the battlefields of Iraq, as they watch a local volunteer firefighter battle the blast in subzero weather. The story was written by I.M. Aiken just prior to the 21st Anniversary of 9/11. The reader may be reminded that the spirit of that day lives in the everyday heroes found in every community. Trowbridge Dispatch is part of the Trowbridge, Vermont series of novels and stories, wherein I.M. Aiken draws on her roots in public safety to narrate tales of the everyday heroes that every community depends on.

Print Version



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/the-firefighters-statue-audiosubstack:post:161729798Mon, 21 Apr 2025 10:30:36 GMTI.M. AIkenNo76320253full<![CDATA[When Johnny Goes Marching Away]]>EMS Chief Alex Flynn gets called into the principal’s office in this short story set in rural Vermont, where poor roads and under-funded public services form a comfortable and familiar background. Explore the hidden links and community found in an ordinary New England town when local first responders might or might not have to engage with an active school shooter. Trowbridge Dispatch is part of the Trowbridge, Vermont series of novels and stories, wherein I.M. Aiken draws on her roots in public safety to narrate tales of the everyday heroes that every community depends on.



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/when-johnny-goes-marching-awaysubstack:post:161678771Sat, 19 Apr 2025 15:14:27 GMTI.M. AIkenNo98620252full<![CDATA[Cooking Bacon With Propane]]>Boston-born first-responder Alex Flynn is back with wry wit and still chasing emergencies in rural Vermont in this tale involving a gas line, a chainsaw, and other things that might or might not go boom and that might or might not go horrible wrong. Eavesdrop on emergency personnel as they attempt to diffuse a dicey situation in this, the first in the Trowbridge Dispatch collection of short stories. Trowbridge Dispatch is part of the Trowbridge, Vermont series of novels and stories, wherein I.M. Aiken draws on her roots in public safety to narrate tales of the everyday heroes that every community depends on.

Start writing today. Use the button below to create a Substack of your own



Get full access to Trowbridge Dispatch Short Stories at trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/subscribe]]>https://trowbridgedispatch.iamaiken.com/p/cooking-bacon-with-propane-84csubstack:post:161678292Sat, 19 Apr 2025 15:09:23 GMTI.M. AIkenNo81020251full