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, was accepted for publication in Classic Chicago magazine. Listen to me read “Sesame Flanagan” aloud.

Watch and listen to my interview about my first published fiction, “A Deal With God.”

Watch and listen to me discuss the story catching notice in Hollywood, “Strapped.”

Listen to me read “The Patient and the Passenger” aloud.

Buy Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One.

Related

Author Interview about “A Deal With God”:

Watch Scott Holleran’s Movie Debut in “Henry Dances”:

Author Interview about “Strapped:

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 debuted on Short Stories by Scott Holleran at midnight on George Washington’s Birthday (22 February 2026).

The seven-minute motion picture is also available on YouTube. 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,” a short story by Scott Holleran (currently in development and available in Long Run: Short Stories: Volume One) and was inspired to write the script and direct Henry Dances. The screening program in the video was presented by Short Stories by Scott Holleran, Scott Holleran’s story podcast and fiction media, and Open Trail Productions. Burbank Adult School hosted the event.

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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 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 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.”

Related

Listen to this author read “Strapped” on Short Stories by Scott Holleran. Read “Strapped” in my book, Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One (buy the e-book direct from author via press@scottholleran.com, on Apple Books or Amazon).

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.

Thanks for reading Short Stories by Scott Holleran! This post is public so feel free to share it.

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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. Preview, browse and read my book here (also on Amazon.com). Become a paid subscriber 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.

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Henry Dances screens at 2pm on Saturday, February 21, 2026 in Burbank. Screenwriter and director Mike Voutsinos and yours truly, whose story, “Strapped,” inspired him to write and co-create Henry Dances, will introduce the film, which we shot on November 7, 2025. I met Mike Voutsinos years ago on campus when he took my writing course.

A question-and-answer session moderated by Hollywood producer David LaCour Simien follows the screening.

Inspired by the story of a dancer

The short story which inspired Henry Dances depicts a dancer in a gay bar who’s seized by terrorists acting on an ayatollah’s orders and forced to “dance or die.” The tale climaxes with a strike on Iran.

“Strapped” debuted in Africa as the lead prose of Libretto Magazine in a predominantly Islamic country, Nigeria, where terrorist group Boko Haram imposes religion as law. “Strapped,” available in Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One, debuted in the United States in a Midwestern press co-founded by three American soldiers who fought the Taliban together in Afghanistan.

From next month’s press release:

‘Strapped’ is unlike anything I’ve read,” Open Trail Productions boss Mike Voutsinos, an independent filmmaker who studied in Scott Holleran’s Writing Boot Camp at Burbank Adult School, said. “My thought while reading was whether this could be filmed as a short film, feature film or a longer television episode.”

Mike Voutsinos cast me in my onscreen movie debut, jettisoning the story’s terrorism plot to re-purpose the theme that experiencing art moves those who choose to think. The film’s cast features actress and dancer Sofia Isabella Flores as Nancy with Will Curtis, Lady Giraldo, Tyler Williams and Xander Toti. Mike Knowlan edited sound. Jairo Perez was cameraman. Dimitri Voutsinos, who also studied in my adult educational writing course, edited Henry Dances. The dance scenes sample “Catch Me” (2011) by the Jezabels and “River” (2021) by The Knocks with Parson James.

About the Filmmakers, Moderator and Screening

Open Trail Productions founder Mike Voutsinos wrote and co-created Henry Dances. As an actor in 20 films and TV series, including Batman Beyond, and screenwriter, director and producer of several short films, including Cell, Mr. Voutsinos makes movies across a range of genres with realism and compelling stories.

Scott Holleran writes, dances and choreographs as well as coaches for New York City-based Weight Watchers and teaches reading, writing and media at Burbank Adult School. His first book, Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One, debuted in 2025 in Amazon’s top 50 of literary short story collections and he’s won dance contests and choreographed and performed dance with Chubby Checker in New York, Flo’Rida in LA and the Vanessa Davis Band in Chicago. Mr. Holleran, who won a Press Club award in 2021 for Best Sports Journalism, won a Col. Darron L Wright Memorial Writing Award prize for his fiction writing in 2025.

Moderator David LaCour Simien is vice-president of development for Los Angeles-based Double Dutch Productions, LLC, which is making movies about Sylvester, Karen Carpenter and Mahalia Jackson.

About Burbank Adult School

Burbank Adult School serves those seeking to train for a career, improve existing skills and learn English with supportive teachers, counselors and staff to assist in achieving educational goals.

Screening press and guest inquiries: press@scottholleran.com

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In this 16-minute episode (above), I read aloud an untold story of being assaulted by Chicago Police. As I exercised freedom of assembly and speech at the age of 14 while protesting the U.S. vice-president at a labor union rally in Chicago, I was radicalized. For the first time, I’ve written about the siege in a new essay in Capitalism Magazine, “The Confluence: The Making of a Radical Chicago Activist.” You can read the essay here. Or listen to me read aloud on the above recording.

After the confluence of political party pull, press and police in violation of my rights, I came out. For the first time, I’ll write about being gay for The Gay & Lesbian Review’s revolving feature, Here’s My Story, in an essay which soon debuts in an upcoming issue. These and other forthcoming articles begin a new chapter in my storytelling.

Today (my 60th birthday) I’m announcing the U.S. debut of “Runaway,” my closest published writing to autobiography (you can listen to me read it aloud here). Read and re-read “Runaway” on demand when you buy my first book, Long Run: Short Stories, Volume One.

I’ve written a new story as a follow-up to my first award-winning fiction, “Boom-Boom Goes to Jail.” The story, which debuts next week in Classic Chicago magazine, is titled: “Boom-Boom Adds Spice.” A third tale about pole dancer Boom-Boom will cap the trilogy, which I’m adapting as a play. I’ll also announce on Short Stories by Scott Holleran the first motion picture—a short movie—inspired by my fiction writing. This morning, I’m enjoying my first cup of French roast coffee and fired up to start the new day.

Buy and read Long Run on Apple Books

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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.

I addressed certain details of the e-book, including its title, timing and impetus, in this podcast episode. I’m preparing the collection of short stories for publication this fall. I’ve been thinking about how to promote the book, which got me thinking about how to promote books in general. In my five-part series for my nonfiction press, Autonomia, I reported on my book journalism.

Mine was a methodical approach in my early years of journalism when I sought to read important nonfiction and fiction books for the purpose of writing a review, interviewing the author and making money while gaining experience in journalism and becoming more knowledgeable. This strategy could acquaint me with book writing and publishing and afford me the opportunity to meet and interview authors in person and make arrangements through a publicist with top publishers. It was an interesting and illuminating experience from which I gained value and experience. I was able to observe firsthand that the author is shortchanged and subordinated to the publicity and publishing process. Book journalism suffers, too.

Much has changed in the publishing industry since my book journalism took root. Accordingly, I’ve adapted my thinking on what constitutes good book publicity and promotionalism. I haven’t gone to the other extreme. For instance, I do not advocate “gaming the system,“ such as soliciting good reviews of my book for the sake of having a generically favorable review. To my horror, I’ve observed authors adopting this dubious practice—including Objectivist authors, particularly one author claiming to have written “bestselling” books who explicitly told potential readers of his book to go to Amazon and write a favorable review, even if they hadn’t read the book (he was serious). This is a deceitful or dishonest practice.

These are my recommendations and this is my solicitation for promoting my book and it’s strictly on the condition that you read and enjoy it—or don’t—come what may:

* Pre-order and purchase the book

* Read the book with focus and without distraction

* Think about my book—-identify the stories’ themes—highlight, notate—think twice

* Check your premises and trust your judgment

* Write and tell me what you think in a private message, review, recommendation or endorsement in any format whether critical or favorable; I want to know your thoughts

* Feel free to accentuate the positive or criticize with fidelity to the stories’ context

* If you’re so inclined, buy books for readers you think might gain value

* Become an ambassador for my first book; talk it up at your discretion

* Post a link to buy the book on your media feeds, noting why you like the book

* Invest in the book’s promotion to disseminate stories of value

* Reach out to schedule this author to appear at your event to discuss the book

* Show respect for yourself for the sake of the new intellectual because I’m confident that when the intelligent reader of any persuasion reads this book, he will think highly of you and you will rise in esteem in his judgment; in this sense, promoting that which you value promotes your health, wellness and self-esteem

Related Links, Stories and Episodes

Read this short story on Classic Chicago magazine here.

“The Patient and the Passenger” is the second story in my springtime Classic Chicago trilogy about woman as resilient. In this episode, I disclose the impetus for writing this work of fiction, which made its debut earlier this month.

Subscribe to my podcast to listen to the whole story, gain access …

One year to the day, my story about a lakeside memorial reading of a banker’s will, “Betsy’s Boy,” which inspired an artist to draw two sketches by hand, was published in Classic Chicago magazine. Read “Betsy’s Boy” here.

Listen to the author read “Betsy’s Boy” here.

Read about Scott Holleran’s Classic Chicago magazine winter trilogy.

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Read “Betsy’s Boy” in Classic Chicago magazine

Like politics, and, in a different way, like religion, holidays are uniquely personal to one’s past, one’s childhood—the psychology you develop and create in whatever mysterious way it manifests in you—one’s philosophy. I think this is particularly true of Valentine’s Day. What does Valentine’s Day mean to you?

It’s deeply romantic to me. Culturally, th…

Become a paid subscriber to listen to the whole story, “Escape from Indigena,” my strange, new short fiction dramatizing a one-way conversation between a child and an adult riding on a passenger train while witnessing a slave’s suicide attempt. The short story was published today in the summer edition of In Parentheses literary journal.

Listen to my reading of a short story, “The Blankies,” (for the paid subscriber.)

Listen to my reading of my short story, “The Corn Ball,” which is less than a thousand words, when you become a paid subscriber.

This short story is inspired by “Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush (EMI Records, 1985), about which the singer and songwriter once said:

You see, for me it is still called 'Deal With God'. that was its title. But we were told that if we kept this title that it would not be played in any of the religious countries, Italy wouldn't play it, France wouldn't play it, and Australia wouldn't play it! Ireland wouldn't play it, and that generally we might get it blacked purely because it had God in the title."

This podcast episode is an audio version of “Deal with God,” a story by Scott Holleran.