'Don't Be Afraid to Follow Up'
Shawna Kenney pitches a podcast series for a local radio station
Hello Pitchers! Clubbers! Pitch Clubbers!
Shawna Kenney, in a meta twist, pitched me a pitch to appear on Pitch Club.
In Keanu Reeves voice: “Whoa.”
But srsly, in yet another sub-species of a pitch, Shawna thought beyond a one-off story and instead pitched a podcast series where she dives into various animal stories in Wilmington, North Carolina. It’s called “Wild Things with Shawna Kenney.”
What is especially keen is that this 689-word pitch went to the editor’s spam folder: The Land of Orphaned Pitches. Shawna had to do the dreaded follow up, and she has thoughts about the follow up (See Closing Thoughts). She has experience being on the other side as an editor for Narratively.
A little more about Shawna. She’s the author of I Was a Teenage Dominatrix: A Memoir and she edited the collection Book Lovers: Sexy Stories from Under the Covers. She also co-wrote Graffiti Gangster: A Memoir of Gangs, Guns, Murder, Prison & Regret with Henry 161 Medina.
Let’s not drag it out any longer, clubbers. If you’re here, you’re a VIP … bottle service optional.
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Opening Thought
Dear Ben,
I am a freelance journalist who recently relocated back to Wilmington from Los Angeles (after living here the first time while earning my MFA in Creative Nonfiction at UNCW, 2004-2007).
I have an idea for a podcast series called Coastal Critters focused on regional animal narratives. It aims to be a story-based nuanced exploration of humanity’s complex relationship with our fellow beings. Each episode will feature one of the amazing critters of our area, telling the story through interviews with experts and everyday people working on behalf of animals, woven with wild sound collected while reporting.
Episode ideas
The Coyote vs. The Turtles
On a charter boat to Masonboro Island, I recently learned a coyote has been spotted living on the island. It is believed he walked over and swam during low tide. While it is not the first time coyotes have made it to the island, it is presenting a problem to the sea turtle nests. According to The North Carolina Coastal Reserve and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, the coyote has eaten a few turtle eggs already. Considering their endangered status, they stated that the coyotes must be “removed.” Hoping they meant he would be relocated, I was told he would be shot by state officials—and that this is all perfectly legal and within protocol. This has not been reported and probably would not receive much sympathy, considering the recent story of a man in Roxboro attacked by a rabid coyote just two weeks ago. Still, it would be educational for locals to hear the story of one species sacrificed for another, both of whom are losing habitat to rampant development.
2. – The Legend of Blueberry Lane
Blueberry Farm Animal Sanctuary is a nonprofit caring for formerly factory farmed animals, founded in 2016 by Debbie Davis on 400 acres of her land in Castle Hayne. When Debbie died last year, a team of volunteers moved all of the goats, sheep, chickens and pigs to a new location in Castle Hayne, using four transport vehicles. The organization teamed with Sealevel City Diner to create Pride-related shirts, with profits benefitting their mission. Debbie’s vision lives on and displaced animals continue to thrive, thanks to a handful of volunteers and local veterinary help.
- How to Spot a Fox Squirrel
People new to the Cape Fear region are often surprised to see this larger, masked-looking squirrel with a longer, fluffier tail trailing behind it, but locals have grown up seeing them mostly in the Sandhills region but they have become more prevalent here as more longleaf pines have been planted. While they are considered a “game animal,” therefore not protected, there has been talk for years of adding them to the State Special Concerns list.
These but of a few of what I see as endless ideas for animal-related stories tied to our region. Others to be fleshed out include: Who Tends to the Alligators of Greenfield Lake?; Turtle-Hatching Season at The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center; Thanksgiving with SkyWatch Bird Rescue (I was there once when locals dropped off turkey dinner scraps for the raptors); and What’s Up With the West Indian Manatee?
I have primary worked as a print journalist, covering arts, pop culture, vegan food, environment, and animal stories internationally, with a focus on Los Angeles when I lived there.
Here are links to some of my work:
The Best Places for Animal Lovers in Los Angeles – Discover LA
Big Bear Baby Bald Eagle Death – PBS/KCET
How Wildlife Weathers California’s Deadly Wildfires – PBS/KCET
As an author, essayist and punk rock historian, I have been featured on several podcasts, including Thrillist, Writing Class Radio, CNF [Oooooo!] and UCLA’s The Write Process, among others. I have only produced 2 radio stories before, long ago for WHQR, one of which was an interview with ghost hunters in newly-post-Hurricane-Katrina New Orleans, but I am sure they are gone from the archives. Catherine Welch and Meghan (nee Williams) Post were kind enough to offer me that opportunity.
Please let me know if any of this is of interest. I would love to discuss possibilities.
Thank you,
Shawna
Closing Thoughts
Closing Thoughts on Following Up
Shawna has a few episodes of “Wild Things” out. Go visit WHQR Public Radio’s site to hear what she’s up to. Shawna was an early guest on CNF Pod, way back on Ep. 47, if you can believe it. She’s @shawnajkenney on the gram.
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