Our April 13 event is a collaboration with the Sacramento-based journal Under the Gum Tree. Both of this month’s pieces were featured in the magazine.
Under the Gum Tree is a quarterly literary arts magazine publishing creative nonfiction and visual art in the form of a micro-magazine. “We believe in the power of sharing a story without shame. . . . And by without shame, we mean that the authors and contributors featured in our pages own their story, even the ugly parts, and share it with pure, unadulterated, raw, candid vulnerability.” Visit underthegumtree.com for more information.
Zoë Christopher, whose piece “Just Bein’ Texas” will be featured, is a writer and street photographer. The daughter of a jazz musician and a Hollywood starlet, over many years she has identified as Hollywood brat, ice-cream truck driver, waitress, addictions counselor, astrologer, art installer, bookstore owner, and program officer for a radical women’s health nonprofit. She holds a Masters degree in transpersonal psychology and spent 20+ years providing supportive intervention to various forms of adolescent and adult crises. Her work has appeared in the Tangled Locks Journal, Zingara Poetry Review, Under the Gum Tree Winter 2025, the Suitcase of Chrsyasthemums anthology, the New Generation BeatsAnthology, and Shadowplay Journal, among others. She lives in San Francisco, CA, and is currently working on her memoir.
Patty Shade will read “Just Bein’ Texas” and “A James Dean Story,” by Zoe Christopher. Patty has been an audiobook narrator since 2020. She retired from her position as a Montessori Elementary teacher three years ago to concentrate on audiobook narration exclusively (patriciashade.com). Along with her teaching career, Patty was a stage actor for over thirty years including work with the Davis Shakespeare Festival. She is also currently a co-director of the Davis Youth Choir, teaching music and choral singing to kindergarten through 2nd grade students in Davis and surrounding communities. She has been a long time singer with the Davis Chorale. Patty is a proud member of SAG-Aftra.
Brad Snyder, whose piece “Hurt Bird” will be presented, is a writer whose work has appeared or is forthcoming in HuffPost Personal, River Teeth’s Beautiful Things, Hippocampus Magazine, Under the Gum Tree, and elsewhere. He holds an MFA in Creative Nonfiction Writing from Bay Path University and is currently working on a memoir. Brad lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with his husband, daughter, son, and sometimes-warring cat and dogs. You can find more of his work at bradmsnyder.com.
Chad Fisk will read “Hurt Bird,” by Brad Snyder. Chad is thrilled to be making his third appearance with Stories on Stage. Chad has appeared on stage throughout the Bay Area, including Othello at Cal Shakes, Comedy of Errors at SF Shakes, The Homecoming at the Aurora Theater Company, Dealer’s Choice at Actor’s Theater, Translations at Center Rep, and Picnic at Sacramento Theatre Company. Television credits include three episodes of Grey’s Anatomy. Chad currently directs plays at Davis High School and leads a creative writing program at Visions in Education in conjunction with 916 INK.