Queer Romance Author Meryl Wilsner Crafts New Sapphic Audio Drama Series for Dipsea
San Francisco, June 14, 2024 – Esteemed queer romance writer Meryl Wilsner, celebrated for their best-selling works Cleat Cute, Mistakes Were Made, and Something to Talk About, has ventured into new territory with an audio drama series crafted exclusively for the app Dipsea. This announcement coincides neatly with Pride month, as the first part of the three-episode series debuts today.
The series reflects the charm and emotional depths found in Wilsner's novels, with the added intimacy and immediacy that audio storytelling can deliver. The story features a classic road trip narrative infused with a fresh, sapphic twist. At the heart of the tale is Alex, a woman seeking solace from a recent heartbreak through a cross-country drive to her new job in Los Angeles. Her quest for healing takes an unexpected turn when her car breaks down in a quaint, seemingly nondescript town, throwing her into the orbit of Sierra, a captivating local mechanic with a knack for both engines and banter.
Wilsner has partnered closely with Dipsea’s creative team and in-house audio producers to bring this auditory experience to life. The collaboration promises to engage audiences with the immersive blend of cinematic sound design and high-caliber performances by talented narrators.
Chronicles of a Queer Road Trip
The story unfolds over three parts, released sequentially over three weeks.
Chapter 1: Stranded in a Small Town (June 14)
Alex’s plan to evade her past by hitting the open road hits a literal and metaphorical speed bump when her car breaks down. Finding herself at the mercy of Sierra’s mechanical skills, the city girl must navigate small-town idiosyncrasies and, perhaps, her own guarded heart.
Chapter 2: The Secret Spot (June 21)
City slicker Alex initially clashes with Sierra, whose playful jabs mask a genuine attempt to show Alex the hidden delights of her desert enclave. As they explore the town’s “secret spots,” their dynamic shifts from adversarial to tantalizingly tender.
Chapter 3: Now or Never (June 28)
With the days rapidly slipping by, a passionate connection ignites between Alex and Sierra. What began as a respite becomes something deeper, challenging them both to face their simmering feelings amid the suffocating reality of Alex’s impending departure.
Beyond the Pages: A New Dimension for Queer Storytelling
Wilsner’s work stands out for its poignant exploration of queer relationships and sapphic narratives, earning acclaim within the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Known for relatable characters and authentic emotions, Wilsner's leap into the audio drama format is a thrilling expansion of their creative repertoire.
The queer community has seen burgeoning representation in various media forms, but there's something uniquely powerful about audio storytelling. It strips away visual elements, leaving listeners to connect deeply with the characters through voice alone, creating an intimate and personal listening experience.
The audioscape of Wilsner's new series harmonises with Dipsea's broader mission of inviting listeners into a world of untold stories. Dipsea, famed for its spicy audiobooks, boasts features in The New Yorker, Vogue, Playboy, and The New York Times, carving a niche for itself in the realm of immersive, inclusive narratives.
For fans of Wilsner, this new series offers a familiar yet refreshingly different experience. It promises to capture the essence of what makes Wilsner's writing resonate—queer relationships that feel lived-in, nuanced, and vibrantly real—all while delivering the thrill of a new storytelling medium.
As LGBTQ+ narratives continue to evolve and find new modes of expression, ventures like this not only affirm the richness of our stories but also highlight the creative potentials yet to be explored. For those looking to feast on a richly layered sapphic romance during Pride, Wilsner’s new audio drama on Dipsea might just be the perfect storyline to dive into.