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The best songs often sound like short stories – compelling characters, tension, a choice, and a heartbreaking – or hilarious – resolution.

A new anthology, Amplified, includes sixteen short stories written by folk, blues, indie rock and alt-country songwriters. The storytellers range from Chicagoan Robbie Fulks, to veteran Boston folk singer Chris Smither, to Rennie Sparks of the Albuquerque band The Handsome Family.

It's a lyrical and varied collection that draws out a different side of some great contemporary songwriters. Julie Schaper co-edited the anthology with Steven Horwitz, and she joins us from St. Paul, Minnesota.

We're also joined by Seattle songwriter Laura Veirs. Her most recent album is Saltbreakers, and her next one, July Flame, will be out in early winter. She reads a segment of her story in the anthology, called "The Bird Feeder."