Introducing Friday Night Fiction - by James Wolner

Dakota Spotlight

James Wolner

Documentary, Society & Culture, True Crime

4.9 • 813 Ratings

🗓️ 11 April 2025

⏱️ 10 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

We introduce you to our new series of original crime-inspired short stories, all set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. If you're a fan of true crime but curious to explore fictional tales with the same tension, twists, and emotional depth—this series is for you. We’ll walk you through what to expect from future episodes, how often they’ll drop, and why true crime fans will feel right at home in these moody, mysterious, and distinctly Midwestern settings. Welcome to Friday Night Fiction—your weekly escape into the dark side of the North. About Friday Night Fiction: Written and narrated by James Wolner, Friday Night Fiction delivers original crime stories set in North Dakota and the Upper Midwest. Inspired by The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Twilight Zone, and Dragnet, each episode blends atmosphere, moral complexity, and sharp storytelling—ranging from eerie one-shots to serialized suspense. New episodes released on select Friday nights. Check out the full catalog and everything Dakota Spotlight: https://dakotaspotlight.com/ Get all episodes early, ad-free, and more. Subscribe to Spotlight PLUS: https://dakotaspotlight.com/spotlight-plus/ Sign up for the Dakota Spotlight newsletter: https://dakotaspotlight.com/newsletter/ Email: [email protected] Facebook: https://facebook.com/groups/dakotaspotlight X/Twitter: @dakotaspotlight Instagram: @dakotaspotlight TikTok: @dakotaspotlight Bluesky: @dakotaspotlight.bsky.social YouTube: @dakotaspotlightpodcast4800 Friday Night Fiction is written and produced by James Wolner. All stories, dialogue, and creative content are original works of authorship and are © James Wolner. Reproduction, redistribution, or adaptation of any part of this podcast without written permission is strictly prohibited. Legal Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The author and publisher assume no responsibility for any perceived associations, misinterpretations, or unintended similarities. No real persons or groups should be inferred from this story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey folks, it's me, James with Dakota Spotlight. I'm here to introduce a brand new segment of the show, something I've really enjoyed putting together and I know you're
0:21.3	going to like. It's called Friday Night Fiction. Fictional crime stories written by me set in North
0:28.0	Dakota and the Upper Midwest. The first installment is coming Friday, April 11th, and it's titled
0:34.2	Park Like a Fargonian. Fargonian, meaning someone who lives in or grew up in Fargo, North Dakota.
0:41.9	Future stories will take place in Bismarck and beyond.
0:45.3	You can expect scenes in some of your favorite places like the Elbow Room Bar in Bismarck
0:50.5	or in a diner at Flying J's truck stop.
0:57.1	Now hang tight for a sneak peek of the first Friday Night Fiction story in a moment. Also in just a minute I want to touch on why I'm adding
1:02.2	a fictional segment to a true crime podcast, which is a fair question and I have an answer for you.
1:07.7	But first, more on Friday Night Fiction. Think of it as an entertaining
1:12.4	addition to your Friday evening, steeped in upper Midwestern culture, crime, and maybe even a bit of
1:18.9	comic relief now and then. It's kind of a radio theater or fireside story, something to pair
1:24.9	with your end-of-the-week wind-down, topped off with a dose of mystery,
1:29.2	and of course, the occasional murder. I've created this show with inspiration from some of my
1:34.8	favorite TV programs when I was a kid, and when I was growing up, well, let's just say those first
1:40.2	shows aired in black and white. In fact, let's play a little game. See if you recognize the
1:45.8	following intro music. Ready? Here goes.
1:57.2	That's right, it's the Alfred Hitchcock Hour. As a kid, I loved that show. I enjoyed how Mr. Hitchcock
2:03.0	introduced each story with his dry, witty style, and I love the twists and turns that followed.
2:10.9	Good evening. And as you'll hear in just a moment in the sneak peek, I've created Friday Night Fiction
2:18.5	in the same vein.
2:21.1	Now here's another show.
	...

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