Muffy Drake proudly presents: The French River
This Franco-American short story leans in and meanders heavily with a French accent. MD is blessed to have Antoine Herbez narrate the piece. 
Written by: Xavier Combe
Soundscape design: Jim Hall

”Tom” (4 minutes)

Bravo, you’ve found it. Deadpan humor in witty, unrelated, non-sequitur short stories not
devoid of literary merit and seared with absurdity. A ”Catcher in the Wry” vibe.
Since you’re here, we might as well tell you: Muffy Drake has been honored by the National Audio
Theatre Festivals, known as the Sundance of Audio Fiction. That’s right, Muffy Drake has been
presented with several Gold Medals - and even a Platinum in 2023. And while we’re boasting, let’s
mention our short stories have been published in entropy2, Reflex Fiction, Friday Flash Fiction,
Bath Flash Fiction (3 rd Prize, October 2019), the Boston Literary Magazine and elsewhere.
But for Absurd Short Fiction with friction, Muffy Drake is where it’s at. Welcome! If you like tongue-
in-cheek humor, you’re in for a treat. One at a time, once a week. By the way, the French call
tongue-in-cheek “pinch without laughing”. Because - get this - Muffy Drake is based out of
Paris.

Xavier Combe is a freelance translator and conference interpreter who teaches at the
University of Paris X and has worked on French public radio for over 35 years. He has
published 2 non-fiction books in French (one of them has won a prize) and quite a few op-
eds in the French press. Sociolinguistics, not funny at all. If you want a laugh don’t go there.
 
   
Jim Hall is a 2-time Peabody award winner for his work with a investigative team and the other half
of Muffy Drake that’s based in the US. That’s right, Muffy Drake is a team of two who do the
writing, narration, voicing, soundscaping and original music. 
 
The French have a saying: “Humor is the last bulwark before despair” (strange, yes, but it
sounds better in French). We at Muffy Drake believe humor is the best medicine.
So we humbly recommend you subscribe and download one MD a week. And if you enjoy
what you hear, feel free to share with, well, one or two million of your closest friends.
Website: muffydrake.com
Contact: muffydrake@gmail.com