Editors note: Spoiler alert! This blog post and episode of HowSound gives away a stunning plot twist in an episode of Love + Radio. You may want to listen to “A Girl of Ivory” first.
In an episode of Longform, reporter Jack Hitt likens storytellers to people who collect string. They gather bits and pieces of events and conversation they hope might turn into a story one day. They might write these “strings” in a journal, or place a newspaper clipping in a folder, or bookmark a website, or just store the nugget in the back of their minds.
That’s how Nick van der Kolk’s story “A Girl of Ivory” came about. A friend sent Nick an article about Davecat, a guy who loves life-size, human dolls. Literally. Nick was dubious about there being a…
