gothic literature

History is haunted. Ghosts are injustice persevering.

So many horror stories hinge on that idea, but for Tananarive Due it’s more personal than that. Her new novel, The Reformatory, is borne from the ghosts hidden in her own family history. 

The story takes place in a hideously cruel juvenile correction facility, in a racist town, in the 1950s. As you can imagine, very few good things happen to her child protagonist. 

We talk about the link between horror and history, about writing from her family tree, about the very real reformatories that persisted into the modern era, and about looking cruelty full in the face and wrestling it into story.

This conversation is the perfect context for a near-perfect novel. 

Enjoy!

The Reformatory was published October 31st by Saga and Titan Books 

Books mentioned:

• The Only Good Indians (2020), by Stephen Graham Jones
• The Devil in the Grove: Thurgood Marshall, the Groveland Boys, and the Dawn of a New America (2012), by Gilbert King
• Kindred (1979), by Octavia E. Butler

Support Talking Scared on Patreon

Come talk books on Twitter @talkscaredpod, on Instagram, or email direct to talkingscaredpod@gmail.com 

Hello fellow ink drinkers!  In honor of Halloween coming up, we are going to do another bad retelling of Poe short stories.  The stories we will cover this time are "Shadow - A Parable", "Silence - A Fable", "Never Bet The Devil Your Head", "Masque of the Read Death", and "Hop Frog".  As always SPOILER WARNING and CONTENT WARNING.  Poe stories are dark and even though we try not to go too deep into the stories, there are still dark themes.  

Email us at blindgirlsbookblog@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram @blindgirlsbooks
Check out "A Tale of Two Beasts" on Wattpad
Check out our other show "It's a Blind Life" which can be found wherever you can find this podcast

Some stories are just too big for one podcast. Some stories should be too big for one book. 

Sam Rebelein’s Edenville is one such story. This 300-something page novel has more crammed into it than your average fantasy trilogy. There is backstory upon backstory, a cosmic framework, and enough different monsters to fill Guillermo del Toro’s minibus. Yet somehow Sam corrals it all into a whimsical horror romp – a well-organised riot.

We talk about ideas… about thinking them up, letting them evolve and, most crucially, getting them on paper. We talk narcissistic writers, the power of dreams, the unique eeriness of the Hudson River Valley and the questionable nature of curses.

This conversation is a call to arms for writers. It’s a weary acceptance that maybe, just maybe, sitting your arse in the chair is the most important thing you can do all day.

Enjoy!

Edenville was published October 3rd by Titan Books and HarperCollins

Books mentioned:

• Echo (2022), by Thomas Olde Heuvelt
• Camp Damascus (2023), by Chuck Tingle
• Hannibal (1999), by Thomas Harris

Support Talking Scared on Patreon

Come talk books on Twitter @talkscaredpod, on Instagram, or email direct to talkingscaredpod@gmail.com 

In this week's continuation of Monster Month, there are many scary things to grapple with; the fact that Count Dracula and Edward Rochester aren't that different from real life abusive men, the way certain female characters in these classic stories get demonized...the fact that Jasmine was deeply concerned with having to defend a book she actually LIKED from Sam and River's scrutiny. But hey, is it really Halloween without a good scare?  

The following podcast is for entertainment purposes only, the views and opinions expressed therein are of those individuals and do not necessarily reflect those of their employers. Additionally, this podcast contains swearing, and discussions of abuse and murder.

Clips Used
https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/creepy

License code: XK9L4RR82V4HNKQX
"Vampire Castle" from Tabletop Audio

In Each Retelling is a pro-union podcast. Any mentions of struck work is strictly in relation to the topic at hand, and we encourage you to do all you can to support the strikes.

Support the entertainment strikes here:
WGA strike: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/
SAG-AFTRA strike: https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/
The Animation Guild: https://animationguild.org/start-a-union/

Consider helping Hunter kick cancer's ass. Love you Beth. <3
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-hunter-kick-cancers-ass?utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined

Support my guests and their stuff!

Sam

https://www.youtube.com/@LaFemmeFictionale

https://twitter.com/FemmeFictionale

https://6dosw.buzzsprout.com/

River

https://twitter.com/DreamsRebel

Find more information on this podcast as well as myself at the following links.

https://faeriviera.tumblr.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@faeriviera

https://twitter.com/FaeRiviera

https://ineachretelling.tumblr.com/

Consider supporting us monetarily either through the "Support the Show" link or the following links.

https://ko-fi.com/ineachretelling

https://patreon.com/FaeRiviera?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Call your representatives to call for a ceasefire in Gaza #FreePalestine
https://uscpr.org/gaza-genocide-call-congress/

While the strike is over, the after effects are still going to be affecting the workers. You should still consider donating.
WGA strike: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/
SAG-AFTRA strike: https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/
The Animation Guild: https://animationguild.org/start-a-union/

Consider helping Hunter kick cancer's ass. Love you Beth. <3
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-hunter-kick-cancers-ass?utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined

Keep up with what WETC is up to at their website and Patreon!
https://worlds-elsewhere.com/
https://www.patreon.com/worldselsewhere

Buckle up, Creampuffs! This week one of our biggest groups yet continue Monster Month by covering the first season of the little webseries that could. Somehow we manage to balance out our squealing to actually say intelligent things about something we're all huge fans of.

 The following podcast is for entertainment purposes only. The views and opinions expressed therein are solely those of the individuals and do not necessarily represent their employers. Additionally, the following podcast contains swearing, as well as mentions of murder, predatory behavior, and emotionally abusive parents.

Clips Used
"Court of the Count" from Tabletop Audio
Carmilla:: The Webseries
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):

https://uppbeat.io/t/pecan-pie/creepy

License code: XK9L4RR82V4HNKQX

Carmilla as read by Colleen
"Love Will Have Its Sacrifices" as sung by Elise Bauman and Natasha Negovanlis
"Carmilla|Role Reversal with Natasha Negovanlis & Elise Bauman"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i__GGtgV-Lc&t=14s

Here's that fan comic I mentioned in my old reblogs!
https://faeriviera.tumblr.com/post/146919796868/its-the-first-time-in-a-while-that-ive-been-able


In Each Retelling is a pro-union podcast. Any mentions of struck work is strictly in relation to the topic at hand, and we encourage you to do all you can to support the strikes.

Support the entertainment strikes here:
WGA strike: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/
SAG-AFTRA strike: https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/
The Animation Guild: https://animationguild.org/start-a-union/

Consider helping Hunter kick cancer's ass. Love you Beth. <3
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-hunter-kick-cancers-ass?utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined

Support my guests and their stuff!

Callie

https://lucienmikaelson.tumblr.com/

Ellie
https://twitter.com/elessar42
https://footballintuxedos.tumblr.com
Back to High School: https://open.spotify.com/show/08DVSBnqMvVIAji7VhqcL6

Shamila

https://s4karuna.tumblr.com/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/f5qcny-pay-off-overdraft-fees

Find more information on this podcast as well as myself at the following links.

https://faeriviera.tumblr.com/

https://www.tiktok.com/@faeriviera

https://twitter.com/FaeRiviera

https://ineachretelling.tumblr.com/

Consider supporting us monetarily either through the "Support the Show" link or the following links.

https://ko-fi.com/ineachretelling

https://patreon.com/FaeRiviera?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

Call your representatives to call for a ceasefire in Gaza #FreePalestine
https://uscpr.org/gaza-genocide-call-congress/

While the strike is over, the after effects are still going to be affecting the workers. You should still consider donating.
WGA strike: https://www.wgacontract2023.org/
SAG-AFTRA strike: https://www.sagaftrastrike.org/
The Animation Guild: https://animationguild.org/start-a-union/

Consider helping Hunter kick cancer's ass. Love you Beth. <3
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-hunter-kick-cancers-ass?utm_campaign=m_pd+share-sheet&utm_content=undefined&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer&utm_term=undefined

Keep up with what WETC is up to at their website and Patreon!
https://worlds-elsewhere.com/
https://www.patreon.com/worldselsewhere

Why do we keep heading back to the woods? WHY?? Nothing good ever happens there.

Alexander James would argue otherwise, but he’s clearly made of sterner stuff than me. In his debut novel, The Woodkin, Alex parlays his love of the wild outdoors into a story that heads toward a familiar backwoods nightmares, before veering far off the beaten trail into something stranger and even scarier. 

In this episode we talk about his love for the woods of the Pacific Northwest (and yes! I ask him about Bigfoot of course). We cover the controversy surrounding an earlier title choice, the influence of D&D on his writing and the trick to realistically depicting fear in fiction.

It’s a happy hike into darkness. 

Enjoy

The Woodkin was published August 22nd by CamCat Books

Other books mentioned in this episode include:

• Dark Mountain (1992), by Richard Laymon
• Offseason (1980), by Jack Ketchum
• Mexican Gothic (2020), by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
• The Hacienda (2022), by Isabel Cañas

I'm a Search and Rescue Officer for the US Forest Service, I Have Some Stories to Tell

CritStupid Podcast (Alex's D&D podcast)

Support Talking Scared on Patreon

Come talk books on Twitter @talkscaredpod, on Instagram, or email direct to talkingscaredpod@gmail.com 

This week I’m recording very close to home with Andrew Michael Hurley. 

Andrew burst onto the folk-horror scene with subtle aplomb (can one burst subtly?) back in 2014, with The Loney. That slice of weirdness was set in the very town in which I spent my wet, dismal childhood holidays. It conjured shivers in more ways than one. 

Now he is here to talk about the reissue of his 2019 novel, Starve Acre. It’s a bleak, bitter, wintery tale of isolation, grief and ritual, set in the Yorkshire Dales. Where I also spent some holidays – does Andrew know something I don’t? Hmmmm?

We talk about his relationship with folk horror, and how it helps us express our communal British angst. We make comparisons to some unexpected movies, discuss authorial freedom, and talk about deep knowledge, invented lore and horror as replacement for spirituality. 

It’s all a good excuse to yell about the government. 

Enjoy!

Starve Acre was re-issued by Penguin on July 4th.

Other books mentioned in this episode include:

• The Loney (2014), by Andrew Michael Hurley
• Elmet (2017), by Fiona Mozley
• The Gallows Pole (2017), by Benjamin Myers
• Waterland (1983), by Graham Swift
• Cold Hand in Mine (1975), by Robert Aickman

Support Talking Scared on Patreon 

Come talk books on Twitter @talkscaredpod, on Instagram, or email direct to talkingscaredpod@gmail.com 

Despite his friend’s best endeavours, Roderick’s melancholy persists and his sister's malady seemingly has fatal consequences. Can the Usher family survive their supposed curse?

CREATIVE TEAM
Director . . . Olivia French
Sound Editor . . . Jacob Thompson
Script Adaptation . . . Olivia French and Alexandra Meerbach

CAST
Narrator . . . Jack Emond
Roderick Usher . . . Jagaraj
Madeline Usher . . . Marli van der Bijl
Physician . . . Barry Kay

'The Haunted Palace' vocal line by Matt Shaw and sung by Marli van der Bijl

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend this respect to all First Nations peoples.

The Lady Madeline is lost and her brother’s condition worsens still. Can he escape the affliction plaguing his family or will his own actions be his undoing?

CREATIVE TEAM
Director . . . Olivia French
Sound Editor . . . Jacob Thompson
Script Adaptation . . . Olivia French and Alexandra Meerbach

CAST
Narrator . . . Jack Emond
Roderick Usher . . . Jagaraj
Madeline Usher . . . Marli van der Bijl

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend this respect to all First Nations peoples.

Having received an urgent letter from his boyhood friend, a man travels to be at his side… only to discover his friend is much changed. And his sister is afflicted with an even more debilitating condition.

CREATIVE TEAM
Director . . . Olivia French
Sound Editor . . . Jacob Thompson
Script Adaptation . . . Olivia French and Alexandra Meerbach

CAST
Narrator . . . Jack Emond
Roderick Usher . . . Jagaraj
Madeline Usher . . . Marli van der Bijl
Physician . . . Barry Kay
Valet . . . James Wait
Servant . . . Kyle Robinson

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend this respect to all First Nations peoples.

A prisoner trapped in the depths of Toledo, sentenced by the Spanish Inquisition. Will he survive their torture, or perhaps he will succumb to despair first?

Thank you for joining us for an episode of RavenMad, a Cygnet & Swan production.

CREATIVE TEAM
Director . . .  Olivia French
Assistant Director . . . Alexandra Meerbach
Sound Editor . . . Elizabeth Bradford
Musical Director . . . Marli van der Bijl
Composer . . . Marais van den Berg
Choir . . . Sam Daffy, David Floyd, Jeremy Wong and Marli van der Bijl
Atmospheric Music . . . yewbic from freesound.org
Composer . . . Matt Shaw

CAST
Narrator . . . Andrew Seeary

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Wadawurrung people of Australia, and the Khoi-San people of Southern Africa, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

An account of the soporific and excruciating torments endured by a prisoner of the Spanish Inquisition.

CAST
Narrator . . . Andrew Seeary
Judges . . . Jack Emond, Barry Kay and James Wait
Choir . . . Sam Daffy, David Floyd, Jeremy Wong and Marli van der Bijl

CREATIVE TEAM
Director . . .  Olivia French
Assistant Director . . . Alexandra Meerbach
Sound Editor . . . Elizabeth Bradford
Musical Director . . . Marli van der Bijl
Composer . . . Marais van den Berg
Atmospheric Music . . . yewbic from freesound.org
Theme Composer . . . Matt Shaw

Thank you for joining us for an episode of RavenMad, a Cygnet & Swan production.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Wadawurrung people of Australia, and the Khoi-San people of Southern Africa, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Thrust your fists against the post and still insist you see the… 

…oh hello. You came back. Thank Gan. We have a monster to defeat this week. 

Yes, this is the second part of the Talking Scared dive into Stephen King’s IT. This time we are getting weird. 

Joined by stalwart friends, Ally Malinenko (Ghost Girl, This Appearing House) and Nat Cassidy (Mary: An Awakening of Terror), I’m delving below ground and into the cosmic tangle that underpins all of King’s fiction. We’re asking what is Pennywise? Where did he come from? What does he want and what the hell is that giant turtle doing? 

It has been a labour of love, talking for hours with friends about my favourite book. Thank you so much for listening, and remember… we’re stronger together. 

Enjoy!

Support Talking Scared on Patreon

Come talk books on Twitter @talkscaredpod, on Instagram, or email direct to talkingscaredpod@gmail.com 

The experience of perceiving life and emotions differently to others often results in feelings of loneliness and isolation. 

Thank you for joining us for an episode of RavenMad, a Cygnet & Swan production. ‘Alone’ was originally written by Edgar Allan Poe. This adaptation was directed and edited by Elizabeth Bradford.

This episode is narrated by Alexandra Meerbach.

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Wadawurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Drift off into delirium and hope, against hope, that you wake. This poem laments tragic loss and grapples with the relentless passing of time.

Thank you for joining us for an episode of RavenMad, a Cygnet & Swan production. ‘A Dream within a Dream’ was originally written by Edgar Allan Poe. This adaptation was directed by Alexandra Meerbach with sound design by Elizabeth Bradford and music by Marli van der Bijl.

This episode features the voice of Marli van der Bijl.

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung and Wadawurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Creative directors Olivia French and Alexandra Meerbach return to the mic by popular demand (read: one person). They delve into Edgar Allan Poe’s dark, grief-filled personal history and consider the events that likely had significant impacts upon his writing. They also discuss the literary devices masterfully employed by Poe and analyse the most recently released poetry and prose adaptations.

What would you like to hear in another episode of Ravin’ and Ramblin’? As accomplished theatre makers and literary nerds, Alex and Olivia need little encouragement, so please ask away!

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced and this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

A melodic poem of ringing and resounding, tolling and rolling, pealing and knelling bells. These clamouring sounds build and personify bell sounds as symbols of four milestones of human experience—childhood, youth, maturity, and death.

Thank you for joining us for an episode of RavenMad, a Cygnet & Swan production. ‘The Bells’ was originally written by Edgar Allan Poe. This adaptation was directed and edited by Alexandra Meerbach with Elizabeth Bradford and sound design by Michael Groth. Our theme is by composer, Matt Shaw.

This episode features the voices of the Mad Swan Harmonics choral speaking choir: Gabriel Blake, Alexandra Meerbach, Emma Hampson, Amber Jones, Skye Wilkins, Zoe James, Eloise McGifford, Lilly Jones and Georgia Marshall.

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wadawurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Attributions for this production can be found here.

Desperate to prove their sanity, an unnamed Narrator recounts the events which drove them to commit an unspeakable act.

Thank you for joining us for an episode of RavenMad, a Cygnet & Swan production. ‘The Tell-Tale Heart’ was originally written by Edgar Allan Poe. This adaptation was directed by Alexandra Meerbach with sound design by Marli van der Bijl, music by Matt Shaw and script adaptations by Alexandra Meerbach.

This episode is narrated by Olivia French and features the voice of Barry Kay as the Old Man with Gabriel Blake and James Wait as the policemen.

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wadawurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung people, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

As a plague ravages the country, an arrogant young prince retreats to his secluded abbey to host a series of lavish parties for his wealthy noble friends. But the pestilence cannot be shut out and the Red Death stalks the richly gilded halls.

Thank you for joining us for an episode of RavenMad, a Cygnet & Swan production. ‘The Masque of the Red Death’ was originally written by Edgar Allan Poe. This adaptation was directed by Olivia French with sound design and musical direction by Marli van der Bijl, editing by Elizabeth Bradford, music composition by Marais ven den Berg and script adaptation by Alexandra Meerbach. Our theme is by composer, Matt Shaw.

This episode features the voices of Alexandra Meerbach as the Narrator, James Wait as Prince Prospero and Clare Hamer, Paul Robers, Zoe James, James Wait, Olivia French, Alexandra Meerbach and Marli Van Der Bijl as the revellers.

RavenMad is proudly supported by the Ballarat Arts Foundation as the grateful recipient of the 2021 Jack Anderson Film Award grant.

Cygnet & Swan wish to acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of the Kulin nations, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which our podcast was produced. We also acknowledge the Wadawurrung people of Australia and the Khoi-San people of Southern Africa, the Traditional Owners of the land upon which this episode was recorded. We recognise their continuing connection to the land and waterways, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Visit the RavenMad website to read more about our production or follow us on Instagram or Facebook for the latest updates. 

If you love our podcast, you can support us by purchasing from the Cygnet & Swan RedBubble store. You can also sign up to the Cygnet & Swan mailing list to find out about our other projects in development.

Marissa chats with Lyndall Clipstone about her gothic romance duology - LAKESEDGE and FORESTFALL - as well as how the desire to prove oneself can be an excellent motivator; using special rituals in order to separate yourself from the "real world" and immerse yourself in the setting and feel of your novel; reconceptualizing a stand-alone book into a duology by expanding on existing plotlines, while making each book fundamentally different in some way; using oracle cards to set your writing intentions and clue yourself into your own personal needs (they might even inspire some new ideas!); using social media not just to engage with readers, but also as a creative outlet; and some great advice from a former editor - including how to guard your unique writing voice, and why you shouldn't save your best ideas for later. 

Find out more and follow The Happy Writer on social media: https://www.marissameyer.com/podcast/