Cast Macabre

Reading for "Season One"

2012-02-11T16:23:00.001-08:00

After our long hiatus we are now preparing for a relaunch, dubbed "Season One". We will be changing to a seasonal schedule, each season being twelve episodes in length, and are looking for seven more stories to fill the first season. We hope that this format will enable us to produce higher quality shows with more of a consistent theme. In the meantime please enjoy our archive.

CM45 - From Around Here by Tim Pratt (pt 3)

2011-09-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Read by Graeme Dunlop

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

This is part three.Thanks to Tim Pratt for selling us the rights to produce this fabulous long story for Cast Macabre.

Thanks to Graeme for narrating, producing, and guest hosting this week's episode, and a special thanks to all the fantastic narrators he lined up for us.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

CM44 - From Around Here by Tim Pratt (pt 2)

2011-09-04T14:16:00.000-07:00

Read by Graeme Dunlop

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

This is part two. Listen to part one here. Part three will be episode 45.Thanks to Tim Pratt for selling us the rights to produce this fabulous long story for Cast Macabre.

Thanks to Graeme for narrating, producing, and guest hosting this week's episode.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

CM43 - From Around Here by Tim Pratt (pt 1)

2011-08-29T13:33:00.000-07:00

Read by Graeme Dunlop

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Thanks to Tim Pratt for selling us the rights to produce this fabulous long story for Cast Macabre.

Thanks to Graeme for narrating, producing, and guest hosting this week's episode.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Show Update

2011-08-21T14:14:00.000-07:00

Hi Cast Macabre Fans, your host, Barry J. Northern here.

Apologies for the long delays between episodes. I am relocating to another town, and the move is taking longer than expected. Unfortunately my recording equipment is now packed in a box somewhere in the pile, so I can't record an update, let alone a show. Be assured that I'm still buying some great stories for you, ready for a restart in a few weeks time once we've moved and I'm settled enough to start recording again. In the meantime look forward to stories from Tim Pratt, Ralph Robert Moore, Craig Herbertson, Bosley Gravel, Bruce Boston, and many more.

Soon, we'll have a tale to tell. In the meantime, check out Cast of Wonders.

Listen to the promo or download the MP3

CM42 -Big Inches by Ralph Robert Moore

2011-07-07T23:00:00.000-07:00

Read by Alasdair Stuart

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Visit Ralph Robert Moore's website. There really is a lot of good stuff there.

Also, many thanks to Alasdair and the guys at Pseudopod towers for showing me the way out of their labyrinthine passageways.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Church Outing 20060312 by Spainful Films Soundtrack Dept.

41 Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Edward Morris

2011-07-04T15:41:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

For Neil Gaiman and Mike Carlos

Edward Morris is a 2005 British Science Fiction Association Award nominee, also nominated for the 2009 Rhysling Award. To date, he has sold 74 short stories worldwide, including sales to Interzone(#200, 'Imagine'), Pseudopod (#106, 'Jihad Over Innsmouth') , and most recently Ellen Datlow's Best Horror of the Year #2 ("Lotophagi.")

He's a three-year veteran panelist at the H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival and the Oregon Science Fiction Convention.

"Sinners In The Hands of An Angry God" is a story-poem after the style of many of the poems in Neil Gaiman's SMOKE & MIRRORS. John Shirley gave him the idea when he mentioned British Petroleum and a certain Elder God in the same Facebook post. He called this one "a good idea" when he read it. I hope you agree.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Idunn - 14 - Crystal Sea - Lull by Ambient Light
Sea of Blood by A Dying Ember

Sound effects from bashing my microphone against my hand and applying effects in Audacity.

CM40 - Blue and Gray & Black and Green by Alethea Kontis

2011-06-03T14:55:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Find out more about Alethea Kontis and her work at http://aletheakontis.com
Blue and Gray & Black and Green was first published in the Legends of the Mountain State 4 anthology from Woodland Press.
Cast Macabre fans might also like:

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

All incidental music this week was by Frank Rosiak

Jameela
Sad Song
The Old Kentucky Hoedown

Sog9 : The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe

2011-05-13T14:25:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Song for Lost Things by In the Hands

CM39 - Going West by Elizabeth Creith

2011-05-02T15:01:00.000-07:00

Read by the authour

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

This week's story is written and read by Elizabeth Creith.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Background music, The Green In The Ash pt I by Reflectiv
Closing song, Chameleon by Pixikill

CM38 - All in the Family by Sheldon Higdon

2011-04-16T23:14:00.000-07:00

Read by R. E. Chambliss

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

“Have you ever heard of the Turner Beast?” My grandpa asked while sitting in his wooden rocker by the fireplace. Jane shook her head from side to side as I took a sip of Moxie. Anna released a groan . . .

Find out more about authour Sheldon Higdon and narrator R. E. Chambliss.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Werewolf Girlfriend by Aliens & Strangers

Sound effects from the Freesound Project

By vibe_crc
piece_of_wood_thrown_or_dropped.wav
By digifishmusic
Popcorn_revisited_munching.wav
By lgarrett
lg fire3.wav
By offthesky
chair squeek.wav
By Batuhan
Fire.flac

CM37 - The Sparrow by Patrick Hurley

2011-04-07T14:30:00.000-07:00

Read by Graeme Dunlop

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Another great horror short story, this week, from Patrick Hurley.

This week's story contains strong profanity and explicit violence.

In late spring of 1794, villagers along the Gold Coast of Ghana discovered an abandoned merchant ship run aground on their shore. The proper authorities were notified and the local British magistrate dispatched a military escort to investigate. The ship was identified as the Sparrow, which port records showed had departed from Cape Coast, Ghana only 16 days before.

Click above to listen to the rest of the short story. It's like Rites of Passage with zombies -- only kidding.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

dysphor: Sigma Frequencies
Sonic Mystery: Great Moves & Deep Ocean
Great Big Sea: Excursion Around The Bay

CM36 - The Night Stalker by Raymond Gates

2011-03-25T14:15:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Click here to visit Raymond Gates' website
Renee Chambliss blogs about her experiences narrating for Cast Macabre.
Read Unblinking's comments on the High Priest here.
Click here to sign up to the Cast Macabre newsletter.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Suite Gothique - Toccata by Cambridge Guitar Orchestra

Sound effects from the Freesound Project

sound-meow1.wav by zippi1.

Sof8 Two in the Morning by Kella Hanna-Wayne

2011-03-18T14:13:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Kella Hanna-Wayne is a new poet from Eugene, Oregon.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Nightfall by Buskalaska

Bonus PDF - Dark Secrets by Barry J. Northern

2011-03-18T02:06:00.000-07:00

DARK SECRETS
a horror short story

Ben hadn't seen his dead mother for seven months. On the day it happened,
the August sun had banished every other shadow. The elm-lined street bustled with
morning traffic. Kids waved book bags and plastic lunchboxes. Younger kids held
hurried parents' hands. Molly didn't like holding hands . . .

Ben is a single father trying his best to live a good life, but haunted by the dark secrets in his past.

Community subscribers will already have my short story horror ebook, Dark Secrets. If you aren't subscribed yet then ...

Click here to download your free copy

CM35 - The High Priest by C Deskin Rink

2011-03-14T01:30:00.000-07:00

Read by R. E. Chambliss

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Sign up for more news and content.

Find out more about Ankor Sabat.
Narrated by R. E. Chambliss.
Voices by Abigail Hilton, Bob Eccles, and a mystery guest!

Incidental Fusion provided by Mevio at Music Alley, and also from Venus Vulture, and Nox Arcana

CM34 - The Path That Does Not Stray by Christopher Ryan

2011-03-04T15:25:00.000-08:00

Read by Graeme Dunlop

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Sign up for our new horror community.

Find out more about Christopher Ryan at his blog, PrehistoryRanch.com.
The text of this week's story is published online at Pulp Metal Magazine
Find out more about Dante's Inferno

Extra Content and Secret Stuff!

Sign up for our new horror community.

Have you got the Cast Macabre wallpaper yet? If not, sign-up, because that's just one of the things we'll be giving away. Sign-up soon, as within the next week or so, we'll be sending out a survey to find out more about what you want from the show.

It's your chance to shape, not only this podcast, but future podcasts as well, and also a chance to get more hints and previews about what's coming up. We'll be continually sending out extra content to the community.

As a big-thank you for filling out the short survey, there'll be a bonus episode for you to enjoy. This episode will never be released in the feed, so sign-up soon.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

In Between by Kirsty Hawkshaw
INFERNO by I Awake

Sound effects from the Freesound Project

By harri, hhh7.mp3 and hhh1.mp3
By acclivity, CircularSaw.mp3
By JFBSAUVE, musical box.wav

CM33 - I Wait by Larry C. Kerr

2011-02-25T14:43:00.000-08:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

This week's authour is Larry C. Kerr, and you can find out all about him and his works at his rather good website, www.larrykerrauthor.com

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Orchestral music by Rob van den Berg

magisticalsymphonic
SymphonicTheme7721
Symphonictheme2407
PsychoticSymphonicTheme

Closing Track

Vampire by Pixikill

CM32 Beneath the Red City by Matthew Bey

2011-02-12T15:12:00.000-08:00

Read by Norm Sherman

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Zombie Lapdance
Space Squid
Read Matt's first published story at Revolution SF here
The Drabblecast

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

space filmscore Guardian Mind Mix
Caissa 1 - sad and lonely & Olivia - Piano 1st Movement by Film Composer - David Beard

CM Sof7 An Antiquary's Ghost Story by Augustus Jessopp

2011-02-04T14:00:00.000-08:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

This is our first classic stab of fear.
Read the story here, and find out more about Augustus Jessopp.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Arise--for chamber ensemble--2nd movement Jeff Vidov

CM31 - Ashputtle by Peter Straub

2011-01-28T15:15:00.000-08:00

Read by Christiana Ellis

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Visit Peter Straub's website at PeterStraub.net

Ashputtle has appeared in the anthology BLACK THORN, WHITE ROSE in 1994 edited by Ellen Datlow & Terry Windling, in the Peter Straub collection Magic Terror, from Random House in 2000, and in audio form, read by Peter himself in Dark Voices Vol 4 from Borderlands Press.

Visit Christiana Ellis' website

Read the original Ashputtel by the Brothers Grimm

Music taken from the album
Phantom Shadows
by Venus Vulture.

CM30 - While Gabriel Slept by Matt Moore

2011-01-23T14:56:00.000-08:00

Read by Marshal Latham

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Find out more about Marshal Latham over at Swamp Stories, Julie Hoverson at 19 Nocturne Boulevard, and Pamila Payne at Bella Vista.

Barry also talks about his story Dark Secrets, which appears in a new anthology called Their Dark Masters, from Red Skies Press.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Dream of Freedom by 2012
Ethereal by 1

CM29 - A Tale of Cain by Drew Arrants

2011-01-14T15:03:00.000-08:00

Read by Robert C. Eccles

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

It's a shorty but a goody this week from Drew Arrants, whose short stories have been published in various U.K. and American print magazines, anthologies, and online venues, including Champagne Shivers, Ray Gun Revival, Drabblecast, and Strange, Weird, and Wonderful Magazine.

A Tale of Cain is read by Bob Eccles, a Pushcart Prize nominated writer of short horror and sci-fi. Bob is also a submissions editor for Flashes in the Dark. You can find his authours page, Robert C. Eccles on facebook, and his blog, Tiny Terrors at shortandscary.blogspot.com

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Interstitials 1, 4, & 18 by Al Phlipp and The Woo Team

CM28 - A Kristine Ong Muslim Collection

2011-01-07T14:24:00.000-08:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Kristine authored the full-length poetry collection, A Roomful of Machines (Searle Publishing, 2010). Her work has appeared in over four hundred publications including Aberrant Dreams, Abyss & Apex, Alternative Coordinates, Expanded Horizons, Space & Time, and Tales of the Talisman. She's received several Honorable Mentions in Year's Best Fantasy and Horror as well as five nominations for the Pushcart Prize and four for the Science Fiction Poetry Association's Rhysling Award.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Hollow Sun by 1000psi

You might also be interested in an authour interview with Richard Godwin, which you'll find here

CM27 - Metastasis by Nathaniel Lee

2010-12-17T16:25:00.000-08:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Nathaniel's work has appeared recently in PodCastle episode 132, where his story, "Fetch", won first prize in their Flash Fiction Contest Extravaganza, and he has had featured no less than six 100-word drabbles at the Drabblecast, making him their most-drabbled author!

For help or advice about dealing with cancer, or to donate to a much more worthy cause than this podcast, visit Cancer Research UK.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

All background music this week is by 1000psi, tracks Death, Decay, and Background.

CM Sof6 Recipes by Lavie Tidhar

2010-12-08T13:50:00.000-08:00

Read by Graeme Dunlop

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

During World War II, 1939 to 1945, following a programme of systematic state-sponsored extermination by Nazi Germany, two-thirds of the population of nine million Jews who had resided in Europe before the Holocaust were killed.

I know of no greater horror.

Music this week by Laeto, from their album, Laeto III, free to download from their website, laeto.co.uk/.
The first album track, Dead Planets, plays behind the story, and we play out with the last, Mount Black Prince.

CM26 - The Gravedigger by Stephen Owen

2010-11-25T15:57:00.000-08:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Warning: This week's story is especially explicit.

Stephen lives and works as a sign maker in the UK. His interest in writing stories began in the late nineties when he started writing for the school nursery his children attended. When teachers advised him to think seriously about taking it further, he took a crash course in
evening classes to find out what he really wanted to write about. He hasn't written a child's story since. Previous works have been published in Thirteen, Dark of Night, Albedo One, Doorways, Demon Minds, the Wicked Stories website, Pseudopod, Necrography, Nossa Morte and Necrotic Tissue.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Empty Box by Al Phlipp and The Woo Team
Calculated Emptyness by compl33t

CM25 - Lovecraftiness

2010-11-19T16:12:00.000-08:00

Read & Hosted by Paul Newman

Click to play or download the MP3.

Two classic stories from H. P. Lovecraft, Ex Oblivione and Nyarathlotep.

Show Notes

Many, many thanks to Paul Newman for stepping in this week and allowing us to bring you an episode when Barry's voice wasn't up to the job. He's done a sterling job, and we just know you're all going to enjoy this one.

This week we're teaming up with Reading Libraries and their H. P. Lovecraft event, Weird Winter Tales.

Background music, The Spirit of Saint Mary by Chris Lambert of Music for Zombies, a musician from Reading who has written music specifically for the event.

Also features Portico, Paul Newman's track from Passing Fayre -- see you knew you'd heard him before -- he provided the poem "Death Is Before Me Now" at the start of Episode 19a

Closing track, Isis Unveiled by Damh the Bard.

CM24 - A G. O. Clark Collection

2010-11-12T15:35:00.000-08:00

Read by Barry J. Northern, Pamila Payne, and Bob Eccles.

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Check out G. O. Clark's work here http://my.att.net/p/s/community.dll?ep=16&groupid=381191&ck=

Special thanks once again to Pamila Payne and to new voice, Bob Eccles, for their superb narration this week.

Tracks The Instant and The Shining Hours from The Far Stairs

Closing song, Iambrlycrn by Paul Newman from his album, Passing Fayre

Additional music from Music Alley

Hydraulic Fuck Out by Make-Overs
Requiem by Fariborz Lachini

Sof5 Night Sortie by Edgar Arthurs

2010-11-05T17:32:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Check out Edgar Arthur's blog S. Latitude 47° 9’, W. Longitude 126° 43’

Tracks Love Theme #85 and Murmur from The Far Stairs
Sound effects from the Freesound Project

CM23 - Out and Back by Barbara Roden

2010-10-30T19:00:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Allan played by Big Anklevich from Dunesteef
Linda (and the woman) played by Julie Hoverson from 19 Nocturne Boulevarde

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Find all about Mammoth Book of Best New Horror editor, Stephen Jones.
Buy the Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 21 ...

Discover more about Barbara Roden, and her work as an editor, as well as an authour, by clicking her name for her blog and visiting her home page.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Beyond the Clouds by Alexandre Falcao
Story of a Boy by 2012

Sound effects from the Freesound Project

By mrmayo carousal2 2.wav By JohnLaVine333 SqueekingSwing.wav By malexmedia malexmedia_twigsnapB.wav By reinsamba Nightingale song 2.wav By luffy luffy_wind1.wav By pagancow dorm door opening.wav By bennychico11 DoorSlamOpen.aif By RHumphries RBH_Chain Link Fence 03.wav By HerbertBoland Creak_3.wav By geoffbarkman Door Knock.wav By sdfalk Car door slam.wav By Koops Page_Fumble_02.wav By audible-edge
Chrysler LHS tire squeal 02 (04-25-2009).wav

Special thanks to Rish Outfield for his assistance to Big Anklevich whilst recording the part of Allan, and to Jesse Livingstone and her band, The Far Stairs, for their donation of music.

Pseudopod 209: Corvus Curse by Barry J. Northern

2010-10-21T23:58:00.000-07:00

Read by Ian Stuart, voice actor for hire

If you're not already subscribed to Pseudopod (despite my relentless promotion of it) I hope this will encourage you.

Click to play or download the MP3.

CM22 Blind Man's Bluff by Brian G Ross

2010-10-21T05:53:00.000-07:00

Read by Rish Outfield and Bigg Anklevich

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

This week's story is by Brian G. Ross

It is narrated by Rish Outfield and Bigg Anklevich, of the excellent Dunesteef podcast.

Check out Erin Cole's 13 days of horror

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Hollow sun & Background by 1000psi
the storm by duvid

CM21 - A Lake of Spaces by Tim Pratt

2010-10-14T15:08:00.000-07:00

Read by Paul S. Jenkins

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Find out more about Tim Pratt and his Marla Mason novels by clicking on the links.

Find out more about Paul S. Jenkins', The Plitone Revisionist, Notes from an Evil Burnee, Tenuous Tales, and check out a bit of podcasting history at the Rev Up Review.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Science Procedural by Podcast Troubadour
Alien Help by matt west
Ominousity by Nick and Gerald

CM20 - A Bruce Boston Collection

2010-10-08T16:25:00.000-07:00

Read by Abbie Hilton, Mur Lafferty, Anthony Venutolo, and Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Bruce Boston's work has appeared in hundreds of publications, including Asimov's SF, Amazing Stories, Realms of Fantasy, Strange Horizons, Weird Tales, The Pedestal Magazine, Year's Best Fantasy
& Horror, and the Nebula Awards Showcase, and received a number of awards, most notably the Pushcart Prize, the Asimov's Readers' Award, the Bram Stoker Award, the Rhysling Award,
and the Grandmaster Award of the Science Fiction Poetry Association. He holds the distinctions of having appeared in more issues of Asimov's SF than any other author.

His work stretches from broad humor to literary surrealism, with many stops along the way for science fiction, fantasy, horror, and noir. He's published forty-five books and chapbooks, including the novels The Guardener's Tale and Stained Glass Rain.

This episode we are featuring pieces from The Nightmare Collection, and Dark Matters, available from The Horror Mall, The Genre Mall, and Amazon.

Featuring the voices of:

Abigail Hilton; authour, producer, host, and narrator of the brilliant audio book series, the Prophet of Panamindorah, and The Guild of the Cowry Catchers

Mur Lafferty; host of I Should Be Writing, editor of Escape Pod, writer of Playing for Keeps.

Anthony Venutolo; from Bukowski's Basement

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Death and Taxes by 2012
Cemetery Blues by Sincerely, Iris
Noir Suite by Doug Astrop
Idunn - 06 - Grey Blur by Ambient Light
Ancient Voices by Madness Again
The maid on the shore by Ceili Moss

CM19b Proving Ground by Mark A. Crittenden

2010-10-05T16:52:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Mark is the authour of Their Dark Master, Cast Macabre episode one, and also editor of Red Skies Press. You can find more about him, his work, and the horror anthologies open for submissions over at Red Skies Press.

Show includes track "Shore of Dreams" from Paul Newman's album, Passing Fayre.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Reflections in the Water by Debussy by Linda Holzer

Sound effects from the Freesound Project

By Leady ALL IN PAIN (2).wav
By pauliep83 silenced gun.wav

CM19a - Nadine's Eyes by Marge Simon & Sandy DeLuca

2010-10-05T16:39:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Marge Simon is a past president of the SFPA and serves as editor of Star*Line. A former Rhysling winner, she won the 2008 Bram Stoker for Vectors: A Week in the Death of a Planet, with Charlee Jacob, Dark Regions Press. Her art and fiction have appeared in numerous genre publications, such as The Pedestal Magazine, Vestal Review, Flashquake, Dreams & Nightmares, and Cast Macabre episode 16a.

Sandy DeLuca has written five novels: SETTLING IN NAZARETH , DESCENT, MANHATTAN GRIMOIRE, FROM ASHES and REQUIEM FOR THE DEAD. Her poetry chapbook, BURIAL PLOT IN SAGITTARIUS, was nominated for the BRAM STOKER award in 2001. She also has been a painter for over twenty years. Her work has been exhibited in galleries, hair salons, book stores and online venues. She has also done covers for various small press venues.

Show includes track "Death Is Before Me Now" from Paul Newman's album, Passing Fayre.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

By Film Composer - David Beard:
Restless Spirits - Beat A - Halloween 3
Restless Spirits - Beat B - Halloween 4
Restless Spirits - Beat C - Halloween 5
Churchyard - Halloween 7

Sound effects from the Freesound Project

CM18 - A Little Nest Egg by Ken Goldman

2010-09-25T14:45:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Ken Goldman has had over 535 stories published in the small/independent press since 1993. A selection of these is presented below:

Short Story Collection (Paperback)

You Had Me At ARRGH! : Five Uneasy Pieces by Ken Goldman (Sam’s Dot Publishing/October 2007)

Novella (Paperback, eBook, Kindle)

“Desiree” (Damnation Books/June 2010)

Novelette/Horror Imprint

“POE 103” in Barley Books’ Little Horrors series, UK (October 2000)

Print Magazines 2008-2010

The American publications Tales of The Talisman, Champagne Shivers, Sinister Tales, Shroud, Glutonlump’s Chilling Tales, Golden Visions, Abandoned Towers, Macabre Cadaver, Night to Dawn, and Necrography; the Canadian publication Dark Worlds; and the United Kingdom Publications Garbaj, Morpheus Tales, Aoife’s Kiss, Necrotic Tissue, and Sounds of The Night.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Hubbles EYES & Violin Fusion by Guardian Mind Mix
Violino by Marco Esu

Sound effects from the Freesound Project

By snardin42 Screen Door Opening and Closing.mp3
By mystiscool bell.wav
By JCambs1990 Stomp That.wav
By DalomarGrimm Bone Cracking 2.wav
By Donalfonso Squash.wav
By stomachache catfight.WAV
By audible-edge Nissan Maxima handbrake turn (04-25-2009).wav
By daveincamas Pendulum.wav
By LS rocking chair.wav

Special thanks to Paul Newman for letting us play the track, Lavondyss, from his new album, Passing Fayre. Check him out at http://sunshinepaul.blogspot.com/

CM17 Blogging with the Moon by Mark Brandon Allen

2010-09-16T15:27:00.000-07:00

Read by Graeme Dunlop

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Narrator Graeme Dunlop's Escape Artist's narrations:

Escape Artists Narrations

For PodCastle: "Biographical Notes To 'A Discourse on the Nature of Causality, With Airplanes by Benjamin Rosenbaum'" by Benjamin Rosenbaum
For EscapePod: "The Moment" by Lawrence M. Schoen (2010 Hugo Nominee.)
For Pseudopod: "Broken Bough" by Daniel I. Russell

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Restless Spirits - Underscore - Halloween 2 by Film Composer - David Beard
Zombie Werewolf Alien Vampire Monsters by The Volume Brothers
Space Music Bootstrap & Science Nature Space 23 by Podcast Troubadour

Special thanks to Top Web Comics.

Visit Erin Cole's Listen to the Voices, 13 Days of Horror Guidelines.

SoF4: Ghost by Tim Pratt

2010-09-10T05:41:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Show Notes

Tim Pratt's stories have appeared in The Year's Best Fantasy and Horror, Strange Horizons, Realms of Fantasy, Asimov's, all three Escape Artists podcasts and the Drabblecast. His short fiction has won the Hugo Award (for "Impossible Dreams" in 2007)

His poem, "Ghost", first appeared in his poetry collection, "If there were wolves", published by Prime/Aegis, September 2006. . See Tim's bibliography for a full list of his printed works.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Deep Blue Snow by Al Phlipp and The Woo Team

Sound effects from the The Freesound Project

Loop 2.mp3 by DJ Chronos

Special thanks to Julie Hoverson.

CM16b - The Tiger Machine by R. S. Bohn

2010-09-03T05:31:00.000-07:00

Read by Norm Sherman

Click to play or download the MP3.

Links

Find R. S. Bohn and her work at rsbohn.blogspot.com/.
Find out more about Norm Sherman and the Drabblecast at drabblecast.org.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

Soft Strings, matt west
Caissa 2 - jolly playtime &
The Opening - Watchmaker Cue, Film Composer - David Beard

CM16a - The Stomach Only Tries by Marge Simon

2010-09-03T05:23:00.000-07:00

Read by Barry J. Northern

Click to play or download the MP3.

Links

Find Marge Simon and her work at margesimon.com/.
Find our more about the HWA and the Bram Stoker Awards at horror.org.

Music provided by Mevio at Music Alley

The Opening - Olivia's diegetic Baroque &
Little Black Dragon, Film Composer - David Beard
Partita by J.S. Bach, Brunswick Duo

CM Ep 15 What They Consumed by Helmut Finch

2010-08-28T15:29:00.000-07:00

Read by Alasdair Stuart.

Original manuscript discovered by C. Deskin Rink.

I beseech Nothoth Yamon, denizen of abyssal pylons . . .

Click to play or download the MP3.

Visit Alasdair Stuart's Blog

The music at the end of the story was written and performed by Nox Arcana. Visit them at noxarcana.com. Thanks to Nox Arcana for giving us special permission to use their track "Cthulhu's Rising".

All other music from Mevio at Music Alley:

Pathetique Piano Sonata, mvt. 2 by Ludwig van Beethoven and Canon in D Major for piano by Johann Pachelbel performed by Mario Ajero.
The Lost Memory part 2 by Ambient Light.

Samples used from The Free Sound Project

By ERH : cinematic deep bass rumble.wav
By djgriffin : tibetan chant 1.wav

CM Ep 14 - The Nice Guy by John Jasper Owens

2010-08-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

She approached me at the gas station. I knew what was happening as soon as I heard her say, “Hey, mister,” from behind me . . .

Click to play or download the MP3

This week's story is The Nice Guy by John Jasper Owens. His work has appeared in A capella Zoo, Out of the Gutter, Bards and Sages Quarterly, about twenty other locations.

The story is narrated by Rish Outfield of the excellent Dunesteef podcast. Our other voice actor this week is Julie Hoverson, who previously appeared in episode 12, Like Popular by Kevin Brown. Check her out at 19NocturneBoulevard.com

Music from Music Alley
Sexercise_music2work2 by music2work2
My Assistant Will Take Notes by Porno Soundtracks
As I Look Upon The World by Nick and Gerald

Stab of Fear 003 The Joining by C. Deskin Rink

2010-08-13T13:31:00.000-07:00

Once, Dr. Josef Mengle stitched a pair of twins together, I suspect, just to see if two people could survive sharing one liver . . .

Click to play, or download the MP3

C. Deskin Rink wants to be known simply as a human organism. He is also the authour of Ankor Sabat, Pseudopod 186. Visit his blog.

Background music for this episode 300.01 by Brandon Sollins

CM13 Dracula's Guest by Bram Stoker

2010-08-07T14:21:00.000-07:00

When we started for our drive the sun was shining brightly on Munich, and the air was full of the joyousness of early summer . . .

Click to listen, or download the MP3

This week is our second classic fiction episode, featuring the most well-known progenitor of vampire fiction, the creator of Dracula, Bram Stoker.

Visit our forums to discuss this story, or any other, and your feedback may make it into future episodes.

Music from Music Alley by Ambient Light, tracks Descent, and The Lost Memory part 2

Samples used in this episode, from The Free Sound Project

By mastafx

shot.wav

By cognito perceptu

carbine single.wav

By digifishmusic

Creatures.wav Infinite Storm.wav

By ubecareful

growl1.wav

By artifact

lightning_strike.wav

By Timbre

sliding stone slab simulation.wav

By arnaud coutancier

05 storm - orage.wav 07 storm - orage.wav 06 storm - orage.wav

By SpeedY

full_thuderstorm.wav

By swiftoid

wind howl.mp3

By martypinso

DMP013016 HEAVYSNOWSTORM.wav

By Robinhood76

00829 wolf howl one shot.wav

By Pogotron

Empty Forest.wav

By dobroide

20060419.horse.neigh.wav

By man

cavallicorsa.aif

By secondbody

Angry cat Roo.wav

By NoiseCollector

cat2.wav

By Corsica_S

Meow.wav

By UATaudio

WalkMedDryGrass.wav

By J.Zazvurek

Body fall in grass CLOSE.mp3

By dobroide

20071104.forest.00.mp3

By zolopher

splat.wav

By FreqMan

Splash 1.wav

By junggle

water_splash_18.wav

By petenice

SPLASH.wav

By roscoetoon

water_drip-echo2.wav

CM Ep 12 - Like, Popular by Kevin Brown

2010-07-30T15:42:00.000-07:00

Julie’s dad touches her and she can cry on cue. Kristi’s mom hits her, so every angry song on the radio she’ll claw her hands through her hair and sing real loud. Like it’s all about her. Just Kristi, Kristi, Kristi...

Click to play, or download the MP3

Music used in the show, from Music Alley
Most Popular Girl In The World by Ari Shine.
The Four Bags by Banco Popular

Sound Effects used in the show for The Freesound Project
sneeze.wav by sagetyrtle
scraping.mp3 by morgantj
slow_pull_up_and_stop.wav by bketnick
StreetSideLowTraffic.wav by ViaTorci
rbh rope swishes 01.wav by RHumphries
neck_crack.wav by Halleck
Living Minute - Classroom Before the Teacher Arrives.mp3 by Incarnadine
Rusty Metal Squeak goose.wav by gelo_papas
awfulTHEaudio_watschn2.wav by awfulTHEsample
Face Slap.wav by kemitix
Punch_1-2.wav by taylorsyoung@gmail.com

Illustration by Cameron Stewart

Kevin has had work published in over seventy journals and was nominated for a Journey Award in 2007, and a Pushcart Prize. His first book Ink On Wood is scheduled to be published in the summer of 2010. His website is: invisiblebodies.com.

This week's narrator is Julie Hoverson of 19 Nocturne Boulevard, an award-winning audio drama anthology series. Listen out for Julie's promo at the end of the show.

CM Ep 11 - Double Flash Special 1

2010-07-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

I climb into bed next to her, beneath sheet, duvet, hand-made quilt, still barely adequate in the January chill of the old farmhouse...

Click to play or download the MP3

This week we've got a new format for you, a double flash fiction special. Two great stories from two great authours, Faces in the Window by Talu Briar and Give Me Your Nightmare by Tom Barlow.

Talu lives in England but her heart resides in New Hampshire where her partner is. Writing in many different genres she loves to test the boundaries and challenge normality. She can be found at her horror journal: http://stumblingintothevoid.blogspot.com/.

Give Me Your Nightmare by Tom Barlow appeared originally in Sand magazine.
Tom's other stories may be found in magazines including The Intergalactic Medicine Show, Tenemos, Redivider, the Apalachee Review and others, and he had anthologies including Desolate Places and The Book Of Dead Things. Tom is a graduate of The Clarion Workshop.

Music from MusicAlley
Midevil Times Epic Classic by Guardian Mind Mix
Nightfall by Buskalaska

CM Ep 10 - Bug Lady by Michael J. Solender

2010-07-16T15:45:00.000-07:00

Sweetie, why is it YOU have to go, why can’t they send someone else?”

Click to play, or download the MP3.

Visit Abbie Hilton's Guild of the Cowry Catchers
Visit Michael J. Solender's The NOT.

Most of the music in the episode can be found over at Music Alley.

Ladybug Labs by dt king
Natural Drum Jungle Beat by SOUNDSCAPERS PRODUCTION MUSIC
Jungle Tip Toe by Larry Seyer
elevator music by Anne Davis

CM9 The Ghosts' Compact by Norman A. Rubin

2010-07-09T16:01:00.000-07:00

All the swampers of the bayou said so when they spoke of the evil tale, a tale of deceit commited by a nefarious judge and his richly deserved punishment!

Click to listen, or download the MP3

Norman lives in Israel, and is a former correspondent for the Continental NewsService (USA), now retired. He is busy writing stories and articles for net and magazines worldwide. He simply advises you to google him to find links to his work.

This week's story is once again narrated by the talented Pamila Payne. Check her out at vintagevice.com.

Most of the music in the episode can be found over at Music Alley.

Spooky piano by Jeff Rosiana
Harmonica Stomp by David Miller
Banjo Tango by Cynthia Sayer
Mississippi River by Antioquia

Stab of Fear 002 Lock and Key by L. R. Bonehill

2010-06-23T15:31:00.000-07:00

I found the box on the day Richie Norton saved my life. I was just about lost to it; that sense of serenity that comes when you’re drowning...

Click to play or download the MP3

Visit L. R. Bonehill's blog at Bonehill's Boneyard, and find out more about him and his writings in an upcoming newsletter. Sign up for free on the sidebar.

CM8 Legend of La Chusa by Erin Cole

2010-06-17T16:32:00.000-07:00

I grew up on a ranch with my father, brother, and grandmom. One hundred acres of pine, sagebrush, and limestone canyon.

Listen to or download the MP3.

Erin Cole is a writer seeking sanity in her nightmares, crafting fiction under mystery, magic, murder, and mayhem. After obtaining a bachelor’s of science in Psychology, she is currentlypursuing publication of her mystery novel, Unearthing Jev, and is drafting the sequel, Wicked Tempest. She's been published in such haunts as Full of Crow, Flashes in the Dark, Negative Suck, and Blink Ink. She blogs at Listen to the Voices

Our narrator this week is the talented Pamila Payne. Pamila is a native Los Angeles writer and narrator and you can find her work at www.vintagevice.com, and her blog at Bella Vista.

You can find more about Angel Zapata's horror poetry at his site, A Rage of Angel

Now, we've a tale to tell you ...

CM7 - A Moonlight Fable by H. G. Wells

2010-06-11T15:16:00.000-07:00

There was once a little man whose mother made him a beautiful suit of clothes...

Our first classic story, as promised, this one published in 1909, proving that fear is eternal...

You can read a pdf version of this story here: http://www.horrormasters.com/Text/a4069.pdf (this was a link, but that made the pdf appear in iTunes instead of the MP3!)

Listen to the episode or download the MP3

Stab of Fear 001 Dangerous Premonitions by Laura Eno

2010-06-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

The first snowfall of the season dusted the ground in light powder, revealing small footprints that led to the cellar door...

Click to play or download the MP3

Visit Laura's site at lauraeno.blogspot.com, and find out more about her and her writings in an upcoming newsletter. Sign up for free on the sidebar.

CM5 The Stamp of a Vamp by Paul D. Brazill

2010-05-28T16:35:00.000-07:00

Alison Day was a mousy woman who had barely been scuffed by the wear and tear of life until the day she met Lulu, the effect of which was like lightning hitting a plane...

This is the missing episode 5! It's the newest episode, and comes after episode 6. We have a casual disregard for mathematical sequences here at Cast Macabre.

Paul was born in Hartlepool, England and is on thelam in Bydgoszcz (many apologies for having no idea how to pronounce this in the episode), Poland. He has had stories in A Twist of Noir,Blink Ink, Beat to a Pulp and other such classy joints.

Paul can be found stalking ‘You would say that, wouldn’t you?’

Download or play the MP3

CM6 Corvus Curse by Barry J. Northern

2010-05-03T15:54:00.000-07:00

I remember the night that my childhood ended, the event the precipitated the erosion of my innocence . . .

Now, I have a problem. Today's story is called Corvus Curse, and our authour is me. Now before you scream "vanity press" and run for the hills, let me assure you that it wasn't my idea to run this. Whilst I was away on holiday recently, the editor of Howl : Dark Tales of the Feral and Infernal from Lame Goat Press, where this story first appeared, went ahead and recorded the thing for the podcast.

That editor is Mark A. Crittenden . . .

Download or play the MP3

Cast Macabre by Barry J. Northern is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

CM4 The Stone Goddess by Sean Monaghan

2010-03-29T17:51:00.000-07:00

Ben shook dust from his undersuit and keyed the light on. That formation yesterday, at the edge of the valley. He'd dreamed of it, something about an alien visitor . . .Today we're featuring our first science fiction story, and our first from the Lame Goat Press anthology, Horror through the Ages. The anthology is still available at Amazon and CreateSpace, so if you like The Stone Goddess, there's plenty more where that came from.

Today's story is The Stone Goddess by Sean Monaghan. Sean is a New Zealand-based writer who also tutors in creative writing and reviews books. Sean's stories have appeared in numerous publications both online and in print, including Flashes in the Dark, Takahe, 365 Tomorrows, Antipodean Science Fiction and several Lame Goat Press volumes. Sean has released a number of albums of ambient music as Venus Vulture. More information about both his writing and music can be found at his website venusvulture.com.

Now, we've a tale to tell you . . .

Download or play the MP3

CM3 Lacerta by Jodi MacArthur

2010-03-25T13:55:00.000-07:00

His tongue was hot liquid on her skin. It slid down Ribbon's cheek, her chin, down. Down her collarbone, the curve of cleavage, then, it was gone . . .

Lacerta: "When the lizard goes blind, it looks to the rising sun" -The Medieval Bestiary

Today's story is Lacerta, by Jodi MacArthur; another from Howl: Dark Tales of the Feral and Infernal out now on Amazon.com and CreateSpace.

Jodi MacArthur dreams, writes, and fears wandering squamata ever since a gecko awoke in her pants. She named him Timothy and set him free. Published online and in print, she is currently working on her first novel, Devil's Eye. Visit her website at jodimacarthur.blogspot.com

Now, we have a tale to tell you ...

Download or play the MP3

CM2 Berserker by Deborah Walker

2010-03-23T15:29:00.000-07:00

The forest is a place of light and shadow and some can see the beauty of the contrast . . .

This week's story is another from the anthology, Howl : Tales of the Feral and Infernal, compiled by Lame Goat guest editor, Mark Crittenden, out now on CreateSpace and Amazon.com.

Head on over to the forums for a discount code for CreateSpace purchases.

Today's story is Berserker, by Deborah Walker. After a twenty year period of procrastination, she has started to write short stories and poetry and tweets. She lives in London with her partner Chris and her two lovely, yet distracting, young children. Find her horror stories in Bards and Sages, Champagne Shivers, Innsmouth Free Press, Tweet the Meat, and a number of upcoming anthologies.

Now, we've a tale to tell you . . .

Download or play the MP3

CM1 Their Dark Master by Mark Anthony Crittenden

2010-03-21T17:19:00.000-07:00

Victor Vulheim approached the lavishly built house with his intentions hidden in a crocodile skin case . . .

Today's story comes from none other than Mark A. Crittenden, the editor of Howl: Dark Tales of the Feral and Infernal, of which this tale is part. The Howl anthology is now available to buy on Amazon.com.

Mark Anthony Crittenden writes from within, the most perilous place a writer can be. His writing credits include: Champagne Shivers 2009 & 2010 issue, Morpheus Tales Flash Fiction Special, Twisted Dreams Jun 2009 issue, Worlds Within, Worlds Beyond Jun 2009 issue, Side Show 2: Tales of the Big Top and the Bizarre, Diamonds in the Rough, and No One Can Hear You Scream.

He blogs at visionprimordial.blogspot.com

Download or play the MP3