In the second of our 2024 Christmas Specials - join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guests Jenn Ashworth (author of Ghosted, A Kind of Intimacy and Fell ) and Andrew Michael Hurley (author of The Loney , Starve Ac r e and Barrowbeck ). We discussed three ghost stories for Christmas: Christmas Eve on a Haunted Hulk by Frank Cowper The Glamour of the Snow by Algernon Blackwood Don't Tell Cissy by Celia Fremlin Jenn Ashworth is novelist and Professor of Writing at Lancaster University. Her novels inc...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 54 min
In the first of our 2024 Christmas Specials - join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Mike Muncer in this episode (recorded live on Zoom on 11 December 2024) as we discuss two classic BBC Ghost Story for Christmas films, 'The Signalman' (1976) and 'A View From a Hill' (2005). Mike Muncer is the host and creator of The Evolution of Horror , a weekly podcast in which he explores the history of the horror genre by delving into particular sub-genres across several weeks. Each episode Mike is joine...
Dec 19, 2024•1 hr 45 min
In Series 4, Episode 11 - our Christmas Special - join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Mike Muncer in this episode (recorded live on Zoom on 7 December 2023) as we discuss two class Ghost Story for Christmas films, 'The Treasure of Abbot Thomas' (1974) and ' The Ash Tree' (1975) Mike Muncer is the host and creator of The Evolution of Horror , a weekly podcast in which he explores the history of the horror genre by delving into particular sub-genres across several weeks. Each episode Mike is...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 55 min•Season 4Ep. 11
In Series 4, Episode 10 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , as I count down ten of my favourite Ghost Stories for Christmas! What are your favourites? Tell me on Twitter and Facebook .
Dec 13, 2023•27 min•Season 4Ep. 10
In Series 4, Episode 9 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Nathan Ballingrud as we discuss 'The Upper Berth' by F. Marion Crawford Nathan Ballingrud is the author of The Strange, Wounds : Six Stories from the Border of Hell , and North American Lake Monsters , which won the Shirley Jackson Award. A novella, Crypt of the Moon Spider , will appear in 2024. He has been shortlisted for the World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Bram Stoker Awards. His stories have been adapted into the Hulu serie...
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr 25 min•Season 4Ep. 9
In Series 4, Episode 8 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Naomi Ryan as we discuss 'Martin's Close' by M.R. James Naomi Ryan is a barrister. After completing the BCL at St Catherine’s College, Oxford, she taught criminal law to undergraduates at St Hilda’s College Oxford and University College London before embarking on her career as a criminal barrister. She both prosecuted and defended before moving to work for as a civil service. She has worked for an array of prestigious departments, ...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 50 min•Season 4Ep. 8
In Series 4, Episode 7 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Leon Craig as we discuss ' Berenice ' by Edgar Allan Poe Leon Craig is a writer and editor from London, now based in Berlin. Her gothic short story collection Parallel Hells was published by Sceptre Books and she is currently working on her first novel. Leon ’s fiction has also appeared in the White Review , the London Magazine , the Best British Short Stories 2022 anthology and the Queer Life, Queer Love anthology. Her criticism h...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 28 min•Season 4Ep. 7
Welcome to this special bonus LIVE episode of The Ghost Story Book Club! Join me (Adam Z. Robinson), Gothic expert and award-winning writer Professor Catherine Spooner and novellist Andrew Michael Hurley for this post-screening discussion of The Woman in Black (1989 TV film adaptation) which was recorded LIVE at The Dukes, Lancaster, on Saturday 28 October 2023 as part of the Dark Dukes festival. The Ghost Story Book Club: Christmas Special Live-Stream Thurs 7 December Book now, here: Tickets Da...
Nov 15, 2023•52 min•Season 4Ep. 6
In Series 4, Episode 5 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Dr. Emily Vincent as we discuss 'The Giant Wistaria' by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Dr Emily Vincent is a Deputy Associate Director of Research and an Honorary Fellow at the Centre for Nineteenth-Century Studies International, based at Durham University. Emily holds a PhD in English Literature from the University of Birmingham. Her thesis explored how women navigate child loss in fin-de-siècle ghost stories by examining spiritualism ...
Nov 08, 2023•1 hr 44 min•Season 4Ep. 5
In Series 4, Episode 4 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Caroline Bird as we discuss 'The Striding Place' by Gertrude Atherton. Caroline Bird is a poet and playwright. Her most recent collection, The Air Year , won the Forward Prize for Poetry and was shortlisted for the Costa Poetry Prize and the Polari Prize. Her previous collections include In These Days of Prohibition , which was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award and the TS Eliot Prize for Poetry in 2017. Caroline’s play, Red Elle...
Nov 01, 2023•1 hr 9 min•Season 4Ep. 4
In Series 4, Episode 3 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Kirsty Logan as we discuss 'The Hated House' by Celia Fremlin. Kirsty Logan’s latest novel is Now She is Witch (Harvill Secker, 2023), a queer medieval witch revenge quest. Her memoir The Unfamiliar (Virago, 2023), a memoir of queer pregnancy and parenthood is out now. She is also the author of two previous novels, three story collections, two chapbooks, a 10-hour audio play for Audible, and several collaborative projects with musi...
Oct 25, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Season 4Ep. 3
In Series 4, Episode 2 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Will Maclean as we discuss 'Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad' by M.R. James. Will Maclean is a writer and the author of the novel The Apparition Phase. He’s written for television professionally since 2006, during which time he’s worked as a scriptwriter for people as varied as Alexander Armstrong, Miranda Hart, Al Murray and Tracey Ullman. As well as comedy, he’s also written extensively for children’s television, where h...
Oct 18, 2023•1 hr 56 min•Season 4Ep. 2
Welcome to The Ghost Story Book Club Series 4! In Series 4, Episode 1 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Rachel Fairburn as we discuss 'Man-Size in Marble' by E. Nesbit. Rachel Fairburn is a comedian. Along with Kiri Pritchard McLean, she co-created and co-hosts All Killa No Filla , a smash-hit podcast with a huge international following. Rachel has appeared regularly at the Edinburgh Fringe since 2014, with 6 critically acclaimed solo shows under her belt including ‘The Wolf at the Door’...
Oct 11, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Season 4Ep. 1
Join me at live events that are happening up and down England this October and November... Visit our LinkTree here for info and to book: https://linktr.ee/tbodal HAUNTED dates and details: Fri 6 October LION’S DEN, MANCHESTER, 8pm https://grimmfest2023.eventive.org/passes/buy **Use the code HAUNTED23 for a discount!** Fri 20 October OLD TOWN HALL, HEMEL HEMPSTEAD https://oldtownhall.co.uk/events/haunted Sat 21 October OTLEY COURTHOUSE, OTLEY https://otleycourthouse.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/sh...
Sep 22, 2023•9 min
In Series 3, Episode 12 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Rhianna Dhillon as we discuss 'The Lady's Maid's Bell' by Edith Wharton. Rhianna Dhillon has been a film critic for 12 years, beginning her career at BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra as their in-house film critic. Now a film and TV critic on BBC 6Music’s Breakfast Show with Lauren Laverne, Rhianna is also the BBC 5Live film reviewer and hosts the PodPod podcast. Rhianna moderates events and Q&As for BAFTA, Disney, the BFI and others. Follow ...
Dec 28, 2022•1 hr 13 min•Season 3Ep. 12
In Series 3, Episode 11 - our Christmas Special - join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Mike Muncer in this episode (recorded live on Zoom on 2 December 2022) as we discuss two class Ghost Story for Christmas films, 'The Stalls of Barchester' (1971) and 'Lost Hearts' (1973) Mike Muncer is the host and creator of The Evolution of Horror , a weekly podcast in which he explores the history of the horror genre by delving into particular sub-genres across several weeks. Each episode Mike is joine...
Dec 21, 2022•1 hr 37 min•Season 3Ep. 11
In Series 3, Episode 10 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, James Swanton as we discuss 'The Room in the Tower' by E. F. Benson James Swanton is an award-winning actor and writer, increasingly recognised for his attempts to frighten people. He has so far been responsible for Sikes & Nancy (Trafalgar Studios, West End), Frankenstein's Creature (FrightFest, Leicester Square) and Ghost Stories for Christmas (Charles Dickens Museum). He was also the face of evil in the lockdown smash Host (Shu...
Dec 14, 2022•1 hr 52 min•Season 3Ep. 10
In Series 3, Episode 9 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Emily Klassen as we discuss 'They' by Rudyard Kipling. Emily Klassen is a classical soprano and actor living in Toronto, Canada. She specializes in music from the Baroque period and has performed extensively at home and abroad. She made her worldwide television debut on the critically acclaimed NBC series “Hannibal” where she performed an excerpt from Handel’s “Piangerò la sorte mia.” Website : www.emilyklassen.com YouTube : www.yo...
Dec 07, 2022•1 hr 33 min•Season 3Ep. 9
In Series 3, Episode 8 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Andrew Michael Hurley as we discuss 'The Cicerones' by Robert Aickman. Andrew Michael Hurley is currently based in Lancashire. His first novel, The Loney , was originally published by Tartarus Press as a 300-copy limited-edition, before being republished by John Murray. It went on to sell in twenty languages, win the Costa Best First Novel Award and Book of the Year at the British Book Industry Awards. Devil's Day , his second nove...
Nov 30, 2022•1 hr 38 min•Season 3Ep. 8
In Series 3, Episode 7 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Becky Darke as we discuss 'The Lost Ghost' by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman. Becky Darke is a podcaster, writer, presenter and programmer with her sights on film, horror and the ‘90s. You can find Becky on the podcasts Don’t Point That Horror At Me, Return to Eerie Indiana, The Evolution of Horror and The Final Girls. Follow Becky on Twitter: @bunnydarke Be part of our Christmas Special Live-stream on Friday 2 December in which Mike Munc...
Nov 23, 2022•1 hr 39 min•Season 3Ep. 7
In Series 3, Episode 6 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Louise Blain as we discuss 'The House with the Brick Kiln' by E.F. Benson. Louise Blain is a broadcaster and writer specialising in gaming, technology, and entertainment. She hosts BBC Radio 3’s monthly Sound of Gaming show and can be found talking all things tech on BBC Radio Scotland. Her bylines include GamesRadar, T3, The Guardian, and NME. Louise is also a regular contributor to The Evolution of Horror podcast. Follow Louise o...
Nov 16, 2022•1 hr 17 min•Season 3Ep. 6
LIVE-STREAMED CHRISTMAS SPECIAL - Be part of the audience! On Friday 2 December, I'm going to be hosting a LIVE-STREAMED episode of the podcast. Be part of the audience - join my Patreon here . My guest will be none other than Mike Muncer of The Evolution of Horror podcast and we will be discussing the classic BBC Ghost Story for Christmas films, specifically The Stalls of Barchester (1971) and Lost Hearts (1973). The event will be held LIVE on Zoom at 7pm (UK time) on Friday 2 December . Mike a...
Nov 10, 2022•3 min
In Series 3, Episode 5 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Andy Mitton we discuss 'The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving. Andy Mitton is a writer, composer, director, and editor, and designer. His primary focuses are the disparate worlds of musical theater and horror movies. Film credits include The Harbinger - currently on the festival circuit and slated for release in North America through XYZ Films - and also 2018’s The Witch in the Window , 2016’s We Go On , and 2010’s Yell...
Nov 09, 2022•1 hr 25 min•Season 3Ep. 5
In Series 3, Episode 4 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Kirsty Logan we discuss two stories: 'The Red Room' by H.G. Wells & 'There Will Come Soft Rains' by Ray Bradbury. Kirsty Logan's first story collection, The Rental Heart & Other Fairytales , won the Scott Prize, the Polari First Book Prize, and the Saboteur Award. Her first novel, The Gracekeepers , won a Lambda Literary Award and was selected for the Radio 2 Book Club and the Waterstones Book Club. Her other books include A Portab...
Nov 02, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Welcome to this special bonus episode of The Ghost Story Book Club. It's an episode of two halves: First, I'm joined by Lesley Manning and Stephen Volk, the director and writer (respectively) of Ghostwatch (1992). It's the 30 year anniversary of that outstanding film and I was lucky enough to spend some time chatting to Stephen and Lesley. Then, in the second half of the podcast, join me (Adam Z. Robinson), author Jenn Ashworth and Gothic expert Prof. Catherine Spooner for this post-screening di...
Oct 31, 2022•1 hr 30 min
In Series 3, Episode 3 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Leon Craig we discuss 'Count Magnus' by M.R. James. Leon Craig 's debut short story collection Parallel Hells was published by Sceptre Books in February 2022. She has written freelance journalism for the White Review, the TLS, the Brixton Review of Books and Another Gaze, among other publications. Leon is a member of The Future is Back, an LGBT+ writing collective lead by Olumide Popoola and funded by Arts Council England. She is c...
Oct 23, 2022•1 hr 31 min•Season 3Ep. 3
In Series 3, Episode 2 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Jenn Ashworth as we discuss 'The Violet Car' by E. Nesbit. Jenn Ashworth is novelist and Professor of Writing at Lancaster University. Her novels include A Kind of Intimacy, The Friday Gospels and Fell . She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2018. In 2019 she published Notes Made While Falling , a memoir told in a series of essays. Her latest novel is Ghosted: A Love Story . Jenn has written a brand new int...
Oct 19, 2022•1 hr 44 min•Season 3Ep. 2
Welcome to Series 3 of The Ghost Story Book Club! In Series 3, Episode 1 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Will Maclean we discuss ' Thurnley Abbey' by Perceval Landon Will Maclean is a writer and the author of the novel 'The Apparition Phase'. Originally from the Wirral, Will has been fascinated by ghost stories since he was a child, and has been writing them almost as long as he can remember. He’s written for television professionally since 2006, during which time he’s worked as a scri...
Oct 12, 2022•1 hr 36 min•Season 3Ep. 1
Series 3 of The Ghost Story Book Club is coming. Subscribe to the podcast, follow us on Twitter and we'll announce the date of the first episode very soon! Join me for our first ever Ghost Story Book Club live event . Join me, Jenn Ashworth and Professor Catherine Spooner at The Dukes, Lancaster, on Friday 28 October for a post-screening discussion of Ghostwatch. Get your tickets here. www.dukeslancaster.org/whats-on/cinema/ghostwatch A Christmas Carol : live at Barons Court Theatre , London , 7...
Sep 21, 2022•5 min
Welcome back to The Ghost Story Book Club... for the final time this series! In Series 2, Episode 13 join me, Adam Z. Robinson , and my guest, Jenn Ashworth as we discuss 'The Signal-Man' by Charles Dickens . Jenn Ashworth is novelist and Professor of Writing at Lancaster University. Her novels include A Kind of Intimacy , The Friday Gospels and Fell . She was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2018. In 2019 she published Notes Made While Falling , a memoir told in a series o...
Dec 21, 2021•1 hr 49 min•Season 2Ep. 13
