Read Me A Nightmare: Recent Episodes
Angelique Fawns
"Read Me A Nightmare" brings strange short stories to life. A fan of Twilight Zone? Tales from the Crypt? Mixing genres, these tales come from the realms of sci-fi, fantasy, horror, and comedy. A writer yourself? Stay tuned after the readings for interviews with editors, publishers, voice actors and other interesting folks in the industry. Visit www.fawns.ca to learn more. Please --if you enjoy the episode, leave a review!
Today’s episode features a short story read by the author, Robert E. Stahl.
Hungry Waters was originally published as the winner in the November (Halloween) 2024 issue of Flame Tree’s Flash Fiction Newsletter Contest
https://www.flametreepress.com/newsletters/flame-tree-fiction-newsletter-november-2024-monster-masquerade/
Robert E. Stahl recently released his first collection of short stories!
We chat about the publishing process, the world of short (and long) story writing, horror movies, and meander down other ghoulish paths of creation.
Learn how he made an award-winning short horror film, “Trick” for $2000!
You can even watch it free, here.
I provide most of my insights and interviews for free, but there are goodies for those who join a paid tier.
Put on your swimsuit, and grab a tin foil hat. We’re going swimming in some dangerous waters.
An interview with Robert E. Stahl
Horror author and movie producer
AF: You're a full-time writer?
RES: Oh, literally, like all day long.
AF: That's hilarious. You must really love writing to then sit down and spend your extra hours back at the keyboard.
RES: Oh, must I? Yes, I do. Sometimes the challenge is after a full day at work to find that urge to come home and do more writing. But that is why I'm here. I think that's why God put me on Earth is to write. So it's a blessing that I have that problem.
AF: “Hungry Waters” won the Flame Tree flash fiction prompt, didn't it?
RES: It did win. I submitted that for an open call that was called Monsters and Masquerade. It’s about a killer wave pool that's actually an alien in disguise and it's eating people. So yeah, I was happy to have that one picked up by Flame Tree. Super excited. That was my second win. Back-to-back in two months with Flame Tree. Which is an anomaly that I think rarely happens. And I've sent stories into Flame Tree since then and have not had them picked up. So my streak is officially over.
AF: So let's talk about your collection. What made you choose a more traditional route versus indie?
RES: Probably ever since I was a kid, I wanted to connect with a publisher. That was the white whale I'd built in my head of what I wanted for myself. I think a publisher can also give you a little gravitas when it comes to marketing—a little extra boost. They’re also a source that vets the stories. So they're curated.
AF: So let’s talk about the incredibly visceral art you chose – or they chose – for it.
RES: That is all me, girlfriend.
AF: You have lovely teeth, and those teeth are pretty horrific.
RES: You have to read the collection to understand why I chose teeth for the cover, but I was looking at some of the covers that JournalStone has done in the past. They do a great job with covers, but I wanted something a little different—something that would stand out, just being simple, a graphic and scary. So I landed on this idea of the teeth.
AF: Have there been many pre-orders or how are sales so far?
RES: I'm trying not to look at sales so far. It's only been on sale for about 10 days. So I'm trying not to just bog myself down with all that stuff. I'll check eventually, but right now I'm not really worried about it.
AF: Let's talk about the movie making... tell me how that happened.
RES: Sure. So I'd always been interested in filmmaking and I love movies and I love to write. About five years ago I started playing around with screenplays—just turning some of my own stories into screenplays just to see what it felt like. And then I got wind of a local film competition. It's in Dallas and for beginners. So, basically it's a competition where they give you a certain amount of time to make a movie. For example, three months. A short film that’s less than 10 minutes. So I started networking with some people that I met there, and all of a sudden I had a script. Then I had a director and a team. So the group of us just busted our butts. And in three months came up with a short film called Trick. We entered the competition, and to everyone's surprise, including mine—we won first place.
AF: What sort of budget do you look at to make these kinds of movies?
RES: Every little thing you do costs money. So you have (hopefully) some kind of funding. I funded a lot of it myself. I did a little GoFundMe and a lot of people contributed there also. And then I had some people donate their time—like some of the talent. The crew just donated their time to make this movie.
I was lucky enough to find people that had a passion for film and we connected and shared the same passion and they were willing to do that with me. You always go over budget. It's really hard to manage all of that stuff.
AF: So how much did Trick cost, if you don't mind me asking?
RES: Trick was probably less than $2000.
AF: What’s your next big writing goal?
RES: Just to keep moving forward and taking on new things. I'm currently working on a comic book script. That's my goal for this month. I hope to do novels and novellas probably by the end of the year, and to keep writing short stories. I probably have enough to fill out half of a collection. So I just need about 12 or 15 more.
AF: What is the next thing I can see from Robert?
RES: I'm working on that comic book script. I'm studying them. I have an idea that I'm going to develop and there's an open call that ends on the last day of this month, and I'm going to send it in and see how I do.
AF: Any last words of advice for authors chasing this dream?
RES: They say that no writing is wasted writing—that we learn through everything we do. I think sometimes when the world gets to us, we just have to remember thatthere's something in us that really loves to do this thing no matter which aspect it is. And we just have to keep our nose to the grindstone and keep hoping for the best – learning and getting better.
If you’d like to read the anthology I published and featured Robert in, here it is!
Treats is a Halloween-themed tale with some serious creep factor.
https://books2read.com/CursedandCreepy
Thank you for listening/reading!!
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit angeliquemfawns.substack.com/subscribe
How do you win Writers of the Future and what happens in Hollywood?
This podcast features a short story read by the author, Robert F. Lowell.
A Monstrous Bid was originally published in Flash Fiction Online in Feb 2024, can be read here:
https://flashfictionmagazine.com/blog/2024/02/19/a-monstrous-bid/
Robert F. Lowell (Fred) is a friend from my writing group, and he just returned from the Writers of the Future gala because his story was a winner and can be found in Volume 41, which was just released! We’ve also shared a TOC in the LTUE anthology Dog Save The King.
Here is his self-written bio:
In previous professional lives, Robert researched and wrote about international relations, weapons of mass destruction, and terrorism. He taught at universities in the US, Costa Rica, and Switzerland and was kissed by a dancing horse in Siberia. Now he expands the universe of online learning as an instructional systems designer and writes about swords, sorcery, robots, aliens, and magic rabbits as a member of the Wulf Pack Writers Group. He, his Lady Wife, and at least one dog live in a town with very expensive weather on California’s Central Coast and travel in search of enchantment. His friends call him Fred.
Thanks for reading Writing & Selling Stories with Angelique Fawns! This post is public so feel free to share it.
Get your bidding card ready, and let’s listen to this short sci-fi story before we peek behind the curtain at the Hollywood gala for Writer’s of the Future winners.
A chat with recent WofF Winner, Robert F. Lowell
AF: Our listeners have just heard “A Monstrous Bid”, can you tell them about your inspiration for the story?
R.F.L.: A couple of years ago, Scott Noel, the editor of DreamForge, who’s a great guy, put out a call for stories featuring futures where material scarcity was a thing of the past. Of course I immediately thought, if there’s no scarcity, if everybody has everything they want, what conflicts could still exist that would make interesting stories? Would there still be any material things, or non-material things like status, that people would fight for? About the same time, Lady Lowell, my brother-in-law and his wife, and I went to an auction for vintage and classic cars. That made me think, what would people bid if there was no need for money? And those two ideas came together.
BTW, I have another car-related story in the anthology “Magic Malfunction,” which debuted this month from Raconteur Press.
AF: You just returned from your week in Hollywood! Give us an insider’s scoop of what happened there.
R.F.L.: Writers of the Future is the world’s biggest amateur talent search for speculative fiction authors. There’s a parallel competition for illustrators. I was blessed to be one of the winners last year. There is a monetary prize, but the biggest prize by far is the weekend workshop in Hollywood. It was led by Jody Lynn Nye and Tim Powers, with contributions from giants of science fiction and fantasy, including Larry Niven, whose stories got me hooked on SF, Orson Scott Card, Katherine Kurtz, Kevin J. Anderson, Robert J. Sawyer, Mark Leslie Lefebvre. It was intense – sometimes they had us going from 8:30 until midnight. It ends with a gala dinner and awards ceremony, like the Oscars except more fun, where they announce the grand prize winners. My story “Kill Switch” didn’t win the Golden Pen, but my artist Jordan Smajstrla won for her absolutely brilliant illustration for my story.
Seeing her illustration at the art reveal was the best part of the workshop for me. The worst part was the 24-hour story, because I like to plan my stories and let them simmer after I write a good draft. but I got through that and proved to myself that I could do it.
AF: Tell us about your writing journey and your strategy for winning this contest?
R.F.L.: I’ve been writing non-fiction for almost 40 years for various jobs and published a number of books and papers, but I’d always wanted to write a book that I would actually enjoy reading, and hope others would enjoy too. When covid hit, two things came together. One was that I started running online Dungeons & Dragons games, which I hadn’t done for decades, for my friends because we couldn’t get together in person. That got me thinking, “I’m spending so much time and energy designing characters and coming up with plots for a few friends, whom I love, why am I not doing that for readers? Second, covid marked the first time that I seriously thought I might die very soon, so if I was ever going to achieve my ambitions for writing, I better get started. So I took a creative writing class, went to the Life, the Universe, and Everything symposium for SFF creators when that began again after covid, found a great writers group in the Wulf Pack Writers, and started submitting stories to Writers of the Future.
For “Kill Switch,” I was experimenting with different genres and mashups of genres, and thought I’d try a hard-boiled detective story. I made my hero a robot because that allowed him to have both strengths and weaknesses greater than ordinary humans, both of which figure importantly in the story. I set it in a dystopian future San Francisco in homage to Raymond Chandler and other writers of hard-boiled fiction, because I’ve visited the city often, and because it broke my heart by becoming so expensively dysfunctional. It may be getting better now – I hope it doesn’t resemble my story when the at the time it takes place, which is the 150th anniversary of the Golden Gate Bridge.
AF: Why do you think “Kill Switch” impressed the judges?
R.F.L.: One thing I think was the mashup of genres reflected in the characters, which give the story kind of a retro-futuristic vibe. That’s reflected in the moral lines that the major characters cross and recross. I think the plot twists and the way they turn the hero’s strengths against him also played a big role.
AF: Do you have any advice for other authors who wish to send stories to Writers of the Future?
R.F.L.: First, base your story on a high concept or “big idea.” Don’t write just another military SF about badass space marines or romantasy with dragons and count on your original setting or magic system to get you in. Think of something that’s not well-explored in most stories you read and have your characters dive into it from another angle.
Second, find some people whom you can trust to give honest feedback and get comments from them. These could be other writers – I can’t overestimate the value of a good writer’s group – or they can be readers who don’t write. Positive and negative comments from both these perspectives are invaluable.
Finally, just do it! Keep writing and your style will come. Entering the contest is free and you can send in a story every three months. You can write a new story every time or, if you have one you really believe in, revise it and give it another chance. Don’t worry if your stories don’t do well at first. Mine certainly didn’t, and now with more writing experience I can see why they didn’t much more clearly. Some writers enter for decades and have lots of amateur publications before they win. So just do it!
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This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit angeliquemfawns.substack.com/subscribe
Even Scarecrows love a carnival…
Our episode today features Christopher Henckel and his short story "Remember the Gallscream."
I bought this tale for Book #1 of the HorrorLite Anthologies
CURSED AND CREEPY.
Born in the backwoods of West Virginia, Christopher Henckel is a country boy down to his molecular structure. He now lives in New Zealand with his lovely partner, Annaliese, and two equally lovely daughters, Avery and Coco. His stories can be found in Galaxy’s Edge magazines and various anthologies. When he’s not writing, Henckel works as a Senior Procurement Specialist for the NZ Government.
The Gallscream is a hero or a devil. It all depends what car of the Ferris wheel you’re swinging from…
Get full access to Angelique’s Substack at angeliquemfawns.substack.com/subscribe
Jingle, Jingle. Any time of year is a good time for Christmas Horror.
R.J.K. Lee not only reads his own story, "Memo From the Jolly Overlords", but also sticks around for a candid interview. Are you addicted to short stories? Desperately trying to figure out how to make money writing? Yup. Hang out for the chat afterwards.
Memo From the Jolly Overlords was first broadcast on the Weird Christmas Podcast in December of 2020 and then published in Book #1 of the HorrorLite Anthologies
CURSED AND CREEPY.
R.J.K. Lee immigrated to Japan in 2005 from Oregon. He's puttered along train tracks to meet quotas for the overlords ever since, currently as a teacher, proof reader, and voice narrator, while churning out fiction.
Ryland and I have shared a few Table of Contents, including DreamForge, Parsec's Triangulation anthology, The Seven Day Weekend, and Space & Time Magazine.
Grab a bag of sugar plums. Oh. And make sure to meet your quota...
Get full access to Angelique’s Substack at angeliquemfawns.substack.com/subscribe
You never know what you might find-- or lose-- in an antique shop.
Our episode today features Shannon Fox and her short story "The Garden Party."
I bought this tale for Book #1 of the HorrorLite Anthologies
CURSED AND CREEPY.
"The Garden Party" was originally published in September 2019 in the anthology Cursed Collectibles.
If you are interested in learning about a great writing conference and the pros and cons of indie versus trad publishing, you will enjoy the interview after the story.
Shannon writes as both Shannon Lynn Fox and S.L. Fox. Her short stories have appeared in DreamForge Anvil, Air & Nothingness Press, and Third Flatiron among others. She also has a short story in the Monsters, Movies, & Mayhem Anthology, alongside Johnathan Maberry, Rick Wilber, and Hailey Piper. Edited by Kevin J. Anderson, it won the 2021 Colorado Book Award for Best Anthology.
Shannon is the owner of Minute Marketing, a marketing company based in San Diego, CA, that helps Realtors and other housing industry professionals save time with their marketing. You can check out more about her company here.
Karen Shute is our voice actor for this episode. Learn more about her here.
Grab your significant other's hand, double-check your life insurance, and let's go shopping...
Get full access to Angelique’s Substack at angeliquemfawns.substack.com/subscribe
This tomato is spicy!
"Minny and the Mutant Tomato" is an original story written by Angelique Fawns for the anthology Cursed and Creepy.
Minny Brown wants to win the local fair and she’ll do anything to make sure her tomatoes are the biggest on Pelee Island. Including stealing her dad’s ultra-secret growth serum.
The new formula works too well. A mutant tomato pops up and he's not about to fill a bottle of ketchup.
Can Minny stop the tomatopocalypse?
Bill Wiesner is our reader for this episode. Bill Wiesner is a Toronto-based technical and creative professional. He is a promotions and commercial producer/director/writer, post-production editor, and voice actor.
Grab your trowel, put on some gardening gloves, and prepare to meet the next generation of killer tomatoes.
Get full access to Angelique’s Substack at angeliquemfawns.substack.com/subscribe
Not all snakes are reptiles.
"A Cold Slither Killing" first appeared in Heavy Metal Nightmares anthology by Phobica Books March, 2023.
This story is voiced by Kristi Stewart. She is a regular performer for Read Me A Nightmare.
Her career has taken her from the newsroom, as an associate producer, a promotions director in country radio as well as a public relations manager for a not for profit, and, sponsorship manager for Rogers TV Toronto… all the while keeping her fingers in the entertainment field. She found a second love, as a voice actor.
Learn more about the Horror Lite Anthologies here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CMM44YPZ
Put on your best concert gear, hide your beer in a paper bag, and let’s listen to some heavy metal.
Get full access to Angelique’s Substack at angeliquemfawns.substack.com/subscribe
If you go into the woods today...
Beware the Zaggamung.
James Hancock is a writer/screenwriter of comedy, thriller, horror, sci-fi and twisted fairy tales. A few of his short screenplays have been made into films, and he has been published in print magazines, online, and in anthology books. He lives in England, with his wife and two daughters. And a bunch of pets he insisted his girls could NOT have.
Zaggamung is a short atmospheric horror story written byJames Hancock and performed by Karen Shute.
In our interview, James Hancock talks about the differences between screen writing and the short story world. We also hit on the importance of writing groups.
Here are some links if you want to learn more:
https://twitter.com/JimHank13
Bring Out the Wicked
Dark Day Collection of Drabbles
So you're a shark, and you are looking for the best place to hang.
What if there was a Trip Advisor for sea life?
On today's episode, Pete Lead, a fellow author and improv actor presents his own story, "A Review of Bondi Beach, written by Henry the Shark."
Pete Lead is a writer, narrator, and facilitator who currently calls New Zealand his home. You can learn more about him at www.petelead.com
Stay tuned after the reading for a conversation about looking at writing as a business and strategies for success.
Grab your towel, some sunscreen, a sharp harpoon, and let's dive into this review.
What is the secret behind the skull of the Peking man?
Plus, how does one become the most famous sci-fi writer in Canadian history?
Robert J. Sawyer is our guest today and he reads his award-winning story, "Peking Man."
Robert J. Sawyer is one of only eight writers — and the only Canadian — to win all three of the world's top Science Fiction awards for best novel of the year: the Hugo, the Nebula, and the John W. Campbell Memorial Award. He’s also won more Aurora awards than anyone in history.
He recently received the L. Ron Hubbard Lifetime Achievement award in April at the 39th Annual Writers of the Future Awards Gala. His varied career includes script writing and television series production, including ABC’s Flash Forward which aired in 2009-2010.
You can find his latest print novel, The Oppenheimer Alternative, a science fiction reimagining of history, on Amazon:
The-Oppenheimer-Alternative
The interview that follows the story is full of good advice for authors at any stage of their careers and some cautionary warnings about the advent of AI.
Dim your lights, grab your nail file, and let's curl up for the award-winning horror-tinged tale, "Peking Man."
Who is the ghost you see everyday?
A gothic cautionary tale.This episode features a flash fiction piece by Amanda Cecelia Lang called "The Woman in the Churchyard". It was first presented by Manawaker Studio’s Flash Fiction Podcast in June 2020. Our retelling is brought to life by Karen Shute, one of the biggest horror experts I know, and a regular performer on this podcast. Amanda Cecelia Lang is an author and aspiring recluse from Denver, Colorado. She writes weird novels and short fiction, tales of horror laced with whimsy, magic, and mayhem. When she isn’t plotting her next imaginary murder, she sleeps all day and plays all night—but probably isn’t a vampire since she thinks hickeys are seriously gross. You can learn more about her at https://www.amandacecelialang.com.
Grab your warmest shawl and curl up for this creepy ghost story.
How do you win Writers of the Future?
Coordinating Judge Judy Lynn Nye answers a selection of questions put together by the Wulf Pack writing group.
ADDED BONUS. Jody Lynn Nye also reads her story "Superstition."
Superstition first appeared in Furry Fantastic an anthology featuring otherworldly animals published in October 2006.
You can also find this story in her collection Cats Triumphant.
Jody Lynn Nye is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy and science fiction books and short stories, many of them with a humorous bent.
Before breaking away from gainful employment to write full time, Jody worked as a file clerk, book-keeper at a small publishing house, freelance journalist and photographer, accounting assistant and costume maker.
For four years, she was on the technical operations staff of a local Chicago television station, WFBN (WGBO), serving the last year as Technical Operations Manager.
In 2016, Jody joined the judging staff of the Writers of the Future contest, the world’s largest science fiction and fantasy writing contest for new authors. She is now its Coordinating Judge.
Learn more here:
https://jodynye.com/
Enter the writing contest here:
Writers of the Future
Check out the latest anthology here:
L. Ron Hubbard Presents Writers of the Future Vol. 39
Grab your favorite black cat, and let's curl up for a dark story with Jody Lynn Nye.
Beware! If you enter this bookstore...
Plus how can you build a career and sustainable income with short stories?This episode features a short horror story by Mark Leslie called Browsers, read by Eric Bryan Moore. Mark Leslie has published more than 25 books. He has a comedy horror series featuring a Canadian Werewolf, several standalone thrillers and horror novels, a set of paranormal non-fiction books, and guides that help authors navigate publishing. You can find him at markleslie.ca
After the reading, Mark Leslie talks about how he found a path to a profitable career as a writer. There is INVALUABLE advice in this chat.
We Mention:
Stark Publishing
The Canadian Mounted
Draft2Digital
Findaway Voices
Public Lending Rights
The Relaxed Author
Grab your favorite pen, collect your old short stories, and let's enter a mysterious bookstore.
**How do you win Writers of the Future? What are the steps to growing a successful writing career?
PLUS how do you retire from dragon slaying?**
David Hankins has returned from the Writers of the Future Awards Gala. His story "Death and the Taxman" was a winner and can be found in L. Ron Hubbard presents Writers of the Future Vol. 39 .
For this episode we are presenting another story of his. "The Last Quest of Corbin the Coward" is written and performed by David Hankins and was originally published on May 31, 2022 by Factor Four Magazine.
David Hankins is an award-winning author who writes from the thriving cornfields of Iowa where he lives with his wife, daughter, and two dragons disguised as cats. He devotes his time to writing, traveling, and finding new ways to pay his mortgage. You can find him at davidhankins.com
Stay tuned after the episode when we chat about his experience at the gala, military life, and strategies for success.
We mention:
The DreamCasters
Wulf Moon
Dean Wesley Smith
Grab a dragon's tooth, sharpen your pencil, and let's learn what it takes to conquer Writers of the Future.
Anita Brown has just met the sexiest man in London.
Why has he given her an Iguana?
"The Guanche, the Iguana, & the Kidnapping of Anita Brown" was first published by Allegory Ezine in their Spring/Summer 2022 issue.
This episode features an interview with Brandon Case, author and erstwhile government cog, who fled reality to live in unsettling worlds of science and magic. He has recent work in Escape Pod, Death Knell Press, and Air and Nothingness Press, among others. You can catch his alpine adventures on Twitter and Instagram @BrandonCase101.
"The Guanche, the Iguana, & the Kidnapping of Anita Brown" is voiced by Kristi Stewart. She is a regular performer for Read Me A Nightmare.
Pack your bags, grab the pet of your choice, and prepare for the end of the world.
There's nothing quite like a bucket list with a body count.TRIGGER WARNINGS: Profanity, violence, vigilantism.
Eda Obey (pen name EH Obey) reads the first two chapters of her novella KILLER RV.
Buy From Amazon
Baltimore housewife Delilah is thrilled to make friends with her new neighbor Peggy, who has terminal cancer, a vicious little dog, and an RV with a gimp drawer.
https://www.lastgirlsclub.com
Stay tuned after the reading for a candid chat with Eda. This is our third interview on this podcast, and, as always, it goes some interesting places.
Ready for a road trip?
Cosmic Horror lurks in Arizona.
Can one ex-military recluse save the world?
"Kutulu in the Desert" first appeared in DreamForge Magazine's Halloween edition Dark Visions on October 17th, 2022.
This episode features an interview with Jane Noel, the designer who created the art work for this story. Jane talks about fiction as an inspiration for art, and her journey with DreamForge Magazine. We get into the weeds with technology and techniques.
Jane Noel is the artist and designer at DreamForge whose work as Art Director assured the success of early Dungeons & Dragons computer game titles like Menzoberranzan and Ravenloft: Stone Prophet, along with award-winning original titles like Anvil of Dawn.
Learn more about DreamForge: https://dreamforgemagazine.com "Kutulu in the Desert" is voiced by Kristi Stewart. She is a regular performer for Read Me A Nightmare.
Her career has taken her from the newsroom, as an associate producer, a promotions director in country radio as well as a public relations manager for a not for profit, and, sponsorship manager for Rogers TV Toronto… all the while keeping her fingers in the entertainment field. She found a second love, as a voice actor.
Tuck a cigarette in your pocket, load your gun, and let’s go for for a ride in the Sonoran Desert.
How far would you take your wedding vows?
"Till Death Do Us Part" was written by James Hancock and first published in the anthology Broken Promises. He narrates his own story.
James Hancock is a writer/screenwriter of comedy, thriller, horror, sci-fi and twisted fairy tales. A few of his short screenplays have been made into films, and he has been published in print magazines, online, and in anthology books. He lives in England, with his wife and two daughters. And a bunch of pets he insisted his girls could NOT have.
In our interview, James Hancock talks about the differences between screen writing and the short story world. We also hit on the importance of writing groups.
Here are some links if you want to learn more:
https://twitter.com/JimHank13
https://shooterlitmag.com/2022/08/08/greed/
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Marie-supernatural-deceit-mystery-murder/dp/B096TRSV7Y/
https://t.co/EHaGU3ASvf
https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-About-Sheep-Other-Stories/dp/1739630505/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXa5wiGySYw
Grab a blanket, cuddle up with a loved one, and get ready for FOREVER.
Try Floatation Therapy.
It will be relaxing. We promise.
"MgS04" was written by Angelique Fawns and first broadcast on The Other Stories in March 2020.
If this story doesn't scare you, Karen Shute's true life experience in a floatation chamber will 100 % -- stay tuned after her reading to hear a story so unbelievably frightening that I wish I wrote it!
Karen Shute is an editor, producer, voice actor, and all-round horror fan.
We also talk about the BEST horror Christmas movies available for your holiday viewing.
Included are:
Black Christmas 1974
Black Christmas 2006
Black Christmas 2019
Gremlins
Trancers
Violent Night
Die Hard
Christmas Horror Story
Cobra
The Children
Rare Exports
Strip down to your undies, dim the lights, and prepare to immerse yourself in MgS04.
**Ogri is an Osset from Oberon.
His dream is to be a dancer. But his destiny is in the rodeo ring...
"**Ogri Trips the Light Fantastic " was written by Angelique Fawns and published November 15, 2022 on dreamofshadows.co.uk.
Dream of Shadows is a London based website that features monthly horror and fantasy stories.
Ogri Trips the Light Fantastic is a science fiction flash that features an extraterrestrial creature who finds a way to makes lemonade when he’s given lemons.
Bill Wiesner is our voice actor for this episode. Bill Wiesner is a Toronto based technical and creative professional. He is a promotions and commercial producer/director/writer, post-production editor and aspiring voice character actor.
The artistic impressions of Ogri were created by Devin Towrie.
Put on a cowboy hat, grab a feather boa, and let's dance with Ogri.
How far would you go to live in a crime-free world?
And what are you willing to forget?"A Time To Forget" was written by Angelique Fawns and first published in the anthology Pulp Modern: Tech Noir by Pulp Modern and publisher Alec Cizak.
**AN ENSEMBLE CAST PERFORMANCE
(in order of appearance)
Frank- The CFO - Kelly Pidgeon
Betty - The Scientist - Karen Shute
Honour - Pleasure Provider - Kristi Stewart
Isla - Rescue Worker - Brooke St. Onge
Angus - Paramedic - Luke Fawns
Emily - The Wife - Rachel Luttrell
Dave - The Husband - Peter Ruprecht
Samar - Social Worker - Bill Wiesner**
Stay tuned after the interview for a chat with Pulp Modern creator Alec Cizak about his imprint and the world of pulp and noir fiction.
Links: Alec Cizak Author Page
The Independent Fiction Alliance
Pulp Modern Issues
In a Solarpunk world, some pay a high price for Utopia.
Honour is about to learn a sordid secret...
Kristi Stewart reads our tease and introduces us to Honour.
Honour first came to life in the pages of Pulp Modern:Tech Noir. The story "A Time To Forget" as originally presented will be performed by a cast of all Read Me A Nightmare's voice actors in the next episode!
Kristi has worked in the communications and media industry most of her professional career.
With a love of theatre and performing, she first stepped on stage at the tender age of 14, in the role of Little Mary in the longest running melodrama production “The Drunkard” -in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
She says performing brings her joy and, keeps her young and, she has no plans to stop anytime soon!
Turn off the lights, close your eyes, and let's meet our dark heroine, Honour.
If you want to learn about the next episode of Honour's reimagined adventures, sign up for my newletter at www.fawns.ca.
Looking for a short story guaranteed to make you laugh?
Or snort? Only 6 minutes long!
"Why Ride A Broom" was written by Angelique Fawns and can be read free at Dark Dispatch.
This stallion is about to learn some manners.... the hard way.
Sandra Ruttan is the publisher of Dark Dispatch and she chats with us after the reading about success with novel writing, running an e-zine, and her interest in banned books.
WARNING: This flash fiction has some salty language.Kelly Pidgeon reads for us today and he is a professional voice actor and musician. Learn more about this band Boats Against The Current.
You can listen to them here:
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
**Grab a whip, slide on some chaps and prepare for a wild ride.
For more info visit www.fawns.ca**
Interview with Kelly about his band.
Sharks aren't the most dangerous thing at this Texan beach...
"The Trouble At Surfside Beach" was written by Angelique Fawns and can be read free at Pif Magazine, first published in December 2021.
PIF MAGAZINE
WARNING: This flash fiction deals with the death penalty and may be triggering. Kelly Pidgeon is our guest voice and interview. He is a professional voice actor, musician, and the voice on the intro of this podcast. After the story we talk about his career, how he takes care of his voice, and his band, Boats Against The Current.
You can listen them here:
SPOTIFY
YOUTUBE
**Put on your flip flops, grab your gun, and let's head to the beach...
For more info visit www.fawns.ca**
It's a post-apocalyptic world where only teenagers have survived.
This future world is ruled by battling bands...
"The New Mutants" was written by Angelique Fawns and first published in the anthology Gotta Wear Eclipse Glasses by Third Flatiron Publishing.
This story was a Tangent On-Line Recommended Read for 2020.
Kristi Stewart is back by popular demand, and not only reads us this short adventure piece, but sticks around to talk to us about the future of the voice industry. We also answer the question...”If you could give your 20-year-old self some advice about the business, what would you say?"
Kristi has worked in the communications and media industry most of her professional career.
With a love of theatre and performing, she first stepped on stage at the tender age of 14, in the role of Little Mary in the longest running melodrama production “The Drunkard” -in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Her career has taken her from the newsroom, as an associate producer, a promotions director in country radio as well as a public relations manager for a not for profit, and, sponsorship manager for Rogers TV Toronto… all the while keeping her fingers in the entertainment field. She found a second love, as a voice actor. During that time, she’s had the thrill of being the female National Imaging voice for GLOBAL TV, TLN, PRIME TV and, the Canadian Entrepreneur of the year awards! In addition to voicing many commercials, narrations and, even a Harlequin romance novel. She’s also no stranger to on camera acting having been in several productions including; SEE NO EVIL, FEAR THY NEIGHBOR and, HAUNTED HOSPITALs, to name a few….Kristi says performing brings her joy and, keeps her young and, she has no plans to stop anytime soon!
Sabrina climbs aboard an ancient Ferris wheel.
She may have a disability, but that won't slow down the ride of her life.
"The Last Ride" was written by Angelique Fawns and first published in the anthology The Corona Book of Ghost Stories.
Caterina Papadopoulos is our voice actress and she brings her years of radio and broadcast experience to Read Me A Nightmare. You can find her magazine-style show on CHTO Radio in Toronto. Stay tuned after the reading for a chat with Cat about her career, advice for the next generation, and future showbiz plans.
If you are over 50 inches tall, step right up and climb aboard! The ride is about to begin....
A group of writers join a retreat on a remote island...
But the Zombie Apocalypse has arrived! Who will survive?
"The Writing Retreat" was written by Angelique Fawns and first published in the anthology Strangely Funny VII by Mystery & Horror L.L.C
Back by popular demand, Karen Shute brings her zombie expertise to this comedy horror short. Karen Shute is an editor, producer, voice actor, and all-round horror fan. Stay tuned after the reading for a chat about the best zombie movies -like EVER. Included are:
The Evil Dead
Dawn of the Dead
Shaun of the Dead
Juan of the Dead
The Walking Dead
Train to Busan
Dead Set
World War Z
Dead Alive
Grab a glass of Pelee Island Merlot, open your zombie apocalypse survival guide, and get ready for some undead entertainment.
WARNING! This episode goes some very dark places.
This episode features a story written by Eda Obey and read by her alter ego Martinne Corbeau.
Eda Obey is the human host for the Last Girl’s Club ghost host Martinne.
From Eda, "Martinne shares stories of her previous lives throughout history and the liminal spaces through Eda. It’s more symbiotic than parasitic, but like most relationships it can go either way.”
In this tasty little story, Martinne is inspired by the true story of celebrated chef Alexandre Etienne Choron. One of his claims to fame is the menu he served during the Siege of Paris by the Prussians which began on September 19th, 1870. (see episode art work) During the siege Parisians were reduced to eating -among other things rats.
If you want to learn more about Eda Obey, please visit her website at www.lastgirlsclub.com.
You can also buy her children's book at https://amzn.to/32Z0JMn.
In a small northern town, something is in the woods...
Can a newly married couple survive when a dark Cajun legend comes to life?
An Arkadian Adventure...
The Rougarou was written by Angelique Fawns and first published in the anthology The Monsters We Forgot vol 3 by Soteira Press.
Back by popular demand, Kristi Steward voices The Rougarou. Kristi has worked in the communications and media industry most of her professional career. With a love of theatre and performing, she first stepped on stage at the tender age of 14, in the role of Little Mary in the longest running melodrama production “The Drunkard” -in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Put on a warm jacket, load your gun with some silver bullets, and get ready for a howling good story.
**Seth's life is about to change forever.
Arkadia will never be the same when polluted waters unleash a blood thirsty terror.
"**The Metamorphosis" was written by Angelique Fawns and originally published in the anthology "Night Terrors" vol. 9 by Scare Street.
Bill Wiesner is our voice actor for this episode. Bill Wiesner is a Toronto based technical and creative professional. He is a promotions and commercial producer/director/writer, post-production editor and aspiring voice character actor.
Wyatt is having the baddest of all bad days...
And when he gets sucked into a magical world,
it's about to become wildly worse.
Read by Rachel Luttrell
This story is rated "PG"
Wyatt & the Whog was written by Angelique Fawns and first published in the Mannison Press anthology, "Little Boy Lost".
Rachel Luttrell is an actor and singer, and my lifelong best friend. She was born in Tanzania but moved to Toronto at the age of five. She's accomplished many wonderful things in her life, including performing the role of kick-ass warrior Teyla Emmagan in Stargate Atlantis.
Stay tuned after her reading for a revealing and no-holds chat about the story, podcasting, and what it's like to reach the milestone of 50 years old.
Mia is dating a married man, alone on Canada Day, and doing her best to cool down in the sweltering heat.
Who knew her bedroom fan was possessed?!
WARNING: This story includes sex with a nerd, murder, and death metal music. (Rated R)
"Death Metal Fan" first appeared on-line April 21, 2019 on the Hauntedmtl.com website, and was republished in The Story Behind The Stories, 12 Dark Tales and Their Publishers.This episode features an interview with Jim Phoenix, creator of Hauntedmtl.com.
Learn how he grew his horror destination website. (Some great tips here.)
If you listen to the podcast Undead and Uncut, every download means a donation to a foodbank. https://hauntedmtl.com/series/undead-and-uncut-live/ "Death Metal Fan" is voiced by Kristi Stewart. This is her third performance for Read Me A Nightmare.
With a love of theatre and performing, she first stepped on stage at the tender age of 14, in the role of Little Mary in the longest running melodrama production “The Drunkard” -in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Her career has taken her from the newsroom, as an associate producer, a promotions director in country radio as well as a public relations manager for a not for profit, and, sponsorship manager for Rogers TV Toronto… all the while keeping her fingers in the entertainment field. She found a second love, as a voice actor. During that time, she’s had the thrill of being the female National Imaging voice for GLOBAL TV, TLN, PRIME TV and, the Canadian Entrepreneur of the year awards! In addition to voicing many commercials, narrations and, even a Harlequin romance novel. She’s also no stranger to on camera acting having been in several productions including; SEE NO EVIL, FEAR THY NEIGHBOR and, HAUNTED HOSPITALs, to name a few….Kristi says performing brings her joy and, keeps her young and, she has no plans to stop anytime soon!
Pick out your favorite Halloween costume, and clear your brain of evil thoughts, its time for a....
!!!PODCAST TAKEOVER!!!
Creepy Pod takes over Read Me A Nightmare with their production of "A Deadful Friday the 13th". Originally aired as the bonus story on DAY 18 of Creepy Pod's 31 DAYS OF HORROR 2021 and narrated by Rissa M. Followed by an interview with Jon Grilz, creator and narrator of Creepy Pod. Learn how Grilz grew his horror and creepy pasta podcast to over a million downloads per month.
**It's a hot day, and that swimming hole sure looks enticing....
Grab your swimming trunks and get ready for an adventure.**The True Nature of Swimming Holes is written by Ronald Linson, and was first published in the Mannison Press anthology Little Girl Lost: Thirteen Tales of Youth Disrupted in 2019. Based out of New York City, Morgan Schafer (pen name Ronald Linson)
began working as an editor offering freelance services as a copyeditor and proofreader. Today, he is co-founder and Editor-in-Chief at the independent publishing house
Mannison Press, LLC.
Morgan writes primarily science fiction, fantasy, and horror, but has
been known to dabble in other genres. Current projects include a short
story collection set in his Patchwork Lands cosmic horror mythos and a
far-future science fiction novel with collaborator Deidre J Owen.
Since 2015, Morgan has had stories published in a number of
anthologies (Mannison Press, Eerie River) and e-zines (Lovecraftiana,
Bewildering Stories).
Bill Wiesner is our voice actor for this episode. Bill Wiesner is a Toronto based technical and creative professional. A promotions and commercial producer/director/writer, post-production editor and aspiring voice character actor. Pours his heart and soul into every project with tenacious attention to detail. Loves working with others that share his passion for bringing the most engaging content to life. Above all else, he’s the father of two amazing teenage boys and husband to the most amazing woman in existence.
When offline, he's all about various athletic endeavours like running, hiking, baseball and biking. An active member in his church community. An avid gamer and movie watcher. Addicted to music from various genres. A not-terrible player of drums and acoutsic guitar.
Lucy is standing on the edge of bridge. Will she jump?
A tale of possibilities, cults, and curiosities.
Inspired by the Heaven's Gate story.
Lucy & the Cosmic Comet Ride was written by Angelique Fawns and first published in the Fall issue of The Last Girl’s Club, The Gay 90’s. Our voice actress is Karen Shute, a Toronto based digital video editor and an aspiring voice actor who loves cats, horror movies, and all things spooky. She is also the co-host of the Big Brother Canada Debrief for Global television.
Stay tuned after the reading for a very candid chat with Eda Obey the creator and publisher. We get into weeds about the tropes portrayed by women in media, The Dirty Punk Movement, Amanda Palmer, living life as a Pagan, the Hell art installation, Elvira, the movie Cruella, to name just a few!
**In a futuristic dystopian world with almost no freedom... Frank & Carol are making a stand.
Grab a drink, pull up a bar stool, and prepare to be seduced.**
Socially Distanced Drinking was written by Angelique Fawns and originally published in Socially Distant: The Quarantales by Impulsive Walrus Press.
Bill Wiesner is our voice actor for this episode. Bill Wiesner is a Toronto based technical and creative professional. A promotions and commercial producer/director/writer, post-production editor and aspiring voice character actor. Pours his heart and soul into every project with tenacious attention to detail. Loves working with others that share his passion for bringing the most engaging content to life. Above all else, he’s the father of two amazing teenage boys and husband to the most amazing woman in existence.
When offline, he's all about various athletic endeavours like running, hiking, baseball and biking. An active member in his church community. An avid gamer and movie watcher. Addicted to music from various genres. A not-terrible player of drums and acoutsic guitar.
Betty is determined to find her sister, Elvie. Nasty biker gangs, a drunk husband, her own unreliable memory... NOTHING is going to stop her.
"Three Calendars" was first published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine in the Department of First Stories.
This episode features an interview with the editor of Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Janet Hutchings. (23 minutes in.) Learn why Janet buys some stories and not others, how the world's leading mystery magazine has evolved, and the best way to write a successful story.
"Three Calendars" is performed by Karen Shute, Karen is a video editor for Corus Entertainment, the host of The Big Brother Canada Debriefing, and has a beautiful, unique voice.
Enter the EQMM Trivia Contest here:
https://www.elleryqueenmysterymagazine.com/the-crime-scene/eqmm-trivia-contest/
Lily, a tattoo artist, has a crush on the HOTTEST biker.
Snake just isn't that into her.
That is, until she needles him with some very special ink...
Hold on to your Harley Davidson, INKED brings SONS OF ANARCHY fantasies to life, with a twist or two...
Voiced by Kristi Stewart, the voice actor that brought you THE GOLDEN FALCON in episode 6, hang in for an interview after the reading with Kristi Stewart. Learn about her career through the NBC Newsroom in Oklahoma, hanging out with country music stars like Garth Brooks and Charley Pride, and doing national commercial work.
Inked was written by Angelique Fawns and first published in Jolly Horror's anthology Accursed.
To learn more please visit the show notes at www.fawns.ca/works/podcast.
These chickens will do ANYTHING to avoid the soup pot.
Farmyard Follies is good for the whole family and follows the story of four chickens brought together on a free range egg farm. Magic is in the dust...
Read by Brooke St. Onge, couldn't you use a giggle today? Brooke is an auctioneer, actress, and the announcer at Western Speed Shows. Join her as she brings four talented chicken characters to life.
To learn more please visit the show notes at www.fawns.ca/works/podcast.
Temptin' Tammy and Earl are in love and they've finally found the trailer of their dreams. But what happens when that double-wide becomes a double-sized NIGHTMARE? WARNING: This story contains a mullet, shag carpeting, and some scenes where hot hillbillies remove their clothes. (think PG-13)"The Golden Falcon" first appeared in the anthology Coffin Blossoms by Jolly Horror Press, and was republished in The Publishers Behind the Pages: 10 Speculative Short Stories.
As a bonus, this episode includes an interview with Jonathan Lambert, Creator and Publisher of Jolly Horror Press. Learn more about the genre of comedy horror and how you can get your story published in their next anthology Executive Dread, open for submissions July 2021.
https://www.thejollypress.com/horror/opencall.html
The Golden Falcon was voiced by the inimitable Kristi Stewart, one of the best voice actors I have ever worked with. Kristi has worked in the communications and media industry most of her professional career.
With a love of theatre and performing, she first stepped on stage at the tender age of 14, in the role of Little Mary in the longest running melodrama production “The Drunkard” -in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Her career has taken her from the newsroom, as an associate producer, a promotions director in country radio as well as a public relations manager for a not for profit, and, sponsorship manager for Rogers TV Toronto… all the while keeping her fingers in the entertainment field. She found a second love, as a voice actor. During that time, she’s had the thrill of being the female National Imaging voice for GLOBAL TV, TLN, PRIME TV and, the Canadian Entrepreneur of the year awards! In addition to voicing many commercials, narrations and, even a Harlequin romance novel. She’s also no stranger to on camera acting having been in several productions including; SEE NO EVIL, FEAR THY NEIGHBOR and, HAUNTED HOSPITALs, to name a few….Kristi says performing brings her joy and, keeps her young and, she has no plans to stop anytime soon!
Cass isn't your average country girl. She's going to be a film producer.
But when her father's murdered, the rain won't stop, and strange bugs appear everywhere, she'll be lucky to even stay alive...As a bonus, this episode includes an interview with Scot Noel, Editor in chief of DreamForge Anvil (where Invasive Species was first published). Scot talks about what differentiations a story he buys, how writers can improve their chances of acceptance, and his personal career break.
Invasive Species is read by Grant Maverick, a professional voice actor, and all around amazing guy.
You can learn more about this episode, DreamForge Anvil, Scot Noel, and Grant Maverick in the show notes at https://www.fawns.ca/works/podcast/.
Not only is Sam a non-binary high school student, but her best friend is a succubus. What happens when dark secrets come between friends?
"Personal Demons" is a short horror story originally published in Strange Girls Women in Horror Anthology and reprinted in The Story Behind the Stories: 12 Dark Tales and their Publishers. Written by Angelique Fawns and read for you by Lauren Silver. The show notes are available at https://www.fawns.ca/works/podcast/
Sometimes, REVENGE is best served musically.
Welcome to episode #3 of Read Me a Nightmare. Natalie Brown, up and coming voice actor and author of horror, brings her special touch to this short radio drama about a new friend with some dark secrets...
A Melody for Measure was originally published in The Publishers Behind The Pages: 10 Speculative Short Stories by Angelique Fawns.
music by Pixabay
sound efx by soundbible.com & zapsplat .com
show notes can be found here
https://www.fawns.ca/works/podcast/
Meet Sherri. She's never been kissed. In fact her life basically sucks. But she's about to participate in a psychology experiment that will CHANGE EVERYTHING.
This story is full of lust, suspense, and, of course, NIGHTMARES. Hold on to your underpants...
"The Versa-Vice" first appeared in the anthology Tales from the Dream Zone by Flying Ketchup Press. Written and read by (yours truly) Angelique Fawns. You can learn more about this episode in the show notes at https://www.fawns.ca/works/podcast/.
PS> Please forgive the voice acting, I promise future episodes will feature some professional voice actors!
Afraid of things that go bump in the night? What if it's a witch doing the bumping? And she's not stopping till she finds her daughter...
A Bug in Amber Alert is a flash fiction piece that was first published in Scary Snippets Halloween Edition, and then republished in The Story Behind The Stories: 12 Dark Tale and their Publishers. Written and produced by Angelique Fawns and performed by Natalie Brown.
Stay tuned for an exclusive interview after the story with Natalie Brown... horror writer, anthology publisher and podcast creator.