Carla is: a bookdragon; a 50-something with psychology and counseling degrees with post-grad work in grief/loss/trauma, sex crimes, and forensic anthropology; a woman who has lived in three haunted houses; a former freelance journalist and counselor, who is never bored; a disabled introvert who sees connections everywhere--like John Nash, only less math-y; a knitting fidget who loves horror movies with a skewed passion. Like one of her heroes, Harriet the Spy, she wants to learn everything a ...
…
continue reading
In which Carla looks back over ten years of disability. plus: From the Pantry, originally episode 12, to honor what is missed: Driving, Dancing, and Pizza Hut Loop earplugs: loopearplugs.com will redirect you to your local site Recommended and referenced reading: Bob Ford: official website: http://robertfordauthor.com, YouTube: Youtube Channel, Goo…
…
continue reading
Talking about where I have been, plus: From the Pantry, originally episode 19, to honor the recent eclipse: In which Carla starts with Dolores Claiborne and Gerald's Game--Stephen King's planned In the Path of the Eclipse series—and explores folktales used to explain solar eclipses. It gets weird. Recommended and referenced reading: Dolores Claibor…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Victorian Christmas: A Peculiar Atmosphere of Cranky Scholarship: 89
1:35:41
1:35:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:35:41
In which Carla celebrates the Twelve Days of Christmas by connecting M. R. James to Ash’s chainsaw. M. R. James adaptations listed at Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/jwlZ Adaptations of this story: 1956: https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-whistle-and-ill-come-to-you-1956-online only for those in the UK, or those using a VPN (BFI’s words, not min…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Library Pirates (with Princess Jones Curtis): 88
1:17:32
1:17:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:17:32
Happy anniversary to all of us! Thank you for six years of cupcakes; you are the cupcakes I find on difficult days. I hope I have given you some. Show notes: In which Carla and Princess Jones Curtis from the Bye, Pumkin Podcast talk about being mysteriously early readers, the effect V. C. Andrews had on (mostly) the women of their generation, Paper…
…
continue reading
Show notes: In which Carla tells the fairy tale within Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse. Sources: “The Fisherman and His Wife”, from Grimm, Wilhelm; Grimm, Jacob. The Complete Folk & Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9789176374559 To the Lighthouse by Virginia Woolf https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9780156907392 To join a F…
…
continue reading
Show notes: In which Carla updates the story of episode 21, Nine Days and Two Car Seats, which tells the story of the murder of Michael and Alex Smith, and updates what their murderer, her mother, Susan Smith, has been up to in the time since the murder. Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album, used with per…
…
continue reading
In which Carla shares lots of good news, and reads more Victorian horror for the holidays. Sources and Recommended Reading: The Valancourt Book of Victorian Christmas Ghost Stories (pp. 117-123) https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9781943910564 Ada Buisson on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/18335715.Ada_Buisson Belgravia catalog archive: h…
…
continue reading
In which Carla explores the kerfuffle behind The Little Mermaid. Original story by Hans Christian Andersen begins at 19:22 Recommended Reading: Haunted Waters by Mary Pope Osborne https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9780763629953 Disney: The Little Mermaid: The Film Script https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9781645171522 The Little Mermaid: The Classic Edition ht…
…
continue reading
In which Carla discusses the current eating disorder drama and pain in reality tv, her history with an eating disorder, and revisits her interview with Eli Sirota for National Eating Disorders Week. Suggested reading material: Wintergirls, by Laurie Halse Anderson https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9780142415573 The Best Little Girl in the World, by Steve…
…
continue reading
In which Carla revisits her first episode and updates it, to celebrate five years of podcasting. Guest visit: Bye, Pumkin Podcast: Surlesque and Lisa’s Angels: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/bye-pumkin-936759/episodes/surlesque-and-lisas-angels-142924068 Greg Behrendt is Uncool: “There Might Be Cake”: https://geo.music.apple.com/us/album/there-…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
In the Spirit of the Staircase: House of Leaves: 81
51:02
51:02
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:02
In which Carla goes deeper into the Five and a Half Hallway and The Three Attic Whalestoe Letters of the House of Leaves novel (fifth episode in the series). Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album, used with permission The House of Leaves universe: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski https://bookshop.org…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Rooms Full of Indistinguishable Remains: House of Leaves: 80
31:28
31:28
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
31:28
In which Carla explores the echoes of Johnny's past and the house's present, the spiral of echoes, and the beginning of the exploration of the Five and a Half Minute Hallway. Letters from an asylum and always echoes hallways. Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album, used with permission The House of Leaves u…
…
continue reading
In which Carla learns that the most important Supreme Court case of the civil rights movement was brought about by a sixteen-year-old in her state...and an entire county in her state shut down public school rather than integrate. Marked explicit for racism and racist violence. Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasu…
…
continue reading
In which Carla reviews Toni Morrison’s multi-award-winning horror novel Beloved, and the horrific history that inspired it for Black History Month. Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album, used with permission End music: Lapitino, F. J., Anderson, M., Prince, C. A. & Burleigh, H. T. (1924) Go down Moses. [Au…
…
continue reading
In which Carla celebrates Epiphany by exploring barriers, and celebrating the Victorian tradition of horror at Christmas one more time this season, by reading a Victorian short story that takes place on another barrier night: Halloween. Story: “Man-Sized in Marble”, by E. Nesbit Referenced episodes: 67: Haunted Yule: Twelve Days: https://www.podcha…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Victorian Christmas Horror: The Girl in the Snow: 76
57:04
57:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:04
In which Carla once again explores the horror realm of Victorian Christmastide and reads another story by a Victorian horror author. Referenced episode: 67: Haunted Yule: Twelve Days: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/there-might-be-cupcakes-podcas-520320/episodes/haunted-yule-twelve-days-67-82798501 Music: “Midnight Mass” by Dee Yan Key and “Snow…
…
continue reading
In which Carla reads her original Christmas horror short story, “Holly Jolly Christmas”. All rights reserved. Music: “Deck the Halls” by Rue Royale and “Christmas Evil” by Associated Press, used with permission Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Haunted Me, off their Pleasure album, used with permission Podchaser: 80 Podcasts to Discover i…
…
continue reading
In which Carla reviews and discusses 31 more horror movies without blood and gore, suitable for the squeamish viewer or beginner to horror. No spoilers. Podchaser: The 60 Best Podcasts to Discover for November, including There Might Be Cupcakes! https://www.podchaser.com/lists/the-60-best-podcasts-to-discover-for-november-pc!5OvkkR9IR4GmAv65 Refere…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Tangerines to Apples: House of Leaves: 73
34:49
34:49
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
34:49
In which Carla continues to explore the Navidson Record of House of Leaves. This is the third episode; to begin, start with episode 68: Bone-Chimes and Primitive Spiders: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/there-might-be-cupcakes-podcas-520320/episodes/bone-chimes-and-primitive-spid-85959021 then listen to episode 70: Ergodic: https://www.podchaser…
…
continue reading
Show notes: In which Carla explores the horror subgenre found footage, and its subgenre internet horror Creepypasta: https://creepypasta.fandom.com/ https://www.reddit.com/r/creepypasta/ https://www.reddit.com/r/creepygaming https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep Ted the Caver: https://creepypasta.fandom.com/wiki/Ted_the_Caver https://www.angelfire.com/t…
…
continue reading
In which Carla explores Poe’s plague, and its relationship to Shakespeare’s desert island. Sources: Edgar Allan Poe: Complete Tales and Poems https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9781500497248 The story at the Poe Museum: https://www.poemuseum.org/the-masque-of-the-red-death The story with annotated vocabulary: https://poestories.com/read/masque https://en.…
…
continue reading
In which Carla explores the beginning of the Navidson Record, the structure of the novel, the history of ergodic literature, and the social phenomenon of the novel 21 years ago, as well as the psychological symptom that drives the stories in this novel. First episode in this series: Bone-Chimes and Primitive Spiders: https://www.spreaker.com/episod…
…
continue reading
In which Carla celebrated four years of There Might Be Cupcakes! (April 28, 2017) Sources: https://poestories.com/read/alone https://www.eapoe.org/works/poems/alonea.htm The Calvin and Hobbes Tenth Anniversary Book by Bill Watterson https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9780836204384 Greg Behrendt, “There Might Be Cake” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WxOIv…
…
continue reading
The entire episode 27 has been found and saved. Let us celebrate #halfwaytohalloween! Enjoy this flashback to 2017, and enjoy my story and stories from other wonderful podcasts. List of all podcasts involved in this episode, in order, with links, at the website entry for episode 27, Halloween Enormous Stories: https://www.theremightbecupcakes.com/e…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Bone-Chimes and Primitive Spiders: House of Leaves: 68
19:55
19:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
19:55
In which Carla begins her series on the horror novel House of Leaves. The House of Leaves universe: House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9780375703768 The Whalestoe Letters: From House of Leaves https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9780375714412 Poe’s album “Haunted”: Apple https://apple.co/2MT62F4, Spotify https://spoti.fi/3c2…
…
continue reading
This is my segment from the 2018 multi podcast collaboration for Halloween, which was published as my episode 27. When I transferred to Spreaker Prime, the incredibly large episode was lost in transit. Here is my portion: In which Carla goes legend tripping, looking for the Bunnyman of Virginia. Original publication date: October 31, 2018 Theme son…
…
continue reading
In which Carla explores the Twelve Days of Christmas and why we send Christmas cards, and reads a Victorian horror story by F. Marion Crawford. Christmas episodes: 32: What the Dickens 47: Victorian Christmas: The Goblin and the Paw 65: Happy Christmas Chaos 66: Deck the Hall with Horror Sources and Suggested Reading: “The Doll’s Ghost”, F. Marion …
…
continue reading
In which Carla explores the Twelve Days of Christmas and why we send Christmas cards, and reads a Victorian horror story by F. Marion Crawford. Christmas episodes: 32: What the Dickens 47: Victorian Christmas: The Goblin and the Paw 65: Happy Christmas Chaos 66: Deck the Hall with Horror Sources and Suggested Reading: “The Doll’s Ghost”, F. Marion …
…
continue reading
In which Carla revisits the Victorian Christmas tradition of scary stories at Christmas by reading four horror classics of the era--and, in doing so, explores the not-well-known genesis of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, as well as the four-hundred-year-old origins of “Deck the Halls”. Things get silly and eerie in turn. Come sit by the fire and enjoy …
…
continue reading
In which Carla revisits the Victorian Christmas tradition of scary stories at Christmas by reading four horror classics of the era--and, in doing so, explores the not-well-known genesis of Dickens' A Christmas Carol, as well as the four-hundred-year-old origins of “Deck the Halls”. Things get silly and eerie in turn. Come sit by the fire and enjoy …
…
continue reading
In which Carla shares personal stories from childhood Christmases, and shares how she and her family found cupcakes in the unlikeliest of places. These are the stories that weren't funny then, but are now. Originally aired December, 2017; now with new music Website entry for this episode (photographs and books): theremightbecupcakes.com/episode31ch…
…
continue reading
In which Carla shares personal stories from childhood Christmases, and shares how she and her family found cupcakes in the unlikeliest of places. These are the stories that weren't funny then, but are now. Originally aired December, 2017; now with new music Website entry for this episode (photographs and books): theremightbecupcakes.com/episode31ch…
…
continue reading
In which Carla reads several of her poems live. “and the hunter always followed deep into the forest of campus down the wide lane of Avent Ferry into the shelter of my first home my Mews, I your dark muse on foot or by car, you followed my ex-boyfriend, my attacker ("This girl just had a bad date") Stalking your prey Watching me Your arrow cocked Y…
…
continue reading
In which Carla reads several of her poems live. “and the hunter always followed deep into the forest of campus down the wide lane of Avent Ferry into the shelter of my first home my Mews, I your dark muse on foot or by car, you followed my ex-boyfriend, my attacker ("This girl just had a bad date") Stalking your prey Watching me Your arrow cocked Y…
…
continue reading
In which Carla shares more of her past and present personal paranormal experiences in her second live episode. To watch this episode, you may go to either to GetVokl or to YouTube. Image: one of my photographs from Waverly Hills Resource: My Letterboxd list of my favorite haunted house/demented domicile films: boxd.it/7CzKy Sound credit: horror mov…
…
continue reading
In which Carla shares more of her past and present personal paranormal experiences in her second live episode. To watch this episode, you may go to either to GetVokl or to YouTube. Resource: My Letterboxd list of my favorite haunted house/demented domicile films: https://boxd.it/7CzKy Sound credit: horror movie Eli (2019) Theme song and stinger: Co…
…
continue reading
In which Carla shares all of her past and present personal paranormal experiences in her first live episode. To watch this episode, you may go to either to GetVokl or to YouTube. Website entry: Haunting resources (including my Waverly Hills photos) theremightbecupcakes.com/resources-hauntings Suggested Reading—Books Referenced in Episode (links to …
…
continue reading
In which Carla shares all of her past and present personal paranormal experiences in her first live episode. To watch this episode, you may go to either to GetVokl or to YouTube. Website entry: Haunting resources (including my Waverly Hills photos) theremightbecupcakes.com/resources-hauntings. Photo for this episode is mine of the tunnel at Waverly…
…
continue reading
In which Carla explores all the different incarnations of Childe Roland and his Dark Tower quest throughout history. Referenced and related episodes: Episode 19: The King’s Eclipse: https://www.theremightbecupcakes.com/episode-19-kings-eclipse/ Listen at Podchaser Episode 54: Gilead: Meaning in Place Listen at Podchaser Suggested Reading (links to …
…
continue reading
In which Carla explores all the different incarnations of Childe Roland and his Dark Tower quest throughout history. Referenced and related episodes: Episode 19: The King’s Eclipse Episode 54: Gilead: Meaning in Place Suggested Reading (links to Bookshop, supporting independent bookstores and There Might Be Cupcakes): Stephen King’s The Dark Tower …
…
continue reading
In which Carla celebrates World Book Day by reading from her own novel in progress, working title Bonnie Mommie, that she first read from in episodes 2: Casey Anthony and Bonnie MacNara and 8: Toxic Doxology. Referenced episodes on official website: 2: Casey Anthony and Bonnie MacNara: https://www.theremightbecupcakes.com/episode-2-casey-anthony-bo…
…
continue reading
In which Carla celebrates World Book Day by reading from her own novel in progress, working title Bonnie Mommie, that she first read from in episodes 2: Casey Anthony and Bonnie MacNara and 8: Toxic Doxology. Referenced episodes on official website: 2: Casey Anthony and Bonnie MacNara 8: Toxic Doxology Theme song and stinger: “Comadreamers I” by Ha…
…
continue reading
In which Carla reads a lesser-known Poe story, "The Oval Portrait". Show Notes: Story Read: "The Oval Portrait”, Edgar Allan Poe, April 1842 Read online with linked vocabulary words and references at Poestories.com Recommended Reading: The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, Norton Critical Edition Referenced Episodes: 1 Poe and Carla and Cupca…
…
continue reading
In which Carla reads a lesser-known Poe story, "The Oval Portrait". Story Read: "The Oval Portrait”, Edgar Allan Poe, April 1842 Read online with linked vocabulary words and references at https://poestories.com/text.php?file=ovalportrait Recommended Reading: The Picture of Dorian Gray, by Oscar Wilde, Uncensored: https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9780674…
…
continue reading
In which Carla explores a favorite horror author of Victorian England, and finds an marvelous polymath, an LGBTQ icon, and a woman who rescued ancient Egypt and explored terra incognita. Story read: “The Phantom Coach”, Amelia B. Edwards Recommended Reading: The Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Amelia B. Edwards: https://amzn.to/3ov6nut …
…
continue reading
In which Carla explores a favorite horror author of Victorian England, and finds an marvelous polymath, an LGBTQ icon, and a woman who rescued ancient Egypt and explored terra incognita. Show Notes: Story read: “The Phantom Coach”, Amelia B. Edwards Recommended Reading: The Collected Supernatural and Weird Fiction of Amelia B. Edwards Crocodile on …
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
Watching the Detectives: Gwendy and Ex: 57
50:06
50:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:06
In which Carla reads again from her novel-in-progress, Watching the Detectives. And they were all rich. Rich in looks, rich in opportunity, rich in already wasted opportunities, rich in network, and rich in funds. And rich in frustrations, many of which they could not even name. --Carla Pettigrew Hufstedler, Watching the Detectives Promo: Rebel Gir…
…
continue reading
![Artwork](/static/images/128pixel.png)
1
57: Watching the Detectives: Gwendy and Ex
50:06
50:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:06
In which Carla reads again from her novel-in-progress, Watching the Detectives. And they were all rich. Rich in looks, rich in opportunity, rich in already wasted opportunities, rich in network, and rich in funds. And rich in frustrations, many of which they could not even name. --Carla Pettigrew Hufstedler, Watching the Detectives Theme song and s…
…
continue reading
In which Carla tells two stories that explain finding cupcakes in dark places: one is her story, one is Leonard Cohen's. Referenced reading: The Flame, by Leonard Cohen: his full acceptance speech for the Prince of Asturias Award, on October 21, 2011, from which I quoted in this episode, begins on page 267. https://bookshop.org/a/6560/9781250234797…
…
continue reading
In which Carla tells two stories that explain finding cupcakes in dark places: one is her story, one is Leonard Cohen's. Referenced reading: The Flame, by Leonard Cohen: his full acceptance speech for the Prince of Asturias Award, on October 21, 2011, from which I quoted in this episode, begins on page 267. Leonard Cohen at Apple Music Greg Behrend…
…
continue reading