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Always Halloween and Never Thanksgiving

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Halloween 2022: Day 12

Song: “Bluestone Mountain” Quote: Sometimes I wonder if God watches.
And sometimes life can turn in cruel ways
‘Cause on a cold autumn day in late October
Little Jacob wandered in Scott Hollow Cave. Now the caves of West Virginia run forever
Like a maze of black ribbon through the ground.
Cora went to search for little Jacob,
But neither Jake nor Cora would be found. Read the complete lyrics. Listen to the performance of Bluestone County Bluegrass…
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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<p>ICYMI, my talk “Whitechapel ‘What Ifs’: Evol...

ICYMI, my talk “Whitechapel ‘What Ifs’: Evolving Perspectives on the Autumn of Terror in Science Fiction” is now on Rippercast. Casebook: Jack the Ripper - Podcast - Dr. Amy Sturgis -Whitechapel What Ifs- Evolving Perspectives on the Autumn of Terror in Science Fictio
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Paula Welden and Missing Students

On December 1, 1946, sophomore Bennington College student Paula Jean Welden vanished. Her disappearance remains an unsolved mystery. I’m currently working on a book project that involves the Welden case. Today it feels especially important to say her name. Note: If anyone would like a (very brief!) peek into my current book project, here is a video of my presentation “Missing Students and Their Fictional Afterlives: True Crime, Crime Fiction, and Dark Academia.“ I gave this talk earlier this year at the Popular Culture Research Network’s “Guilty Pleasures: Examining Crime in Popular Culture” conference. ALT ALT
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Halloween 2023: 31 Days of Dark Academia, October 13

Dark Academia novel: Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo (2021) Quote: “This is where it gets interesting. The second son loves this girl so much he decides to step onto an unholy path. Now the story varies, but in the one my mama told me, he makes a deal. He takes his youngest sister, goes to a crossroad on the property past the witching hour, and he waits until some evil comes to him. He looks that evil square in the face and offers it his sister in return for his wife.” … “He kills his sister,” Sam guessed. “Of course he does,” Mr. McCormick said.     ALT
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Happy Birthday, Shirley Jackson!

On this day in 1916, the great Shirley Jackson was born. Here’s a little piece I wrote earlier this year about teaching Jackson’s remarkable novel Hangsaman. It’s posted at “Reading Shirley Jackson in the 21st Century,” an online resource investigating the past and future landscapes of Shirley Jackson studies. I’m looking forward to teaching The Haunting of Hill House in January! Teaching Shirley Jackson’s Hangsaman (1951) by Amy H. Sturgis
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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“The Contrary Gardener”

Escape Pod | The Original Science Fiction Podcast I was delighted to narrate the wonderful science fiction story “The Contrary Gardener” by Christopher Rowe. Both parts are now available from the Escape Pod podcast!
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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New Dark Academia Presentation

I am very happy to report that I will be presenting my paper “Missing Students and Their Fictional Afterlives: True Crime, Crime Fiction, and Dark Academia” at the Guilty Pleasures: Examining Crime in Popular Culture conference (May 2-3, 2024) sponsored by the Popular Culture Research Network. This talk is related to my current work-in-progress book project. I’m looking forward to it!
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Halloween 2022: Day 9

Song: “Ghost of Norma Jean” Quote: When you see another cross By the road where she is lost, You’ll know that she has some company. Listen to the Steep Canyon Rangers’ performance…
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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I hope to see you in SPACE!

I’ve taught at Signum University for years, but in addition to offering my classes, I’m now also joining Signum’s SPACE Program (Signum Adult Portals for Adult Continuing Education). I have modules up for candidacy now that I am very excited about! Each will be one month long, with two one-hour meetings per week (one an interactive lecture by me and one a group discussion facilitated by me). All meetings are online. Everyone’s invited! Here’s the schedule: January 2024: The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson February 2024: A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand (the first work officially authorized by Shirley Jackson’s estate to respond to The Haunting of Hill House) March 2024: The Last Man by Mary Shelley (a science fiction classic and the most relevant novel one can read while living in “unprecedented times”) Everyone is invited! For more information, please check out this link: Amy H. Sturgis, Upcoming SPACE Modules ALTALTALT
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Halloween 2022: Day 8

Song: “Little Margaret” Quote: Is Little Margaret in her room
Or is she in the hall?
Little Margaret’s in her coal-black coffin
With her face turned toward the wall. Listen to the performance of Sheila Kay Adams…
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Halloween 2022: Day 17

Song: “Little Omie Wise” Quote: Little Omie, little Omie, I’ll tell you my mind:
My mind is to drown you and leave you behind. Read the complete lyrics. Listen to Doc Watson’s performance…
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Star Trek and Star Wars are here!

I’m delighted to share that both of my co-edited academic anthologies with Vernon Press are now available: STAR TREK: ESSAYS EXPLORING THE FINAL FRONTIER and STAR WARS: ESSAYS EXPLORING A GALAXY FAR, FAR AWAY. They are both available at major bookstores and can be requested via libraries in hardcover or ebook formats. The coupon code CFC10822213C4 provides a 24% “new release!” discount for both at the Vernon Press website. ALTALT Vernon Press - Authors
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Halloween 2022: Day 6

Song: “The Ghost of Eli Renfro” Quote: Can’t you hear? Can’t you hear? When the moon is bright and clear From time to time, It’s old Eli dragging chains And moaning people’s names. I just hope and pray he never thinks of mine. Read the complete lyrics. Listen to The Nashville Bluegrass Band’s performance…
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Halloween 2023: 31 Days of Dark Academia, October 8

Dark Academia novel: The Broken Girls by Simone St. James (2018) Quote: Written in pencil, the lines of a familiar rhyme looked back up at her: Mary Hand, Mary Hand, dead and buried under land. She’ll say she wants to be your friend. Do not let her in again! ALT
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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Halloween 2022: Day 5

Song: “Long Black Veil” Quote: Oh, the scaffold is high and eternity’s near. She stood in the crowd and shed not a tear. But late at night, when the north wind blows, In a long black veil, she cries o'er my bones. She walks these hills in a long black veil. She visits my grave when the night winds wail. Nobody knows. Nobody sees. Nobody knows but me. Read the complete lyrics. Listen to Gillian Welch’s performance…
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eldritchhobbit

eldritchhobbit

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