Arcane Carolinas

Join Charlie and Michael for the first half of the 2025 Spooky Season Kickoff, recorded live at Arcana Durham in front of an enormously enthusiastic crowd of friends and community members! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Sea and Land (referenced in the episode)   Upcoming Live Appearances: NEVERMORE Film Festival (Carolina Theatre of Durham, February 27 & 28) - Michael solo - come on out to see some awesome horror films, buy books, and get Arcane Carolinas swag at this internationally renowned horror film festival! Ret-Con (Durham, March 6th-8th) - Michael solo - hang out with friends old and new at one of the finest fandom conventions in the region! Michael will be recording a couple of times with guest host Tally Johnson!   Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr   Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Happy Halloween! Join Charlie and Michael around Charlie's kitchen table to celebrate what we love about this season and tell a couple of spooky stories! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!)   Upcoming Live Appearances: Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - November 13) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books)   Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr   Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Just in time for Halloween, did you know the North Carolina legislature once included an accused werewolf? Join Michael and Charlie on a historical deep-dive into one of the more surprising political history stories in the state! And, as a bonus minisode, join Charlie, Michael, and Tally Johnson as they talk about Fairy Stones from the Blue Ridge Mountains! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!)   Upcoming Live Appearances: Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - November 13) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books)   Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr   Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

One of the Carolinas' most interesting phenomena--and most easily experienced for one's self--is that of Gravity Hill. Ride along with Charlie and Michael as we take a roundabout route to discussing this fascinating legend! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - November 13) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Have you ever walked into a room and smelled a phantom's cigar? Join Charlie and Michael for the true and tragic history--and subsequent haunting--surrounding a fireman and a firehouse in Charlotte, NC! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: SplatterFlix Film Series (Durham, NC - October 10 & 11, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be selling books and giving away AC swag!) Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - early November, dates TBD) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Did you know the Cape Fear River has a centuries-old mermaid legend--and it kinda-sorta ties to our favorite Revolutionary War villain? And have you heard the vicious tale of the Santer? Join Charlie and Michael live from Durham's beautiful South Regional Library as they dive deep into the waters of myth, folklore, and newspaper archives! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: SplatterFlix Film Series (Durham, NC - October 10 & 11, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be selling books and giving away AC swag!) Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - early November, dates TBD) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Battleship North Carolina has a distinguished history as part of the Allied victory in World War Two, and for decades has served as a living museum and monument to that effort and to the technological innovations in its design. But it's also one of the most haunted places in the Carolinas! Come aboard for a deep dive discussion with Charlie and Michael about one of the Carolinas' most iconic locations! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: SplatterFlix Film Series (Durham, NC - October 10 & 11, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be selling books and giving away AC swag!) Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - early November, dates TBD) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

What's that sound racing down the road outside at night? Could it be the ghost of a horse in search of its fallen rider? Join Michael, Charlie, and special guest Tally Johnson for a deep dive into the history behind a local legend, a couple of quick companion stories from Tally, and a surprise eye-witness account from the convention audience! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Killer Pride (Williamsburg, VA - September 26-28, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be on panels and in the vendor room selling books) SplatterFlix Film Series (Durham, NC - October 10 & 11, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be selling books and giving away AC swag!) Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - early November, dates TBD) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

We've discussed the Grey Man of Pawley's Island, SC, and the other Grey Man of Pawley's Island, SC, and we've discussed Theodosia Burr, the Grey Lady of South Carolina, so now it's time to talk about the other Grey Lady of South Carolina! Join Michael and Charlie on a deep-dive into the multiple histories funneling into one of the Palmetto State's more obscure legends! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Killer Pride (Williamsburg, VA - September 26-28, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be on panels and in the vendor room selling books) SplatterFlix Film Series (Durham, NC - October 10 & 11, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be selling books and giving away AC swag!) Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - early November, dates TBD) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Behold the return of an old "friend"! Recorded live at Ret-Con 2025 Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Killer Pride (Williamsburg, VA - September 26-28, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be on panels and in the vendor room selling books) SplatterFlix Film Series (Durham, NC - October 10 & 11, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be selling books and giving away AC swag!) Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - early November, dates TBD) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Join Charlie and Michael on a deep-dive into the bizarre world of primate agression, recorded live at Ret-Con 2025! OUT NOW: Arcane Carolinas Volume 3 by Charlie Mewshaw! Foreword by Jason Tapp of SpookyCLT! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Spooky Season Kickoff @ Arcana Durham (September 11, 2025) Killer Pride (Williamsburg, VA - September 26-28, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be on panels and in the vendor room selling books) SplatterFlix Film Series (Durham, NC - October 10 & 11, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be selling books and giving away AC swag!) Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - early November, dates TBD) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

What's big, weird, and extremely niche? The Grafton Monster, that's what! Join us for the first of a THREE-PART live episode recorded at Ret-Con 2025! Also, a couple of tickets got returned by some folks who can't make it on Thursday, September 11, for the Arcane Carolinas Spooky Season Kickoff, so grab 'em while you can if you want to go! OUT NOW: Arcane Carolinas Volume 3 by Charlie Mewshaw! Foreword by Jason Tapp of SpookyCLT! Links: Arcane Carolinas Vol. 3 (Charlie's newest entry in our series of nonfiction volumes!) Children of Solitude (Michael's latest horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Spooky Season Kickoff @ Arcana Durham (September 11, 2025) Killer Pride (Williamsburg, VA - September 26-28, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be on panels and in the vendor room selling books) SplatterFlix Film Series (Durham, NC - October 10 & 11, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be selling books and giving away AC swag!) Book Ferret (Winston-Salem, NC - early November, dates TBD) - Michael solo (he'll be doing a reading and signing books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com  

Just a quick reminder for folks who may not see the Facebook posts: our Spooky Season Kickoff is at Arcana in Durham, NC, on September 11! Tickets are free, and there are only a handful left. It'll also be a launch party for Arcane Carolinas Volume 3! Get your Spooky Season Kickoff tickets here!

We know plenty of legends based on and built around real people, from the Hunter of Purgatory Mountain to Lavinia Fisher to Hezekiah Jones. But how often do we see a legend spring up around a person as events unfold? Join Charlie and Michael for the summer road trip episode about a notorious driver and a couple of legend-encrusted vehicles! Links: Children of Solitude (Michael's new horror novel!) Upcoming Live Appearances: Spooky Season Kickoff @ Arcana Durham (September 11, 2025) Killer Pride (Williamsburg, VA - September 26-28, 2025) - Michael solo (he'll be on panels and in the vendor room selling books) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Join Charlie for two AC Case Files interviews regarding strange experiences, one on the coast of North Carolina and one on the streets of Pittsburgh, PA! Links: Children of Solitude (Michael's new horror novel!) Grafton Monster Fest Upcoming Live Appearances: PBO Pride (maybe? - Michael solo - June 6 & 7, 2025) Grafton Monster Festival (Charlie Solo - June 13 & 14, 2025) ConGregate (Michael solo - July 11-13, 2025) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Salem Black River Church near Maysville, SC, is one of the oldest churches in South Carolina and has a rich history as a place of worship and community. From it sprang many other local institutions and activists of tremendous importance also. But the Internet holds that today it is a place of disturbing phenomena from hauntings to monsters. Is any of that true? Go creepin' around with Michael and Charlie as we talk about why no one should trespass at Salem Black River Church! Links: Preorder Michael's next book! Upcoming Live Appearances: Carolina Cryptids @ Durham South Regional Library - Michael definite, Charlie tentative (April 8, 2025) Carolina Fear Fest - Michael solo (May 23-25, 2025) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Bertie County, NC, is a place of rural beauty--and possibly of an angry ghost engaged in some questionable parenting from beyond the grave! Join Michael and Charlie for a deep dive into the history of one of the state's oldest counties, a fun spooky legend, and the many ways this legend connects to the history of the community where it's set. Links: Sign up for pre-order info for Michael's next book! Upcoming Live Appearances: Flyleaf Books - Michael solo (January 9, 2025) Ret-Con 2024 - Charlie & Michael together (February 21-23, 2025) Nevermore Film Festival - Michael solo (February 28-March 2, 2025) South Carolina State Library - Michael solo (March 13, 2025) Durham South Regional Library - Michael definite, Charlie tentative (April 8, 2025) Carolina Fear Fest - Michael solo (May 23-25, 2025) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Late on a rainy, foggy night, as you drive through the early settlement of Jamestown, NC, a young woman may flag you down in hopes of refuge from the weather and a ride to her home. This is a familiar legend in the Carolinas, but it isn't unique. Is there real history behind this instance of the well-known tale of a hitchhiker from beyond? And just how common is this story? Join Charlie and Michael for a fun discussion full of surprises and deep research! Links: Charlie's visit to Lydia's Bridge HWA NC Reading at Flyleaf Books on 1/9/25 Michael's novel Perishables Michael's novel Servant Sovereign Arcane Carolinas on BlueSky Upcoming Live Appearances: Flyleaf Books - Michael solo (January 9, 2025) Ret-Con 2024 - Charlie & Michael together (February 21-23, 2025) Nevermore Film Festival - Michael solo (dates not yet announced) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Look, up there in the sky! It's a drone! It's an alien! It's... live-action folklore in the making! Join Charlie and Michael for a quick, informal chat about the wave of "drone"/UFO/UAP sightings being reported (and sometimes recorded, and maybe sometimes manufactured) nationwide! Originally this was the intro to the next episode, but we went on long enough we thought this deserved to be its own thing. Happy holidays, and thanks for listening! Links: "Drone sightings in Wilmington cause concern following reports in New Jersey" (WECT) "FAA temporarily bans drones in parts of New Jersey amid sightings, notice threatens 'deadly force' for 'imminent security threat.'" (6 ABC, Philadelphia, PA) Upcoming Live Appearances: Ret-Con 2024 - Charlie & Michael together (February 21-23, 2025) Nevermore Film Festival - Michael solo (dates not yet announced) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com

Now that Spooky Season for 2024 has drawn to a close, and Michael and Charlie have gotten a bit of a rest, let's... rewind time to the start of Spooky Season! Join Charlie, Michael, and an enthusiastic crowd as we talk about three fun and spooky stories and places from the Carolinas and beyond! Note: if you listen to the show with kids, the jokes in this are a little more risque than usual, so take that into account! Links: Photos from the Cabe Lands in Durham, NC Hiking info and map for the Cabe Lands in Eno State Park michaelgwilliamsbooks.com Lost Monster Files on Discovery Upcoming Live Appearances: South Carolina State Library in Columbia, SC - Michael solo (December 12, 2024) Ret-Con 2024 - Charlie & Michael together (February 21-23, 2025) Nevermore Film Festival - Michael solo (dates not yet announced) Follow us! Arcane Carolinas on Patreon Arcane Carolinas on Facebook Arcane Carolinas on Instagram Arcane Carolinas on Tumblr Contact us! arcanecarolinas@gmail.com