Sinister Minutes

Image by Maciej Cieslak from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest author Charles Collister brings us "Trash Juice," a hard, horrific look at a minimum wage job and how it sucks the living soul out of anyone trapped within it...faster and more efficiently than anything Lovecraft ever dared dream of.Charles Collister resides in Boston, Mass, where he's representing the Dorchester neighborhood in specific. He strives to write for other people too broke to do anything but stay inside and read. Check out his Substack (https://substack.com/@charlescollister)After that delightful, mouthwatering excursion, Tim's continuing our dinner date with a lighthearted piece entitled So Pretty, So Dead.Image by ImaArtist from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's all about the plants! Whether stately trees or massive fields of corn, we humans might just take the inhabitants of kingdom Plantae - our floral cousins - a bit too much for granted. Guest author Nicholas Kellogg weaves chilling tales from his home in Connecticut, where he lives with his partner and balances fatherhood, with two toddlers under five and a full-time job. Early morning prior to work, he creates nightmares while many are still having them. Drawing inspiration from the eerie realities of everyday life while exploring the darkness beneath the ordinary.After that spectacle, Tim's tickling of the ivories and stroking of the strings is coming at a much steeper price with a new piece entitled 'Every Note a Knife.' Do visit Tim for more excellent musical interludes on Spotify and YouTube under T. Virgil Parker.Image by Kathrynne from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Edgar Allen Poe's Hop-frog is a delightful tale of a vile, power-mad ruler, given to bouts of debauchery and cruelty, plus his cabinet of sycophants who would never dream of crossing their monarch. Written in 1849, so of course it bears no resemblance to anything modern. Just sit back and enjoy the heart-warming ending!After that spectacle, Tim's nibbling at the remains of the smoldering barbecue and considering his choices in life and how they've been reflected in his music, as he walks us back indoors to the House of Primal Fear. Do visit Tim for more excellent musical interludes on Spotify and YouTube under T. Virgil Parker.Image by Thanks for your Likes from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time to celebrate these hot, sweaty days and muggy, buggy nights by leaving behind our delightful, air conditioned dungeons in order to sleep with only a thin layer of polyester fabric between us and the most violent, bloodthirsty creatures the deep woods might throw at us. Ashley Mangtani is a UK writer whose work explores ecological and social collapse, and the roles people inhabit in moments of crisis. Drawing on an M.Sc. in Environmental Science and a background as a civil servant in digital media policy, he crafts stories shaped by inevitability and loss. Blending literary realism with slipstream, his work has appeared or is forthcoming in Litro, Washington Square Review, Boudin, Expat Press, Thieving Magpie, Flash Fiction Online, HAWKEYE, Mobius: The Journal of Social Change, Literary Garage, Neither Fish Nor Foul, Empyrean Magazine, and others. Read more at ashleymangtanifiction.carrd.coLater, Tim tears away the facade and shows us all what's 'Behind the Curtain.' Do visit Tim for more excellent musical interludes on Spotify and YouTube under T. Virgil Parker.Image by Henning Sørby from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest author Valerie Patrick is a burgeoning horror author. a public librarian by day, and a hermit crab by night. Look for her on TikTok as Valerie (@novels.and.notebooks). This story was first published back in March on Horrific Scribes; Sinister Minutes is pleased to provide the audio premiere.Later, Tim's got some spookiness of his own to share with Midnight Shadows from the Cemetery. Do visit Tim for more excellent musical interludes on Spotify and youTube under T. Virgil Parker.Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Algernon Blackwood is considered one of the most prolific ghost story writers in the history of the genre—he apparently wrote so many stories at the 11th hour for newspaper publication that no one has been able to put an accurate count on the total. No shortage of weird fiction authors consider him an influence, including Lovecraft, but unlike the latter we don't have to squint quite so hard to look past the bigotry when we read his work. Today we bring you "Ancient Lights," a delightful tale of land surveying gone awry. . Later, Tim's been following up on his plans to start a dating service for the deceased, and so he'll be sharing a piece especially attuned to just that...something he calls Lonely Ghost II. Do visit Tim for more excellent musical interludes on Spotify and youTube under T. Virgil Parker.Image by Betidraws from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Many tales in this episode were inspired by the wildly imaginative Nicole L Soper Gorden, who provides her inspiration to the universe each Wednesday via her Instagram, Bluesky, and Facebook feeds. By all means, grab a copy of her dark eco-fantasy novella, The Earth, Our Body. She assures us that it's filled with "angry women burn down the patriarchy with nature magic" vibes, plus sapphic kissing. What's not to like?Soundscapes, musical composition and macabre moods by Tim ParkerWords, narration, and general creepiness by Kurt HohmannImage by Thomas from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Image by Thomas from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

"Vengeance" brings on a host of creepy critters, and not all of them are insects.Then Tim makes us pay attention to "Whispers in Darkness"Guest author Swarnadip Chatterjee is a freelance author, poet and Hindustani classical music vocalist. His works have been published in Voices, The Statesman, Stellium Literary Magazine (a US-based magazine focusing on LGBTQ issues), and the Bengali literary journal Krittibas (formerly edited by Sunil Gangopadhyay). He currently resides in Kolkata, India.Image by Nick_the_Photographer from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Image by Nick_the_Photographer from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Flowering of the Strange Orchid, a story of obsession and hubris, one that's relatable a hundred thirty-odd years later with every tale of billionaire buffoons and their strange predilections. . Once you've breathed in the aroma of that delightful bloom, let Tim liven the mood with a little Phantom Parade.Image by Leopictures from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Feeding Azrael, comes to us from Jonathan Phillips. He's a landscape gardener based in London whose short fiction explores the strange edges of ordinary life. He is currently completing his debut collection, which includes today's tale. If you enjoy this story, keep an eye out for the collection. More strange things are coming.Then, Tim's pulling out the harmonic drill grabbing the longest bit he's got; it's how he'll implant you with "Brain Probe." Trust us, you'll never be the same. Want a longer listen of his music? Find him on youTube under T. Virgil Parker.Image by Lenka Novotná from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Image by Lenka Novotná from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A weird tale from a weird era written by a weird guy - H.P. Lovecraft.Then more ghoulish graveyard mood with a trip to the crypt, a haunting Tim Parker piece called Dark Corners.Image by Bernd from PixabayBe sure to check out Sepulcher of Nightmares, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdT2cq2mPk4 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's story, She Takes Your Voice First, is all about the great outdoors. Four guys, four kids, and a canoe. What could possibly go wrong? Was 'pretty much everything" one of the possible answers? After that adventure, Tim takes us on a different kind of excursion to a very special "Ruined Abbey"Today's guest author, Nicholas Kellogg weaves chilling tales from his home in Connecticut, where he lives with his partner and balances fatherhood, with two toddlers under five and a full-time job. Early morning prior to work, he creates nightmares while many are still having them. Drawing inspiration from the eerie realities of everyday life while exploring the darkness beneath the ordinary. Nicholas will soon be publishing his debut novel: Green, with Wicked Tales, an imprint of DAOwen Publications.Image by Tapani Hellman from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Truth and Consequences is all about a worker who only thinks he's had a horrendous day. But as anyone who's ever had a bad day at work knows only too well, things can always get...far worse. After that adventure, Tim takes us on a culinary adventure with a delightful helping of Eldritch Spinach.Image by Jean-Louis SERVAIS from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Fear, culled from the very first issue of Weird Tales magazine, released in March of 1923. How will you react when faced with your greatest fear? Will you freeze in place? Will you run? Or will you face it head on, with the certainty that either the thing you fear or your fear itself will consume you? If you need an alternative solution to facing your fear, Tim has a suggestion, with a piece called "Hide!" Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A theater experience that pulls ever so gently at the fragile strings that hold our minds a hair's breath away from utter insanity. What if the play itself was enough to cause something to happen, if the words spoken upon the stage invoked something dark and ancient. Later, Tim takes us down a dark and twisty path to show us "Something Under."Recluse Playwright comes to us from guest author William Edwin Cherico, a writer and filmmaker from Connecticut. He's been a lifelong fan of the works of HP Lovecraft and loves to get scared. He can be found at @WillChericoWrites on Instagram and @willcherico.bsky.social on Bluesky, and his own website at https://sites.google.com/view/william-edwin-cherico-writing/home?authuser=0 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today's story is all about television, and takes place during its heyday, a time when most people only had three or four channels to pick from. So pull up a spot on the carpet close to the set, grab a bowl of sugary-sweet cereal, and let's go watch Funny Forest Friends!Our tale comes to us from guest author Nathan Poole Shannon, who's an emerging writer of the strange and macabre... like water or ghosts he is slowly carving out his way in fiction. You can find him on Facebook as Nathan Poole Shannon, Author, and follow the eerie journey as it progresses!Then, it's time for "Don't Look," in which Tim takes you on a journey for which you're sure to want to keep your eyes open... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In "The Well," there's some really weird shit going on. Over there. Just beyond the edge of town. Might better tell the sheriff. Or maybe not.Then, just when you thought it was safe to go to sleep, Tim's blasting us with Night Terrors."The Well" was written by E.B. Sommer, whose work has been featured in The Daily Tomorrow, Manawaker Flash Fiction Podcast, and The Stygian Zine. She is an Associate Member of SFWA and can be found at www.ebsommer.comCover art based on an image by Volker Glätsch from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Directions is all about the ways we get from point A to point B, and how much we rely on our phones to get us there in the most efficient way. After getting lost in the narrative, Tim leads us down a dark path with a piece he calls It Came From the Box.Graphic based on an image by Jiří Groh from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the strongest communities, each of us pitch in and do what's best for one another. Sometimes that requires a little sacrifice. Sometimes the sacrifice isn't so little. Open Market was written by guest author Brett R. Scott, who workshops their stories on Reddit, under the name Miss Mnemosyne.Then it's time for Tim to take us down a dark, chill set of basement stairs and lock us away in a piece he calls The Box.Cover art adapted from an original image by Michael Kauer from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest author Harvey Carnell provides a tale of a modern family called "The Mother." How DO we get into that attic? And just how reliable is our narrator?After that, Tim provides some dark chill with a piece called Midnight Ripples.Harley Carnell lives and writes in London. His Pushcart-nominated fiction appears in Penumbra, the NoSleep Podcast, Bards & Sages, and Riptide Journal, among others. His non-fiction appears in Gamut, Aurealis and the Lovecraft Annual. Find him at https://www.harleycarnell.comImage by Kathrin from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A guy who decides to make a deal with a demon...as part of his plan to increase the traffic on his channel. Chapter 1 of Marked.Then, a musical interlude from Mr. Parker, with a seven fugue piece called Cortege. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Our favorite old xenophobe, Howard Philips Lovecraft. A musical piece called Festering Fingers wriggling its way into your track-or-treat bag. Plus a couple of short-shorts inappropriate for even a purple people eater. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Duet - a fairy tale about a princess and the musical challenges she's willing to tackle to meet her prince. Then, a composition that cuts right to the bone - The Knife. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Both of Us, by Zachary Reisch, features a woman whose inherited illness causes her romantic relationships to come with a painful price. In Poppet, a bayou witch is hired to craft a voodoo doll...of a creature most certainly not human. Finally, Tim's gearing up to blow us all away with a piece of sinister music he calls Pandemonium 4.Zachary Dein Reisch writes speculative fiction in Boston, Massachusetts.Cover art based on an image by 💚🌺💚Nowaja💚🌺💚 from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A strange bar, stranger patrons, and a band that's ready to play all night, whether anyone wants them to or not. Then, dip your toe in the dark swirling waters of Tim's musical madness.Smoke + Coffee was written by Glenn Dungan, who is currently based in Brooklyn—where he exists within a Venn-diagram of urban design, sociology, and good stories. When not obsessing about one of those three, he can be found at a park drinking black coffee and listening to podcasts about murder. For more of his work, see his website: whereisglennnow.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A '70s metal band plays their killer hit single - right up until the incident that leads to their premature and abrupt end. Then Tim cracks open the Cellar Door - do you dare listen to what's down there?Guest author John Kuyat is a NYC-based horror and speculative fiction writer. His work has appeared in Horror Tree's Trembling With Fear, Graveside Press's Howl: A Shapeshifting Anthology, Dug Up Magazine, and Flash Phantoms. You can find him on Instagram at @john.docx.Image by microart1 from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The storytelling world is filled with wishes that suck, and today's tale is no different. Then, a journey into sound.Image by Rolf Dobberstein from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If there was a way to remove yourself from everything, to erase it all, would you do it? Then a little eldritch jam with Tim's Sonic Chlithonic.Image by Eden Moon from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest author K.G. McAbee serves up a tasty treat, a meal she calls Aunt Clytie’s Canning Jars. Then it's time to clean up a sticky mess with Tim's Ectoplasm III.K.G. McAbee is multi-published in a variety of genres, but she especially loves horror, no doubt due to her early passion for Boris Karloff and Christopher Lee. She lives in a haunted log cabin in upstate South Carolina and spends too much time reading and drinking iced tea when she really should be writing. Her latest novella is called HELL BELOW ZERO, which may or may not be an homage to John W. Campbell’s WHO GOES THERE. Visit her at https://reamsofdreams.substack.com/ or https://linktr.ee/kgmwriter for more information. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A corridor filled with machines that gurgle for no apparent reason, smells of alcohol and bodily fluids, and the most unflattering garb anyone could ever have envisioned. It's time for your annual checkup, if you survive the "Waiting Room." After your checkup, Tim's got something to send you right back to the doctor, a piece he calls Tone Poem: It Bites. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Edgar Allen Poe continues to amaze us in how well he captures descent into madness, from the point-of-view of the one descending. If The Tell-Tale Heart doesn't bring you to the edge, perhaps the bleak view of the Conqueror Worm will. Tim rounds us out with a fresh sprinkling of Mummy Dust. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A child waits for someone special in a hospital hallway that gathers the fewest visitors. Then, it's haunted house season and the kids have decided to check out the newest attraction. Finally, if you're alone in the house and hear a strange noise, Tim will put your mind at ease with his latest. Image by kalhh from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A collection sinister stories, pernicious poetry, and macabre music captured live at Black Masquerade (Nov 2024) and Mayfaire (May 2025). Includes (in order):DryadCounting BirdsFunerealThe PoetOde to a MosquitoOctopus, Cow, or DuckGerbilFlash FuneralMidSummerNumbersLet it All BurnRememberDark Reflection Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Revenge is a dish best served...by a excellent chef. A rodent makes a dapper first impression. A prison break. And musical porridge unlike anything you've sampled before.Poetry, artwork, and more from guest author Branwen Drew can be found at https://branwendrew.substack.com/p/linksImage by Dieter from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A bad-ass feline, faithful to his pet human for the duration of a life well lived—and then well beyond. Plus fodder for a night of insomnia with "Nightmare III"Elmo the Ghost Cat by guest author Ashtar DezaImage by Birgit from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Witchcraft, conjuring demons, desecration of the dead, murder, revenge, and the wonderful world of maceration. Plus today's disturbing musical interlude, "The Empty Crypt." Image by Bernhard Renner from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How should you react if you wake to find a giant dragon cramped into your room, unable to stretch without sinking its talons into everything, unable to yawn without incinerating the entire building?After today's story, new music called "Graveyard Procession."Image by Curious Hunter from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How far would you go to help a friend discover the true meaning of life? If the story doesn't leave you unsettled, the music just might.Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two tales today from a master of short horror fiction, none other than Ambrose Bierce:The Boarded Window delves into death on the frontier, and An Inhabitant of Carcosa covers the aftermath of a nasty illness. Then stick around for some new music from the maestro, a piece called "Pandemonium 3." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three tales today! Golden Apples, about a Norse goddess with some tasty recipes. Selkie crosses the North Sea to a remote point in Scotland: try the haggis! The Gorgon takes a familiar tale and sets it firmly on...er...its head. Clsing out the show, new music from Tim called It's Getting Closer.Art by Mert Özbağdat from Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Guest author Maurice Forrester steps up, rolls the bones and throws us a tale called A Need for Disorder. After the story, stick around for new music from Tim, "Midnight Visit." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A tribute to all those people who fill our lives with feel-good, empty platitudes. Plus a track from the maestro with a more industrial grind. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A Sinister Minutes tribute to the season and all its wrappings, brought to you by the very corporations who profit from every aspect of human endeavor, from cradle to grave, ready to dispense joy and misery. Plus "Lady in White," lovely disturbing music from the maestro. Happy holidays! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bridging the gap between holiday sentiment and Friday the 13th horror with a bit of unboxing: In A Box of Hope, a woman considers the thrill of December bridge jumping. In Delightfully intense, a young lad is left in charge of a very important opening. Finally, Tim's added a horrifyingly lovely musical composition called "Why is the Cellar Door Open?" that might just make you think about the boxes you've got stored down there in the dark. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A heartwarming, coming-of-age story about a young woman who just wants to do her own thing. Plus a disturbing piece of music that will leave you looking "Under the bed." Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.