Chickling Chronicles

Hey! Hi! Hello! If folklore gave the witch her bones, books gave her a voice. In Part 2 of Witchtober, we crack open a different grimoire, the one on your bookshelf, to trace how authors reinvent the witch across eras and genres: from revolution and selfhood to legacy, history, ecology, and found family. This episode is a cozy-cinematic tour for readers hunting their next fave and writers looking...

Hey! Hi! Hello! Witches are everywhere each October, but where did they actually come from? In this Witchtober kickoff, we fly from mud-brick Mesopotamian rooms and Greek crossroads to Slavic forests and Salem courtrooms, tracing how the witch evolved from healer and threshold-keeper to scapegoat, fairy-tale trial, and modern icon. It’s cinematic, cozy, and a little eerie. Perfect for readers, wri...

What does it mean when a messy, awkward, campy teen vampire saga becomes one of the most defining pop culture events of the 2000s?✨🎬 Hey! Hi! Hello! In this episode of Chickling Chronicles, we’re wrapping up our glitter-soaked trilogy by stepping into the cinematic chaos of the Twilight movies. So reapply your body glitter, cue the Paramore playlist, and grab some popcorn, as we dive into how Tw...

✨📚 Hey! Hi! Hello! In this episode of Chickling Chronicles, we’re cracking open the sparkly, storm-clouded pages of Twilight, yes, the books, and asking: How did a saga this flawed become so unforgettable? We’ll revisit each installment, from the swoony meadow of Twilight to the unhinged chaos of Breaking Dawn, and talk about: Why Bella Swan is more blank slate than badass Why Edward Cullen’s be...

✨🩸 Hey! Hi! Hello! In this episode of Chickling Chronicles, we’re sinking our teeth into the bloodlines and fur-covered folklore that gave rise to Twilight’s iconic monsters. We’ll unearth terrifying origins like Mesopotamia’s restless ekimmu, the Philippines’ winged manananggal, and Greece’s cursed King Lycaon, before fast-forwarding to Dracula, The Wolf Man, Buffy, The Lost Boys, and of course...

✨🍿 Hey! Hi! Hello! Ever wondered how your favorite books make the leap from paperback to popcorn? In this episode of Chickling Chronicles , we’re pulling back the curtain on the messy, magical, and sometimes maddening world of book-to-screen adaptations. We’ll dig into: 🎬 What actually counts as an adaptation (spoiler: not everything you think does!) 📖 The behind-the-scenes business of optioni...

✨📚 Hey! Hi! Hello! It’s officially launch day, and in this very special episode, I'm going to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to go indie—from the chaos of last-minute uploads to the deep, career-shaping why behind choosing self-publishing in the first place. Also, I'll share some of my top tips I've found for launch day survival, real-world advice from other indie auth...

✨🩸 She didn’t just bite — she built a genre. Hey! Hi! Hello! In Part Two of our Anita Blake deep dive, we’re stepping out of the graveyard and into the bigger picture: the birth of urban fantasy as we know it. From vampires paying taxes to necromancers testifying in court, Laurell K. Hamilton rewrote the rules of what fantasy could be — and readers have been debating her choices ever since. We’l...

What if the monster under the bed wasn’t there to scare you… but to flirt, threaten, and maybe change your life? 🩸✨ Hey! Hi! Hello! In this first part of our Anita Blake deep dive, we’re going back to where it all began: Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K. Hamilton. We’ll slip into the eerie streets of 1990s St. Louis, wander through Hamilton’s genre-bending legacy, and pick apart the crime-soaked, b...

What if a story could change shape… and still keep its soul? 🌙✨ Hey! Hi! Hello! In this grand finale of our Sailor Moon mini-series, we’re twirling through decades of transformation—from the poetic intensity of the manga, to the campy heart of the ‘90s anime, to the sleek drama of Sailor Moon Crystal . Then we’ll chase her moonlit influence into YA novels, magical girl TV, and even movies you mi...

What if your enemy was your soulmate… in another life? 🌙✨ Hey! Hi! Hello! In this emotionally-charged episode of Chickling Chronicles , we’re dusting off our moon tiaras and diving deep into the starlit heartbreak, cosmic romance, and villain redemption arcs of Sailor Moon Season 1 and beyond. So grab your crescent wand, cue the tragic backstory, and let’s talk about love, grief, and why sometim...

Magical Girls, Messy Growth, and Moonlight Trauma? Count me in! In this sparkling first installment of a three-part Sailor Moon deep dive , we’re taking a serious look at the emotional weight behind those transformation brooches. Join me in unpacking why Usagi Tsukino’s tear-streaked journey from crybaby to cosmic guardian still hits like a crescent moon boomerang decades later. This isn't just ab...

Hey! Hi! Hello! In this episode of Chickling Chronicles , we’re peeling back the expertly manicured layers of one of the most twisted, tantalizing thrillers of the 21st century— Gone Girl . I’m Courtney, your paranormal mystery author bestie, and today we’re diving deep into Gillian Flynn’s hit novel and David Fincher’s darkly delicious 2014 adaptation. We’ll unpack the genius of unreliable narrat...

Hey! Hi! Hello! In this spellbinding episode of Chickling Chronicles , we’re diving into the glittering, dagger-filled world of romantasy, that utterly addictive blend of romance and fantasy that’s taken over bookshelves, BookTok, and probably your entire weekend. From ancient curses and brooding fae princes to forbidden kisses under blood moons, we’re unpacking why this genre has us all so delici...

Hey! Hi! Hello! In this episode of Chickling Chronicles , we’re diving headfirst into the gloriously messy side of writing a novel... aka the part no one brags about on Pinterest. From plot spirals that laugh at your outline, to building worlds that are basically fueled by caffeine and low-grade existential dread, we’re breaking down all the weird in-betweens that make storytelling so delightfully...

Hey! Hi! Hello! In this episode of Chickling Chronicles , we’re heading straight back into the reaping bowls of Panem long before Katniss ever volunteered as tribute. I (Courtney, your paranormal mystery author bestie) am diving into Suzanne Collins’ newest prequel, Sunrise on the Reaping , which spotlights the 50th Hunger Games, aka the trauma stew that made Haymitch Abernathy your favorite grump...

Hey! Hi! Hello! It’s my birthday 🎂 So I’m dropping a little bonus episode of Chickling Chronicles just for fun. Today, we’re talking movies: the ones I’m hyped about… and the ones I’m cautiously side-eyeing from across the popcorn counter. I’ll break down what excites me, what worries me, and why character-driven stories matter way more than sky beams and CGI chaos. So grab your snacks, hit play,...

Hey! Hi! Hello! In this very first episode, Courtney, your resident paranormal mystery author and chaos curator, welcomes you into the world of Chickling Chronicles . This isn’t just another writing podcast. It’s a cozy, eerie, wildly fun space where cursed mirrors make excellent plot devices, TBR piles whisper at midnight, and every looming deadline is its own gothic horror story. Get ready for b...

Hey! Hi! Hello! In this first-ever episode, Courtney (paranormal mystery author, resident chaos gremlin, and master of too-many-tabs) shares the messy, magical journey from endless false starts to finally finishing her debut novel, The Missing Reflection. If you’ve ever wondered how you’re supposed to chase a creative dream in the middle of ADHD, kids, military life, or just general life tornadoes...

Ever wondered what exactly makes a paranormal mystery tick? Is it just adding a ghost to a whodunit, or is there something deeper (and delightfully creepier) going on? In this episode, Courtney, paranormal mystery author behind The Missing Reflection, guides you through the fog. From eerie atmospheres to gut-punch emotional stakes, you’ll learn what sets paranormal mysteries apart from horror, urb...

Ever wonder how a gritty little shark novel turned into one of the most iconic thrillers, and literally invented the summer blockbuster? In this episode, Courtney (paranormal mystery author & certified story nerd) breaks down Jaws : from Peter Benchley’s dark, cynical book to Steven Spielberg’s suspense-soaked film that made us all side-eye the ocean. Grab your life vest, because we’re diving...