Ep 67: Christmas Ghost Stories: Exploring the Lost Holiday Tradition with Tony Walker

In Episode 67, Tony Walker—author, narrator, and host of the popular YouTube channel Classic Ghost Stories—delves into the fascinating tradition of Christmas ghost stories. Known for his weekly podcast where he reads ghost stories, horror tales, and weird fiction, Tony takes us on a journey through the cultural significance and evolution of this unique holiday custom.

In this episode, we examine three iconic Christmas ghost stories: A Christmas Carol, Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and A Disappearance and an Appearance. Together, we uncover the roots of this chilling tradition and explore why these tales remain so compelling during the festive season.

Don’t miss this captivating discussion—it’s the perfect blend of holiday spirit and spine-tingling storytelling!

Classic Ghost Stories Podcast

Timestamps:

Classic Ghost Stories and Narration(09:59 - 21:27)

• Tony discusses criteria for selecting stories for his podcast
• Copyright issues and story length considerations
• Differences between classic and modern writing styles
• Tony's approach to narration and accents
• Discussion on the concept of 'classics' in literature

Christmas Ghost Stories Tradition(21:27 - 31:46)

• Origins of Christmas ghost stories traced back to 1819
• Connection to winter solstice and darkness
• Charles Dickens' role in popularizing Christmas ghost stories
• M.R. James' contributions to the genre
• BBC's 'Ghost Story for Christmas' series in the 1970s

Analyzing Specific Christmas Ghost Stories(31:46 - 42:02)

• Discussion of 'A Christmas Carol' by Charles Dickens
• 'Sir Gawain and the Green Knight' as an early Christmas supernatural tale
• M.R. James' 'A Disappearance and an Appearance'
• Comparison of different story styles and themes

Storytelling and Folklore(42:02 - 52:27)

• Evolution of Arthurian legends and storytelling traditions
• Discussion on the collective nature of folklore creation
• Tony's perspective on the importance of storytelling in human culture
• Analysis of story structures and moral messages in tales

Christmas Stories and Modern Interpretations(52:27 - 01:02:26)

• Tony's approach to writing Christmas ghost stories
• Comparison of British and American Christmas traditions
• Discussion on the appeal of 'Christmas vibes' in stories
• Tony's experience with publishing on Amazon KDP

Writing and Publishing Experiences(01:02:26 - 01:10:51)

• Tony shares his journey as a writer
• Challenges with traditional publishing and self-publishing
• Experience with Amazon KDP and copyright issues
• Discussion on the challenges of earning a living as an author

Concluding Thoughts and Recommendations(01:10:51 - 01:20:05)

• Tony's current approach to publishing through YouTube narrations
• Discussion on finding Tony's books and stories
• Reflections on the power dynamics of big tech companies
• Vanessa encourages listeners to start their own Christmas ghost story traditions

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