When you think of Gothic places to visit, a military base might not be the first place you consider. However, one trip to Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, IL will change that. At one time, the base was a hub of activity with its peak during WWII. The government had difficulty keeping it in… [Read more…]
September 26, 2011
by Brian Kornell
The Midwest is not just a place to flyover or pass through to more exciting destinations. Our goal with this anthology (we are currently in the process of finding a publisher) is to show that there is much more happening in the region than it may appear at first. There is a literary movement quietly… [Read more…]
September 8, 2011
by Jodee Stanley
Okay, so “castle” is a bit of an overstatement if you’re going solely by size, but this looming, once-stately manor does have an eerie, someone’s-watching-you atmosphere, much like its ancient European architectural cousins. Voorhies Castle was built at the end of the 19th century near Bement, Illinois, in the small, now defunct village of Voorhies.… [Read more…]
August 5, 2011
by Brian Kornell
We’re very happy to share the news that our panel, “Midwest Gothic: Dark Fiction of the Heartland” has been accepted for AWP 2012. In addition to us (the MGS editors, Jodee Stanley and Brian Kornell), the panel will also include Cathy Day, Michael Czyzniejewski, and Dan Chaon. They are phenomenal writers and we are thrilled… [Read more…]
June 6, 2011
by Brian Kornell
When thinking of classic Gothic literature, there is always the association of dark, cloud filled, rainy skies. Terrible things happen during the night. Think of all those haunted house stories where the characters feel they would be safe if the only made it to sun up or if they stayed in the light. Be afraid… [Read more…]
June 4, 2011
by Brian Kornell
Welcome to the new home of Midwest Gothic Stories! We’ve moved everything over from the old blogger site and have some new content too. Take a look a around. Check out The Landscape section for new pictures. Be sure to check out the new post below “Day and Night.” Let us know what you think.
February 12, 2011
by Brian Kornell
One of the key ways Midwest Gothic separates itself from the other forms of Gothic literature is, obviously, through place. The Midwest is nothing like New England or the South. However, simply saying it takes place in Nebraska or Indiana is not enough. A strong sense of place is essential. The people, the places, in… [Read more…]
January 30, 2011
by Jodee Stanley
Sherwood Anderson may be the writer most strongly identified with Midwestern literature — his Winesburg, Ohio is a canonical representation of life in the Heartland. Anderson’s stories make a bridge between Southern Gothic and what we identify as Midwest Gothic — in Southern Gothic literature, the grotesque elements are generally extravagant, played up in a… [Read more…]
January 28, 2011
by Brian Kornell
We have some exciting news about a new project and we can’t wait any longer to share it. Since the spring of 2010, Jodee Stanley and I (Brian Kornell) have been at work putting together an anthology of Midwest Gothic Stories. I first presented the ideas of Midwest Gothic at the 2009 Winter Wheat Festival.… [Read more…]
Brian Kornell
Jodee Stanley
October 12, 2011
by Brian Kornell
0