The Wicked Library

For the debut episode of Talking Wicked, Meg Hafdahl visits the Library to talk about last week's story Episode 901:  "The Barren" as adapted from the story as published in The Lift: Nine Stories of Transformation, Volume One. Available now on Amazon.com in print and Kindle.

We also discuss Meg's upcoming work, Daughters of Darkness - the sequel to Her Dark Inheritance, as well as her first non-fiction book, The Science of Monsters, which she coauthored with her best friend. And, we spend time talking about her podcast Horror Rewind, her thoughts on writing horror as a modern woman, and how long she identified with Joe in "You".

Host / Producer / Showrunner: Daniel FoytikGet your copy of The Lift, 9 Stories of Transformation Volume One on Kindle, or in print.  Visit victoriaslift.com/read to get your copy today.

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik

Savannah is desperate to have a baby. When a haughty woman from her past flaunts her own fertility, Savannah starts down a dark path. Can an encounter with a young girl who is much more than she seems keep Savannah from making a choice she'll regret?

This story features Victoria from our sister show, The Lift.

Today's story was adapted from "The Barren" as published in The Lift: Nine Stories of Transformation, Volume One. Available now on Amazon.com in print and Kindle.

Storytellers: Jessica McEvoy and Amber Collins

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik

For our 2018 Christmas Special, we present the return of Geoffrey Sykes Vermillion, first appearing in the Parsec Award Finalist episode, "The Case of the Black Lodge" in season 8.

In today's dark tale, you'll met Audrey Hawkwoode, the young protegee of Geoffrey Sykes Vermillion. When Audrey returns home for the Christmas Holiday, she learns something is not quite right, and calls her upon her mentor for urgent help in solving the matter.

Credits

Author: Aaron Vlek | Cast: Mary Murphy, as Audrey Hawkwoode | David Ault, as Geoffrey Sykes Vermillion | Daniel Foytik, as James and Sydney Hawkwoode | Nelson W. Pyles, as Mr. Hawkwoode | Heather Thomas, as Mrs. Hawkwoode

Voice of the Librarian: Nelson W. Pyles

Custom Score: Nico Vettese | Artwork: Jeanette Andromeda | Host / Producer / Showrunner: Daniel Foytik | Executive Producers: Cynthia Lowman, Nelson W. Pyles

Get your copy of The Lift, 9 Stories of Transformation Volume One on Kindle, or in print.  Visit victoriaslift.com/read to get your copy today.

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik

The final episode of Season 8 is a festively Wicked collection of seven dark tales by six Wicked Library Alum authors.
"Sugar Plums" by Scarlet R. Algee. Told by Mary Murphy, as Catherine."Naughty or Nice" by Miracle Austin. Told by Nichole Goodnight, as Drusella."Silent Night" by Lee A. Forman. Told by Nelson W. Pyles, as Fred."Oh, Come, All Ye Faithless" by Nelson W. Pyles. Told by Daniel Foytik, as Bernard."The Box" by Julia Benally. Told by Heather Thomas, as Jackie."Roasting on an Open Fire" by C. Bryan Brown. Told by Graham Rowat, as Mason."Their Eyes All Aglow" by Scarlet R. Algee.  Told by Mary Murphy, as Karen.
Credits

Voice of the Librarian: Nelson W. Pyles

Custom Score: Nico Vettese | Host / Producer / Showrunner: Daniel Foytik | Executive Producers: Cynthia Lowman, Nelson W. Pyles

Get your copy of The Lift, 9 Stories of Transformation Volume One this Friday on Kindle, or in print in mid-November.  Visit victoriaslift.com/book for updates and more information.

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik

Today, we bring you 4 Wicked tales for our Extra Wicked Fall Anthology.

The stories shared today are heard first by our supporters but, since the goal of The Wicked Library is always the promotion of our writers, we later share these bonus tales with our entire audience in anthology episodes. Please support the authors by finding their other work and adding it to your collection, and help keep the extra stories coming by supporting the show you love on Patreon.
"The Madman of Paris" by Aaron Palmer. Told by Mike DelGaudio, Graham Rowat, David Ault, and Daniel Foytik."Spineless" by Brooke Warra | Told by Jessica McEvoy"Cold Beer Cheep Cigarettes 24 Hours" by Brooke Warra | Told by Jessica McEvoy"What You Get for Caring (A Valediction from the Doghouse)" by Jessica McHugh | Told by Your Librarian
All scored by Nico Vettese of We Talk of Dreams.

Available now on Amazon, in Print and Kindle: The Lift: Nine Stories of Transformation 

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik

When Matt Dawsen visits the very haunted Andersonville, the site of a horrific Civil War prison camp as part of his fraternity pledge, he ends up in a situation he could never have expected.

Credits

Author: Owl Goingback | Storytellers: Mike DelGaudio, Main Narration | Joshua Narcho as Matt Dawsen| Graham Rowat as Kevin Berry| Voice of the Librarian: Nelson W. Pyles

Custom Score: Nico Vettese | Host / Producer / Showrunner: Daniel Foytik | Executive Producers: Cynthia Lowman, Nelson W. Pyles

Get your copy of The Lift, 9 Stories of Transformation Volume One this Friday on Kindle, or in print in mid-November.  Visit victoriaslift.com/book for updates and more information.

 

Production Music

"The Wicked Library Theme"

Anthony Rowsick of Novus (novus3.bandcamp.com)

Audio Recording

Final mix by Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios: www.9thstory.com

9th Story Studios:

Producer / Host / Showrunner: Daniel Foytik

 

Visit The Wicked Library:

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewickedlibrary

On Twitter: @wickedlibrary

The Wicked Library is a proud member of the Dark Myths Collective 

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik

As part of our Halloween celebration this year, we bring you a special episode of Wicked flash fiction written by 15 authors, and told by Your Librarian and a talented cast of voice actors!

Stories
"The Scratching" by Ricardo Victoria - Told by Daniel Foytik"The Twisted End of Vernon Boggs" by Brooke Warra - Told by The Librarian"Chameleon" by Kelli Perkins - Told by Nichole Goodnight and Daniel Foytik"Pulp" by Christopher Long - Told by The Librarian"Staked" by Lydia Peever - Told by David Cummings"Like Something out of a Fairy Tale" Rob E. Boley - Told by The Librarian"Falling Star" by C. Bryan Brown - Told by Jessica McHugh"You Can Be Always" by Lee Forman - Told by The Librarian"Behind You" by Pippa Bailey - Told by Louie Pollard and Erika Sanderson"The Ghosts of Halloween" by Jesse Saxon - Told by The Librarian"Eleven" by Meg Hafdahl - Told by Jessica McEvoy"Gingerbread Men" by Myk Pilgrim - Told by The Librarian"Intravenous Sin" by Pippa Bailey - Told by Erika Sanderson and Louie Pollard"Ghoul Quest" by Aaron Vlek - Told by The Librarian"Out of the Woods" by Myk Pilgrim - Told by Louie Pollard"Return to Evans City" by Rich Bottles Jr. - Told by Mike DelGaudio"The Most Wonderful Time of the Year" by Tony Sarrecchia - Told by Nichole Goodnight and Daniel Foytik
Credits:

Voice of the Librarian: Nelson W. Pyles

Custom Scoring: Nico Vettese | Host / Producer / Showrunner: Daniel Foytik | Executive Producers: Cynthia Lowman, Nelson W. Pyles

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik

Jacob is a homeless teen living alone on the streets of a dead-end desert town until he meets Burke, a fellow runaway with a fearsome ability. Like Jacob, Burke was born with an unwanted gift - he can see and talk to the dead - but unlike Jacob, Burke has developed a way to manipulate and even fool the vengeful spirits he encounters in his travels, weaponizing them against those he feels have wronged him.

With Jacob under his wing, Burke sets out to show Jacob how he too can "trick the haunts" to his personal benefit and wreak unholy supernatural havoc on the downtrodden residents of the backwater desert community -- what could possibly go wrong?

Credits

Author: Sebastian Bendix | Storyteller: Graham Rowat | Voice of the Librarian: Nelson W. Pyles

Custom Score: Nico Vettese | Host / Producer / Showrunner: Daniel Foytik | Executive Producers: Cynthia Lowman, Nelson W. Pyles

Help support the show and get your free audiobook when you sign up for Audible at audible.com/wicked. Or text "wicked"  to 500500.

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik

A college girl with an uncommon gift. A townie who just wants to look out for his best friend. When dark creatures start haunting Aisling's dreams, it's up to her best friend to try and get to the bottom of things.

Is she truly the only one who can stop a strange race from taking over human minds? Or is she just a sick girl who let the stress of college get under her skin?

Credits

Author: Samantha Mayotte| Storytellers: Daniel Foytik, Main Narration Addison Peacock as Aisling | Evan Schmitt as Jamison | David Ault as The Creature | Nichole Goodnight as Aisling's Mother| Voice of the Librarian: Nelson W. Pyles

Custom Score: Nico Vettese | Host / Producer / Showrunner: Daniel Foytik | Executive Producers: Cynthia Lowman, Nelson W. Pyles

Production Music

"The Wicked Library Theme"

Anthony Rowsick of Novus (novus3.bandcamp.com)

"Background Ambience 1" (interview background)

Nico Vettese (wetalkofdreams.com)

“In the Wicked Library” (Introduction, Transitions)

Nico Vettese (wetalkofdreams.com)

Audio Recording

Final mix by Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios: www.9thstory.com

9th Story Studios:

Producer / Host / Showrunner: Daniel Foytik

Visit The Wicked Library:

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/thewickedlibrary

On Twitter: @wickedlibrary

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik

Today we have five Dark Poems by Bram Stoker Award winning author, Stephanie M. Wytovich, and chapter one from her debut novel, The Eighth.

Poems:

"Your Ghost"

"When I Promised Him Murder"

"Of My Wounds, There Are Many"

"Seduced by Monsters"

"Versions of My Mutilated Self"

The Eighth, Chapter One

Credits

Author: Stephanie M. Wytovich| Storytellers: Nelson W. Pyles | Voice of the Librarian: Nelson W. Pyles

Custom Scoring: Nico Vettese | Host / Producer / Showrunner: Daniel Foytik | Executive Producers: Cynthia Lowman, Nelson W. Pyles

The Wicked Library is created by 9th Story Studios LLC: www.9thstory.com

Audio program ©2025 – 9th Story Studios LLC.

All Rights Reserved.No reproduction or use of this content is permitted without the express written consent of 9th Story Studios LLC. The copyrights for stories are held by the respective authors.

Main Theme: “The Library Awakens” Nico Vettese
Final Audio Mix: Daniel Foytik, 9th Story Studios LLCz

FX: freesound.org

Produced by: Daniel Foytik
Hosted by: Daniel Foytik