RAS #662 – Can AI Write A Story

On Ron’s Amazing Stories this week we have Ghost Stories With Sylvia. Sylvia Shults and Ron are going to dive into the realm of the supernatural with a spine-tingling first-person ghost story. Join them as they venture into the haunted Wolfen Woods in Spooksville, Arizona, in search of the hidden grave. Also, on the show we have three listener submitted stories. Future Gadgets, a fictional story sent in by Abigail Ackinsen, Tricked on Halloween, a true experience from Bonnie Hernandez, and Cold Shadow from MacSweet302. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show.

About Sylvia Shults:  Sylvia  is a Librarian, Author, and Ghost Hunter. She has spent a lifetime in the pursuit of the weird and strange. Her non-fiction works include Ghost of the Illinois River, Fractured Spirits, Fractured Souls, 44 Years in Darkness, The Spirits of Christmas, Days Of The Dead, and her latest release Grave Deeds and Dead Plots. All of her books are available on Amazon and you can find out more on her blog page.

Sylvia’s Links:  Facebook, Twitter, Blog Site, Amazon Author’s Page

On the Podcast  – At the end of the GSWS discussion Sylvia and Ron created a prompt for Google’s Gemini. The results are below. Here is the prompt that they came up with: Write a third person ghost story on the east coast in a Victorian style mansion. Ron and Sylvia enter the home to find a table set for afternoon tea waiting for them. Spooky sounds echo through the house. The house is haunted by a clown.

The Clown Of Blackwood Manor

The rusty wrought iron gates groaned open as Ron and Sylvia steered their car up the overgrown driveway. Looming before them, shrouded in the oppressive humidity of the East Coast summer, stood Blackwood Manor. Its Victorian grandeur had faded, replaced by peeling paint, boarded windows, and an air of ominous neglect.

“Charming,” Sylvia muttered, her voice heavy with sarcasm. Ron, ever the optimist, simply chuckled and grabbed their bags.

The heavy oak door, surprisingly, swung open with a gentle push. Dust motes danced in the shafts of sunlight that pierced the gloom of the entrance hall. A thick layer of dust coated the ornate furniture and the once vibrant Persian rug. An unsettling silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant scuttling of unseen creatures.

As they ventured further into the house, a chill settled over them despite the stifling heat. They found themselves in a grand dining room, where a scene awaited them that was both bizarre and unsettling. A long, mahogany table was set for afternoon tea. Fine china cups and saucers sat beside silver teaspoons, and a three-tiered stand held an assortment of pastries that, despite the thick layer of dust, looked eerily fresh.

“This is…creepy,” Sylvia whispered, her voice barely above a breath.

Suddenly, a high-pitched giggle echoed through the room, followed by the distinct squeaking of a rubber shoe on the hardwood floor. Ron and Sylvia exchanged startled glances.

“Did you hear that?” Ron asked, his voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

Before Sylvia could answer, a teacup lifted from the table, seemingly of its own volition, and shattered against the wall. A cold gust of wind swept through the room, sending the remaining cups and saucers clattering.

Terror gripped them. They weren’t alone.

This art was also created using Google Gemini using the story as a prompt

As they backed away from the table, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was a clown, grotesque and unsettling. Its painted smile was stretched into a nightmarish grin, its eyes two black pits in its chalk-white face. It moved with an unnatural jerkiness, its oversized shoes squeaking with every step.

Ron and Sylvia, paralyzed with fear, could only watch as the spectral clown glided towards them. It raised its hand, revealing a long, silver knife glinting in the dim light.

A scream tore from Sylvia’s throat as she turned and fled, Ron close behind. They scrambled through the house, the clown’s maniacal laughter echoing behind them. They raced down hallways, stumbling over unseen obstacles, the clown’s squeaking shoes always close behind.

Finally, they burst out of the front door and into the blinding sunlight. They didn’t stop running until they reached their car, the rusty gates clanging shut behind them like a prison door slamming shut.

As they sped away from Blackwood Manor, they could still hear the faint echo of the clown’s laughter, a chilling reminder of the horror they had encountered within its walls. They knew they would never return, and the image of the ghostly clown would forever haunt their nightmares.

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
Facebook Link
Twitter Link

Contact Links:
Email
Story Submissions
Contact Ron

RAS #660 – The Spooky Begins

On Ron’s Amazing Stories the month of the spooky begins with a terrifying slate of tales. The thought of the day is “scary,” and we’ll start with that. Next comes a review of a new audiobook, Autumn Nights: 13 Spooky Fall Reads. Then we have a true story from George Garza about his encounter with 18-year-old James on Tombstone Pass.  Our featured story is cited as being one of the most terrifying programs broadcast during The Golden Age Of Radio. It is a suspenseful story that will keep you on the edge of your seat. We end the show with a series of short fictional stories sent in by our listeners. These stories are about lost towns, night lights, closets, and hauntings. 

These are just a few of the spooky stories that you will hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories this month, so tune in and prepare to be scared. 

Month Of Sppoky 2024

Featured Story – House in Cypress Canyon

Our featured story is consistently cited as one of the most terrifying programs broadcast during The Golden Age Of Radio. It is an episode from the series Suspense. The plot is presented as a “story within a story”, framed by a meeting between detective Sam Spade (played by Howard Duff) and his friend who has discovered a manuscript that tells a story that is…well… amazing. It is titled The House in Cypress Canyon and was originally broadcast December 5, 1946.

Program Note: Want to hear the RAS episode where Ron talks to Jim Harold about The House in Cypress Canyon. Follow this link.

Other Stories Include – The Other Day I thought – Scary Thoughts, Autumn Nights – A Review, The Santiam Wagon Road, We Didn’t Question, The Light, Closet light, and How I Sleep

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
Facebook Link
Twitter Link

Contact Links:
Email
Story Submissions
Contact Ron

 

The Month Of Spooky 2024

This week begins the Month Of Spooky 2024. During the month we will have themed podcasts with ghost stories, monsters, and even some creepy discussions. It is going to be a very spooky month. Here are just a few of the highlights:

The Month Of Spooky 2024
  • Emma Lynn Down will be here for the second year in a row. This time we are going to be doing what can only be described as a “Creepy Talk”. 
  • We will have a special edition of Ghost Stories With Sylvia. This time Sylvia and Ron face off with an A.I. ghosty! 
  • There will be an entire show dedicated to your stories. These are tales sent in by you for you. Ron has been working on this one all year long.

You can listen to these podcasts on Thursdays at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listings or find the station closest to you at this link

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can.

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
Facebook Link
Twitter Link

Contact Links:
Email
Story Submissions
Contact Ron

RAS #659 – Monsters

On Ron’s Amazing Stories, we’ll be delving into the fascinating world of monsters. We’ll explore their history, origins, and the stories that have been told about them for centuries.

First up, we have a segment called The Other Day I Thought. Ron will share his musings on the truth about monsters.

Next, we’ll be reviewing the audiobook American Monsters by Linda Godfrey. This book presents some of the strangest creatures known to reside in the United States. Godfrey has done extensive research on these creatures and has compiled a collection of stories and reports that will leave you both fascinated and horrified.

King - A Storybook Monster

Following the book review, we’ll have a short story by Gregg, who shares a work of fiction he wrote titled The Monster of Gifford National Forest. This story is a gripping tale of a creature that terrorizes his family in the Pacific Northwest.

Our featured story for this episode comes from the OTR series Dark Fantasy and is titled The Sea Phantom. This story is not what you’re expecting. It’s a chilling tale of a ghost that haunts the depths of the ocean.

Next up, we have Johnny Is True: Can You Tell Folklore from Fakery?. Your challenge is to decide which facts are based on real folklore and which ones are completely made up.

Finally, we’ll end the show with an oddity. I asked Google’s Gemini to create a monster tale based on my inputs. The results were…well, you’ll just have to listen to find out.

Featured Story – The Sea Phantom

Our featured story loosely follows the theme of monsters. Dark Fantasy was a short radio series with tales of weird adventures and the supernatural. Although a short series, the stories are amazing with some being way ahead of their time. Our story today visits monsters in the form of ghosts protecting a treasure that is 100s of years old. It is titled The Sea Phantom and it first aired on January 6, 1942.

Other Stories Include – The Other Day I Thought About Monsters, Review – American Monsters, The Monster of Gifford National Forest, Johnny Is It True – Monsters, and King – A Storybook Monster

Ron’s Amazing Stories Is Sponsored by: Audible – You can get a free audiobook and a 30 day free trial at audibletrial.com/ronsamazingstories.

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can. Links are below.

Music Used In This Podcast: Most of the music you hear on Ron’s Amazing Stories has been composed by Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) and is Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0. Other pieces are in the public domain. You can find great free music at FreePd.com which is a site owned by Kevin.

Program Info: Ron’s Amazing Stories is published each Thursday. You can download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listing or find the station closest to you at this link.

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
Facebook Link
Twitter Link

Contact Links:
Email
Story Submissions
Contact Ron

 

On The Podcast This Week – 9/26/24

On Ron’s Amazing Stories this week, we delve into the captivating world of monsters, exploring their origins, significance, and the human fascination with these enigmatic creatures. Monsters have been an integral part of human storytelling for millennia. From ancient mythology to modern literature and cinema. We will take a tour of some of the most iconic monsters from around the world. From Bigfoot and Nessie to the Jersey Devil and the Mothman, these cryptids have captured the imagination of people for centuries.

Monsters

We have a short story written by Gregg Akerman from Huntington Beach that is sure to curl your toes. He has titled it The Monster of Gifford National Forest. We will review the audiobook American Monsters – A History of Monster Lore, Legends, and Sightings in America by Linda S. Godfrey. Also, on the show we have an episode from the OTR series Dark Fantasy titled The Sea Phantom.

Whether you’re a horror enthusiast, a fan of folklore, or simply curious about the human psyche, this episode is sure to entertain and intrigue you. Join us on Thursday to learn more about the origins of monsters and why they continue to captivate our imaginations.

You can listen to this podcast on Thursday at Ron’s Amazing Stories, download it from Apple Podcasts, stream it on Stitcher Radio or on the mobile version of Spotify. Do you prefer the radio? We are heard every Thursday at 10:00 pm and Sunday Night at 11:00 PM (EST) on AMFM247.COM. Check your local listings or find the station closest to you at this link

Your Stories: Do you have a story that you would like to share on the podcast or the blog? Head to the main website, click on Story Submission, leave your story, give it a title, and please tell me where you’re from. I will read it if I can.

Social Links:
Main Podcast Site by LibSyn
The Blog Site by WordPress
Facebook Link
Twitter Link

Contact Links:
Email
Story Submissions
Contact Ron