Spook factor: Franklin College event features scary stories, best-selling author

With every word, the sense of dread and unease will only grow.

Inside the atmospheric and spookily decorated space of Franklin College’s Richardson Chapel, the college’s writing community wants to scare you with a frighteningly fun night leading up to Halloween.

“Halloween is kind of a traditional time to tell scary stories and poems, so it seemed really festive,” said Christian Magallanes Moody, assistant professor of English and creative writing and the faculty advisor for the Apogee, Franklin College’s literary magazine. “We wanted people from far and wide in the community to feel welcome and join in and have a great, fun night centered around storytelling and poems that fits into the season.”

The best storytellers and poets will come together from across Franklin College’s campus for “Fright Mic! A Night of Scary Tales and Poems,” set for 7 p.m. Oct. 28 in Richardson Chapel. Featuring students from the creative writing and English programs, along with other Franklin College community members, the event is aiming to entertain audience members with terrifying stories and poems.

Their creepiest best leads up to a reading by author Dan Chaon, a bestselling writer who knows what it takes to deliver a good scare.

“He knows how to be eerie and unsettling. Often, it’s in a way where you’re chuckling in a nervous way, where you’re enjoying it and it’s kind of funny, but you also feel a little unsettled,” Moody said.

“Fright Mic!” is part of the Carlson-Stauffer Visiting Writer Series is made possible through a grant from Indiana Humanities in cooperation with the National Endowment for the Humanities. The series, which had been known as the Creative Writing Reading Series, is now named in honor of two retired English professors, Kathy Carlson and Emily Stauffer.

The idea for the “Fright Mic!” event came from a combination of the reading series with readings that Franklin College students do throughout the year, Moody said.

“We were trying to find a way to have a storytelling and poetry event that felt a little more festive and open to more people than usual — that didn’t feel so stuffy and overly academic,” he said.

Student leaders with the Apogee were in charge of finding storytellers and poets from across campus. They reached out to creative writing classes and other contributors to the magazine to take part. In addition to stories and poems, music department students have planned a collection of spooky songs to set the mood.

To serve as the centerpiece of the event, organizers reached out to Chaon, whose writing fit into the Halloween theme.

Chaon is an American educator and award-winning writer, including the author of the national bestseller “Ill Will,” which was recognized as one of the top 10 books of 2017 by a number of publications.

Growing up in Nebraska, he was drawn to writing as a way to keep him busy.

“I grew up in a very small town, and by small, I mean like 20 people. I was the only kid a lot of the time, so I grew up playing pretend and telling myself stories. It was something I really enjoyed and was good at, so I was drawn to it,” he said.

Chaon received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his master’s degree from Syracuse University. He enjoyed a long and successful career as an educator, teaching creative writing and literature at Oberlin College, before retiring and pursuing writing full-time.

His most recent novel, “Sleep Walk,” is a woozy story centered on Will Bear, a 50-year-old man who has been living off the grid for over half his life. He’s never had a real job, never paid taxes, never been in a committed relationship. He spends his time hopscotching across state lines in his beloved camper van, running sometimes shady, often dangerous errands for a powerful and ruthless operation.

Will’s world is thrown into disarray when he receives a call from a woman claiming to be his biological daughter, the result of a sperm donation years ago.

Though not specializing in horror exactly, Chaon knows how to weave unease, eeriness and suspense into his tales. His style fits in well with the “Fright Mic!” theme.

“This is supposed to be a fun event, with music and bonfires and people reading scary stories. I’m also hoping to bring out the spirit of Halloween at this event,” he said.

Chaon will sign books at a post-reading event organized by Wild Geese Bookshop, and his latest titles will be available for purchase. Guests are invited to stay and mingle outdoors at the cozy campus fire pits.

Organizers have planned other seasonal touches to add to the event’s atmosphere.

Halloween treats, such as cider and s’mores, will be available for purchase before and after the event to benefit the Apogee, Franklin College’s literary magazine. Costumes are welcome.

“We wanted to add extra fun and make it more of an event. Hopefully, it becomes an annual thing,” Moody said.