THE WILD WIND | An American Gothic Tale by Cor Zim

by Cor Zim | Radio Verté

The Wild Wind is an American gothic tale about a woman born and raised on the grounds of a psychiatric institution—not as a patient but as the daughter of the asylum’s farmer—who learns of love and loss while grappling with the question of what it means to be sane when insanity is the norm.

“What’s to be sane in the garden of madness?”

That’s the question haunting Sarah, a centenarian writing ab ... 

 ...  Read more

Podcast episodes

  • THE WILD WIND | Chapter 20

    THE WILD WIND | Chapter 20

    The circus arrives at the Hilltop. After BIG BEN escapes in search of blueberry pie, the commissioner leads a lynch mob to the doors of the Bronson Building in the dead of night. The day brightens with a loony game of Donkey Ball. But tuberculosis soon plagues the Hilltop, keeping the gravediggers busy around the clock, as a deathly toll is taken on the patient population. A supernatural occurrence happens before all eyes, leaving Sarah perplexed by a lurking crow. As she watches the patients plucking petals from the flowers, she considers splitting the crow’s tongue, asking, “What’s to be sane in the garden of madness?” Dedicated to Dr. George Anthony Zeller (1858-1938 ), whose vision and journals inspired this tale. Written & Narrated by Cory Zim Produced by Radio Verté Executive Producer, Cory Zim https://radioverte.works Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.

  • THE WILD WIND | Chapter 19

    THE WILD WIND | Chapter 19

    Sarah feels safe amongst the insane and learns the simple joy of walking in circles, marching in place, spinning around, skipping, hopping, crying, lying, and laughing. She meets footloose patient Fannie in the rose garden, who teaches her to "swing it in that way that makes the boys go wild.” Sarah falls in love with Fannie and puts her newly acquired skills into practice, never forgetting to peek ever so slightly over the shoulder and batting her lashes, not once, but twice, to "get’em hooked" because "that’s how you get him to kill for ya!”. In turn, and feeling neglected by her father, young Sarah attracts the attention of the Wild One in the rose bushes. Dedicated to Dr. George Anthony Zeller (1858-1938 ), whose vision and journals inspired this tale. Written & Narrated by Cory Zim Produced by Radio Verté Executive Producer, Cory Zim https://radioverte.works Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.

  • THE WILD WIND | Chapter 18

    THE WILD WIND | Chapter 18

    Doctor Zola commemorates a new monument and has a standoff with the COMMISSIONER over his progressive management of the Hilltop and the shocking amount of freedom he provides his insane patients. As reporters flock to the asylum, the doctor introduces them to Rose, whose toad-like figure is startling. And her unrelenting spirit leaves GOVERNOR PIERCE inspired with compassion. and a new generation with an increasingly humane philosophy on caring for the mentally ill--if even for a time. Dedicated to Dr. George Anthony Zeller (1858-1938 ), whose vision and journals inspired this tale. Written & Narrated by Cory Zim Produced by Radio Verté Executive Producer, Cory Zim https://radioverte.works Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.

  • THE WILD WIND | Chapter 17

    THE WILD WIND | Chapter 17

    The circus brings a drunken Wild One to the Hilltop, and he gets a job trimming rose bushes in the garden. Meanwhile, Fannie finally surrenders to Dr. Zola, calling the Hilltop home, where she spends time in the rose garden with Bookbinder. But Fannie finds herself under the spell of the Wild One with his blonde, wind-swept bangs. As the two neck behind the Graveyard Elm, the Wild One’s aggression triggers her past traumas. When she pulls away, he attacks her, but Fannie fights him off and escapes. Despite Book’s jealousy, a glimpse into Book’s secret and tragic past is revealed as he soothes her frayed nerves. Dedicated to Dr. George Anthony Zeller (1858-1938 ), whose vision and journals inspired this tale. Written & Narrated by Cory Zim Produced by Radio Verté Executive Producer, Cory Zim https://radioverte.works Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.

  • THE WILD WIND | Chapter 16

    THE WILD WIND | Chapter 16

    During a blizzard on the first day of Spring in 1900, Momma goes into labor. Meanwhile, Pa’s down the road chopping wood for a widow he has fallen for, so Sam, a patient of the Hilltop, personal cook for the family, and recipient of this story, fetches Docter Zolla. Untangling the umbilical cord from Sarah’s neck, the doctor breathes life into her. Bedside, Sam reads Homer’s Iliad as snow blankets the Hilltop. Though her life is sometimes lonely, Sam, acting as Sarah’s surrogate grandfather, warms her heart with Swedish pancakes and enlightens her mind with books. Dedicated to Dr. George Anthony Zeller (1858-1938 ), whose vision and journals inspired this tale. Written & Narrated by Cory Zim Produced by Radio Verté Executive Producer, Cory Zim https://radioverte.works Cor Zim is the executive producer of Radio Verté and the author of two fiction novels, THE WILD WIND and AHOOGA!, each of which has been adapted into an audio podcast series. He is the author of two nonfiction novels, SPOON RIVER GOTHIC: Narrative of a Double Homicide and DEATH RIDES THE HIGHWAY: A Thrill Ride Fueled by Murder & Terror, both of which have also been adapted into audio podcast series produced by Radio Verté.