Deadtime Stories, a bookstore specializing in all things spooky, has opened up in Thrift Witch’s Dark Arts Market, just in time for Halloween.
“I have a true crime podcast. I have written a book about haunted locations in Lansing. I also run a tour of notoriously haunted spots around Mid-Michigan. True crime and the paranormal are kind of my wheelhouse” said owner Jenn Carpenter. “But I always wanted a storefront.”
When the folks from the Dark Arts Market at Thrift Witch offered her a space, she jumped at the opportunity. Carpenter has spent a lot of time mingling with Lansing’s true crime and paranormal community. She said that she knows there are people out there hungry for more creepy content.
“I love true crime books, and I know that they’re hard to find,” explained Carpenter. “I’m so excited to open up this space.”
Int her career, Carpenter has become familiar with a plethora of local, true crime authors. She plans to use these connections to set up signings and book readings once the COVID-19 pandemic lets up.
Deadtime Stories offers both new and used books, some focused on Michigan’s haunted past and some about the world of true crime beyond the borders of the Mitten State. Carpenter said that the store has books about true crime hall of famers like Jon Benet Ramsey and Ted Bundy.
Carpenter said that she’s especially excited about the “Scream Queens” section of her shop, which will feature true crime books written by women.
“Still, all of them will have a connection to Michigan,” said Carpenter. “If the connection isn’t obvious, then there will be a little note on the book explaining its relevance to Michigan.”
Carpenter made her first foray into the true crime world in 2016 when she started the Demented Mitten tour, a service that takes people on a journey through different haunted locations across Mid-Michigan.
In 2018, a publishing house offered Carpenter the chance to write “Haunted Lansing.” “The book is about the paranormal, but most of the stories are focused on the real history connected to each location,” said Carpenter.
Only a year later, she started the “So Dead” podcast and founded the Festival of Oddities. Her true crime bona fides are undeniable. She has had a lifelong passion for everything dark and disturbing.
“I’ve always been fascinated by true crime, even when I was a little kid. Those kinds of stories always interested me,” said Carpenter. “The Lifetime made-for-TV movies, the countless miniseries, I liked it all. Now there are entire channels dedicated to true crime.”
True crime content seems to be growing in popularity. In the past three years alone, Jeffrey Dahmer has gotten his own movie and TV miniseries, while Ted Bundy got a movie starring Zac Efron and a Netflix documentary series.
“I think that it’s becoming more acceptable to be fascinated with these types of stories,” said Carpenter. “Before, people would say, ‘I don’t want to see that. It’s too disturbing.’ That’s kind of fading, and now people feel more comfortable saying that they want to learn about this stuff.”
Thrift Witch Vintage + Deadtime Stories
1219 Turner St., Lansing
Wednesday-Saturday, noon to 7 p.m.
Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.
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