Horror Short Stories Books
Short Stories
Sliced and Diced: A collection of dark and twisted short stories
A collection of 17 dark and twisted tales that will entertain, scare, shock, and disturb you.
Stories include a serial killer on the hunt for his next trophy, ghosts on a murderous reunion tour, a jealous girlfriend killing her boyfriend's beloved pet, a ghost bride, and a demon tormenting a nun.
Author Joan De La Haye presents an assortment of narratives; some have been previously published in acclaimed anthologies, while others have never seen the light of day. All are sure to provide thrills and chills but are best read with the lights on.
Stories include a serial killer on the hunt for his next trophy, ghosts on a murderous reunion tour, a jealous girlfriend killing her boyfriend's beloved pet, a ghost bride, and a demon tormenting a nun.
Author Joan De La Haye presents an assortment of narratives; some have been previously published in acclaimed anthologies, while others have never seen the light of day. All are sure to provide thrills and chills but are best read with the lights on.
Short Stories
The Doll
The Island of the Dolls is a strange and eerie tourist destination in Mexico, where hundreds of decomposing dolls hang from trees like grisly Christmas ornaments. On a trip to the island, Joyce Parker's daughter falls in love with a beautiful but sinister doll. Soon after, she starts developing strange mannerisms that concerns Joyce. Her research into the doll's past reveals a dark history, and the curse of a lonely child spirit.
Short Stories
Before You Wake: Three Horrors
A trilogy of horror tales selected from the award-winning writer's second full collection - HASTY FOR THE DARK - featuring more of the nightmarish visions and ghastly creatures that have been disturbing readers for years. In this book you'll find three stories of occult and demoniac horror.
No blackmail is as ghastly as extortion from angels.
A swift reckoning often travels in handheld luggage.
No sign of life aboard an abandoned freighter, but what is left below deck tells a strange story.
Praise for Adam Nevill's debut collection, Some Will Not Sleep: Selected Horrors:
"Nothing is sacred, nothing is safe, and goodness me, if you like horror fiction you're going to absolutely love every damn minute." Pop Mythology
"Beautifully crafted, original and complete works." This is Horror
"An outstanding anthology of career spanning short stories." Gingernuts of Horror
Praise for Adam Nevill's horror novels:
"Adam Nevill is a spine-chiller in the classic tradition, a writer who draws you in from the world of the familiar, eases you into the world of terror, and then locks the door behind you." Michael Koryta, NYT Bestselling author
"He has the rare ability to craft a nebulous atmosphere of terror, as well as to capture cinematic slasherpunk in the written word. Both are incredibly rare talents." Pornokitsch
"The sense of dread is immediate, with the reader's sense of foreboding increasing with every new page." Irish Examiner
"Readers will lose all hope of peaceful, undisturbed sleep. Highly recommended." Library Journal - Starred Review
"Nevill's talent for horror resonates ominously in every scene, almost as if the theme from Jaws echoes when a page is turned." Kirkus
No blackmail is as ghastly as extortion from angels.
A swift reckoning often travels in handheld luggage.
No sign of life aboard an abandoned freighter, but what is left below deck tells a strange story.
Praise for Adam Nevill's debut collection, Some Will Not Sleep: Selected Horrors:
"Nothing is sacred, nothing is safe, and goodness me, if you like horror fiction you're going to absolutely love every damn minute." Pop Mythology
"Beautifully crafted, original and complete works." This is Horror
"An outstanding anthology of career spanning short stories." Gingernuts of Horror
Praise for Adam Nevill's horror novels:
"Adam Nevill is a spine-chiller in the classic tradition, a writer who draws you in from the world of the familiar, eases you into the world of terror, and then locks the door behind you." Michael Koryta, NYT Bestselling author
"He has the rare ability to craft a nebulous atmosphere of terror, as well as to capture cinematic slasherpunk in the written word. Both are incredibly rare talents." Pornokitsch
"The sense of dread is immediate, with the reader's sense of foreboding increasing with every new page." Irish Examiner
"Readers will lose all hope of peaceful, undisturbed sleep. Highly recommended." Library Journal - Starred Review
"Nevill's talent for horror resonates ominously in every scene, almost as if the theme from Jaws echoes when a page is turned." Kirkus
Short Stories
House of Justice: A Horror Short Story
Halloween only comes around once a year, and the Justices do it right. They turn their house into a museum of torture, sectioning off each room with a velvet rope. The exhibits are so terrifying that the local amusement park asks them for their secret. It's quite simple, actually. And four lucky--or unlucky--fans get to find out what it is firsthand.
Short Stories
Outpost: A Short Horror Story
A remote fishing trip in the Canadian wilderness promises relaxation and fun for four friends.
But after catching a fish that should have been released on a secluded lake, the horror truly begins.
And something has followed them back to the Outpost.
But after catching a fish that should have been released on a secluded lake, the horror truly begins.
And something has followed them back to the Outpost.
Short Stories
Boils
Gene and his little sister are only middle school kids. Life sucks, but it's not that bad...or so they thought. A new disease knocks on everyone's front doors, the kind that turns the skin into oozing sacks of pus and crust. School is out, and now the only lesson left for them to complete is to survive.
Short Stories
Free Five
Five Flash Fiction horror pieces, all under 1000 words.
Each piece also includes a brief afterword from the author with a bit of background on where he got the idea for the story.
A little insight into the life and mind of a horror writer.
Approx. 7000 words (roughly 28 pages)
Includes:
- "The Professional Crier"
The tears of high school outcast Penny Circe can bring back the dead. At least temporarily.
- "I Spy With My Little Eye"
Anthony Monsano has gone through hell to finally find himself in possession of the round box. The question is, what's inside?
- "Run, Rabbit. Run."
Pete Cantrell hates jackrabbits. Unfortunately, his home is surrounded by them. And something else as well.
- "The Death He Expected"
A group of boys on a midnight, full moon trip to an Indian burial site get more than just a practical joke.
- "Another Oldie But Goodie"
Retirement home resident Margaret Daniels is hearing music that no one else can hear, a song she hasn't heard in almost 50 years.
Each piece also includes a brief afterword from the author with a bit of background on where he got the idea for the story.
A little insight into the life and mind of a horror writer.
Approx. 7000 words (roughly 28 pages)
Includes:
- "The Professional Crier"
The tears of high school outcast Penny Circe can bring back the dead. At least temporarily.
- "I Spy With My Little Eye"
Anthony Monsano has gone through hell to finally find himself in possession of the round box. The question is, what's inside?
- "Run, Rabbit. Run."
Pete Cantrell hates jackrabbits. Unfortunately, his home is surrounded by them. And something else as well.
- "The Death He Expected"
A group of boys on a midnight, full moon trip to an Indian burial site get more than just a practical joke.
- "Another Oldie But Goodie"
Retirement home resident Margaret Daniels is hearing music that no one else can hear, a song she hasn't heard in almost 50 years.
Short Stories
Night Night (A Short Horror Story)
A short horror story of 3600 words.
On Monday night Faye finds that her mattress is broken. She doesn't know how it happened, it was fine the night before.
When she buys a new mattress from a backstreet bed shop, awful things she could never have imagined begin to emerge. Things that make her flesh crawl.
Can she possibly make a horrific situation work to her advantage? Or is the cosy life she was used to over for good?
On Monday night Faye finds that her mattress is broken. She doesn't know how it happened, it was fine the night before.
When she buys a new mattress from a backstreet bed shop, awful things she could never have imagined begin to emerge. Things that make her flesh crawl.
Can she possibly make a horrific situation work to her advantage? Or is the cosy life she was used to over for good?
Short Stories
Apocalypstick
A Kindle Top 100 Free Book in Anthologies and Short Stories
If a man's behavior suddenly and inexplicably changes, it is probably because of a woman. Or rather, the man's perception of a woman. The two stories in this book explore the dark paths set by male leads and the warped lens through which they view the opposite gender.
Killing Tiffany Hudson: This post-apocalyptic science fiction tale follows a heroic, but guilt-ridden young man, mutated by an alien plague. Contrary to his policy of avoiding cities, he battles his way into a monster-infested Manhattan to rescue a young woman from an imminent, and probably very messy, death.
Finding Home: Part paranormal horror, and part psychological thriller, this creepy story puts you in the blood spattered shoes of deeply disturbed man on a quest for the perfect home and family, as he tries to escape the control of man bent on his destruction. Can he ever find the "normal" life he so desperately craves, when the man he is fleeing only exists in his head?
If a man's behavior suddenly and inexplicably changes, it is probably because of a woman. Or rather, the man's perception of a woman. The two stories in this book explore the dark paths set by male leads and the warped lens through which they view the opposite gender.
Killing Tiffany Hudson: This post-apocalyptic science fiction tale follows a heroic, but guilt-ridden young man, mutated by an alien plague. Contrary to his policy of avoiding cities, he battles his way into a monster-infested Manhattan to rescue a young woman from an imminent, and probably very messy, death.
Finding Home: Part paranormal horror, and part psychological thriller, this creepy story puts you in the blood spattered shoes of deeply disturbed man on a quest for the perfect home and family, as he tries to escape the control of man bent on his destruction. Can he ever find the "normal" life he so desperately craves, when the man he is fleeing only exists in his head?
Short Stories
Midnight Symphony: Tales of the Macabre and Supernatural
Midnight Symphony, the music of the night composed of macabre sonnets and ghastly rondos cherishing the supernatural. This collection is a volume of grisly tales serenading the occult, the mysterious, and the gruesome. It's an exploration of experiments gone wrong, spirits seeking vengeance, deep conspiracies, and secrets that best remain undiscovered. Midnight Symphony contains eight tales dipping into all forms of the unknown and unexplained.
Short Stories
Alien Species Intervention: Books 1-3: An Alien Apocalyptic Saga (Species Intervention #6609)
****WARNING**** This book is NOT for sensitive readers. Contains UNSPEAKABLE HUMAN VIOLENCE.
Alien Species Intervention #6609, is an alien apocalyptic saga spanning 200 years from the Prohibition to the distant future. It encompasses tender love between divergent species, political downfalls and acts of unspeakable violence. When you think you've figured it out . . . WHAM! You won't see it coming. Thriller, horror, science fiction and fantasy all in one, the series is a gripping psychological exploration of how the inherent greed and evil of man is dooming planet Earth and its inhabitants.
In Baby, the prequel to the Species Intervention #6609, Netty is a naive teenage farm girl given in marriage to an older brutal opportunist disguised as a prominent citizen during the Prohibition years in Sussex County, New Jersey. After years of enslavement, Netty flees into the night from her rapist husband, traveling back to her parents' farm, where she rescues an enigmatic and damaged creature named "Baby" with whom she falls in love.
Netty and Baby find happiness and fulfillment until a handsome Italian stranger, Wil, comes into Netty's life, creating a tense love triangle made more fraught by Netty's struggle to hide the bizarre and wondrous changes to her body caused by loving Baby. Baby's miraculous healing powers on the nature around them can't be ignored either. The heart-rending and astonishingly brutal climax to their story comes as all three face challenges that ultimately lead to transcendence and the discovery of a new world that promises resurrection.
Echo
2033. One hundred years have passed since the birth of Baby's miraculous offspring, Echo. The United States has evolved to a point of politically driven economic collapse.
An abused mother escapes with her two sickly children, Scotty and Abby, from the tenements of Short Hills to the farmland of Sussex County. There she unites with a Latino family who has provided a loving home to Jose, a young Costa Rican boy who has been traumatized by murder and kidnap.
The two families find themselves the subject of the psychotic attention of Armoni, a soul damaged beyond redemption, as their lives become entwined with Echo's, who is intent on thwarting the efforts of the heinous people who prey on the lives of other creatures. And as the insidious miscreant, Armoni, tracks them down, bringing brutality and violence to all, Netty recruits a heartbroken Abby to mount a mission to rescue the wildlife of Earth before despicable events bring on the specter of Armageddon.
In Armageddon Cometh, the third book in the Alien Species Intervention #6609, Abby plans to abduct the wildlife at the Big Cat Sanctuary under Netty's guidance by enlisting the help of the charming Italian yacht captain, Cobby, even though this leads to the exposure of hidden changes to her body. Despite her love for Jose, she draws closer to the charming Cobby when Jose departs on his own mission to find his adopted family.
At Bird Key, young Scotty embarks on a romance with the troubled rich girl, Chloe. As strange connections and revealed identities collide with political intrigue and murder, a traumatized Chloe and Jose scramble in a frantic dash to escape, wildlife and all, to Tampa Bay. Joining them are Kenya, a sassy and striking pregnant black girl, and Peter, their trusted attorney, who has been left scarred and emotionally ruined by their nemesis, Armoni. In the climax and chaos of the escape ahead of cops and devastation from the sky, it soon becomes clear that Scotty might be the mysterious "One" as foretold in an omen.
Warning: Alien Species Intervention #6609 contains violence that a sensitive reader may find confronting.
Alien Species Intervention #6609, is an alien apocalyptic saga spanning 200 years from the Prohibition to the distant future. It encompasses tender love between divergent species, political downfalls and acts of unspeakable violence. When you think you've figured it out . . . WHAM! You won't see it coming. Thriller, horror, science fiction and fantasy all in one, the series is a gripping psychological exploration of how the inherent greed and evil of man is dooming planet Earth and its inhabitants.
In Baby, the prequel to the Species Intervention #6609, Netty is a naive teenage farm girl given in marriage to an older brutal opportunist disguised as a prominent citizen during the Prohibition years in Sussex County, New Jersey. After years of enslavement, Netty flees into the night from her rapist husband, traveling back to her parents' farm, where she rescues an enigmatic and damaged creature named "Baby" with whom she falls in love.
Netty and Baby find happiness and fulfillment until a handsome Italian stranger, Wil, comes into Netty's life, creating a tense love triangle made more fraught by Netty's struggle to hide the bizarre and wondrous changes to her body caused by loving Baby. Baby's miraculous healing powers on the nature around them can't be ignored either. The heart-rending and astonishingly brutal climax to their story comes as all three face challenges that ultimately lead to transcendence and the discovery of a new world that promises resurrection.
Echo
2033. One hundred years have passed since the birth of Baby's miraculous offspring, Echo. The United States has evolved to a point of politically driven economic collapse.
An abused mother escapes with her two sickly children, Scotty and Abby, from the tenements of Short Hills to the farmland of Sussex County. There she unites with a Latino family who has provided a loving home to Jose, a young Costa Rican boy who has been traumatized by murder and kidnap.
The two families find themselves the subject of the psychotic attention of Armoni, a soul damaged beyond redemption, as their lives become entwined with Echo's, who is intent on thwarting the efforts of the heinous people who prey on the lives of other creatures. And as the insidious miscreant, Armoni, tracks them down, bringing brutality and violence to all, Netty recruits a heartbroken Abby to mount a mission to rescue the wildlife of Earth before despicable events bring on the specter of Armageddon.
In Armageddon Cometh, the third book in the Alien Species Intervention #6609, Abby plans to abduct the wildlife at the Big Cat Sanctuary under Netty's guidance by enlisting the help of the charming Italian yacht captain, Cobby, even though this leads to the exposure of hidden changes to her body. Despite her love for Jose, she draws closer to the charming Cobby when Jose departs on his own mission to find his adopted family.
At Bird Key, young Scotty embarks on a romance with the troubled rich girl, Chloe. As strange connections and revealed identities collide with political intrigue and murder, a traumatized Chloe and Jose scramble in a frantic dash to escape, wildlife and all, to Tampa Bay. Joining them are Kenya, a sassy and striking pregnant black girl, and Peter, their trusted attorney, who has been left scarred and emotionally ruined by their nemesis, Armoni. In the climax and chaos of the escape ahead of cops and devastation from the sky, it soon becomes clear that Scotty might be the mysterious "One" as foretold in an omen.
Warning: Alien Species Intervention #6609 contains violence that a sensitive reader may find confronting.
Short Stories
666
Evil was about to fall upon the Delany estate that Mike and Samantha could never have imagined. It was Halloween and Samantha`s contractions were unbearable so her husband rushed his pregnant wife to the hospital to deliver their new bundle of joy.
Mike told the doctor and nurse to take great care of his wife. The doctor and nurse reassured Mike they would take very good care of her and not to worry. Mike waited patiently in the waiting room as the doctor and nurse delivered their beautiful baby. After a few hours the baby finally arrived and the doctor entered the waiting room and told Mike to come in the room and see his new baby.
Mike entered and his wife was all smiles and said "Honey, it`s a boy!"
"I think he looks like a Johnny. What do you think?" asked his wife.
"Johnny sounds fine to me," replied Mike.
Mike was so excited and held his baby boy in his arms as tears rolled down his cheeks and said "Darling, I think he likes me."
Mike stayed the night in his wife's room with their new baby, but as they were both sleeping, an unforeseen force came in their room that was about to change their lives forever, when they both woke in the morning. Morning came, and Samantha was discharged from the hospital, and time for their new baby to be raised in their new home. It wasn't until after little Johnny turned 6 years of age that things around the Delany Estate turned deadly. The first sign that Johnny had the mark of the beast was June 6. It was the 6th month, 6th day, and Johnny was 6. All the numbers represented 666.
Mike told the doctor and nurse to take great care of his wife. The doctor and nurse reassured Mike they would take very good care of her and not to worry. Mike waited patiently in the waiting room as the doctor and nurse delivered their beautiful baby. After a few hours the baby finally arrived and the doctor entered the waiting room and told Mike to come in the room and see his new baby.
Mike entered and his wife was all smiles and said "Honey, it`s a boy!"
"I think he looks like a Johnny. What do you think?" asked his wife.
"Johnny sounds fine to me," replied Mike.
Mike was so excited and held his baby boy in his arms as tears rolled down his cheeks and said "Darling, I think he likes me."
Mike stayed the night in his wife's room with their new baby, but as they were both sleeping, an unforeseen force came in their room that was about to change their lives forever, when they both woke in the morning. Morning came, and Samantha was discharged from the hospital, and time for their new baby to be raised in their new home. It wasn't until after little Johnny turned 6 years of age that things around the Delany Estate turned deadly. The first sign that Johnny had the mark of the beast was June 6. It was the 6th month, 6th day, and Johnny was 6. All the numbers represented 666.
Short Stories
Madeline (A Short Horror Story)
A shed full of macabre secrets... A wife gone crazy...A nine-year-old girl that must die.
Jonah fights for his life while trying to stop his deranged wife from killing their daughter in the name of the Lord.
Sometimes, the Devil truly is in the details.
**Warning: Madeline is a short HORROR story not intended for anyone who may be offended by graphic language or scenes of violence. Please, don't read this story if you are squeamish or easily offended.
Jonah fights for his life while trying to stop his deranged wife from killing their daughter in the name of the Lord.
Sometimes, the Devil truly is in the details.
**Warning: Madeline is a short HORROR story not intended for anyone who may be offended by graphic language or scenes of violence. Please, don't read this story if you are squeamish or easily offended.
Short Stories
Exposed
Some secrets should remain hidden, exposing them can get you killed.
Julian wants a normal life, the only trouble is, he isn't normal.
When Adam and Harry come into the petrol station looking for trouble, though, their actions threaten to expose his secret, a secret that would make him a wanted man - wanted by lots of people, for lots of reasons.
Now he has to leave behind the life he's been building and start over again, but before he does that, Adam and Harry must pay.
This is a novella of approx 8,000 words
Julian wants a normal life, the only trouble is, he isn't normal.
When Adam and Harry come into the petrol station looking for trouble, though, their actions threaten to expose his secret, a secret that would make him a wanted man - wanted by lots of people, for lots of reasons.
Now he has to leave behind the life he's been building and start over again, but before he does that, Adam and Harry must pay.
This is a novella of approx 8,000 words
Short Stories
Pulp Dummy Dreadful: Tales to Make You Scared and Depressed
Seven tales of dread, of wicked individuals, sinister entities, and strange happenings.
Tales unsuitable for children, the fainthearted, and oversensitive, emotional types.
Tales to make you scared and depressed.
"THE MAGIC OF MR. AND MRS. CRUFF" While little Lucy's mommy and daddy fight and throw stuff at each other, she hides in her room and talks to friendly shadow people, who give her all the junk food she wants.
"DUWENDE" In exchange for booze and smokes, the mystical, tiny man grants Santiago a wish. When it comes, Santiago isn't thrilled. He's disgusted.
"SOUL BURN" The powerful new drug is only sold to "special individuals" and Dominic is one of them. He soon experiences the mind-blowing trip, but it totally isn't rad.
"THE ME" Kurt receives terrifying text messages...From himself?
"ASLEEP FOR SERENA" The girl of his dreams. The girl he only knows in his dreams. The girl he truly loves. Rob will finally meet her.
"NO WAY, MAN" Janet's daughter is distressed and won't stop crying. "No way, man," the three-year-old keeps saying, "no way, man." What does it mean?
"THE GUMMY WORM GIRL" She's a horridly deformed enigma and she loves gummy worms. She's about to change a candy store employee's life.
Pulp Dummy Dreadful.
Some bastards won't go to hell soon enough.
Tales unsuitable for children, the fainthearted, and oversensitive, emotional types.
Tales to make you scared and depressed.
"THE MAGIC OF MR. AND MRS. CRUFF" While little Lucy's mommy and daddy fight and throw stuff at each other, she hides in her room and talks to friendly shadow people, who give her all the junk food she wants.
"DUWENDE" In exchange for booze and smokes, the mystical, tiny man grants Santiago a wish. When it comes, Santiago isn't thrilled. He's disgusted.
"SOUL BURN" The powerful new drug is only sold to "special individuals" and Dominic is one of them. He soon experiences the mind-blowing trip, but it totally isn't rad.
"THE ME" Kurt receives terrifying text messages...From himself?
"ASLEEP FOR SERENA" The girl of his dreams. The girl he only knows in his dreams. The girl he truly loves. Rob will finally meet her.
"NO WAY, MAN" Janet's daughter is distressed and won't stop crying. "No way, man," the three-year-old keeps saying, "no way, man." What does it mean?
"THE GUMMY WORM GIRL" She's a horridly deformed enigma and she loves gummy worms. She's about to change a candy store employee's life.
Pulp Dummy Dreadful.
Some bastards won't go to hell soon enough.
Short Stories
Just One Day
The engineer awoke to the sound of the failing air conditioning, knowing four things above all else. He knew exactly who would be beating a monotonous rhythm on the door, he knew that he had to kill them, he knew that they would already be dead and rotting, and he was painfully aware that they would not be alone...
Just One Day is a short sci-fi/horror story by Jacob Prytherch, author of The Binary Man, Heal The Sick Raise The Dead, and the Cuts of Flesh series.
For updates visit https://www.facebook.com/jakeprytherch and 'like'.
Main website - jakeprytherch.wix.com/main
Just One Day is a short sci-fi/horror story by Jacob Prytherch, author of The Binary Man, Heal The Sick Raise The Dead, and the Cuts of Flesh series.
For updates visit https://www.facebook.com/jakeprytherch and 'like'.
Main website - jakeprytherch.wix.com/main
Short Stories
Hear Me: A psychological thriller.
Punishment has a Voice.
Joana and Goncalo are married. But their marriage is far from perfect.
The tragedy of their daughter's death has pushed them apart, to the point that they can barely communicate.
Yet Joana and Goncalo are still married.
Then the Voice appears, a voice that only Goncalo seems to hear. Convinced their dead daughter is reaching out to him from beyond, Goncalo becomes obsessed with decoding the Voice's message.
An obsession that forces both of them to confront the real forces that keep them together, and what they truly felt about each other and their daughter.
And the truth behind the Voice will push them towards a fate they never wanted, and could never have guessed.
Joana and Goncalo are married.
For now.
Joana and Goncalo are married. But their marriage is far from perfect.
The tragedy of their daughter's death has pushed them apart, to the point that they can barely communicate.
Yet Joana and Goncalo are still married.
Then the Voice appears, a voice that only Goncalo seems to hear. Convinced their dead daughter is reaching out to him from beyond, Goncalo becomes obsessed with decoding the Voice's message.
An obsession that forces both of them to confront the real forces that keep them together, and what they truly felt about each other and their daughter.
And the truth behind the Voice will push them towards a fate they never wanted, and could never have guessed.
Joana and Goncalo are married.
For now.
Short Stories
Death Watch - A Horror Short Story
Verne's Momma had one rule which could never be broken. He could not reveal to any outsider what went on within their house. Verne knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that to violate that rule was to bring unholy tortures down onto his head.
And so not a word passed his lips. Not during the twenty-five years he lived in the dank basement, curled up on the thin mattress.
Not during the ten long years of his prison sentence.
Until he made the mistake ...
* * *
Death Watch delves into the depths of horror which exist in our society. Despite our modern world's veneer of civilization, there are far too many who fall through the cracks. Who are abandoned to a darker world.
A portion of all proceeds from this series benefit battered women's shelters.
And so not a word passed his lips. Not during the twenty-five years he lived in the dank basement, curled up on the thin mattress.
Not during the ten long years of his prison sentence.
Until he made the mistake ...
* * *
Death Watch delves into the depths of horror which exist in our society. Despite our modern world's veneer of civilization, there are far too many who fall through the cracks. Who are abandoned to a darker world.
A portion of all proceeds from this series benefit battered women's shelters.
Short Stories
To Read or Not to Read
'To Read or Not to Read' is a short story by Vincent Hobbes. It was first published in 'The Endlands' (Jan. 2011)
Gunter von Strauss owns a small bookstore. He carries something for everyone's taste.
He also carefully inspects each book, making sure they are safe to read.
Who knew that choosing the wrong book could carry such a consequence.
Gunter von Strauss owns a small bookstore. He carries something for everyone's taste.
He also carefully inspects each book, making sure they are safe to read.
Who knew that choosing the wrong book could carry such a consequence.
Short Stories
Rattlesnake: (a short story)
Once narrowly escaping a town gone mad, a man threatens a boy with his life to get to the truth about his missing son.
Short Stories
Justifiable Homicide
This is a short story about one woman's abduction and her desperate struggle to keep herself alive at all costs. It contains disturbing adult themes, strong language, and explicit violence.
Short Stories
And The Sea Called Her Name
Born a poor lobster fisherman's son on the stark, Maine coastline, Jason Kingsley has always struggled with becoming more than what his father intended for him. After meeting and falling in love with the beautiful Delphi Arans, he feels his destiny has finally been fulfilled.
Their joy is unrivaled, something he's only ever dreamed of.
But soon disturbing events begin to invade the couple's life, and Jason starts to doubt the nature of their relationship as well as his sanity.
As his world unravels around him, Jason comes to realize that some secrets are better left untold, and others are worse than death itself.
*Note* Short story, approximately 15,000 words.
Their joy is unrivaled, something he's only ever dreamed of.
But soon disturbing events begin to invade the couple's life, and Jason starts to doubt the nature of their relationship as well as his sanity.
As his world unravels around him, Jason comes to realize that some secrets are better left untold, and others are worse than death itself.
*Note* Short story, approximately 15,000 words.
Short Stories
Disturbed
*This is a short standalone Read*
Insanity breeds insanity. You do whatever it takes to keep your family together, no matter how depraved.
Insanity breeds insanity. You do whatever it takes to keep your family together, no matter how depraved.
Short Stories
Mask of the Macabre
Four short tales of Victorian terror, each bound to the other by a chilling thread.
The date is January 10th 1866 and the snow is falling thick on the blood soaked streets of a murderous London...
Mask of The Macabre - A travelling magician appears with a gruesome show. But what secret does it hide?
Doctor Harvey - Bethlem lunatic asylum's newest patient has a story to tell, but how will he tell it to his doctor?
Memento Mori - A photographer is given a mysterious assignment with disturbing consequences.
The New Costume. - The entertainer discovers a new string to his bow and gives the finest performance of his career.
(13,000 words in total)
The date is January 10th 1866 and the snow is falling thick on the blood soaked streets of a murderous London...
Mask of The Macabre - A travelling magician appears with a gruesome show. But what secret does it hide?
Doctor Harvey - Bethlem lunatic asylum's newest patient has a story to tell, but how will he tell it to his doctor?
Memento Mori - A photographer is given a mysterious assignment with disturbing consequences.
The New Costume. - The entertainer discovers a new string to his bow and gives the finest performance of his career.
(13,000 words in total)
Short Stories
Monster Mashup - Spooky Short Story Omnibus
Now with twelve short stories.
Monsters, magic, goblins, zombies, and more. Be prepared to sleep with the lights on. This collection of short stories will have you looking over your shoulder, avoiding mirrors, and jumping at the slightest sound.
From fiendish creatures hiding in your bathroom mirror, to Halloween pranks gone deadly wrong. Each story will scare, delight, and surprise.
No gore or cursing here, just good ol' spine-chilling fun!
Infinite Reflections - When Jessie's sister gets trapped in a haunted mirror, he must figure out how to destroy the creature within. Though, Mom might like it if he gets his sister out first.
Bloody Marcy - Mixing a game of Bloody Mary with a practical joke proves to be a deadly combination.
Monster in the Mirror - Nate, his little sister, and best buddy Dan, stumble upon a hidden room during a sleep-over. What they find inside is anything but friendly.
Death Trap - Mike takes a bet to go inside a haunted house, but will he live long enough to collect?
Steven, Space Stowaway - Steven sneaks onboard a spaceship bound for Mars. Just one problem: the Captain has a particularly unpleasant way of dealing with stowaways.
The Price of Friendship - How much is a best friend worth? Joey finds out the hard way.
Hobgoblin Horror - Jake only volunteered at the retirement home because Shelby works there. So, it's no wonder he's doesn't hear Mr. Fitches' warnings about a local homicidal hobgoblin--too bad for him.
Rolling Leprechauns for Change - Leprechauns can have a nasty sense of humor--especially, when they're getting even.
Hide-n-Go-Coffin - Playing hide-and-seek in a cemetery is disrespectful. When it happens to be cursed, the results can be deadly, or maybe even worse.
Grandpa's Suits - A game of spin-the-bottle with the school pervert isn't a bright idea. Fortunately for Zoey, she's not quite alone.
Brother's Keeper - Zack would be wise to spend less time looking for his missing sled and more time worrying about what's lurking outside. And he's not the only one who'll suffer for his single-mindedness.
Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb - When Life gives you lemons, kill zombies. In this special short story that inspired the upcoming novel, Nate and Misty's town is overrun by the undead and they'll need a little luck to squeeze their way out of this sticky mess.
These stories are not recommended for kids under 8.
Monsters, magic, goblins, zombies, and more. Be prepared to sleep with the lights on. This collection of short stories will have you looking over your shoulder, avoiding mirrors, and jumping at the slightest sound.
From fiendish creatures hiding in your bathroom mirror, to Halloween pranks gone deadly wrong. Each story will scare, delight, and surprise.
No gore or cursing here, just good ol' spine-chilling fun!
Infinite Reflections - When Jessie's sister gets trapped in a haunted mirror, he must figure out how to destroy the creature within. Though, Mom might like it if he gets his sister out first.
Bloody Marcy - Mixing a game of Bloody Mary with a practical joke proves to be a deadly combination.
Monster in the Mirror - Nate, his little sister, and best buddy Dan, stumble upon a hidden room during a sleep-over. What they find inside is anything but friendly.
Death Trap - Mike takes a bet to go inside a haunted house, but will he live long enough to collect?
Steven, Space Stowaway - Steven sneaks onboard a spaceship bound for Mars. Just one problem: the Captain has a particularly unpleasant way of dealing with stowaways.
The Price of Friendship - How much is a best friend worth? Joey finds out the hard way.
Hobgoblin Horror - Jake only volunteered at the retirement home because Shelby works there. So, it's no wonder he's doesn't hear Mr. Fitches' warnings about a local homicidal hobgoblin--too bad for him.
Rolling Leprechauns for Change - Leprechauns can have a nasty sense of humor--especially, when they're getting even.
Hide-n-Go-Coffin - Playing hide-and-seek in a cemetery is disrespectful. When it happens to be cursed, the results can be deadly, or maybe even worse.
Grandpa's Suits - A game of spin-the-bottle with the school pervert isn't a bright idea. Fortunately for Zoey, she's not quite alone.
Brother's Keeper - Zack would be wise to spend less time looking for his missing sled and more time worrying about what's lurking outside. And he's not the only one who'll suffer for his single-mindedness.
Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb - When Life gives you lemons, kill zombies. In this special short story that inspired the upcoming novel, Nate and Misty's town is overrun by the undead and they'll need a little luck to squeeze their way out of this sticky mess.
These stories are not recommended for kids under 8.
Short Stories
Monster in the Mirror and other Short Stories - Includes Extended Previews of Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb and The Little Wooden Chair
Includes two free additional short stories. That's three great short stories for younger readers.
Could there be a hidden room somewhere in your house? And just what would you find lurking there?
Nate, his little sister, and best buddy Dan, stumble upon a hidden room during a sleep-over. What they find inside is anything but friendly.
Includes the bonus short story: Steven, Space Stowaway (originally published in the June issue of Spaceports & Spidersilk).
When Steven's Mom leaves for a mission to Mars, he's determined to come along. Even if he has to sneak onboard.
Just one problem: he gets caught. And the Captain has a particularly unpleasant way of dealing with stowaways.
Includes the bonus short story: Bloody Marcy.
When a game of Bloody Mary goes terribly wrong, someone might just die.
Praise for Monster in the Mirror:
"This short story is small and sweet. It's creepy and has a feel of Neil Gaiman's Coraline to it. That eerie, childlike innocence mixed in with horror and suspense. It's a great read, and I really enjoyed it." - YA Books Reviewed
"A very good short story. Written in an eerie enough way to make (you) to look over your shoulder and avoid mirrors for awhile." - Tricia Bennett, Author
"Wow! Excellent short story. Well written and very easy to read. I didn't get bored at all. I also liked the song and the ending was awesome." -B. Marie, Smashwords
"This is such a cute book! I loved the characters and everything else about it! Great Ghost Story and pretty creepy too. Definitely worth reading." -Laura F.
"One really good book, I love it ...it got better and better each minute, first good, then great, then excellent, then awesome, then scary, then done." -Toilit L.
About the Author
M.J.A. Ware, known as MJ to his friends, lives in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains with his wife and two daughters. When not writing about aliens, monsters and ghosts, he runs a company where he designs award winning video arcades. He's currently polishing his latest novel, Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb, about friends who take on an army of the undead, armed with nothing but Super Soakers--filled with zombie killing juice.
Previews:
Five Chapter Extended Preview of Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb:
When life gives you lemons, kill zombies--turns out lemon juice neutralizes the undead.
Best friends Nathan & Misty return home to discover the military has destroyed the bridges out of their rural town & everyone's fled--except a small horde of zombies.
Even with the help of the town geek, they'll need more then lemonade-powered Super-Soakers; they'll need the Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb.
Eight Chapter extended preview of The Little Wooden Chair:
Maggy's grandfather knows he'll be dead by the time she's born. The only gift he can afford is one he makes with his own hands.
As he finishes the little wooden chair, he has no idea that his gift will not only be her protector and companion, but it will teach her the meaning of Love.
Could there be a hidden room somewhere in your house? And just what would you find lurking there?
Nate, his little sister, and best buddy Dan, stumble upon a hidden room during a sleep-over. What they find inside is anything but friendly.
Includes the bonus short story: Steven, Space Stowaway (originally published in the June issue of Spaceports & Spidersilk).
When Steven's Mom leaves for a mission to Mars, he's determined to come along. Even if he has to sneak onboard.
Just one problem: he gets caught. And the Captain has a particularly unpleasant way of dealing with stowaways.
Includes the bonus short story: Bloody Marcy.
When a game of Bloody Mary goes terribly wrong, someone might just die.
Praise for Monster in the Mirror:
"This short story is small and sweet. It's creepy and has a feel of Neil Gaiman's Coraline to it. That eerie, childlike innocence mixed in with horror and suspense. It's a great read, and I really enjoyed it." - YA Books Reviewed
"A very good short story. Written in an eerie enough way to make (you) to look over your shoulder and avoid mirrors for awhile." - Tricia Bennett, Author
"Wow! Excellent short story. Well written and very easy to read. I didn't get bored at all. I also liked the song and the ending was awesome." -B. Marie, Smashwords
"This is such a cute book! I loved the characters and everything else about it! Great Ghost Story and pretty creepy too. Definitely worth reading." -Laura F.
"One really good book, I love it ...it got better and better each minute, first good, then great, then excellent, then awesome, then scary, then done." -Toilit L.
About the Author
M.J.A. Ware, known as MJ to his friends, lives in the foothills of the Sierra Mountains with his wife and two daughters. When not writing about aliens, monsters and ghosts, he runs a company where he designs award winning video arcades. He's currently polishing his latest novel, Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb, about friends who take on an army of the undead, armed with nothing but Super Soakers--filled with zombie killing juice.
Previews:
Five Chapter Extended Preview of Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb:
When life gives you lemons, kill zombies--turns out lemon juice neutralizes the undead.
Best friends Nathan & Misty return home to discover the military has destroyed the bridges out of their rural town & everyone's fled--except a small horde of zombies.
Even with the help of the town geek, they'll need more then lemonade-powered Super-Soakers; they'll need the Super Zombie Juice Mega Bomb.
Eight Chapter extended preview of The Little Wooden Chair:
Maggy's grandfather knows he'll be dead by the time she's born. The only gift he can afford is one he makes with his own hands.
As he finishes the little wooden chair, he has no idea that his gift will not only be her protector and companion, but it will teach her the meaning of Love.
Short Stories
The Amorphous Horror: A Morbid Tale (The Morbid Tales Book 2)
Laura sits for a while and listens to Grandpa Kallembach's stories of Nazi Germany. His tale recounts his struggle for freedom and, finally, of how he got away. The ending only confirms Laura's suspicions: Grandpa is going mad. But as he ends his strange tale, there is another tale that will become Laura's to tell.
Short Stories
A Is for Antichrist: A-Z of Horror
Happy birthday...
A boy's 16th birthday is a special occasion. It's a time where he becomes a man. It's a time that brings many changes.
But Isaac's 16th birthday brings him more changes than most. He is not quite himself, and suddenly his friends don't seem so much like friends anymore. By the end of the party, Isaac will not just change from a boy into a man, but into something else entirely.
Growing pains can be hell...
From best-selling author of horror & suspense, Iain Rob Wright.
A boy's 16th birthday is a special occasion. It's a time where he becomes a man. It's a time that brings many changes.
But Isaac's 16th birthday brings him more changes than most. He is not quite himself, and suddenly his friends don't seem so much like friends anymore. By the end of the party, Isaac will not just change from a boy into a man, but into something else entirely.
Growing pains can be hell...
From best-selling author of horror & suspense, Iain Rob Wright.