Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. But one night the girls pay Zach a visit, and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – who claims that it is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . .

Bryn Davis knows working at Fairview Mortuary isn't the most glamorous career choice, but at least it offers stable employment--until she discovers her bosses using a drug that resurrects the clientele as part of an extortion racket. Now, Bryn faces being terminated--literally, and with extreme prejudice. Wit the help of corporate double-agent Patrick McCallister, Bryn has a chance to take down the bigger problem--pharmaceutical company Pharmadene, which treats death as the ultimate corporate loyalty program. She'd better do it fast, before she becomes a zombie slave--a real working stiff. She'd be better off dead. . .

On the eve of their wedding day, Frank and Marion Braid retreat to the solitude of a Smoky Mountains cabin, where Marion soon discovers that Frank will stop at nothing to make their honeymoon--and the rest of their lives together--perfect.It’s autumn half-term and 12-year-old Lou Elliott and her friends Jack, also 12, and his younger siblings David and Emily are reunited at the Welsh holiday resort of Abersoch. After an eventful summer the children are not expecting anything untoward to happen this time, but that’s before they come across a strange, ramshackle old farmhouse while out walking across the moors not far from Abersoch. It’s the home of a lonely old lady in her 90s – and she’s at her wits’ end, certain it’s haunted. But is it, or is there a more rational explanation? Something Strange in the Cellar, first published on Smashwords in April 2013, is a wholesome, traditional-style short novel (just over 29,000 words), suitable for all ages from nine upwards, and is book 3 in the Lou Elliott Mystery Adventure Series by George Chedzoy. It comes after the full-length novels Smugglers at Whistling Sands and The Missing Treasure but it's ok to read it first.

This short novel that is told with almost fable-like simplicity: Matt Harper is a first-time counselor at a boy’s summer camp when he witnesses a casual brutality that leads to murder. The bullying, gluttonous headman Ed Nolan (who has "reduced Camp Pleasant to a microcosm of the Third Reich") is portrayed as one stereotype that the reader is not sorry to see killed off. Instead, all of our sympathy is reserved for the possible suspects: Merv Loomis, the homosexual counselor Nolan humiliates into quitting; the troubled ten-year-old Tony Rocca; Nolan’s meek wife, Ellen; and several others. The setting and tone have the distinct feel of the early 1950s, but a casual reference to actress Catherine Deneuve places the action in the mid-60s or later. In other hands, perhaps this minimalist plot would be inadequate, but Matheson, author of Somewhere in Time and Hell House as well as classic Twilight Zone teleplays, has such a command of his craft that reading this book is pure pleasure. The simple writing style brings to mind Hemingway. "It was a Wednesday night and there were movies down in the lodge so I sent my boys there and stayed in the cabin, packing my trunk." Occasionally, Matheson waxes poetic: "I lay there staring at the wall, feeling my heart thud slowly in my chest like the fist of a dying man on the wall of his prison." Readers will find in Matheson’s book a deeply engaging story with a clear writing style that is a pleasure to read.

An “impressive” tale of psychic power, Native American mysticism, and an ancient evil in Alabama, from the New York Times–bestselling author of Swan Song (Associated Press). Born and raised in rural Alabama, Billy Creekmore was destined to be a psychic. His mother, a Choctaw Indian schooled in her tribe’s ancient mysticism, understands the permeable barrier between life and death—and can cross it. She taught the power to Billy and now he helps the dead rest in peace. Wayne Falconer, son of one of the most fervent tent evangelists in the South, travels the country serving his father’s healing ministry. Using his unique powers to cure the flock, Little Wayne is on his way to becoming one of the popular and successful miracle workers in the country. He helps the living survive. Billy and Wayne share more than a gift. They share a dream—and a common enemy. They are on separate journeys, mystery walks that will lead them toward a crossroad where the evil of their dreams has taken shape. One of them will reject the dark. The other will be consumed by it. But neither imagined just how monstrous and far-reaching the dark was, or that mankind’s fate would rest in their hands during an epic showdown of good versus evil. From the author of Gone South, Boy’s Life, and the Matthew Corbett series, a master of suspense who has won the World Fantasy and Bram Stoker Awards, Mystery Walk offers “creepy, subtle touches throughout [and] splendid Southern-town atmosphere” (Kirkus Reviews).

Summer vacation is a time to relax and enjoy time off from school. But it's not always fun and games. And sometimes it can be a living hell.Free Origin Story from the upcoming novel "fiX" by Michael Golvach - https://mikegolvach.netAll Her Teeth Were IdeasBy Rebecca LooseAll Her Teeth Were Ideas is a modern adaptation of three of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories. The collection consists of Berenice, The Black Cat and The Tell-tale Heart. This book has been published as part of a university project for the Creative Writing department at De Montfort University, Leicester.

In twenty-two stories of amazing range and variety, Ray Bradbury once again works his special magic, sounding out life's mysteries in the past, present, and the future. Stories: A Piece of Wood (1952) A Story of Love (1976) variant of These Things Happen (1951) Darling Adolf (1976) Drink Entire: Against the Madness of Crowds (1976) Forever and the Earth (1950) G.B.S. - Mark V • (1976) Getting Through Sunday Somehow (1962) Have I Got a Chocolate Bar for You! (1973) Interval in Sunlight (1954) Long After Midnight (1963) One Timeless Spring (1946) Punishment Without Crime (1950) The Better Part of Wisdom (1976) The Blue Bottle (1950) The Burning Man(1975) The Messiah (1973) The Miracles of Jamie (1946) The October Game (1948) The Parrot Who Met Papa(1972) The Pumpernickel (1951) The Utterly Perfect Murder (1971) The Wish (1973)

You are never truly alone. While you sleep, nocturnal creatures stir. A couple discovers that things have changed overnight, and they are no longer in control. Their house is full of cobwebs, and they are being moved little by little in this suspenseful horror tale.After inheriting a house, a husband and wife encounter a frightful surprise. They are surrounded by layer upon layer of silk crawling with arachnids. What lies beyond the cellar door? Find out in SPIDER SOUP, a quirky story from the horror collection ODDS AND ENDS by Lori R. Lopez, author of THE FAIRY FLY and AN ILL WIND BLOWS. Can a relationship survive being pushed past the brink? How far is too far over the edge? Alternately tense and humorous, this short story presents a very sticky situation!

Special discount price!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 & surprise.Monster Mashup - Spooky Short Story Ominbus -- with Special Bonus Zombie ShortNow 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 worrying about what is lurking outside. Too bad, 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.

Based on the Resident Evil series by Capcom. Their worst fears have been realized: the T-virus has reached Raccoon City, turning most of the residents into zombies. Jill Valentine wakes up to see a city in ruins and must fight to make it out alive. Meanwhile, Leon Kennedy and Claire Redfield arrive in town and find themselves thrown into a nightmare. Can any of them escape the city of the dead?Based on the Resident Evil video game series by Capcom. Their worst fears have been realized: the deadly T-virus has reached Raccoon City, turning most of the city's residents into bloodthirsty zombies. Two newcomers arrive in town and find themselves thrown into a nightmare. Claire Redfield is looking for her brother Chris, and Leon Kennedy is a former Army Ranger coming to join the RCPD. Together with a young girl named Sherry Birkin and a mysterious woman named Ada Wong, they must escape the police station, which has become a death trap. Meanwhile, Jill Valentine wakes up to discover the entire city in ruins, and must fight to make it out alive. Along the way she will meet with a young UBCF soldier named Carlos Oliveira, and also encounter a terrifying, indestructible creature known only as the Nemesis. Can any of them escape the city of the dead?

Ten short story writers riff on the theme of a Zombie attack on Blackpool.Ten short story writers were given the topic of two characters, Ed and Lily, on a rainy afternoon in Blackpool when there was a Zombie attack. Each story takes a different direction but they all include ZOMBIES! Here are some extracts: There was a time when Blackpool Tower was packed every day, filled with people having a good time. Television shows were filmed here, right in the ballroom where people danced and laughed and clapped. But I am the only one here now. (Towered by Jacquera Black)My best friend had just had her throat ripped out and the person who did it was in an orgasmic state. As my mind started to process the scene, I could hear more screams coming from all around me... (Not Another Zombie Story by Rowanne Carberry)'Get out son! The shipwreck's full of 'em!' Father shouted. A black rotting corpse broke a hole through the ship's wall in front of me. Staring at me with blood-red eyes, its shrivelled purple lips curled back, mouth opening wide baring teeth black with rot. (The Black Poole by A Isaac)"It's weird there's nobody around - well I can see a couple of people over there, but they look like they're staggering a bit. Must be the wind, or maybe a lunchtime pint or several!" "It's probably because Blackpool's dead in the winter and you know why that is!" (Zombietown by Deb Jacobs)'Mum! Mum!' 'Just a minute, Ed! Mummy needs to do this.' Facebook quiz to check which Strictly celeb I’m most like, Lily added silently, flicking through the questions on her phone. (#Zombies by Leigh Keating)You could come to Blackpool and just let yourself merge into the miasma of broken dreams and empty promises. Here you could let things fade away slowly hanging onto a façade filled with wild smiles and madness with nothing underneath. (the violence calls up silence by Mark Keating)Lily knew she had to get off the street. The smell of rain was in the air and the creatures seemed to like the rain. Maybe it was something about the sound all around them, they were always attracted to any kind of sound. (The Pier by Bec Pearce)I remember thinking to myself, No, no, this isn’t happening, it’s just something else, someone in the crowd getting too rowdy or something. But off in the distance, we could see the soldiers hurrying, getting their guns ready…shooting towards the beach. And we could hear screams now. (Day One by Richard Southworth)Lily watched through a pane of unbroken glass, terrified, as the first Zombie to reach Ed ripped off her husband’s leg and slid off the yellow trouser covering like taking a wrapper off a bar of chocolate. (Deliteful Donuts by Glenis Stott)The Ecclesiopians had been putting up beautiful posters of a world returned to nature. Piles of clothes scattered around the landscapes, everyone who had real faith being gathered by angels and returned to the Kingdom of Heaven.“We just misunderstood,” Lily muttered disconsolately. (Remains by Angel Wedge)

Australian Horror Author Brendon Meynell returns with 'Nightmares - Short and Sweet before you Sleep' a collection of short horror stories perfect for bedtime reading, or on the daily commute to and from work. From battling inner-demons, to deranged stalkers, this book has absolutely everything you need to ensure you check under your bed before you rest your head.Australian Horror Author Brendon Meynell returns with 'Nightmares - Short and Sweet before you Sleep' a collection of short horror stories perfect for bedtime reading, or on the daily commute to and from work.From battling inner-demons, to deranged stalkers, this book has absolutely everything you need to ensure you check under your bed before you rest your head.

Psychic investigator David Ash delves into the mysterious events terrorizing the community of Sleath, and as each dark secret is unveiled, evil forces are unleashed, and Ash fears for his own sanity as well as that of the village people. Reprint.

Scientific research can be hard enough without the added danger of zombies overrunning your lab, or someone tearing a hole in the fabric of space/time. Not to mention inconsiderate people throwing garbage down the bottomless pit. Luckily your new Occupational Health and Safety Officer is here to keep the risks to a minimum, so you can focus on the science, and not on the impending death.Scientific research can be hard enough without the added danger of zombies overrunning your lab, or someone tearing a hole in the fabric of space/time. Not to mention inconsiderate people throwing garbage down the bottomless pit. Luckily your new Occupational Health and Safety Officer is here to keep the risks to a minimum, so you can focus on the science, and not on the impending death.Presented here are the internal emails from the Henry Bishop Institute of Science, where OHS Officer Sarah Tanner does her best to ensure that when the question “What’s the worst that can happen?” is asked, the answer doesn’t have to be “Doom upon us all”.

For some kids summer is a sun-soaked season of fun. But for Steve, it’s just another season of worries. Worries about his sick newborn baby brother who is fighting to survive, worries about his parents who are struggling to cope, even worries about the wasp’s nest looming ominously from the eaves. So when a mysterious wasp queen invades his dreams, offering to “fix” the baby, Steve thinks his prayers have been answered. All he has to do is say “Yes.” But “yes” is a powerful word. It is also a dangerous one. And once it is uttered, can it be taken back?