The Victorian custom of gathering family and friends to read (and likely reread) ghost stories is a holiday tradition I wholeheartedly embrace. There’s something about winter’s deep darkness that coaxes phantoms both within and without. Each year, I honor this deliciously eerie ritual by reading creepy tales—usually Poe—in my Haunted Library. Here’s the sample if you’d like to take a look.
In that same spirit, I’ve just released a collection of twisted Christmas- and winter-themed short stories—including two brand-new tales you won’t find anywhere else.
If you’re craving a mall Santa on a murderous rampage (and plenty more holiday mayhem), check out Nut Cracker and Other Twisted Wintry Tales, now available on Amazon Kindle in both ebook and print!
We’re kicking off 2026 with all the optimism of a Threads viewing—yes, the 1984 nuclear war drama, not the app.
If you recognize our Wormy cartoon to the left, then you’ve seen it—and you know. If not, buckle up. There’s a reason it’s considered one of the scariest films ever made.
For our 10th issue of Book Worms Horror Zine, we’re chasing that same level of end-of-the-world dread. If our current political climate gives you the creeps, channel it. Or take us somewhere entirely different—your own futuristic nightmare is fair game, as long as the vision is dark.
We’re looking for stories and poetry that dive into nuclear winters, climate catastrophes, algorithmic uprisings, techno-anarchy, or whatever fresh brand of apocalypse your twisted imagination can conjure.
Have fun with the devastation. We certainly will.
SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES:
Please read ALL of the following before submitting!
Deadline: January 10, 2026 (must be received by deadline, so please mail early).
PAYMENT: 8 cents a word for fiction (1500 words or less). $25 flat fee for poetry (20 lines or less)
No reprints, please. Exclusive rights for six months after publication.
Mail your submissions to: La Regina Studio/Grundy Commons/925 Canal Street/Bristol, PA 19007
Decision notices are sent through email so there is no need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please include your email address and your mailing address with your submission. All submissions must be typed (cover letters preferred but not mandatory) and be properly formatted. Also, if you have a social media presence, please include those beneath your email.
A few new things to know:
Send only one submission, meaning don’t send multiple short stories or poems or a combination of both. Send only one piece and send your best.
DO NOT send your submissions using registered mail or any kind of correspondence requiring a signature. It probably won’t get to us and you’ll be wasting your money.
*If you’ve had work previously published in Book Worms (you know who you are) you may email your submission to bookwormssubmissions@gmail.com (same deadline) Please write Returning Author Submission in the subject line.
Please use the EXACT mailing address listed above. Please don’t write Book Worms on the address. This is a side project and our mailman might get confused. The mailbox is in a huge industrial complex and unfortunately, letters have gotten lost in the past, so please follow the instructions and mail as early as possible.
Editor’s Note:
Each submission period, we have to pass on many wonderful stories—not because they lack quality, but because the authors didn’t follow the guidelines. Common issues include exceeding the word count, missing the deadline, straying from the theme, or sending work via email instead of the required method (exceptions notwithstanding).
Please don’t be discouraged if your story isn’t selected for this issue. We receive many more submissions than we can publish, and the competition is always fierce. Often, the final decisions come down to word count limits or maintaining a balance of story types. If your piece isn’t chosen this time, we hope you’ll keep writing and submitting—your voice matters, and we’d love to see your work again.
Curious about what kinds of stories we publish? Pick up a copy of Book Worms here!
It’s curtain time for FINAL DRESS, my latest adult horror novel set in my favorite world- the theater! Having worked in the theater my entire life and continuing to work part-time at my local regional theater, it was a thrill to explore this environment in a slasher story. I’ve been thinking about writing a horror story set in the theater since the 80’s when I was a young Thespian experiencing the thrill of my first starring role. The play was Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap, and I played the role of Miss Casewell to the hilt, complete with a man’s suit and tie and fedora, a cigarette dangling from my lip. I’m sure my English accent was dreadful, but I know I gave it my all and had a blast doing it.
The author as a young Thespian, making the most of her role.
The theater was in an old barn on a country road; as far as I know, it’s still standing. As a young Thespian, I recall navigating the backstage environs, including the costume stock stored in the old hayloft, and thinking it would be a perfect location for a horror movie. My older sister, a fellow Thespian, and I discussed, over many clove cigarettes, writing a screenplay called Horror at Summer Stock. The story had some hilarious scenes, including a runaway killer forklift as the ultimate Deus ex machina.
Our fantasy screenplay vanished with the summer winds, and the forklift didn’t make it into Final Dress, but a backstage Genie lift did, along with some other theater “inside jokes” that my theater friends will giggle at, but which any reader can hopefully appreciate. Final Dress, along with my hillbilly vampire romp, CODE RED, definitely lands under the category of “fun” horror, in the same way those old 80s slasher classics are good for a laugh but never fail to give a thrill.
So, buy a ticket to FINAL DRESS, and try to survive till the curtain falls!
Seeking original short stories, essays, and poems for our Winter 2025 issue.
THEME: Space and Science Fiction Horror (must have horror elements, not just sci-fi.)
DEADLINE: December 15, 2024
PAYMENT: 8 cents a word for fiction and essays (1500 words or less). $25 for short poems (ten lines or less), $50 for longer poems. Includes one contributor copy.
No reprints or multiple submissions, please. Exclusive rights for six months after publication.
ACCEPTING MAIL-IN SUBMISSIONS ONLY!
Mail your submissions to: La Regina Studio/Grundy Commons/925 Canal Street/Bristol, PA 19007
Decision notices are sent through email so there is no need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please include your email address with your submission. All submissions must be typed (cover letters preferred but not mandatory) and be properly formatted.
Frequently Asked Question:What kind of stories are you looking for?
We generally enjoy “fun”, “80s style” horror reminiscent of the zine’s old-school vibe, but we’ve also been blown away by fresh voices that take the genre in a new direction. That being said, the best chance for your story being accepted by Book Worms is to follow the submission guidelines. Make sure your story is of the horror genre, mail in your submission versus email, meet the deadline, and don’t exceed the word count limit. And if your story doesn’t make it, please keep trying. We’ve had to turn down many excellent stories due to space constraints alone. A good way to get an idea about what we’re looking for is to read our current issue or one of our back issues that are still available.
A Few Tips:
Mail early. Unfortunately, we’ve had a few submissions lost in the mail and that didn’t arrive until weeks after the deadline.
Consider writing shorter stories. Sometimes we have just enough room to a 500-800 word flash fiction piece.
It might also be helpful to explain what we don’t want.
Paranormal romance (Love the genre. It’s not right for Book Worms.)
Overtly political themes.
Beyond the pale violence or pornographic material. Keep it fun, kids.
Halloween has turned into a holiday as bustling as Christmas, which is probably why I’m finally getting around to sharing my thoughts on the new collection I launched at the beginning of October. At least I managed to release it just in time for Halloween! I’m thrilled to share that the collection, which includes five short stories and a novella, hit the number one new release spot on Amazon in its category. That’s definitely encouraging! This collection is designed for teens and young adults, focusing on all the fun chills without diving into anything too gory. If you’re on the lookout for some cozy companion stories for those chilly October nights, I’d love for you to check out Halloween Haunts, only 99 cents for the ebook during the month of October!
Too Much Exposure?
If you’re an artist or a creative individual, you won’t want to miss the latest episode of The Right Brain Café podcast, produced by my Book Worms partner, James DeFeo, and me. This week, we dive into a crucial topic: the ongoing pressure artists face when deciding between working for exposure versus earning money. Is exposure truly beneficial, or does it undermine the value of your craft? Join us for an insightful discussion that could change your perspective on the choices you make in your creative journey.
While you’re busy with your Halloween shopping, don’t forget to pick up our Halloween issue of Book Worms Horror Zine! It features stories by Grady Hendrix, author of “Paperbacks From Hell,” and popular horror writer Clay McLeod Chapman. Issues are selling out quickly, so be sure to get your copy today!
Finally, please leave a message about how you plan to spend Halloween. Do you dress up, attend parties, or turn off the lights and hope to avoid any mischievous tricks? Whether you celebrate (or not), please have a haunted good time!
Our Halloween issue of Book Worms is now on sale! Our mail-only zine with a limited print run continues to impress with stories by Grady Hendrix, Clay McLeod Chapman, and more! The zine is available at Big Cartel and select indie bookstores.
This summer has been Hellish in many ways I’d rather not enumerate. I’m just glad September is here at last. I welcome crisp autumn days and cooler temperatures, and my way of celebrating the welcomed change of season is Vamptember, a reading challenge I participate in with some BookTube buddies every year. Vamptember, for me, is always a warm-up (or should I say cool down) to Halloween.
As someone who consumes- and writes- almost exclusively horror books throughout the year, this month, I’ll focus solely on vampire lore and legend. I’ll start by revisiting a classic I loved as a teenager and have reread at least twice since. The TV mini-series terrified me. Give up? Of course, it’s ‘Salem’s Lot, probably my favorite King. The book is a wonderful combination of literary ambitiousness and pulp horror conventionality–King at his best. As a warm-up to reading the rather dense novel, I listened to the BBC’s radio drama, and what a pleasant surprise! That Doug Bradley plays Barlow is icing on a black velvet cake. yum.
I’ll be reading and discussing sections of the novel on my YouTube channel, Regina’s Haunted Library, each week and offering additional vampy challenges along the way.
So, let’s embrace fall with Vamptember. Check out my new video for all the deets and be sure to follow my co-hosts.
In honor of Father’s Day, here are my top ten diabolical dads in horror cinema from bad to worst.
10. Harry Cooper From Night of the Living Dead (1968)
Harry’s arrogance causes problems for the zombie survivors until Ben proves his alpha status by shooting ole Harry in the gut (entirely justified), and little Karen finishes him off in the basement. Harry, you only made things worse.
9. Larry Cotton from Hellriaser (1987)
Milquetoast Larry demonstrates the inherent evil of passivity. If he hadn’t bled all over the spare bedroom so “mummy” Julia could get him a Band-Aid, his evil brother, Frank, would have never fed off his blood enough to re-animate and cause all the chaos. The only time Larry shows any balls is when Frank is wearing his skin. “Come to Daddy,” indeed.
8. Ben Rolf from Burnt Offerings (1976)
Even when he’s playing it nice, there is something downright sinister about Oliver Reed. If you saw Dad coming at you in the pool with those blank shark eyes, you’d scream for Mommy, too.
7. Richard Carmichael from The Changeling (1980)
Although the patriarch only appears in a brief flashback scene, the pure evil of this father’s dastardly deed proves that less is more when it comes to providing lasting chills in horror cinema.
6. Grandpa Sawyer from The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974)
Meeting the family has never been more horrifying. Who needs Geritol when you can feed Gramps on your date’s blood? You’ll never find a more petrifying patriarch.
5. Nathan Gardner from Color of of Space (2019)
Dad starts acting really weird in this twisted cosmic tale based on a Lovecraft story. Nicolas Cage going “full-Cage” makes it even weirder. Wonderfully so.
4. George Lutz from The Amityville Horror (1979)
You know James Brolin as George Lutz is losing his marbles when he wanders around the house in a full beard and wearing his tightie whities. Also, what’s up with that obsession with the fireplace? Let’s face it. Dad’s freaking out, and we’re scared.
3. Harry Powell from The Night of the Hunter (1955)
The ultimate wolf in sheep’s clothing, Mitchum’s preacher/lady killer is truly horrifying. When little John Harper defiantly declares, “He ain’t my dad!” we feel it. “I got something trapped in my barn.” Yup. Powell’s an animal through and through.
2. Guy Woodhouse from Rosemary’s Baby (1968)
John Cassavetes is perfectly cast as the smarmily handsome actor who makes the dirtiest of deals. Although technically he’s only Damien’s stepfather, Rosemary doesn’t know that until the final scene. I love it when she spits in his face. He deserves much worse.
1. Jack Torrance from The Shining (1980)
Nicholson’s Jack is cinema’s ultimate diabolical dad. Seriously, would you trust this guy?
Who are some of your favorite fiendish fathers of horror cinema?
Poetry, Fiction, and Essays for My Bloody Valentine Winter Issue
Book Worms Zine is selling out on Etsy and the reviews have been overwhelmingly positive. We have another issue planned for Winter 2024. This time around the theme is My Bloody Valentine: dark love stories, Tinder dates gone horribly wrong, bitter romance, a lover’s revenge, tragic love, etc. Dark humor is okay, but it should fit the themes of horror and romance. Specifically looking for original poetry (any length).
Submission Guidelines
Deadline: January 1, 2024
Payment is 8 cents a word for fiction and essays (1500 words or less). $25 – $50 per poem (depending on length). Includes one contributor copy.
No reprints or multiple submissions please, including poems. Exclusive rights for six months after publication.
ACCEPTING MAIL-IN SUBMISSIONS ONLY!
Mail your submissions to: La Regina Studio/Grundy Commons/925 Canal Street/Bristol, PA 19007
*In the past, we’ve made some special allowances for writers living outside the USA. But due to the overwhelming amount of submissions we receive, we are now only accepting mail-in submissions.
Acceptance notices are sent through email so there is no need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Please include your email address with your submission. All submissions must be typed (cover letters preferred but not mandatory) and be properly formatted.
Be sure to check out the Book Worms Horror Podcast and follow us on Instagram.
Local Haunts: A HorrorTube Anthology is now available for pre-order on Amazon Kindle. The ebook and print versions will be go on sale October 1 on Amazon and other platforms. Local Haunts is a compilation of short stories from some of your favorite BookTubers so make sure you check it out. The proceeds for this anthology will be donated to the literacy charity, First Book. Cameron Roubique designed the awesome book cover.
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R. Saint Claire 