Issue #19
“Horror for the Holidays”
I will be honest with you…
I hate winter.
I hate the feeling of settling into a cold car–that numbing chill just before the heater kicks in. I despise the stress of the holidays, the hyper consumerism that triumphs over the joy that is spending time with one another. I hate when snow gets in my boots and when turning the radiators on dries out every cell in my body no matter how much water I drink or how many times I apply chapstick. There is a darkness that blankets the winter months that shrouds the cheery disposition of the holidays.
There is something deeply unsettling about this season. In this month’s issue of Night Terror Magazine, our three short story competition winners fearlessly explore this darkness. Through their terrifying tales, they uncover what is really lurking in the still of a winter night.
While I may dislike these dreary months, our annual short story competition is the bright light that sees me through. I was absolutely stunned by the insurmountable talent within the sixteen stories that were submitted. We are continuously in awe of the raw talent that this community possesses. It was extremely difficult to narrow down the winners, and we are so honored that you trusted us with these tales of terror!
Get cozy, y’all. Tune in to the uncanny quiet of a winter's night to get you into the mood to read this month’s issue of Night Terror Magazine! May the true horror of the holidays keep you waking in the night!
Horror is forever!
Elli Wade
Click the cover above to
check out the issue!
Meet The Winners!
Michael R. Goodwin
Michael R. Goodwin is a horror author from Maine, best known for his novella SMOLDER and his holiday-themed short story THE RITUAL. His works have also appeared in several anthologies. He lives on a small farm with his wife, their four children, and more animals than he can count. Follow him on Instagram @michaelrgoodwin, where he tries his hardest to not be socially awkward.
Horror Author
Jameson Ortiz
Jameson Ortiz lives in Riverside, California with his wife and four children. A lifelong lover of horror and all things Lovecraftian, he spends his free time collecting physical media, reading, diving into manga, TTRPGs, gaming, camping, and photography.
Horror Author
Marcel Ray
Marcel Ray is a Southern screenwriter and poet based in Los Angeles. A former college football player, he now spends his days writing spooky stories and watching far too many horror films. He’s developing a feature-length horror project and preparing to release his first zine in early 2026. His work can be found in African American Review.
Screenwriter and Poet
BONUS: Patreon Exclusive Story!
Kayla Joy
Horror Writer
Kayla Joy is a writer whose work blurs the line between the mundane and the uncanny. She loves cobwebbed manors, women running with candelabras, and haunted objects of all kinds. When she's not writing or working her way through a surfeit of unread books and talking about them on the internet, she's raising small humans in the desert and finding inspiration in the quiet, unsettling moments life provides.