Issue #8
“Horror for the Holidays Issue"
There is a blistering chill in the air. It bites the noses of those who brave it. They don’t mind the cold though if it means they can sip mulled wine with friends, frozen tears from laughter kiss ruddy cheeks. The faint sound of carolers mingle with the hum of the winter wind. There’s bubbling chatter of children, and the twinkling of colored bulbs catches the crisp white of snowflakes, illuminating the neighborhood streets. Families hurry inside. Matching pajamas are slipped on while warm cocoa heats up on the stove. The dressings of Yule give life to windows, and dried oranges on the tree fragrance the air. It’s late now. Kisses are exchanged, and the comfort of sleep sweeps in. The children are snug in their beds while visions of sugar plums dance in their heads. A grim stillness blankets the dark night.
There is a faint whisper beneath the noise of the holiday season.
A forest encircles the quiet city like a wreath. Creaks and moans of sleeping trees are a natural white noise, and a faint pattering of snowflakes blankets the icy ground. Snow crunches deep in the forest. Bells jingle, and a joyous yet menacing laughter can be heard ever so slightly. Trees part to reveal a scene like no other: three witches cackle among the flames that flick and snap at the air like a serpent's tongue as they dance with no restraint. The grueling twelve-month cycle has come to an end, yet it’s only the beginning of a wickedly delicious new year. The Scream Team has only just begun, conjuring up even more tales to melt your peachy faces off. Oh, how these limitless women know how to keep you waking in the night.
In this bone-chilling new issue of Night Terror Magazine, our contributors tear apart the mirage of holiday warmth, revealing the razor's edge where celebration meets pure terror. These are not your grandma’s ghost stories but are surgical incisions that lift the pulpy flap of what we perceive winter celebrations to be–illuminating traditions that hold potential nightmares, where every family gathering might harbor something that watches, hungers, and waits just beyond the flickering candlelight. We’ve got three delicious short stories for you from talented new voices in horror and a haunting holiday column from the duo that brings you one of the freshest podcasts in the genre, Girl, That’s Scary.
Is that really Jolly Saint Nick click, click, clicking down the chimney or something far more sinister? Covered in ashes and soot, we proudly present to you our favorite gift of all…HORROR FOR THE HOLIDAYS, Night Terror Magazine’s 8th issue and the perfect bow on top of a fabulously terrifying year! Those cookies won’t eat themselves, so throw on your favorite faux fireplace video and cozy up with this month’s issue!
HAPPY HORRORDAYS, MY PRETTIES!
-Elli, editor-in-chief
Click the cover above to
check out the issue!
three short story contributors
AND
a guest article from,
Girl, That’s Scary!
Girl, That’s Scary!
weekly podcast on dread central podcast network
@girlthatsscary
Girl, That's Scary with Kat Daddy and Jazz The 40oz Connoisseur is a weekly podcast on the Dread Central podcast network based in the DMV. They cover Horror, Sci-Fi, and everything in between each Thursday. They also host events at Alamo Drafthouse, participate in live panels, and curate subgenre lists on Letterbox'd.
Charisa Simmons
author of short story,
“Polar Night”
Charisa is an elder reformed emo, living in the rainy PNW. She shares her home with her disgruntled partner, Adam, and her Jim Carey-esque 11-year-old son, Rylan. She has three cats: Knives (Knibulls best cat), Lo (Weewhoa) and Moro (Pom-pom cat). She's an ICU RN at a local hospital. She loves video games, hiking/camping, writing, her book club community (Dead Readers Society) that she co-owns, and hotpot. She is a first-time author, and this is her second short story (her first to be submitted). You can follow her for book reviews and updates at @babybatsbooks on Instagram.
Elisabeth Zook
author of short story,
”The Santagram”
Elisabeth Zook lives in Houston, Texas with her husband, two kids, and dogs. When she’s not feeding her coffee addiction or thinking of how she can become a forest witch, you can usually find her writing, reading, or watching “Parks & Rec” for the millionth time. You can find her on Instagram at @onadarkshelf.
Nailah King
author of short story,
“The Dead Last List”
Nailah King is a Canadian based in Scotland where she writes dark fantasy and horror stories for readers of haunted women pushed to the brink. She is currently writing her debut novella series. Her work has appeared in Feels Zine, GUTS Magazine, The Humber Literary Review, Transition Magazine, This Magazine, and Carousel Magazine.