'Frighten Me! Please?' Winners!

As I write this, there are exactly 100 minutes left in October. Yes, friends and neighbors, sadly, the spooky season is coming to a close. Fortunately, if you're like me, you don't have to wait another year to read a good horror story or watch a spine-tingling thriller on Netflix. These days, authors and Hollywood directors alike push out the chilly stuff every month. Woohoo! Still, I'm saddened to see my favorite month come to an end.

What a month it's been! I've read so many good stories, and not just for my challenge either. I know that's why you're here, though, so let me get to the point. I had 26 fantastic entries this year - nearly one for every day this month! Thank you all for entering. Your twisted tales really made this challenge worthwhile for me.

Alright, the winners!

In second place, we have a last-minute entry by JBaz, 'Salems Saviour.' This creepy story takes place in an old village in Salem, Massachusetts (I had to look up the spelling), and involves a little girl attempting to save her parents' lives. Aside from the constant oppressive vibes this story gives, I was most impressed with the narrative style JBaz gives it. The narrator sounds as though he comes from that time period, giving the tale a sense of realism that adds to its overall fear factor. It really is an excellent piece, and I expect it should receive a top story nod in the next couple of days. I won't give anything else away, but you should definitely give it a read!

Our winner is none other than the fabulous L.C. Schäfer for their absolutely dreadful story, 'Imposter.' It's about a man who has to check a dead woman's vitals for signs of life, and my goodness, is it ever creepy. Here's a sample line from the protagonist that I thought was genius: "I wish I weren't alone. I hope I am alone." L.C.'s use of repetitious elements, heart-pounding descriptions, and well-chosen vocabulary make this story a MUST-Read. Warning: Not for the faint of heart.

As promised, JBaz and L.C. will each receive a cash prize, and their stories will be featured this coming Monday in my Substack newsletter. Thanks again to all who entered, and congratulations to the winners!

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On a separate note, NaNoWriMo begins today! For the next month, I will be working hard to meet my goal of finishing the final draft of my novel, 'Mississippi Wizards.' As this will be a demanding task, I will be on Vocal Media very little over the next few weeks. If you're also doing NaNo and interested in keeping each other motivated, comment with your NaNo username, and I'll be happy to send you a friend request. As always, thank you for reading. Be back with you soon!