Spider

by Janelle Schiecke

Jenna is in her early thirties with a stable job, and hopes of a promotion are on the horizon. Life has had its ups and downs, but for the most part it’s been smooth sailing.

Until it starts.

She begins experiencing a symptom most of us will experience at least once in our lifetime. It’s very common, so no immediate sign for alarm. Jenna’s friends also reassure her that there’s nothing to worry about, which provides some relief.

In Jenna’s case, however, there is very much cause for alarm. Her reality begins to spin out of control, and she’s left grasping for answers as her condition keeps... growing... worse.

Would you like to learn another fact about Jenna? She hates spiders.

Sanity is not the only thing unraveling in her life, for something sinister is creeping beneath the layers.

And this something is threatening her survival.

* Cover reveal on preorder date, February 10th.

Genres: Horror

Paperback

Expected publication March 10, 2026

About the author

Janelle Schiecke is an indie horror author based in New Jersey.

She's published three horror novellas:

The Clatter Man
Death Cult
Ghost Room

Her fourth horror novella, titled Spider, releases March 10th, 2026. She is also writing a sequel to The Clatter Man.

Despite the dark nature of her stories, Janelle lives a very happy and cozy life. When not writing, she loves spending time with her family and friends, traveling with her family, reading with her cats snuggled up close, and watching horror movies.

Yes, she loves Shudder.

You can follow Janelle on her social media accounts below:

Twitter/X: https://x.com/J_Schiecke

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janelle.sch...

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@janelle.schiecke

Letterboxd: https://boxd.it/aMbPB

Reviews

[BexHorror]

REVIEW COMING SOON🕷️🖤

[JR Montarbo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story was definitely a fun one!
It's all the right kinds of gross and unsettling that the title suggests.
It all happens fast, a steady escalation of yuck, ending with a WTF🤯🤮

[Already Overbooked · Rating 4 out of 5]

Your worst nightmare imagined, come true. Good thing this is under control

[Joe Aguiar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Spider is the latest novella from indie horror writer Janelle Schiecke and in ways is her best story yet. Skin-crawling tale is of thirty-something Jenna who has severe arachnophobia. Having encountered a spider in her bedroom one morning and then having a strange ringing start in her ears and pressure and pain form in her head, Jenna's paranoia and imagination go into overdrive. Jenna starts to believe there is a spider living in her head, thought that is scientifically impossible... isn't it?

That's the fun of this story of phobia-based terror as Jenna is a woman with a strong fear and a lot of anxieties. This makes her a prime candidate for paranoia and an unleashed imagination when she starts to believe there is something creeping around inside her head. If you have a fear of spider's this tale will be rough road ahead, but it is a lot of fun as Jenna progressively starts to believe her worst nightmare has come true. Schiecke weaves a web of goosebump inducing and sometimes outright gross moments as our likeable and embattled heroine has spiders on the brain... and maybe inside as well? Another enjoyable horror from Janelle Schiecke that is a fast and unnerving read.

[Jake · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great story from Janelle Schiecke. A really great take on a classic childhood phobia that can grow into something debilitating later in adulthood. The slow creep of a subtle ringing in the ears while you let your mind go wild with thoughts of a much bigger problem. Like the kind of people that get a bad reaction from something and go down a rabbit hole on WebMD. Janelle even throws in some great references in the story including her classic character The Clatterman. Also a subtle reference to a great horror movie Last House On The Left. If you get up with a fear of spiders or a fascination with spiders, Spider will have you hooked to find the ultimate solution. If there are any fans of the movie Arachnophobia, you will enjoy this one as well.

[lucky 13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

lets take A dark and disturbing trip with author Janelle Schiecke sure to give you the Heebee Jeebies . in this tale of Arachnophobia Horror. as the main character Jenna believes there may be things happening to her that drive her into A downward spiral. [ do not want to give to much away ] A fast and very uneasy read for spider phobia people [ like me ha ha ]. thoroughly Enjoyed this from the dark mind of Janelle

[S.S. Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Complete with a 70s-era Burt Reynolds mustache!

Very short and easy read.

Not at all what I thought the story would be about. Not your standard "spider" type of story. Lots of body horror in these pages.

-I received this book as an ARC-

[Trace · Rating 5 out of 5]

To be reviewed

[Uilleam Whitedale · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC copy

TBR

[Rowena Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

REVIEW INCOMING! 🕷️🕸️

[TheBookLounge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every book I read from this author gets better and better! And yea, I wasn't afraid of spiders...now I am. Full review soon!

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intelligent, invasive, and unforgettable. We experience the terror from the inside out! The migraines, strange pressures, frightening physical effects, etc.
This is not a horror novel that’s wants to scare you and then tuck you in at night. It wants to crawl inside your skull, lay eggs, and wait.