Winter Chills: Ghostly Tales for Cold Nights

by D.B. Carter, S.J. Lomas, Derek R. King

In the spirit of seasonal ghost stories, this wintry collection will send a tingle down your spine, but may also warm your heart.

Six short stories range from waiting for a mysterious midnight train, attending a party with an unexpected guest, a life-changing reunion for a miserable family, receiving a holiday greeting unlike any other, a visit from an unusual group of carolers, and a journey through a blizzard with a twist. 

Grab a blanket, your favorite hot drink, and settle in for some Winter Chills.

Stories included:
By D.B. Carter: Departures and Arrivals
The Christmas Card

By Derek R. King: Defying Convention

By S.J. Lomas: The Holiday Party
The Carolers

By Natalie Reeves-Billing: Go With the Wind

Genres: Fiction

158 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 25, 2019

About the author

D. B. Carter lives with his family on the edge of a small town nestled amongst the rolling hills of rural Devon, England.

The son of two nomadic artists, he grew up in a world of creativity, studying painting techniques under his parents' tutelage. In his 20s, he went to university and followed a career in science and later commerce, running his own business for twenty years.

A lifelong bibliophile, he is firmly of the opinion that there is no such thing as too many books, only insufficient shelf space; it was his love of classical literature, of Dickens and Brontë, that led to the creation of his first novel, "The Cherries."

His philosophy is, "If we look for the good, we will find it."

Reviews

[S.J. Lomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not rating my own stories for this collection, but I'm giving my 5 stars to the work of my co-authors. D.B. Carter's stories will definitely give you the creeps! (Especially "The Christmas Card." That one gave me goosebumps while I was reading it!)
Derek R. King's "Defying Convention" is so cool! It wasn't what I expected, and I mean that in the best way!
Natalie Reeves-Billing has an amazing voice in this story. I love the little details she adds that really bring it all to life.
It's a true delight to be featured in this collection with the others. I hope you, the reader, will enjoy our wintry ghost stories as much as we enjoyed writing them.

[Natalie Reeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

What variety! A unique selection of stories, a rainbow of artist styles ❤️

[Veronica Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chills and thrills in this collection of wintery short stories by authors D.B.Carter, S.J. Lomax, Derek R. King, and Natalie Reeves-Billing–perfect for a cold evening read as you snuggle by the fire! The tales include:

Departures and Arrivals by D.B. Carter: Holly arrives at a dark, cold train station, seeking refuge from the winter winds and an overwhelming sadness. The station is empty or is it? As she waits for the midnight train to arrive, spirits of the past emerge as tragic past events are revealed. Will good will or nefarious intentions prevail?

The Christmas Card by D.B. Carter: Phil and Jo receive a Christmas card in the mail, providing inspiration for their Christmas décor. Jo is a woman possessed, recreating in detail the setting of the card–wanting a perfect Christmas photo. The night of their Christmas picture reveals deadly secrets of the past–and a chilling revenge that waits in the dark…

The Holiday Party by S.J. Lomax: Nick is taking Marcy to a Christmas get-together to meet his college friends. The weather is frightful and the drive treacherous, but thankfully they make it in time. Marcy is a little overwhelmed meeting all the friends and takes a breather outside, where she meets a late arrival to the party. When she goes back inside, shocks and chills await…

The Carolers by S.J. Lomax: Kenneth sits in his living room watching the television with his cat Murphy when he hears a knock at his front door. Carolers await, wanting to sing him a beloved song. A bittersweet tale of a family’s enduring love..

Defying Convention by Derek R. King: A Christmas journey to a country house takes an unexpected twist, as the somber truth of years past are revealed…

Go With The Wind By Natalie Reeves-Billing: A grandmother’s death saddens a family, killing the joy of the holidays. A mysterious note leads grandson Nathaniel on a journey to his kin, where an unexpected gathering awaits…

A terrific read for the holidays–highly recommended!

[Matthew · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick read. The ghostly winter theme was well executed overall. As with any anthology, some stories captured me more than others. The Holiday Party by SJ Lomas was far and away my favorite story within.

[Nicole Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting mystical heartwarming stories best served over icy days. I just read through the collection curled up in this blanket with snow coming down outside, and enjoyed every second of it.

[Jennifer Schell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome Read

This was a great read. Each story is so uniquely different, just like the authors. These stories are all so well written. Some the twists and turns were completely unexpected, it makes for some great chilling short reads.

[Wahiba Rekkab · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter Chills is the perfect book to read on cold nights or simply when we look for mystical and heartwarming stories. I have read it myself several times and have never had enough. Each of the four talented authors offers us a unique tale and this is what makes this book exceptional.
I highly recommend this collection of haunting stories to comfort your nights.

[Judy Ferrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

These authors have banded together to create lovely but unusual takes of the season. Each take is unique but all are tied by a common theme. Each author in his or her own voice has told a very charming tale that could be told around any campfire or fireplace.

[Nancy Oyula · Rating 4 out of 5]

These short stories are not only chilling but also creepy. I like that it is a short-story book with different authors as I am not sure I could read a whole book with a continuous horror tale. The authors are great with their characters. The brevity of the stories is a also a win. This book is a fun read for readers who enjoy ghost stories and tales about spirits. The stories obviously have scary scenes, though the intensity of the horror may vary from one reader to another. Been a cool minute since I last read a horror story and I honestly enjoyed reading this book. Looking forward to reading more books of this genre and maybe by the same authors.

[Samantha Kroese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of tales by talented writers!

I don't give five stars often but every story in this book is very well done! Could not put it down once I started! Highly recommended!

[Sammi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun Ghostly Read

Interesting stories. Well written stories with moderately interesting twists. Easily read within an hour. I enjoyed the story about pictures and the way that story ended.

[Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking themes

I enjoyed reading the stories in this book. The twists and turns were good and came as a surprise on a number of occasions. If you enjoy ghost stories, then this book is for you.

[M.E. Aster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Minus a few formatting issues (I hate spacing between paragraphs I don’t know why) this was a wonderful collection of spooky tales that I devoured in one sitting.

[Sophia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great short read, I liked the stories they were really good each one very unique!

[William · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not scary

This is in my opinion a collection of totally non scary stories, quite disappointing. There are !much better books out there,in reality these are just a gentle read.

[Judy Ferrell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Christmas ghosts

These authors have banded together to create lovely but unusual takes of the season. Each tale is unique but all are tied by a common theme. Each author in his or her own voice has told a very charming tale that could be told around any campfire or fireplace.

[Diane Riley · Rating 5 out of 5]

All six short stories in this book—from D.B. Carter’s “Departures and Arrivals” to Natalie Reeves-Billing’s “Go with the Wind”—offer a wonderful twist on holiday tales. Imagine experiencing Christmas through the lens of The Twilight Zone. One can almost hear Rod Sterling saying, before each episode, “You are about to enter another dimension, a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land of imagination.”

Carter offers two titles: the above mentioned, which takes place in a train station, and “The Christmas Card,” which ends with yet the beginning of another strange tale. S. J. Lomas offers two pieces: “The Holiday Party” and “The Carolers.” Both feature visits from “the other side” of the grave. Derek R. King’s story, “Defying Conventions,” starts off with a car going off the road and ends with a terrifying discovery. Reeves-Billing tells of what can happen if one allows family disagreements to go on too long.

The stories were so engrossing that I gobbled them up all in one night. I highly recommend this book as a personal purchase and/or as a holiday gift for a friend who enjoys tales with a twist.

[Louise · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter Chills is just the book to curl up with on a cold, dark wintry night. Each story is totally different with imaginative and atmospheric writing which really keeps the pages turning. I found the short stories refreshing to read, they grab you right from the first page and you just know that a satisfying conclusion is never too far away.

The stories are diverse and unique but there is a strong theme throughout creating a highly entertaining read.

I liked the ghostly twists and sense of anticipation, mysterious circumstances and well-defined characters.

I’m sure anyone who enjoys short stories will love this collection.

[Jacqueline Firkins]

This was a great introduction to the voices of 4 creative and thoughtful writers. Though the tones are different--some more wistful, some more witty--common themes emerge. People are often in transit, finding themselves in liminal spaces between one place and another. From a home to a party. From a tangible world to an ethereal one. A train station is perhaps a different kind of waiting room entirely. Lines blur between life and death. Memory emerges as the strongest character throughout. It's both the way we hold on and the way we let go. There's some wonderful imagery from each writer, and the book overall is a fast, evocative read. Pick it up for the chills. Stay for the warmth.

[Eddie Cotton]

Having just re-read The Signalman by Charles Dickens for the second time I was looking for a similar ghostly tome to read, and certainly found one in the aptly named Winter Chills. I thought it a great ghostly compendium that thrilled and scared me in equal measure. Thank you to the authors for possessing such vivid imaginations that kept the pages turning. x

[Anya Pavelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love ghost stories and ghost movies all year round, and this collection of short stories gave me that fix right before the Christmas season. The stories range from ghostly train stations to tales of revenge and heartwarming ghost stories. Nothing, though, was disturbing, which I like. Spooky=good, insanely disturbing=bad. Recommended read.

[Vince Cleghorne · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book by a collective of wonderful writers. Each story is completely different, but each leaves you with the feelings those Victorian readers must have experienced when sitting in front of an open fireplace reading the first edition of A Christmas Carol. Mesmerising!

[Jan Maple · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book by some great authors. A short selection of ghost stories that will warm your heart or send little chills down your spine.

6 short stories, each very readable and enjoyable.

Thoroughly recommended!!

[Carolyn Ruffles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winter Chills is an entertaining read - six very different, ghostly stories written by four talented authors. I particularly liked the way the individual voices of the authors shone through. Recommended.

[Susanne Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect little wintery read!

[Mike Mcgee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic set of short stories would recommend to anybody!

[christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great read perfect for the cold wintery nights buy one as a stocking filler you won't be disappointed