Kaidankai: Ghost and Supernatural Stories

In "Life in Death," Allister Nelson treats us to a lifetime of interactions between a young woman named Miriam and the angel of death. But why does she alone have this special relationship with the angel?Allister Nelson is a poet and author whose work has appeared in Apex Magazine, The Showbear Family Circus, Eternal Haunted Summer, SENTIDOS: Revistas Amazonicas, Black Sheep: Unique Tales of Terror and Wonder, The Greyhound Journal, FunDead Publications' Gothic Anthology, POWER Magazine, Renewable Energy World, and many other venues.You can read "Life in Death" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

In "The World is Always Ending," Maia Brown-Jackson imagines a multiverse of minotaurs, labyrinths and humans."The World is ALways ending" first appeared in "The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction."Maia Brown-Jackson is a symphony of papercuts, banged-up knees, and stubborn determination. She believes in the altruism of strangers, the power of direct action, and the use of the Oxford comma. She strives to offer what she can; here, that offering is her words.You can read "The World is Always Ending" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebookPhoto by Everyday Basics on Unsplash

Two men have a magical key that surprises them with gifts. At what point will they question if the benefits outweigh the consequences?Jennifer Peaslee (she/her) is a dark fiction writer with an affinity for fairy tales and folklore. She lives in Atlanta with her cat, Trouble, and runs bleeding typewriter,  a community for new and emerging writers. Find information about Jennifer and The bleeding typewriter in the episode description. You can read "Don't You Cry" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebookPhoto by Everyday Basics on Unsplash

Two friends meet in an abandoned barn and dance the night away. What will come the next night?Kevin Hogg is a high school English and Law teacher in British Columbia's Rocky Mountains. He holds a Master of Arts degree from Carleton University and is a longtime Chicago Cubs fan. Outside of writing, Kevin enjoys Lime Pepsi, grapefruit juice, and lemon tea. His goals for the future include solving a Rubik's Cube, visiting Walden Pond, and meeting television star Gabe Kaplan. His website is https://kevinhogg.ca.You can read "The Dance Eternal" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebookPhoto by Ahmad Odeh on Unsplash

Why would a ghost haunt a sterile, modern IKEA store? And how do you send them on their way?Ken Foxe is a writer and transparency activist in Ireland. He is the author of two non-fiction books based on his journalism and likes to write short stories of horror, SF, and speculative fiction. Previous Stories: www.kenfoxe.com/short-stories/ Twitter: www.twitter.com/kenfoxe Instagram: www.instagram.com/kenfoxeYou can read "The Ghost in the IKEA Store" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

On a family farm in Australia, the back gate on a farm opens to a mysterious world. It’s all fun and games until…Tim lives with his family in Southern Australia in a little town called Murray Bridge. He is pretty sure that the Library where he works is haunted, although it is quite new so he is still trying to figure out why. Tim is starting to discover the joy of telling horror and ghost stories, exploring the darkness that he did not know was there. A True Friend was an opportunity to challenge himself to write in the dark and the light simultaneously. Not all ghosts are evil and not all monsters are under the bed...You can read "The Darkness at the Farm Back Gate" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

A story that explores the conflict between light and dark, good and evil, and the uncertainty sometimes of which is which.​Manaly Talukdar was chosen as a finalist for her short fiction "Where is Grandpa?" in "The League of POETS" Weekly Contest (Week 1). She has been featured in Wilderness House Literary Review, Across The Margin, BlazeVOX Journal, Academy of the Heart and Mind, Coalition For Digital Narratives, Masque & Spectacle, Corvus Review and The Broken Spine. "Flesh and Blood" will soon be featured on Kaidankai: Ghost and Supernatural Stories! You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @manalytalukdar and read her stuff on: https://linktr.ee/manalytalukdarYou can read "Flesh & Blood" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

Three people are trapped in a house surrounded by ghosts. They know intuitively that the ghosts are to be avoided, but why? And what happens if the ghosts get inside?Rick McQuiston is a horror fanatic who has been writing for over 25 years. He's had over 400 publications so far and is currently under contract with Raven Tale Publications for several novels. Currently, he is working on an anthology and a new novel.You can read "Empty Night" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

Payne-Strange molds a family recipe, travel to Venice, a beloved doll and a love affair into disgusting and horrifying incidents that leave you fearful and content, happy to have gone on the journey.Holly Payne-Strange is a novelist, poet and podcast creator. Her writing has been lauded by USA Today, LA weekly and The New York Times. Additionally, she’s given talks on podcast creation at Fordham University and The Player’s Club. Her English language poetry has been published by various groups including Quail Bell Magazine, Call me (Brackets), and Red Door, while her work in Italian has been published by We Have Food At Home. She would like to thank her wife for all her support.You can read "Grandma's Cooking and Other Poems" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

A down-on-his luck magician finds an assistant with skills and tricks he could only aspire to have. But, just what kind of magician is she?Michael Fowler is a humor and science fiction writer living in Ohio.You can read "The Magician's Assistant" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

A miserable Monsignor banished to the Philippines is asked to perform a secret marriage between a human and an Aswan or vampire. Is the match made in heaven? hell? or on Earth?Roly Andrews lives in Nelson, NZ, in his spare time he enjoys tramping. After many years of practising, he is still trying to learn to play the trombone! A champion for everyone, he has mentored rough sleepers and supported people affected by suicide. He advocates for the rights of people living with disabilities. You can find his social media information in the episode description.WEBSITE: rolyandrewsauthor.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/Roly_AndrewsFacebook: RolyandrewsauthorInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/rolyandrews/Linked-In: Roly AndrewsYouTube: Roly Andrews@Rolyprop02Spotify: Roly’s PoddyYou can read "Come, Gentle Night" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

Some children explore the strange movement and reflections in a mirror. Is it a recently deceased loved one saying their last goodbyes or something more sinister?Arpad Nagy is a 50yr old proud Hungarian Canadian throwback romantic man who loves to write. After sustaining work injuries and being relegated to desk work, he dove into writing and has been doing so full-time since 2021. His passion is fiction writing, and his niche is romantic fiction, although he writes in many genres, including personal essays, memoirs, pop culture, and anecdotal stories about being a father, husband, and former careers as a  chef, oil man, and civil construction. He is an editor for four publications, three for nonfiction and one for short fiction at Medium, where he has nearly 400 published pieces. Links:Arpad Nagy – Mediumarpad56nagy (@arpad56nagy) / TwitterArpad T. Nagy (@arpad.t.nagy.5) | InstagramArpad Nagy | LinkedInArpad Nagy (@arpad56nagy@me.dm) - me.dm by Medium.comYou can read "Through the Shadow Glass" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebookRead about the science behind why mirrors are scary here.Photo by Dustin Humes on Unsplash

Firemen know fire, they control it, and they deal with whatever a fire throws at them--until that something is a ghost from the past. "Nathan Perrin (he/him/his) is a writer and Anabaptist pastor in Chicagoland. He holds an MA in Quaker Studies, and is a doctoral student studying Christian Community Development at Northern Seminary. His doctorate work centers on creating a writing program for nonprofits and churches to use to help under-resourced communities process trauma. His work has been published in the Dillydoun Review, Bangalore Review, Collateral Journal, Esoterica Magazine, etc. His forthcoming novella, Memories of Green Rivers, will be published by Running Wild Press. He is also a screenwriter for an unannounced indie comedy series. For more information, visit www.nathanperrinwriter.com"You can read "Burn" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

A family is warned to leave their campsite or suffer the consequences. Will they heed the warning? If not, what are the consequences?James Rumpel is a retired high school math teacher who has greatly enjoyed spending some of his free time turning a few of the odd ideas circling his brain into stories. He lives in Wisconsin with his wonderful wife, Mary.You can read "Site 23" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

Scientists exploring the deep sea encounter unexplained phenomena. Unexplained until they meet the perpetrator. Is it friend or foe?Stephen A. Roddewig is an award-winning storyteller and playwright from Virginia (USA). He won second place in the 2023 Vocal Painted Prose challenge, and his stories are featured in Abyss & Apex, Diet Milk Magazine, Struggle Magazine, and Wintermute Lit. When not writing, he enjoys collecting records and running races.You can read "SEALAB IV" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

Today’s character is certain that her fiancee’s mother doesn’t like her. But when the mother dies just a few hours after announcing the engagement, what does that mean for her relationship? Is she to blame for the family matron’s untimely death? And will she still get the family heirloom ring?S.E. Will lives in the Midwest, where she writes about the things that keep her up at night. Her most recent work can be found in Black Sheep: Unique Tales of Terror and Wonder.You can read "A Wake" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebookPhoto thanks to Kaja Sariwatung on Unsplash.

If you lose a child, the sight of a school bus can rip your grief wide open. But what does it mean when a school bus shows up in the middle of the night?Rick Sherman (he/him) is a retired award-winning Magician/Mentalist living in the manicured suburbs of Long Island, New York. Finding himself with a surfeit of free time he has turned to writing with increasing degrees of success. He lives with his wife and five children (only three of which have four legs and a tail).   facebook.com/RickShermanMagiYou can read "Night Bus" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebookPhoto thanks to Jeswin Thomas on Unsplash.

A man goes in search of a godly godparent for his newborn daughter. But, when humans and gods form relationships, does the human always get what they want?Allister Nelson is an avid fan of fantasy romance, world mythology, and writing! She is a Pushcart Prize nominee, Tea Witch, armchair occultist, cult aficionado, Taylor Swift Truther, and big time navel gazer. She loves to cook, bake, bike, and play with her husband and dog. She enjoys taking them on long walks, and watering them occasionally. A lifelong Washingtonian, she loves writing diverse fantasy romances with a dash of intrigue and spice! You can read "Godmother Death" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebook

Today’s character attracts the supernatural. But why? To introduce strange creatures to the world? Or because a horrible fate awaits?Simina Lungu is a speculative fiction writer currently residing in Timisoara, Romania. She has several short stories published in places such as Night Picnic, CommuterLit, or Dark Fire Fiction. Her writings explore primordial fears as well as the need for human connections. Those who wish to know more about her can check out her website: https://corasimina.wixsite.com/siminalungu-writer or come hang out on her Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/simina.lungu.writerYou can read "Scattered Hauntings" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebookPhoto Part of "Fairy Godmother" by Sarah S. Stilwell Webber

Five poems--"Doorways," "Hush," "Journeys," "She Laughed," and "The Last Time I Was Here"-- that journey into the afterworld and the feelings of curiosity, discovery, revenge and acceptance experienced by the living and the dead.Like a magpie, Rhonda Parrish is constantly distracted by shiny things. She’s the editor of many anthologies and author of plenty of books, stories and poems. She lives with her husband and cats in Edmonton, Alberta, and she can often be found there playing Dungeons and Dragons, bingeing crime dramas or cheering on the Oilers.Her website, updated regularly, is at http://www.rhondaparrish.com and her Patreon, updated even more regularly, is at https://www.patreon.com/RhondaParrishYou can "Doorways," "Hush," "Journeys," "She Laughed," and "The Last Time I Was Here" at https://www.kaidankaistories.com.Website: kaidankaistories.comFollow us on: Twitter/XInstagramFacebookPhoto Part of "Fairy Godmother" by Sarah S. Stilwell Webber