This post contains affiliate links. See my disclaimer. All October posts are part of the Countdown to Halloween!
October may be winding down, but that doesn’t mean the Halloween spirit has to fade away with it.
One of the easiest and most meaningful ways to keep the spooky vibes alive all year long is by diving into a new book whenever you’re craving that dose of chills and thrills.
Over the years, I’ve shared plenty of round-ups to inspire your TBR, from blog posts to a Halloween reading stack I created for my 2022 magazine. But in the time since, I’ve found myself increasingly drawn to a particular group of storytellers: indie authors.
Self-published writers bring something special to the Halloween book world. Without the backing of big publishers, they put their heart, imagination, and often their own resources into crafting eerie tales for readers like us.
Supporting them isn’t just about finding your next spooky read — it’s about helping a creative voice continue to exist in a space where it’s all too easy for small creators to be overlooked.
Today, I’m excited to spotlight seven indie authors whose books deserve a spot on your shelf. Because these titles are independently published, you’ll most often find them on Amazon (which provides the most accessible publishing platform for self-publishers). Some authors may also sell their works directly at events, so if you see them at a con or book fair, don’t hesitate to stop by.
However you choose to support these writers — whether it’s buying a book, leaving a review, or recommending their stories to a friend — you’re helping keep the world of spooky storytelling vibrant and alive.
7 picks for an indie author spooky book stack
Note: All book descriptions are from Amazon.
Burn for Jack by Aiden Pierce
Jack Calloway is the pumpkin-headed boogeyman of Hallow Hill. As the legend goes, he was a man of wicked tastes, devilish allure, and had a knack for dark magic. He and his lover—my ancestor—were tried as witches and burned at the stake at the edge of Hallow Hill’s pumpkin patch.
Some say he made a deal with the devil to spare his lover’s soul and haunts the pumpkin patch to this day, waiting for her return.
“Don’t go near the pumpkin patch on Halloween,” they’ve always warned the women in my family. “Jack might get you.”
Too bad I don’t listen because I have to find out the hard way that ghost stories exist for a reason. And in Jack’s flames, I just might become one.
Burn for Jack is a plot-light Halloween-themed PNR novella featuring a pumpkin-headed monster with a wicked thirst for our heroine. This story includes dark themes such as bondage, violence, gore, dubious consent, bullying, and murder. GET IT HERE
Toured to Death by John Wayne Comunale
The road is not for everyone. It's not for most, I'd say. Non-stop driving, endless asphalt, a flipbook collection of motel rooms, the highest of highs, and the lowest of lows. Any one of these aspects would be enough to burn most folks out, frustrate them to no end, make them throw in the towel.
I'm hesitant to say there are no rules out there, because there are. It's just that they aren't conventional, and they most certainly aren't fair. But if you keep at it long enough, it becomes part of you.
Between the tedium and rigor, there every once in a while comes reward, though not in the traditional sense. Sometimes it's just an experience that nudges you back from the edge and lets you know it's all worthwhile. Other times it manifests in the form of a situation you find yourself in that pushes you beyond comfort and commonsense then breaks you apart with no promise or guarantee of being put back together.
This is how you find out who you really are and what you're made of. Sometimes we make it there and back. Sometimes the road takes control and never lets go. Sometimes you're just toured to death. GET IT HERE
The October Book by Corrine Phillips
A body, a vessel, a keeper of dreams.
Past, present, future within its seams.
Behind orange ribs where caged time dwells,
your cradle to grave within pumpkin shells.
Welcome to Haydale, a most peculiar little town where the flickers of Halloweens’ past burn bright within carved pumpkins, where otherworldly creatures skew the boundaries of reality, where the souls of the dead are never so far away from the living, and where magic and mystery can be found around every corner.
Told through a series of poems, short stories and vignettes, The October Book offers an enchanting, poetic glimpse into the unknown realms and intrigues of the autumn season. GET IT HERE
Thirteen Tales for Halloween by Andrew Noles
As the days grow shorter and the leaves start to fall, warm spices fill the air and the autumn wind rises with a chill that can mean only one thing: Halloween is coming!
A strange group of trick-or-treaters stand at the end of a driveway, frightening the boy inside. An old house, abandoned but not empty, comes to life with the ghosts of the past as the clock strikes midnight. A candle that only lights one night a year flickers with a new flame while a group of friends sneak into a graveyard for a game they’ll never forget. Mysteries unfold, nightmares are unleashed, and frightful fun is had as celebrations commence for the spookiest holiday of all. GET IT HERE
It’s Hall-Lore-Ween Again! by Josh Spero
Jacko, the legendary Three-Eyed Jack-o-Lantern, has returned—and with him, a brand-new collection of eerie adventures, whimsical poetry, and the spirit of Halloween in full glow. Featuring three fresh short stories, six haunting poems, and spooky illustrations throughout, this follow-up to Hall-Lore-Ween delivers chills, heart, and Halloween magic for all ages.
From the imaginative world of Josh Spero comes a book the whole family can enjoy. Whether you're returning to Jacko's world or discovering it for the first time, you'll find that each tale stands on its own. No prior reading required for this sequel... though some familiar faces from the original may pop up to say hello! GET IT HERE
We Bleed Orange & Black by Jeff C. Carter
A twisted faerie finds a lost child, a teenage werewolf sneaks out during a full moon, and a legion of monsters begin the downfall of man. Explore Halloween from Appalachia to the Arctic Circle and journey from the Old West to Mars.
This spooktacular goody bag harvests all the joys and terrors of the best night of the year. If you love air crisp as cider and scented with burning leaves, if you greet the darkness with a jack o’lantern grin, and if you yearn for the veil between worlds to grow thin, then you bleed orange & black. GET IT HERE
Sincerely, Departed by Cat Voleur and Angel Krause
Video archives of savagery, heartbreak, and survival. Letters tucked away, concealing secrets and whispers of ruin. The zombies have come. The world is in a state of devastation. All that remains is written records. Puzzle pieces from experiences all over the world. Stories about government. Stories about loss and love. Stories about human nature. What now? To what ends will humans go to hold onto their humanity? And how many of them so easily let it go? GET IT HERE
What indie author would you add to the list?
This barely scratches the surface of what’s out there, but it’s a great start in supporting so many of the authors within the online Halloween community!
Looking for more book recs? Here are a few fave posts:
