Halloween Reading (and a couple of movies for good measure!)

Happy Halloween!

Today is the release day of my very first book 😱😱😱
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Spellbound: A Fantasy Short Story Collection is available to buy now in eBook (print coming soon - the proof copies are due to be delivered today!). 

Would you spend Christmas with the Grim Reaper, hunt a vampire through the neon haze of a nightclub, or take tea with a denizen of Hell?

In Spellbound, Kay M. Weston’s debut collection of ten standalone short stories and flash fiction, magic pulses through every page, exploring cozy fantasy, magical realism, and urban fantasy.

Discover what happens when a speed dating agency opens its doors to the supernatural, or when an old witch’s revenge delivers unexpected results. Each story invites you to lose yourself in magical twists and turns, from whimsical encounters to darkly magical moments that linger long after the final page.

Interspersed with emotional flash fiction, Spellbound introduces a vibrant cast of characters whose lives are forever changed—for better or worse—by the caress of magic.

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BUY HERE

If you do pick up a copy of Spellbound and you enjoy it, I'd love for you to leave a review on your preferred retailer or book review site. 

In the meantime, here are some of my absolute favourite books to read around Halloween either because of their autumnal or spooky vibes. 

First up, we have Kit & Basie by Tess Carletta. A book I discovered and fell in love with very recently. This one gave me serious Gilmore Girls vibes but with immortal beings and a sprinkle of magic. 

The Tenfold Tenants by E.V. Belknap is another recent but instant favourite. Packed with a diverse cast of supernatural creatures, it's such a great read with heaps of humour and found family vibes. 

The Other Ones by Fran Hart is an emotional and spooky LGBT story set in a haunted house with a twist. 

The Library of the Unwritten by A.J. Hackwith is such an amazing book. It's about a magical library in Hell and the librarian charged to care for the unruly inhabitants. I really didn't expect to love this one as much as I did. 

An LGBT murder-mystery, The Many Half-Lived Lives of Sam Sylvester by Maya MacGregor is an atmospheric, tense read. 

The Sad Ghost Club by Lize Meddings is the perfect graphic novel if you're looking for a cute and heart-warming hug. 

Ethan & Jag Destroy the World by Maz Maddox is a hilarious story about a demon and his human boyfriend. Oh, and the approaching Armageddon.

For my final spooky read, I've chosen a book that literally made me jump out of my chair while I was reading it. Gallant by V.E. Schwab is one of my favourite books of all time. It's so spooky and atmospheric, I recommend it again and again. 

Now for the movies, here are some of my absolute favourite choices: You'll notice that none of them are horror movies because I'm a huge scaredy cat! 

- The Crow (the original, obviously)
- The Pale Blue Eye (for Edgar Allan Poe fans)
- Monster House (freaked me out as a kid *cough* I was 15 when this came out 🤣)
- Scooby Doo Monster Island (another childhood classic!)
- The Haunted Mansion (again, it has to be the original)
- A Haunting in Venice (okay, so this isn't even a horror movie but it scared the rubbish out of me!)

Now tell me, what are your favourite Halloween reads?