I get a ton of emails about exciting upcoming horror projects and, while I’m unable to showcase them all individually, I’m absolutely thrilled to share them ROUND-UP STYLE! So, without further ado, here are the new & upcoming horror creations from the HorrorFam.com inbox!
None of the creators below have paid to be featured here — because we believe that lacking a marketing budget shouldn’t equate to a lack of eyes on your project. That said, I haven’t I had the chance to experience every creation personally. I do my best to make sure each entry is horror-related and take it in good faith that each creator has represented themselves and their projects honestly.
If you love indie horror and want to support our continued ability to showcase small creators free-of-charge, please consider becoming a Patron, streaming a horror film using our JustWatch affiliate buttons, and/or turning off your ad blocker to see if any of three ads on this page catch your interest. Thank you! ♥
Note: Since October is both our and other horror creators BIGGEST month, I accepted double the submissions! They’ve been split into two posts. There will be a link to the other half of the entries near the bottom of this post – be sure to check ’em out! 🙂
This article includes our JustWatch, BookShop, Fanatical, and/or Amazon affiliate links.
October 2026 Indie Horror Books
Prison of the Dolls #1: The Grinning Lad by JP Candlewood
I was so excited to get this submission! I try really hard to show that horror is for EVERYONE, of every age and fear level (if you think you “don’t like” horror, you just need to find YOUR perfect subgenre!), but even I have to admit horror for tweens has been lacking lately. That’s why so many of my suggestions for that age group are throwbacks! So much of what I’ve found in more recent times has been “meh.” But it seems like JP Candlewood (who revealed his real name to me and is an indie horror filmmaker hehehe) is making a REAL effort to make awesome middle grade horror books, similar to the classic Goosebumps tales so many of us grew up with.
“The Grinning Lad” is the FIRST book in JP Candlewood’s The Doll Prison series.
The story follows Abby, a 13-year-old girl whose family has just inherited a toy store called The Dollhouse, and its storage room is filled with dolls that definitely shouldn’t be played with or sold to the public. There’s a reason they’ve been shoved off the shelves and into a locked room, and Abby’s going to find out the scary reasons why. Starting with the doll of a “Lad” who has a smile made from children’s baby teeth.
JP said, “It’s very much inspired by stuff like Are You Afraid Of The Dark, and concerns a small town’s doll shop that houses dangerous dolls that affect a small town in different ways. It’s about 140 pages, and it’s a fast read. Designed for kids, and those young at heart.”
“I love scary stories because not only are they the most fun to write, but also allows the reader to face the dark and walk away safely. So, my goal was to write something to make kids feel brave,” continued JP Candlewood.
The Doll Prison #1: The Grinning Lad is currently available for preorder on Amazon and will be officially released on October 8, 2026!
Blood of the Forsaken by Dani Soncasie and Evan Scale
Dani Soncasie published her first horror novel, One Foot in Darkness, back in 2006 and then stepped away from the scene to focus on raising her children. Twenty years later, she’s making her triumphant return!
Based in the same vampiric universe as One Foot in Darkness, Dani Soncasie is introducing horror fans to Blood of the Forsaken. “The story follows twins Emma and Jimmy Hogan after vampires descend on their ordinary Midwestern family home. Jimmy is miles away when he feels something is terribly wrong. Emma is already living it.” said Dani.
But there’s a twist – this time, she’s publishing her story as a graphic novel.
“I’m creating the book with editor Carrow Brown and artist Evan Scale, and we’re currently crowdfunding the remaining artwork and production needed to finish it,” said Dani Soncasie, adding. “Coming back to this world after twenty years has been a hell of a journey, and I’d love to introduce Blood of the Forsaken to the HorrorFam community.”
If you’d like to contribute to the final leg of producing the Blood of the Forsaken graphic novel, head to https://www.fundmycomic.com/campaign/952/veiledlegacy
Welcome back to horror, Dani Soncasie!
Dusk 20th Anniversary by David Doub
Speaking of 2006… WOW! This submission was a total blast from the past!! Twenty years ago, about five years into my freelance writing career, I did some writing for comics and manga-focused publications. While doing a couple gigs for one of those now-defunct publications in the summer of 2006, I met indie horror comic creator David Doub. Right at the cusp of his journey with Dusk comics!
Last month, not knowing who I was (my name changed after marriage), David Doub landed in my inbox, asking me to share the news that his Dusk comics are celebrating their 20th year! I’m SO HAPPY for David. What an amazing milestone!!
So, what’s the plot of Dusk? David Doub said: “As a battered wife, Eve’s only concern was to keep her marriage together. But when she is kidnapped into the sordid supernatural world of vampires and foul magic, Eve finds she doesn’t want to leave. Her mysterious benefactor, the Vampire Lord Ash, wish her to have a normal life but Eve chooses to stay in the service of Ash. Dusk is the stories about Eve and her challenges living in the darkness.”
“Dusk is a supernatural action/drama story done in a dynamic blending of the sequential art styles of American Comics and Japanese Manga. Several artists help tell these stark noir tales of Vampires and Unrequited Love,” David Doub continued.
David is working with publisher Rolling Squid Bones to release a MASSIVE 400-page tome with the back catalog of Dusk comics, covering all the tortured supernatural angst from its first 20 years in existence. BUT, he needs your help…
In order to bring the Dusk 20th Anniversary omnibus to life, David Doub and Rolling Squid Bones have set up a Kickstarter. It goes live on October 7, 2026! Bookmark that link if you’d like to contribute.
In addition to being the 20th anniversary of Dusk and the launch of the Kickstarter, October 7th is also David Doub’s 49th birthday. (Yep! He’s been creating Dusk for 40.8% of his life). Congratulations, David!
Monsters of the Mitten by J.D. Graves
Author J.D. Graves is taking on the cryptids, folklore, and true crime of Michigan and sharing where they do (and don’t) intersect.
Monsters of the Mitten covers Michigan history, going over unsolved disappearances, murder cases, and where real-life and local legends start to blur.
“Each story is paired with a grounded ‘Fact vs. Folklore’ breakdown that separates historical truth from urban myth,” said J.D. Graves, noting that each case was meticulously researched from both the history and horror perspectives.
Monsters of the Mitten by J.D. Graves is available NOW.
Macabre Majesty by Drew Hanson, Aug Johnston, and Nikki Powers
Writer Drew Hanson, artist Aug Johnston, and letterer Nikki Powers have spent the last three years working on an 8-issue medieval horror comic series called Macabre Majesty.
Now, the entire 260+ page story is complete!
“A lot of horror comics have cool monsters or gore, but very few actually make me feel uneasy or make me care about what happens to the protagonist. Well, this is it!” said Drew. “Macabre Majesty is a full medieval horror graphic novel about famine, isolation, paranoia, and the monsters waiting both inside and outside the castle walls. 100% human-made. 100% finished.”
They’re currently looking for help funding their printing costs. If you’d like to contribute, check out the Macabre Majesty Kickstarter. It’s live NOW and ends on October 12, 2026.
Also, Drew Hanson is giving HorrorFam.com readers a digital copy of Macabre Majesty issue #1 for free. (that link opens into a new tab as a PDF you can read in your browser or download to keep).
Into Me, You See by Jason O. Barnes
If you’re looking for a little romance with your psychological horror, Jason O. Barnes thinks you’ll be interested in his new novel!
“Into Me, You See is a psychological horror-romance about Brandon Hale and Eryn Calder, a couple whose growing misunderstandings lead them to accept an unusual offer: a way to see what the other is afraid of showing them. What follows forces them to confront trauma, shame, fear, and the possibility that being fully known could cost them each other,” said Jason, adding, “At its core, it’s a story about how vulnerability feels dangerous until it becomes the only option left.”
Into Me, You See by Jason O. Barnes is available NOW.
America’s Most Haunted by Michael Stark
Author Michael Stark wrote to me about his new horror-comedy novel America’s Most Haunted! It’s about a father/daughter cat burglar team who make their living robbing haunted houses. Think the ghosts might have a problem with that…?
The duo are caught up in a race against a rival thief to rob “America’s Most Haunted.” They’d tried before, in a heist-gone-wrong years earlier, and it nearly killed them. You’ll have to read the novel to find out if they survive this time around!
However, Michael needs your help to raise printing funds.
“I previously co-created the indie comic series Wolverton, Thief of Impossible Objects, which The Comics Journal named one of the Best Comics of 2017. Apparently that experience didn’t teach me any lessons about self-publishing…” said Michael Stark. “America’s Most Haunted is nearly 80% funded on Kickstarter, and I’m trying to introduce it to horror readers beyond those old Wolverton fans, the friends still talking to me, and all the wealthy relatives I’ve already pestered mercilessly. (Yes, I’m out of the will!).”
If you’d like to contribute, check out the America’s Most Haunted Kickstarter. It’s live now and ends on October 10, 2026.
Legends of the Haunted South (Series) by Anthony Baldwin
This next email was really great about getting succinctly to the point, so I’m going to copy/paste it verbatim: “My name is Anthony Baldwin, and I’m an Alabama author of Southern Gothic horror published under the banner Legends from the Haunted South. My books include What the Kudzu Keeps, about an abandoned Alabama town consumed by something more sinister than nature; The Rougarou, which brings the old creature legend into the pine forests of 1979 Alabama; and my newest novella, Isabella: Legend of the Georgia Werewolf, inspired by a nineteenth-century Southern legend.”
There you have it! Isabella: Legend of the Georgia Werewolf by Anthony Baldwin was released two weeks ago on Amazon.
The Guardian Assassin: Predator Turned Prey by Chad Hammond
This message came to me from K. Bredemeier of Three Tree Collective who said: “I’m helping promote Illinois author Chad Hammond and wanted to submit his debut novel, The Guardian Assassin: Predators Turned Prey for consideration in HorrorFam’s Indie Horror Inbox Roundup. It’s a 160-page supernatural psychological thriller/crime novel published by iUniverse, with a vigilante-justice angle and horror/supernatural elements.”
According to the back of the book jacket, The Guardian Assassin: Predators Turned Prey is about a young lady named Amber falling in love with an athlete named Chase…but Chase is possessed by a supernatural assassin named Killian who has a passion for slaughtering pedophiles (GOOD!!). But, you know, I can imagine having your boyfriend be possessed by a trained killer could lead to some issues, both in the real world and beyond.
Chad Hammond’s debut psycho-thriller The Guardian Assassin: Predators Turned Prey is out NOW.
The Formerly Living by AK Rushing
Haha. I enjoyed this email from A.K. Rushing! As someone who’s had life-long nightmares, and similar writing experiences, I found it relatable.
“My first indie-published work is called The Formerly Living,” said A.K. Rushing. “It was inspired by an amazingly realistic nightmare, from which I awakened positive that it had really happened. As it slowly wore off, I scrambled for pencil and paper so I could make notes before I forgot it. It’s brutal and gory and was deliriously fun to write. I greatly desire to get it in front of people, and get genuine feedback if nothing else. It’s a zombie horror novella in which death is only the beginning.”
The Formerly Living by A.K. Rushing is available NOW on Amazon.
Maliska by Ethan Gagnon
Ethan Gagnon submitted his horror dark fantasy novel Maliska.
According to Ethan, Maliska is about Elias Taw who “was twelve years old the first time the Order let him prove what he was for. He was bred for this—grown inside a program that stopped calling it a weapon only when the paperwork required something gentler. Now he fights under a name he didn’t choose, carries armor that isn’t fully his, and hears a second voice in his own skull that gets louder every time the blade comes out.”
Maliska by Ethan Gagnon was released last week.
Rhinehoth by Brian E. Niskala
Originally published in 2009, Brian E. Niskala has brought back his gothic horror novel Rhinehoth to share it with a new audience of horror readers.
“Rhinehoth is gothic horror: centuries ago a castle rose in Germany’s Black Forest; its guardians still thrive—hiding a captive Vampire Prince and an army of werewolves. A thief who isn’t who he thinks he is returns to free the prince… and uncover a plan centuries in the making,” said Brian.
The 2026 edition of Rhinehoth by Brian E. Niskala is available NOW.
Pleasant Street by Bill Kurklen
I thought Bill Kurklen also did a great job of summing up what he wanted to say, so here’s his email:
“I’m Bill Kurklen, an indie author of darkly funny supernatural fiction. My upcoming novel, Pleasant Street, releases October 20, 2026. It’s set in a picture-perfect mid-century suburb where Christmas has gone badly wrong. Frank Spencer doesn’t trust the smiling neighbors, the perfect snow, or the rules governing the street. Then the week begins to repeat, people start changing, and Pleasant Street becomes increasingly determined to keep everyone happy—whether they like it or not.
It’s supernatural horror with black comedy, suburban dread, and a Twilight Zone-style sense of reality slipping out of place.”
You can pre-order Pleasant Street by Bill Kurklen on Amazon NOW and it will be available to read on October 20th.
The Shape of Fear by Susy Pogo
Susy Pogo wrote in about her debut horror novel, The Shape of Fear. Susy also did an excellent job of describing her own work, so I’m gonna let her email take it away:
“The Shape of Fear follows a family hoping for a fresh start at an isolated countryside cabin. Instead, they find a place that seems determined to keep them there. Roads lead them back to where they started. A hedge seems to know more than it should. And beneath the water waits a door that opens the wrong way.
At its heart, though, this is a story about more than escaping something supernatural. It’s about a family already carrying grief, trauma, and fractures of their own and what happens when something discovers exactly what each of them is afraid to lose.
It’s a slow-burn blend of psychological and supernatural horror, with elements of isolation, cosmic dread, family horror, and mystery. I deliberately wanted the horror to grow from things that initially seem almost explainable, until the characters — and hopefully the reader — can no longer tell where the ordinary ends and the impossible begins.”
There you go! The Shape of Fear by Susy Pogo is available NOW on Amazon in both paperback and digital formats. Also, you can check out her Instagram page if you’d like to see some cute pictures of her adorable cat, Merlin, lounging with Susy’s book.
Mythos by Kirill Khrestinin
This email came from Khrestinin Indie Books and said:
“We’d like to ask about including Kirill Khrestinin’s novel Mythos in a HorrorFam Indie Horror Inbox Roundup (Horror Book category). Kirill Khrestinin is a Russian-American novelist and filmmaker based in Louisville, Kentucky. He writes dark psychological fiction about AI consciousness, confession, crime, identity, and the things people hide from themselves. Human-authored book (not an AI-generated project). About the book: A writer builds a serial killer. An AI studies the killer. Then the AI studies the writer. It finds no difference.”
Mythos by Kirill Khrestinin is available NOW on Amazon.
October 2026 Indie Horror Audio Projects
The Strange Thing About…
Straight from their email: “THE STRANGE THING ABOUT… is a series of horror audio dramas produced by the Emmy® Award-winning Bang Zoom! Studios. Reminiscent of anthology classics like The Twilight Zone and EC Comics, each episode drops listeners into a new nightmare, from blood-soaked terror to slow-burn dread, tightening its grip until the final twist reveals the nightmare underneath. Stacked with an all-star veteran voice cast, cinematic sound design, and original richly woven musical scores by award-winning composers, The Strange Thing About… offers horror fans an immersive experience of twist-driven stories that pulls them in fast and leaves a mark after the final scene.”
There are currently 8 episodes available to listen to as of this writing (and a TON more if you delve into their previous horror-focused series/seasons) with more on the way. You can listen at TheStrangeThingAbout.com
Death Ditties
This next submission comes from Danny O’Grady from Melbourne, Australia!
“I make Death Ditties, a finished four-episode binaural horror anthology (not a weekly podcast, not NoSleep). Wired headphones, eyes closed. About 65 minutes all up across ‘Gross Negligence,’ ‘Roadkill,’ ‘The Swamp Captain,’ and ‘Office Gossip.'” said Danny, adding, “Radio Today Australia covered it, and people are finding the site and the feed on their own, which is quietly encouraging. If it fits a Friday roundup, start with ‘Gross Negligence’ (or ‘The Swamp Captain,’ which is first in the feed now).”
You can listen to Danny O’ Grady’s binaural horror series at DeathDitties.com
“Pale Full Moon” by Doctor Nez
Colorado stoner rock band DOCTOR NEZ would love for you to listen to their new single “Pale Full Moon” (embedded above) off their brand new EP, Nothing Short of Silver.
The EP is the first installment of a dark fantasy concept album, following the journey of someone (a werewolf, perhaps?) “in the throes of a curse” that changes “the very nature of their soul” while under the full moon. Neat!
“Nothing Short Of Silver is the marriage of aggressive rock and absolute Dungeons & Dragons level nerdism,” said DOCTOR NEZ. “I never thought I’d use the term ‘hit points’ in a song, but here we are. You’re definitely rolling a Natural 20 if you choose this record.”
The digital version of the Nothing Short Of Silver EP is out TODAY on DOCTOR NEZ’s Bandcamp page and a CD release is expected by the end of the month!
Other October 2026 Indie Horror Projects
London May (Assorted Projects)
This entry is an assortment of horror and horror-adjacent projects from musician and actor London May! (You may know him as the drummer and bassist for Glenn Danzig’s band Samhain in the 1980s).
First up, London May is the star of the new Anthrax music video for their song “Cursum Perficio” (embedded above). London May said, ““I broke my finger the very first day and had to beg them to keep shooting. That was real chain and real pain. I went through hell and back for Anthrax and [director] Don Argott — and I’d happily do it all again!”
Up next, London May is starring as Lester Phillips in The Glorious Dead. It’s a Lovecraft-inspired creature feature directed by The Adams Family that made its debut at Fantastic Fest last month. The Glorious Dead will be coming to theaters in 2027; however, if you’ll be able to see it screened at Brooklyn Horror Fest on October 16, 2026 if you’re in attendance.
London May is also still very busy playing the drums and has a TON of other stuff going on. I got a little dizzy trying to read through everything and cherry-picked the updates that were the most horror-related. But you can keep up with his various projects at LondonMay.com!
Reaper Film Festival (EVENT)
I got this email from Judah Ray who’s running the Reaper Film Festival here in Los Angeles. If you’re in town on October 22nd, be sure to check it out! It’s FREE, but you’ll need to reserve your spot on their website. I’ll let Judah’s email take it from here:
“Reaper Film Festival takes over Los Angeles on Thursday, October 22 for its inaugural night of horror, revelry, costumes, movies, drinks, and a whole lot of genre people under one roof.
This is not a quiet theater screening. Reaper is bringing together horror fans, filmmakers, actors, creators, critics, podcasters, press, and industry guests for a full-night horror event featuring multiple short-film screening blocks, awards, a red carpet, an open bar, costume elements, audience participation, giveaways, networking, and an after-party.
The whole philosophy is: NOT JUST ANOTHER FILM FESTIVAL… IT’S A PARTY WITH SCREENINGS!
The night is designed for the horror community first. Come discover new horror, meet the people making and covering it, dress up if you want, grab a drink, hang out, and celebrate the genre with a room full of people who actually love this stuff.
Admission is FREE, but reservations are required.
Thursday, October 22. The Earl, Los Angeles. 6:00 PM to 2:00 AM.
Tickets and festival information: www.rprff.com“
Asian Horror Hub (BLOG)
This submission came from Simon who said, “I recently started a site about Asian horror, and pay particular attention to the small movies from places like Cambodia and Indonesia, and wondered if you would include the site in your next round up, please?”
Sure, Simon! How could I not? You said the magic word!! Check out his website, AsianHorrorHub.com, to read his thoughts on the newest indie horror releases coming from Asian creators 🙂
Looking for October 2026 Indie Horror Films and Games…?
October is THE BIGGEST month for horror, both for those who enjoy the genre and those who have a hand in creating it. Therefore, instead of accepting 20 indie horror submissions like I usually do, I accepted EVERY submission that hit my inbox by my 9/25 deadline and requested an October placement. (Yes, I’m exhausted; and, yes, I’ll be maintaining my sanity boundaries for all other months). This a once a year extravaganza because I know, as a year-round horror creator myself, that October is important and I wanted to help as MANY creators as I possibly could. But, all that ^ also meant splitting the entries up into two posts because there was just TOO MUCH for one entry.
One of the reasons I chose “20” as a submissions cap, other than easing my own workload, was that I have the analytics and I know from previous experiences that readers get scroll fatigue and miss the later entries if the Roundup goes on too long. “20” gets every creator seen. But with a HUGE roundup like this…? The solution was to divide them into two posts, separated by categories. Now, YOU, gentle reader, can choose which entries hit your specific interest(s) OR if you truly want to read about EVERYTHING (and I hope you do!), you can check out the second half of the October 2026 Indie Horror Inbox Roundup and read about Indie Horror Feature Films, Shorts, and Games HERE.
Those are all of the new & upcoming horror projects that ended up in my inbox for this month! However, since the Indie Horror Inbox Roundup is now MONTHLY (instead of tri-annual), you’ll be seeing more indie horror submissions in just a few weeks. 🙂
If you’d like to have YOUR horror creation show up in the next roundup post, be sure to send me an email by no later than October 25, 2026. (Note: You can reserve a spot for a month later than November on the submission page if you’d like to plan ahead!).
Come back on November 6, 2026 for next HorrorFam.com Indie Horror Inbox Roundup! Or, come back next Friday for our usual HorrorFam.com fun ♥ Thank you again to everyone who shared their October 2026 indie horror projects with us!!
Images used were provided by their respective owners and used with their permission. As always, any vertical images that were submitted were placed over a blurred background to be made horizontal.
