S.E. HOWARD
Author of horror and speculative fiction, and other things that go bump in the night.
"There are horrors beyond life’s edge that we do not suspect,
and once in a while man’s evil prying calls them just within our range." - H.P. Lovecraft
FREE Short Story: "You've Been Saved"
Childhood buddies Chris and Ethan are traveling
cross-country from Chicago to Los Angeles
when a chance encounter at a roadside diner
with a mysterious young woman leads them on
an unexpected—and horrific—detour.
"Howard delivers a chilling, gore-soaked finish that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about." - Goodreads reviewer Matt Holden
Previously published in Worst Laid Plans:
An Anthology of Vacation Horror
As seen in Worst Laid Plans by GenreBlast Films
The Vessel
Coming in 2025 from Wicked House Publishing
As a child, Josh Finley is abducted by pedophile Michael Traynor. After 19 days of unimaginable horror, he manages to escape, but in the aftermath, he has amnesia from the trauma. The last thing he remembers of his time in captivity is seeing the dead body of another of Traynor's young victims. Ten years later, FBI Special Agent John Rodriguez asks for Josh's help to try and identify the murdered boy and find where Traynor buried the remains. Rodriguez says Traynor is willing to cooperate, but on one condition: He'll only talk to Josh. In coming face-to-face with the man who has haunted him for so many years, Josh uncovers darker secrets than he ever imagined possible, and a horrifying fate that this time, he cannot hope to escape.
What Lies Unseen
Coming in 2025 from Wicked House Publishing
Sam Avery sees things no one else can, gruesome spirits that have haunted and plagued him since childhood. He believes he is alone in this terrifying ability, until he meets beautiful Amanda Foster, who can hear the voices of the dead. Amanda tells Sam there are even more like them, a group she calls her spirit circle, comprised of powerful individuals endowed with the abilities to seek out and commune with the dead. At first, Sam eagerly accepts the invitation to join this circle but slowly begins to grow suspicious about their—and Amanda’s—true purpose. Does she really want to use their combined powers to help free unfortunate spirits trapped in the physical world? Or is there something more sinister Amanda has planned, a darker, more twisted truth that lies unseen?
Prairie Madness
Coming Soon from Unveiling Nightmares
Release Date TBA
A novella-length tale of horror set in the early 1870s, a time when the United States is still reeling in the aftermath of the Civil War. The Gold Rush is a thing of the past, but the American West still holds allure and promise for those brave enough to venture into its untamed frontiers and build new lives for themselves.
Former Union soldier Owen Cobb and his best friend Will Abbott set off down the length of Missouri toward Oklahoma in search of a former comrade and his son who undertook just such a pursuit. Their path is rife with would-be bandits, horse thieves, prostitutes, and Native scouts, but Owen and Will soon discover that the greatest danger in this vast, isolated terrain is found in places--and people--where they least expect it.
"Howard delivers a chilling, gore-soaked finish that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about." - Goodreads reviewer Matt Holden
"An exceptional introduction for the anthology. It reminded me of Aaron Dries a little, and took me by surprise with its ending reveal."
- Goodreads reviewer Aiden Merchant
Sadly, this title is currently out of print. See link above to download "You've Been Saved" for free.
Short Story: "You've Been Saved"
Childhood buddies Chris and Ethan are traveling
cross-country from Chicago to Los Angeles
when a chance encounter at a roadside diner
with a mysterious young woman leads them on
an unexpected—and horrific—detour.
Part of the horror anthology, Worst Laid Plans,
from Grindhouse Press, edited by Samantha
Kolesnik and featuring foreword
by Sadie Hartmann (aka "Mother Horror").
Short Story: "The Bobbit"
Better watch your step...
Welcome to Fox Hollow, the sleepy American town where nothing ever happens. No matter summer heat, rain or snow, it is the perfect place to raise a family away from the noise of the city. Here, the only nightmares you'll find are the ones lurking in your own back yard...
Part of the horror anthology, Nothing Ever Happens in Fox Hollow, Vol. 2
Available in Ebook and Print from Amazon
Short Story: "Swan Song"
Welcome to the historic Piedmont Hotel.
Enjoy your visit...
It is rumored the halls of the Piedmont Hotel have been filled with ghosts for years. It’s what led renowned horror director, Jason Horn, to film his latest movie there. But Hotel Evil is more than a movie. Within these pages are the documented stories of the 13 cast and crew members and the horrors they suffered within those walls.
Welcome to Hotel Evil...enjoy your stay.
Part of the horror anthology, Hotel Evil from Black Ink Fiction.
Available in Ebook and Print from Amazon
Contributor - Lost in Fox Hollow
There's no escape...
Fox Hollow is a sleepy little town where nothing ever happens; at least that's how it appears on the surface. But soon, Damian and his sister, Nina, learn that almost every corner of this place hides a dark secret. All they want to do is find each other and go home, but the inhabitants of this bizarre little town have other ideas in mind.
Available in Ebook from Amazon.
Short Story: "Boarding Call"
Djana Louette just wants to escape the ghosts of
her past -- and the devastating Red Lungs
plague that's decimated the world.
Part of the horror anthology, Sick Cruising,
available from Notch's Publishing House.
Available in Ebook from Amazon.
About S.E. Howard
S.E. Howard grew up in the heart of the Bluegrass state, and has worked as a newspaper reporter, travel writer, and magazine editor. Her horror short story, "You've Been Saved" was adapted for film in the 2022 independently produced anthology Worst Laid Plans by GenreBlast Films. Other horror titles include the forthcoming novella "Prairie Madness" with Unveiling Nightmares, and her novel-length debuts The Vessel and What Lies Unseen with Wicked House Publishing, to be released in 2025. Currently a registered nurse, she is also a Certified Specialist in Poison Information. Connect with her through Facebook or email using the links below.