Unveiling the Hauntings of Thirteen Tales of Ghosts

Even as the days begin to stretch a little longer, there’s something timeless about the allure of ghost stories. They remind us that some mysteries linger, regardless of the season. Thirteen Tales of Ghosts has always been a collection close to my heart, a book that invites readers to explore the spaces where the living and the dead overlap. These stories delve into the questions that have fascinated us for centuries: what remains when we’re gone, and what might return?

Each tale in this collection offers a glimpse into a different kind of haunting. Whether it’s the unnerving repetition of Cycles, the poignant encounters in The Lost, or the quieter, creeping unease of other stories, I wanted to create experiences that aren’t just eerie but deeply human. Ghost stories, after all, aren’t only about fear—they’re about the emotions and truths that surface when we’re faced with the unknown.

What I love most about writing in this genre is its versatility. A ghost can be a symbol of regret, a lingering love, or even a warning. Each spirit has its own story to tell, and through their whispers, we learn something about ourselves. These tales aren’t just about the supernatural; they’re about the connections we make, the choices we regret, and the things we leave unsaid.

Thirteen Tales of Ghosts

Since Thirteen Tales of Ghosts was first published, I’ve been fortunate to hear from readers who have shared their thoughts and experiences. Some have mentioned how a story reminded them of their own brush with the unexplained; others have simply told me how they had to sleep with the lights on after reading. It’s those connections that make writing worthwhile—knowing that these tales have found a home in someone’s imagination.

If you’ve yet to dive into the collection, now is as good a time as any. Ghost stories are for all seasons because the questions they ask are timeless. What lingers after us? What can’t we let go of? Whether you’re a believer in the supernatural or simply a fan of atmospheric storytelling, I hope these tales offer you something memorable. They’re best read in the quiet hours, with the world hushed around you, when every creak of the floorboards might just make you pause.

For those who have already read Thirteen Tales of Ghosts, I’d love to hear from you. Which story stayed with you? Did any of them evoke chills, or perhaps even tears? Your feedback means the world to me—it’s through your eyes that these tales truly come to life.

I’m incredibly grateful to everyone who has supported my work, whether by reading, sharing, or simply recommending the book to a friend. Every reader who steps into these stories helps to keep their ghosts alive, and I can’t thank you enough for that.

So, if you’re ready to journey into the unknown, I invite you to pick up Thirteen Tales of Ghosts. These stories are more than just a collection—they’re an exploration of the things that haunt us, in every sense of the word.

Thank you for being a part of this journey. I hope these tales linger with you long after you’ve finished reading—after all, the best ghost stories always do.

Book Hunting

If you are reading my blog then you probably agree that there is little better than browsing around a second-hand book shop. The smell, the atmosphere, it can’t be beat. And I am lucky to have some fantastic examples in easy reach.

I often just browse for the experience and the chance to be surprised by a good bargain, or for a book to catch me completely by surprise. As I seem to be doing this more lately I have had a few great finds.

This one for example – a real bargain as I can’t imagine the cost originally. A coffee table volume, 40 Years of Queen – my favourite band.

Another time, I was looking for a book on the origins of local place names – something I am fascinated with. I did not find anything but instead came across these beauties by Mark Forsyth. I have never heard of him but these are a great, light, but informative read. Great to dip into now and then.

In another shop, I spotted this, a collection from one of my favourite Podcasts – In Our Time by Melvyn Bragg. At the time I did not have enough money on me, but my wife, ever vigilant, noted my interest and went back to get it for my birthday.

But now a new theme seems to have entered my book hunting. One of nostalgia. OK – to be fair this has always been there. For one thing, I have many old copies of Enid Blyton’s books that are identical to the ones I had, the ones that sparked my lifelong reading passion. I brought these years ago when my eldest was first born, in the hope he would pick them up and do the same. That didn’t really work as expected but at least he does read, unlike many of his peers.

But the other day I spotted one that really stirred up the sentimentality. If you read my blog regularly you can probably guess that one of the early influences on my reading, writing and just life in general is The Lord of the Rings. I of course, already have a copy – I have always owned a copy since first reading it. The one sitting there calling out to me in the shop though was exactly like the very first one I owned.

Many years ago, in the dawn of time (or primary school as it was known) we were read The Hobbit by a supply teacher. It left a profound impact on me and that was when my dream of becoming a writer was born. I went home immediately and started writing a sequel called The Hobbit’s Cousin. A few weeks later I was visiting an Uncle and mentioned what I was doing. He explained to me that there was already a sequel and produced the above book – which he gave to me to read – thus changing my life forever.

Oddly, despite the fact that I had never seen this particular edition before in a bookshop, there were, in fact, two of these, I was sorely tempted to grab both but resisted that.

This experience got me thinking and I have decided to be a bit more purposeful in my book hunting – specifically looking for these old editions packed with nostalgia ( while still watching for new and exciting things). One of these is an edition of Dune.

Another life-changing book for me. I read this at a time when my interest in reading overall was waning (I was a teenager – other distractions were occurring). This rekindled it while also switching me from being a largely a fantasy reader to becoming much more of a SciFi fan.

So I have all my original Dune books still – brought in the 1980s. But there is an issue. As this was around the time that the David Lynch film version came out, I, of course, brought that version. The rest were not the same theme and artwork.

Now, I a not that OCD about these things, at least not these days. It would only mildly annoy me, and the fact is I have lived with it for years. But this particular set of books is special in that when they are all laid out open and in order the covers make one large picture. (See here and here.)

And I am missing the first part!

I have been traipsing around bookshops looking for that first one in the same cover variant as the others. So far, no luck. I have found all the others in plentiful supply but not the first one. It seems to be much rarer for some reason.

My son suggested going online and tracking it down. That would probably work, but where’s the fun in that!

Does anyone else like to track down original versions of books they read or am I just weird. What kinds of delights and surprises have you found in second-hand bookshops? Let me know.

Mankind Limited – Nothing Changed

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Read an excerpt here.

Available as

Kindle

or hardback

from Amazon

Mankind Limited – Pebble

snap pebble 2

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

Read an excerpt here.

Available as

Kindle

or hardback

from Amazon

Leaves

By Scott Bailey © 2015

I find myself
Reading a book
A real book
A technical book for sure
But real paper
Real leaves
Turned with relish
With real fingers
Well
Hello old friend

Mankind Limited – Fascinated

 

he-was-merely-fascinated 2

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

Read an excerpt here.

Available as

Kindle

or hardback

from Amazon

or CreateSpace

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

Last Minute Presents

If you are stuck for ideas – here are a few. They are original and different – plus being ebooks they have the advantage of not being hindered by delivery issues 🙂

Mankind Limited

Mankind Limited

Marc trudged on with life, marching in line with his fellow workers. Weighed down by the everyday burdens of life, the pressure to conform, to succeed or face destitution.

Yet he knew, in his heart that it was all wrong, the questions squirmed like fiery dragons in the pit of his heart, beneath his deepest darkest doubts.

Until they grew and burst his sanity, set him on a path of defiance and rebellion. A path that would cross three others – all like him seeking answers.

A path of danger and adventure that would see him marked as a terrorist and fleeing for his life. It would see him find love and heartbreak, hope and despair, Most of all, it would open his eye to the possibility of an ancient and powerful secret that might answer all his doubts and fears.

If he survived.

 

Buy Now


Thirteen Tales

As the title says – thirteen tales about ghosts. Yet, while ghosts feature in them all – not all are traditional ghost stories.

You will find the vengeful spirit but also the plaintiff one. The haunting message from the past and the playful spirits capturing the joy of their past lives.

Some of these visitors from beyond lead the haunted to peace and joy – others take them on much darker paths to places with no return.

Enjoy them – just don’t get too comfortable.

 

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A Spring of Dreams

Three hundred and sixty-five poems in all shapes and sizes, sprung from dreams and emotion. Published day after day for a year. There are haiku, sonnets, katauta, lanturnes and many other forms – including free form. The moods are as varied as the forms and often reflect my mood on the day. There is sadness and grief, joy and love.

If nothing else – these can provide a small moment in everyone’s stressful lives to stop and contemplate the world in a different way.

 

Buy Now

 

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

Four Star Rating and review – for Thirteen tales!

Incredibly pleased and appreciative of the latest (and first for this book) review of Thirteen Tales – many thanks, Janet Gogerty.

See the review below or click here for the original on Amazon.

 
This review is from: Thirteen Tales: of Ghosts (Kindle Edition)
All the stories in this collection are very different, savour them one at a time. I was very taken with Cycles, an astute tale of teenage boys, with a twist of course. Fire and Ice takes us somewhere deep… Terminal is a very modern tale, Shipwreck not for the faint hearted. I loved A Ghost Scene, one to amuse. Don’t read The Church at bedtime, be sure your past will catch up with you in ‘Suspense’ and you will not want to live in the country by yourself if you read ‘The Valley. Mother completes the collection with a very dark ending. Whether you like to be entertained or wonder what really lies beyond, this is the book for you.

Sales and Stats slowly climbing

I did it! Well, the first of my aims for the end of this year. I made it over 10,000 views this year. Paltry compared to some I know but miles better than any previous year for me.

Just another 90 followers to pick up now 🙂

On top of that a few more sales this week – including a soft back! Maybe the ball is finally picking up some momentum.

For many reasons – roll on 2017!

Mankind Limited – Quote 2

 

he-was-merely-fascinated 2

www.scottandrewbailey.uk

Read an excerpt here.

Available as

Kindle

or hardback

from Amazon

or CreateSpace

Poem a day challenge #190 (Trying) (Tyburn)

Trying (Tyburn)

By Scott Bailey © 2013

Sighing
Trying
Flying
Buying
Here am I just Sighing, Trying hard
To start of my Flying, Buying time

Get the previous ones here
http://wp.me/P3kG6h-bb  and get my début novel Mankind Limited

Début Novel – Now Available

So here’s my announcement!

[Insert fanfare of your choice here]

And some shameless self promotion.

[Scratch the fanfare]

But seriously. After lounging in a drawer for fifteen years or so I have finally dusted it off, edited and now self published my first début novel – available now on Amazon Kindle.

Mankind Limited

Please feel free to re-blog and let the world know!

A New Short Story

I knew that writing a poem a day would have wider effects in helping getting my creative side going again. For the first time in years I had an idea for a short story. Not just an idea either but most of it all there and complete and ready.

So taking advantage of having a bit of rare spare time I sat down and wrote it out straight away. I thought I would post it and see what people think. It’s raw and fresh and has had no editing but I am excited by the fact I have actually written some new prose so want to get it out there.

Bruised

By Scott Bailey © 2013

 

He would never see his son again.

Unless…

Unless he went made it through today. Found the strength from somewhere. Put aside his pain.

The trauma his son had suffered had not been at his hands. Logically there was no responsibility for it on his shoulders.

Logic was a weak fence against raw emotion. Emotion that told him that he had failed as a father, that the protection he was supposed to give had been lacking, just that once.

Nobody agreed with him.

That made no difference.

So, he would not compound failure with failure. This was his last chance. He would take it.

He had tried all other avenues. Therapy, prayer, medication. Nothing worked, Yet what it had done was show him the way. It had made clear the path he needed to tread.

So he took a deep breath and rose from his seat. He nodded to the doctor signalling his readiness. The doctor frowned but kept his piece. He opened the door and let him enter his son’s room.

The room was sparse, clinical. His son lay curled on top of the bed sheets, motionless. Awake but unresponsive. He did not look up or acknowledge his father’s entrance.

There was a small bedside table to the left of the bed on which sat a plastic beaker of water. The bed was positioned by the window. Sunlight tried to make an impression on the coldness of the room but failed. The only other furniture was a white chest of drawers and some empty white bookshelves.

Then there were the books.

The books, many many books, that should have rested on the shelves or strewn on the floor. An impressive collection for one so young.

They hung impossibly in the air.

He sighed. He knew what came next. It had all become familiar to him. This time though he did not avoid it. He did not flinch or try to defend himself. This time he smiled at his son.

The books flew at him. As if thrown by immense strength and anger. The hard spines whacked into his flesh like dull nails. Again and again and again. Raining pain upon his body. The books that hit him fell to the ground limply, twitched like dying flies, then were suddenly whisked up and flung again.

There was no let up.

He could feel his body being pummelled into a bloody bruised mess. But he took it. Stood calmly, raised his arms towards his son and kept smiling. Gave all he had left to him – gave him his unconditional love. Took the punishment not meant for him.

The books whirled faster as the rage grew. Like a tornado of leather and card they descended on him, pounded him. The pain passed over what was bearable to no longer being processable – so he no longer felt it. He knew he would not last much longer – if this continued his body would fail him. Darkness crept inwards along the edges of his eyes. He kept smiling, locked his legs and stood, arms out.

The whirl became a darkness that was trying to beat his flesh from his bones. He felt like the bones themselves were splintering beneath.

Then it stopped.

Suddenly all the books fell to the floor. Sunlight sprang into the room as is a lock had burst.

His son looked up and held out his arms for his father.