The Shivers and Scares Series
Written and Illustrated by Vonnie Winslow Crist
Spooky short tales to chill you to you bones!
"Will I be reading these stories to my grandchilden? You bet I will!"
~ Tony Tremblay, Author of The Moore House and Do Not Weep For Me
in paperback and on Kindle and Kindle Unlimited
This book is appropriate for ages 6 and up.
NOW AVAILABLE!
"The pit of your stomach will surely jiggle, your heart will race, and there's a chance you may not be able to swallow down that lump in your throat."
~ Lois Szymanski,
Author of dozens of books for young readers
What do rabbits, toads, mossy bogs, ravens, black dogs, and gargoyles in the garden all have in common?
Why, Edgar Allan Poe, of course! Well, at least in
Vonnie Winslow Crist's second Shivers and Scares book, they do!
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This series continues with more chilling tales, and this time, Vonnie Winslow Crist finds inspiration from Mr. Poe in all types of mysterious, strange, and spooky situations, once again from myths, legends, folklore, and real world experiences. Again, each story is illustrated by Ms. Crist herself. A mummy, a fairy, cats, witches, and even a field trip will not just spook you, but you might just learn something as well! Enjoy these stories guaranteed to send shivers
down your spine!
Released on October 7
The day of Edgar Allan Poe's passing
Herein lies twenty-six stories.
Twenty-six stories originating from myths, folklore, fairytales, urban legends, and personal experiences.
Twenty-six stories that include strange animals, odd humans, holiday spooks, and classic monsters.
Twenty-six stories that will chill you to your bones!
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With vivid illustrations by the author herself, plunge into a world of the mysterious, the strange, the weird, and the downright scary! Get your flashlight out and burrow under the covers. We know you'll giggle with fright at these fascinating scary tales!
Released on September 3
International Vulture Awareness Day
"If you delighted in reading scary stories when you were nine, you'll delight in these as you read them to your nine-year-old."
~ Ray Foy,
Ray-Views, Book/Media Reviews
Click here for the full review
Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps
received the
2023 Best Children's Book
Imaginarium Imadjinn Award
Thank you to
the Imaginarium Convention
for recognizing our hard work!
Visit their website for more information!
About the Author
Born in the Year of the Dragon, Vonnie Winslow Crist, MS Professional Writing, has had a lifelong interest in reading, writing, art, science fiction, myth, fairytales, folklore, and legends. An award-winning author and illustrator, she is a member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers of America, Horror Writers Association, Society of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators, and National League of American Pen Women. Her speculative stories and poems have been published in Italy, Spain, Finland, Germany, India, Australia, Japan, Canada, the UK, and the USA.
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A cloverhand who believes the world is still filled with mystery, magic, and miracles, she loves to hear from readers at conventions, conferences, and online. Visit her website at vonniewinslowcrist.com or connect with her on Facebook via Vonnie Winslow Crist - Author & Illustrator.
Praise for Vonnie Winslow Crist's work
Shivers, Scares, and Chills
"You’re on that one carnival ride that you always dread. It dips and spins you, whirls you around, and then you turn upside down. Yet somehow it feels good! It’s the feeling you get when reading a well-written scary tale. If you like that feeling, you will love Vonnie Winslow Crist’s Shivers, Scares, and Chills. From flittermice in the chimney, to black dogs and kelpies, underwater creatures with tentacles that grab, and gargoyles that serve an oh-so-good purpose, this book will not disappoint. The pit of your stomach will surely jiggle, your heart will race, and there’s a chance you may not be able to swallow down that lump in your throat. Join me. Tap into your deepest emotions and vulnerabilities. I promise, you won’t be disappointed."
~ Lois Szymanski, author of dozens of books
for young readers
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"Usually, follow ups to successful books suffer from a sophomore slump. With her new collection, Shivers, Scares, and Chills, Vonnie Winslow Crist has not only equaled the spine-tingling delights and frights of the first book in this series, she has surpassed them. From the hair-raising opening tale (“Rabbits”) to the concluding piece (“Field Trip”), Crist had me wide-eyed. These very short stories are geared to preteenagers and teenagers, but holy cow, they had this old guy glued to his seat. Her ability to stimulate the readers imagination and to invoke ghastly visuals is superb. And man, those endings… So, thank you Vonnie Winslow Crist, my grandkids will be so happy to know that I’ve got a brand new book of stories that will have them leaving the lights on at bedtime."
~ Tony Tremblay, Author of The Moore House and
The Damage Done​
Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps
"The collection is a good introduction for kids to the horror genre. The stories contain the scary components of attacks by monsters and paranormal punishments for bad behaviour (attack by mudpuppies, abduction by goblins, permanent tooth yanking by the tooth fairy, and death in the ocean surf for ridiculing a little sister’s believe in a monster). They are the tongue-in-cheek warnings against going too far into the woods or ignoring precautions against creatures lurking in the dark side...
"Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps is a treasure of scary stories for children. With its cool illustrations, the book will tease the imaginations of young readers (and listeners). Sending them into the comfort zone of “it’s just a story,” they’ll likely duck beneath their bed covers and leave the light on. Adults will sympathize from the familiarity they find in these stories as they read them to their kids. And they might just revive long forgotten fears of what could be hiding under their beds."
~ Ray Foy, Ray-Views, Book/Media Reviews
Click here for the full review
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"Vonnie Winslow Crist's tales are precisely aimed at pre- and early teens for late night reads before bed, sleepovers, or campouts, and wow, do they hit the mark. These tales are a superb bridge between fairytales and mainstream speculative fiction, written for youngsters with vivid imaginations who love to be frightened. Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps should be on the shelves of every cool parent or grandparent; I certainly wish it was when I was a young boy. Will I be reading these stories to my grandchildren? You bet I will!"
~ Tony Tremblay, author of The Moore House and
Do Not Weep For Me
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"Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps is a wonderful collection! I haven't been a young reader since Gerald Ford was president and I loved this book. Writing non-dumbed down horror for younger readers is hard. And yet, Vonnie Winslow Crist makes is look effortless. I mean it as the highest compliment when I say that her stories would be right at home in an early 1970s Scholastic Book Club horror anthology. Plus, Vonnie’s illustrations perfectly compliment the stories and manage to take an amazing collection to even higher levels of enjoyment.”
~ Douglas Draa, Editor of Weirdbook Magazine
"Crist’s second volume of bedtime stories is every bit as delightfully wicked a collection as her Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps. Like the first, it’s beautifully illustrated, each image must have taken months to complete. I love that the author doesn’t “write down” to what we might say is a child’s reading level. She wisely relies on the story to carry along interest for meaning of words such as “cuspid,” “gnarled, or “entombed.” A fascinating story is a great way to enhance a child’s vocabulary. But what I love most are the twisty endings, some with a moral and some are just plain bad luck. For instance, the kid who was at the wrong place at the wrong time gets eaten by a goblin. We know that such tales are best read aloud, the scarier the better! A must buy and keep for your child’s library!"
~ Marge Simon, Bram Stoker Award winning author and poet​
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"Vonnie Winslow Crist's collection Shivers, Scares, and Chills is the perfect book for a crisp October day. Adult readers will no doubt appreciate how the anthology vibes Alvin Schwartz's Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series. Better yet, young readers might discover this type of punchy, fun-to-read-aloud tale for the very first time here. The storytelling is bare bones in the best way possible, with plenty of room for the imagination to percolate once the story ends.
Spooky illustrations and Edgar Allan Poe allusions throughout enhance the experience too, making the collection
fun to read again.
"Some of my favorites from the collection were 'Flittermice,' 'Giggles,' and 'Strawman,' and I appreciate that Crist's stories have a familiar urban legend feel while still feeling uniquely her own. Shivers, Scares, and Chills is probably best enjoyed under a blanket with a flashlight, but both younger and seasoned horror fans will appreciate its macabre charm!"
~ Kevin M. Follard, author of the New Pangea series
"I loved this book! If you’re looking for a story to tell around the campfire on a moonlit night, your search is over. In [this book], Vonnie Winslow Crist masterfully weaves words into spooky tales that you’ll remember and want to share, again and again. After reading Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps, you’ll have second thoughts about carving that Halloween pumpkin. You’ll shiver when waiting for the tooth fairy to come, and goosebumps will rise like chicken pox at the thought of finding a mudpuppy. Read it alone in the dead of night but remember to check under the bed before you start.”
~ Lois Szymanski, Author of dozens of books for young readers, including The Gettysburg Ghost Gang,
co-written by Shelley Sykes.
"Do you dare to be a little bit scared? Come along, it will happen, and it won't be just a little bit! Lots of wondrously illustrated stories await, challenged you all the way to their endings - and beyond. I loved them all.
"I enjoyed Shivers, Scares, and Goosebumps so much, I read it in one day! The black and white renderings are simply brilliant! I am sure the child who gets this book will treasure it - especially when it's time to turn off the lights and tell scary stories. Of course, you need a little kid beside you for the 'GOT YOU' parts!
"Crist's poems were a treat and enhance the reading. Poetry should be in every child's reading library. I loved that she included folklore and stories inspired by tales from other countries. Not to mention, of course, her own 'real' stories, too."
~ Marge Simon, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Vampires, Zombies & Wanton Souls
Previous work
"Vonnie Winslow Crist is a chameleon of a writer - as a reader, you never know where her tales will take you - yet there's always one thing you can count on: top-notch storytelling."
~ Richard Chizmar, New York Times bestselling author of the Gwendy's Button Box Trilogy and
The Girl on the Porch
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As a writer, editor, and artist, Vonnie is a gem of our science fiction-fantasy community."
~ Tom M. Doyle, award-winning author of the American Craft series, Border Crosser, and
The Wizard of Macatawa