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NAIS - 09.02.25.png

Not As It Seems: A Gothic Anthology (Ebook)

$3.00

Edited by Courtney Umphress

Escape into the dark, mysterious world of gothic literature, where nothing is as it seems.

The unnerving short stories in this gothic anthology keep true intentions hidden and reality in check behind the seemingly normal perspective of the narrator. The characters take the reader to haunted seaside manors, mysterious towns, and grand homes shrouded in secrets as they explore the deceitful nature of the mind and how their pasts affect their futures.

Featured stories and authors include:

  • "Of Sound Mind" by Caroline Baccene

  • "Sleep Sound and Wake Nane" by Rosie Beech

  • "The Owl and the Shrew" by Sarah Bjork

  • "Wretched Children" by L.M. Copeland

  • "Ultraviolet Night" by Jesse Ramon Ferreras

  • "The Widow of Winthrop House" by Sarah Kennedy Keys

  • "Duskwood Hollow" by Cora Laine

  • "The Woman in the Window" by Edmund McKenzie

  • "A Killer Dream" by yesenia monique

  • "Everyone's Polite, But No One is Nice" by Derek Moreland

  • "Manor of Memories" by Elizabeth Faye Moxen

  • "Marin" by Katherine Rea

  • "The Lady of the House" by Constance Renfrow

  • "The Hollowing" by Grace Silva-Ortiz

  • "The Birthday Party" by Elizabeth Torres

  • "Remember Us" by Meranda Tuttle

  • "The Stroke of a Pen" by Roxanne Werner


Though these stories span genres, including thriller, horror, and fantasy—both historical and contemporary—they all ask the same question: Must you confront the horrors lurking in the shadows, or have they been a part of you all along?

Edited by Courtney Umphress

Escape into the dark, mysterious world of gothic literature, where nothing is as it seems.

The unnerving short stories in this gothic anthology keep true intentions hidden and reality in check behind the seemingly normal perspective of the narrator. The characters take the reader to haunted seaside manors, mysterious towns, and grand homes shrouded in secrets as they explore the deceitful nature of the mind and how their pasts affect their futures.

Featured stories and authors include:

  • "Of Sound Mind" by Caroline Baccene

  • "Sleep Sound and Wake Nane" by Rosie Beech

  • "The Owl and the Shrew" by Sarah Bjork

  • "Wretched Children" by L.M. Copeland

  • "Ultraviolet Night" by Jesse Ramon Ferreras

  • "The Widow of Winthrop House" by Sarah Kennedy Keys

  • "Duskwood Hollow" by Cora Laine

  • "The Woman in the Window" by Edmund McKenzie

  • "A Killer Dream" by yesenia monique

  • "Everyone's Polite, But No One is Nice" by Derek Moreland

  • "Manor of Memories" by Elizabeth Faye Moxen

  • "Marin" by Katherine Rea

  • "The Lady of the House" by Constance Renfrow

  • "The Hollowing" by Grace Silva-Ortiz

  • "The Birthday Party" by Elizabeth Torres

  • "Remember Us" by Meranda Tuttle

  • "The Stroke of a Pen" by Roxanne Werner


Though these stories span genres, including thriller, horror, and fantasy—both historical and contemporary—they all ask the same question: Must you confront the horrors lurking in the shadows, or have they been a part of you all along?

Praise for Not As It Seems

“Captivating right from the first page! I love all of the gothic stories, they set a great spooky mood. I keep talking about the first story with family and their interpretations of the story—so great!”

“When I first heard about this gothic anthology, I knew I had to read it. These stories showcase how versatile the gothic genre is, and I enjoyed them all!”

“. . . a vibrant, unnerving, and thought-provoking collection that balances mystery, dread, and imagination in fresh ways. One of the anthology’s greatest strengths is its variety. The stories span a wide range of subgenres, from historical gothic tales with echoes of the classics to modern narratives that transplant gothic unease into today’s world. That breadth kept me engaged and underscored just how flexible (and still haunting) the gothic can be in new hands.”

Not As It Seems: A Gothic Anthology
And You Press

Edited by Courtney Umphress

Release Date: September 2, 2025

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