Kaidankai: Ghost, Supernatural, and Dark Short Fiction

If we can't find our way out of a problem, can something out there help us find our way? Dondi Dancy is a career Paralegal and founder/facilitator of a virtual book club, who writes short stories and prose poetry to remain grounded and aware of all that is beautiful in the world. Her portfolio includes: an Open Mic Poetry Showcase with Sacred Grounds (January 2022); the short story, “Driving Home”...

Why not check out a story in the archives, there are over 150 to choose from. See you next week when we return to our regular weekly schedule. The Kaidankai Podcast features original short fiction exploring horror, fantasy, science fiction, and the strange. New episodes every Wednesday. Subscribe on Spreaker , Apple Podcasts , Spotify , or wherever you listen to podcasts. Read the stories at  kaid...

Luna Canem Born: May 16, 1995 Died: May 9, 2022 by Enne Tesse Enne Tesse is an artist creating sculptures, installations and works on paper using fabric and text. Her stories originate from and reflect her own hand-stitched garment inspired works and fabric objects. She has exhibited her work in top museums and galleries in the US and Japan, including MoMA/PS1 NY, MOMAK Kyoto, and MOT Tokyo. Recen...

Rick Johnson Born: 1962 Died: 2023 by Joe Kirkenir Joe Kirkenir lives in York, PA with his cat, Victor, who is named after the complex main character from the classic novel, Frankenstein. He graduated from Gettysburg College with an English degree in 2014 and has worked in the nonprofit sector in fundraising and marketing ever since. When not volunteering with the Animal Advocates of South Central...

Clyde Gorman Born: 1991 Died: 2022 by Joe Kirkenir Joe Kirkenir lives in York, PA with his cat, Victor, who is named after the complex main character from the classic novel, Frankenstein. He graduated from Gettysburg College with an English degree in 2014 and has worked in the nonprofit sector in fundraising and marketing ever since. When not volunteering with the Animal Advocates of South Central...

Marsha Jones Born: 1983 Died: 2022 by Jill Trade Jill Trade is married and the mother of three active boys, so she spends a lot of time at playgrounds imagining poetry, which she said she recently rediscovered. Her background includes training in meat cutting, which may influence her imagination. You can read "Marsha Jones" at https://www.whiteenso.com/ghost-stories-2022 Win a copy of "Messengers...

Pushpita Kapoor Born: 1993 Died: 2022 by Jill Trade Jill Trade is married and the mother of three active boys, so she spends a lot of time at playgrounds imagining poetry, which she said she recently rediscovered. Her background includes training in meat cutting, which may influence her imagination. You can read "Pushpita Kapoor" at https://www.whiteenso.com/ghost-stories-2022 Win a copy of "Messe...

Hamilton & Winston Jones Hamilton: Born: 2013 Died: 2022 Winston: Born: 2011 Died: 2022 by Joshua St. Claire Joshua St. Claire is a certified public accountant who works as a corporate controller in rural Pennsylvania, USA. He enjoys writing on coffee breaks and after helping his wife put their three sons to bed. His poetry is published in Kaidankai: Ghost and Supernatural Stories, Mayfly, The Her...

Caradoc Jones Born: 1981 Died: 2022 by Joshua St. Claire Joshua St. Claire is a certified public accountant who works as a corporate controller in rural Pennsylvania, USA. He enjoys writing on coffee breaks and after helping his wife put their three sons to bed. His poetry is published in Kaidankai: Ghost and Supernatural Stories, Mayfly, The Heron’s Nest, Otoroshi, and Scifaikuest. He is a Pushca...

Prome Theus Born: Unknown Died: Unknown by Linda A. Gould Linda Gould is the Managing Editor of White Enso, an online journal of creative work inspired by Japan and the host of the Kaidankai podcast. She is a lifelong book-lover who spent many summers as a child high up in the branches of a tree reading. Her fiction and non-fiction work has been published in outlets around the world. She has a deg...

Gracie Jackson Born: December 11, 1962 Died July 5, 1981 by Nicole Nutrell Nicole Lutrell is a speculative fiction writer. That means she writes about dragons, ghosts and spaceships. She's the author of several horror, science fiction and fantasy novels, the latest of which being Quiet Apocalypse. You can find her on her blog, Paperbeatsworld.com, or on Instagram at @nicolecluttrell86 and on Twitt...

Elaine Larson Born: 1960 ​Died: 2012 by J. L. Short J. L. Short lives with his family near Philadelphia and as near as he can tell there are no ghosts living in the house. On the other hand, he is continually harassed by two hounds and two cats. He enjoys reading and writing about history and the supernatural, not necessarily in that order. You can read "Elaine Larson" at https://www.whiteenso.com...

Mavis Alturain Born: January 6th, 1971 ​Died October 31st, 1992 by Jordan Storey ​Jordan Storey is an African American aspiring writer from Texas who writes short stories from the heart to entertain. Currently he is writing his first book titled "Rhyghts". A story which follows a group of young individuals with the power of gods. The inspiration he has comes from anime and mythology. He wishes to...

Gregor Sam Born: 1979  Died: 2001 by Elahe Nassr Elahe Nassr is an independent writer and filmmaker based in Japan. She is the recipient of the 2018 Henry Fong Award, and a participant in the 2019 Kyoto Filmmakers Lab–Masters Session. Her first short film "Life as It Is" was selected at the Longless Film Festival for the International Selection category, in 2020. Her photography works were selecte...

Lei Li Wai--Lillywhite Born: Year of the Horse, May 8th,1990  Died: Year of the Pig, May 15th,2019 by Marco Lobo Marco Lobo is a Tokyo-based business consultant. With a background in international business, Marco helps European and North American multinationals establish their commercial footprint in Japan and the wider Asia region. Extensive travel and exposure to myriad cultures has allowed him...

Chong Ping Poh Born: Year of the Horse, June 18th,1966  Died: Year of the Pig, April 11th,2019 by Marco Lobo Marco Lobo is a Tokyo-based business consultant. With a background in international business, Marco helps European and North American multinationals establish their commercial footprint in Japan and the wider Asia region. Extensive travel and exposure to myriad cultures has allowed him to t...

Estana Lokovich Born: 2001 Died: 2015 by Linda A. Gould Linda Gould is the Managing Editor of White Enso, an online journal of creative work inspired by Japan and the host of the Kaidankai podcast. She is a lifelong book-lover who spent many summers as a child high up in the branches of a tree reading. Her fiction and non-fiction work has been published in outlets around the world. She has a degre...

Estana Lokovich Born: 1980 Died: 2015 by Linda A. Gould Linda Gould is the Managing Editor of White Enso, an online journal of creative work inspired by Japan and the host of the Kaidankai podcast. She is a lifelong book-lover who spent many summers as a child high up in the branches of a tree reading. Her fiction and non-fiction work has been published in outlets around the world. She has a degre...

Timothy Montgomery Born: September 2, 1970 Died: October 13, 1980 by Robert Pettus Robert Pettus is an English as a Second Language teacher at the University of Cincinnati. Previously, he taught for four years in a combination of rural Thailand and Moscow, Russia. He was most recently accepted for publication at Tall Tale TV, Kaidankai, Black Petals, A Thin Line of Anxiety, Schlock, Inscape Litera...

Charles Stonebridge Born: 1965 Died: 2022 by Anne Hansell Anne Hansell is a third generation Japanese-American, and on her mother’s side, is related to General  Mitsunari Ishida who lost the Battle of Sekigahara to Tokugawa.  She's written many short stories since she was a child, and is a member of California Writers’ Club and Online Writing Workshop for SF, Fantasy and Horror. She lives with her...

Clazie Porter Born: February 4, 1999 Died: December 9, 2022 by Jen Schneider Jen Schneider is an educator who lives, writes, and works in small spaces throughout Pennsylvania. Recent works include A Collection of Recollections, Invisible Ink, On Habits & Habitats, and Blindfolds, Bruises, and Breakups. You can read "Clazie Porter" at https://www.whiteenso.com/ghost-stories-2022 Win a copy of "Mess...

Noah Findley Born: 1988 Died: 2008 by Travis Mushanski Travis Mushanski was born and raised on the Canadian Prairies where he works as a professional brewer in the craft beer industry. He graduated from the BA English program at the University of Regina where he focused on creative writing. He occasionally finds himself writing short fiction exploring the nightmares and horrors hiding just out of...

Claire Findley Born: 1969 Died: 2008 by Travis Mushanski Travis Mushanski was born and raised on the Canadian Prairies where he works as a professional brewer in the craft beer industry. He graduated from the BA English program at the University of Regina where he focused on creative writing. He occasionally finds himself writing short fiction exploring the nightmares and horrors hiding just out o...

Marcus Findley Born: 1965 Died: 1987 by Travis Mushanski Travis Mushanski was born and raised on the Canadian Prairies where he works as a professional brewer in the craft beer industry. He graduated from the BA English program at the University of Regina where he focused on creative writing. He occasionally finds himself writing short fiction exploring the nightmares and horrors hiding just out o...

Jane Davidson Born: 1962 Died: 2022 by Lou Normann Lou Normann credits Stan Lee, Rod Serling and TV episodes of Colombo as his inspiration for writing. The murder mystery thriller has been in his blood since he can remember. Telling stories came naturally from childhood. It was inevitable that his passion for words and language would turn into novels. You can read "Jane Davidson" at https://www.wh...