Photos from Winter Hauntings were taken by local talent L. Terrell Gould, III.

A risk worth taking

When I first set out to organize Winter Hauntings in 2023, I’d never coordinated a writing contest with judges and radio ads and cash prizes, much less planned an event around one. I had a secret weapon, though: experience serving on the Carteret Writers board and working on the group’s conference planning committees—where I’d seen first-hand what it takes to pull off a successful literary gathering. That background gave me just enough confidence to take a risk on my own vision for a ghost story contest. The first Winter Hauntings was a scrappy, bare-bones affair: a small gathering at the cozy Morehead City Train Depot, a single microphone and a speaker with about as much juice as your third mimosa at Sunday brunch, and no atmospheric lighting to set the mood. But the stories and the audience made it clear—something magical was in the making.

When Carteret Community Theatre offered us their temporary venue at Atlantic Station in Atlantic Beach for our second year, I knew this was our chance to level up. Rebekah Brooks, the theater’s dynamic business manager, and I immediately started brainstorming ways to make this Winter Hauntings more immersive and memorable. With the expanded space and the theater’s new sound and light board, we could play with special FX to create an experience that felt as theatrical as it was literary. It also gave us room to introduce something new—the Skull-astic Book Fair, a lively pre-show gathering where authors and booksellers like Tom Kies of Geneva Chase fame and Tara Sandmann of the Beaufort Bookworm connected with readers before the lights dimmed and the ghost stories began.

A team effort with talented hands at work

What started as a simple storytelling event has grown into a full-fledged literary experience, and I couldn’t have asked for a better team to bring it to life. In addition to the talent the theater brought, my husband Jack and current CW board member Marjorie Peltier played pivotal roles—Jack behind the scenes coordinating logistics and technology, and Marjorie providing the steady support that kept everything running smoothly. Melissa Kelley, a past CW president, lent her enthusiasm and artistic eye, coming in on her own time to create an atmospheric set that immersed guests in the storytelling before the first word was spoken. Emily Carter, former CW Veep and next EPIC Carteret host, took the stage during our Haunted Halftime Act, alongside her husband John “Smokin’ Hot Love Biscuit” Carter, who performed original ghostly ballads they’d written especially for the occasion.

Spotlight on the writers

The stars of the night, however, were undoubtedly the top three tales from the 2024 Winter Hauntings Ghost Story Contest, performed with all the depth and nuance they deserve, in front of a rapt audience of more than 100 local literature lovers. “A Taste of Robins,” our grand prize winner by CW Secretary Jessi Waugh, was delivered with feathery fanfare by Alex Russell. “The ‘Stacks” by Mike Barton was brought to life by Matt Brooks and Heidi Skinner’s story “A Different Perspective on Silhouettes” was rendered lovingly by Kimberly Murdoch.

Winter Hauntings gives our top contenders a rare opportunity—to sit back and experience their own work as the audience did, feeling the collective shiver at just the right moment, hearing the gasps, the laughter, the hushed silences. And the best part? These stories didn’t vanish with the daylight like spectral presences. Tucked into our magazine-quality souvenir program, their work along with stories by Don Sheldon and Doug Miron, who earned honorable mentions, will continue to reach new readers long after the night is a distant memory.

Building a local literary legacy

This is one of my favorite parts of Winter Hauntings—and one of the reasons I created it in the first place. I love introducing people to stories and writers I admire, and nothing makes me happier than seeing someone walk away from an event like this, talking about how much they loved a particular story or how they want to read more from a writer they just discovered. That’s the kind of moment that builds literary careers, sparks new creative relationships, and strengthens the cultural landscape of our community, which is why we also took the opportunity to mark the soft launch of Planck Length Publishing, a new venture co-founded by myself, Jack, and Marjorie. While we’re still in the business development phase and not yet accepting submissions, we’re excited about the future. Our plans include providing platforms for speculative fiction that challenges and inspires, offering workshops and more literary events like Winter Hauntings, and creating more opportunities for talented local writers to publish and showcase their work via EPIC Carteret.

What can Carteret Writers do for you?

Looking back, I realize how much of what made this event successful came from what I learned during my time on the Carteret Writers board. Planning conferences, organizing workshops, and working alongside fellow writers taught me skills I never expected to use for something like Winter Hauntings, but that experience made all the difference. If you’re thinking about getting more involved with Carteret Writers—whether by serving on the board, joining a committee, or simply lending a hand with marketing, promotions, or events—know that the time you invest pays off in ways you can’t always predict. You might even find yourself at the helm of something you never imagined, bringing stories to life in ways you never expected.

Want to be part of the action?

Whether you want to help shape the next Winter Hauntings, support emerging writers, or simply stay in the loop about future literary events, there are plenty of ways to get involved!

  • Join Carteret Writers to connect with fellow storytellers, participate in contests, and gain experience planning exciting literary events like this one.
  • Relive the Magic of Winter Hauntings—Check out our event highlights, photos, and stories from the night at EPIC Carteret.
  • Discover What’s Next—Planck Length Publishing is just getting started, and we have big plans for speculative fiction, new publishing opportunities, and workshops. Follow along as we build something brand new for writers.