About the Book
What lies just beyond the edge of perception? What horrors wait in the places we pretend not to see?
The Unknown is a collection of thirteen psychological horror stories that peel back the comforting layers of reality to expose something far more disturbing beneath. In these pages, the ordinary is a lie, memory is a trickster, and belief is a doorway to something dark.
These are not ghost stories. These are not monsters you can name. These are encounters with the unexplainable—the cracks in the world where logic fails and dread takes root.
Once you enter The Unknown, nothing is safe. Not your past. Not your memories. Not even your mind.
About the Author
Shantay Nicole Ballard — known to some as Shanny — is a storyteller who lingers in the shadows between thought and nightmare. Enchanted by the mysterious and captivated by the unknown, she thrives in the space where imagination dances with fear. Fascinated by the unseen, the unexplained, and the quietly horrific, she delves deep into the fragile boundaries of sanity and the eerie quiet of psychological unraveling, weaving tales that resonate with those who dare to look closer.
Her stories do not shout. They whisper. They creep in, subtle and strange, threading themselves through the reader’s mind with quiet persistence. With a touch that is haunting yet delicate, Shanny draws her inspiration from places few dare to look — the liminal spaces of memory, the things glimpsed in passing, and the tension that coils beneath the surface of everyday life. For her, horror is not always loud or grotesque. Often, it is familiar, unsettlingly so. Often, it wears a human face, one that is both recognizable and impossibly distant.
Qn 1: Can you tell us more about your book What is it about?
Thirteen tales. No clear answers, only questions lingering in the shadows, waiting to be uncovered and challenging everything you think you know.
In The Unknown, the ordinary transforms into something far more unsettling, a realm where nothing is as it seems. These are stories crafted for readers who are drawn to the thrill of exploring what exists just beyond the veil — the unknown that lingers in flickers of forgotten memory, in the grainy static on the line that seems to whisper secrets, or in the eerie, shadowed corners of a room you swear you’ve never entered before, yet somehow feels hauntingly familiar.
Each tale also delves into the human psyche, peeling back the intricate layers of fear, curiosity, and vulnerability that compel us to question our perception of reality. What happens when we confront our deepest anxieties head-on, facing the shadows we spend our lives trying to avoid? The Unknown doesn’t just bring the supernatural to life; it exposes the raw, emotional truths hidden within chaos, daring readers to venture into the darkest parts of themselves, where clarity and terror intertwine.
Qn 2: Who do you think would be interested in this book, is it directed at any particular market?
Readers who love subtle, unsettling horror that lingers instead of relying on gore. They want to feel disturbed, not just scared. People who enjoy short, strange stories where reality twists and the ending leaves you unsettled.
Qn 3: Out of all the books in the world, and all the authors, which are your favourite and why?
James Patterson’s BookShots. I can still remember pulling one from the shelf and being struck by how compact it was. These weren’t sprawling novels that demanded weeks of reading. Instead, they were sharp, fast-paced stories you could finish in a single sitting.
That format fascinated me. It proved that a story didn’t need hundreds of pages to pull you in, twist your emotions, and leave you thinking long after you closed the book. The power was in the precision—every word mattered, every scene carried weight.
As I continued reading them, something began to click. I realized that I didn’t just enjoy consuming short, impactful stories—I wanted to create my own. But my voice, naturally, leaned darker. My imagination has always been drawn to the unsettling corners of the human mind, the shadows we avoid, and the questions that linger long after the lights go out.
Qn 4: What guidance would you offer to someone new, or trying to enhance their writing?
Fear, doubt, loss, and longing—these are universal. Pull from your own memories and emotions, then exaggerate or twist them for your story. Even the strangest horror feels more real when it’s rooted in authentic emotion. Your unique voice—the quirks, the darkness, the way you see the world—is what makes your writing stand out. Nurture it, even if it feels strange at first.
Qn 5: Where can our readers find out more about you, do you have a website, or a way to be contacted?
For inquiries about book signings, writing commissions, or general questions, please do not hesitate to visit us at snballardbooks.com.
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