The Author's Desk

3D rendering of the book

2010 KVUE Interview: The Empty Lot Next Door & Candle Face

In this journal entry, I share the 2010 KVUE News interview that brought my childhood haunting, and Candle Face, to public attention for the first...

Arthur Mills
Dark blue handprint from Arthur Mills' memoir, The Empty Lot Next Door.

The Empty Lot Next Door: Is Now Available as an Audiobook

This entry announces the release of The Empty Lot Next Door: Second Edition as an audiobook, narrated by Adharsh McCabe. His performance captures the fear...

Arthur Mills
Candle Face, a haunting, shadowy figure with a charred, skeletal face speaks into a metallic microphone against a dark background. The image represents the audiobook release of The Empty Lot Next Door by Branching Plot Books.

The Empty Lot Next Door: The Making of an Audiobook

My memoir, The Empty Lot Next Door: More Than A Ghost Story – Second Edition, is being produced as an audiobook and is expected to...

Arthur Mills
Wooden blocks spell out 'BULLYING' on a wooden surface with a blurred green background. Image titled 'The Empty Lot Next Door - Self-Defense vs. Submission.'

The Empty Lot Next Door - Self-Defense vs. Submission

This entry reflects on the difference between Ricky’s response to bullying and mine. Ricky chose not to fight back, even when Andre, Carlos, Dan, or...

Arthur Mills
Ray Mills, a young boy with wavy light brown hair and a warm smile, dressed in a tan blazer over a white collared shirt. Image titled 'Ray Mills - The Empty Lot Next Door.'

From Ray to Arthur Mills: A Story of Growth and Change

This entry is about my role in The Empty Lot Next Door. I talk about my struggle to step out of Ricky’s shadow and define...

Arthur Mills
Video screenshot of a puppet-like figure with a white mask, red spiral cheeks, and black hair, wearing a black suit with a red bowtie. Image titled 'The Empty Lot Next Door: Arthur Mills' Haunting Childhood.

The Empty Lot Next Door: Arthur Mills' Haunting Childhood

Arthur Mills shares his real-world encounters with Candle Face, a ghost whose terrifying presence transformed his childhood into a relentless nightmare. Through his book, The...

Arthur Mills
The decaying treehouse from The Empty Lot Next Doo was a place of childhood adventure turned into a haunting reminder of Candle Face’s presence.

Nostalgia and Nightmares in The Empty Lot Next Door

This entry reflects on the real treehouse in the empty lot. It didn’t match the sketch shown in The Empty Lot Next Door, but it...

Arthur Mills
A family portrait featuring Ray's mother and three older brothers, with blurred faces for privacy. This image relates to The Empty Lot Next Door, capturing a moment from Ray’s childhood and the family dynamic that shaped his experiences.

A Mother’s Love In The Empty Lot Next Door

This entry looks at my mother’s role in The Empty Lot Next Door. She worked tirelessly to keep us housed and fed, but her sacrifices...

Arthur Mills
A blackened, distorted handprint pressed against a foggy glass surface. The imprint evokes the presence of Candle Face, hinting at her lingering influence and the fear she instills.

The Haunting of Childhood: Horror in The Empty Lot Next Door

This entry looks at The Empty Lot Next Door through my own experiences. Candle Face is more than a ghost. She represents both something supernatural...

Arthur Mills
An errie depiction of the tree house in The Empty Lot Next Door by Arthur Mills.

The Empty Lot Next Door: Adult and Child Views

This entry reflects on how The Empty Lot Next Door changes depending on who is reading it. Adults may see a story about childhood trauma,...

Arthur Mills
Listening to Readers: The Revised Use of Foreshadowing

Listening to Readers: The Revised Use of Foreshadowing

This entry reflects on the role of foreshadowing in The Empty Lot Next Door. In the first edition, I used it often to build suspense...

Arthur Mills
A childhood photo from The Empty Lot Next Door featuring Ricky, Ray (the author), and their dog, Tiny. A snapshot of the past tied to the haunting events described in the book.

Exploring Sibling Relationships in The Empty Lot Next Door

This entry looks at sibling situations in The Empty Lot Next Door. Dan and Felix’s reckless behavior brought fear and conflict into our home, and...

Arthur Mills
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