Preston writer says late ADHD diagnosis helped him create his collection of horror stories
Chris Carvalho, a lifelong film enthusiast, has drawn heavily from cinematic horror in his new collection, Seasons in the Abyss
A Preston writer has revealed a late ADHD diagnosis helped turn years of frustration into a new collection of 15 horror stories.
Chris Carvalho has officially released Seasons in the Abyss, a collection of standalone horror stories blending classic gothic atmosphere with modern, hard-hitting terror.
The book launch at The Harris was made particularly memorable by the surprise appearance of award-winning horror author Andrew Michael Hurley, best known for his acclaimed novel The Loney.
Chris admitted to being a little starstruck when Hurley arrived, bought a copy of Seasons in the Abyss and showed his support for the collection.
But behind the collection is a much more personal story.
In 2024, Chris was diagnosed with ADHD. Although writing had been his dream since childhood, maintaining focus and momentum had always been a struggle. With medication and a better understanding of how his mind works, he has finally been able to channel years of ideas into a finished, cohesive collection.
He said: “These are stories I’ve carried with me for a long time.
“Getting diagnosed changed everything. Once I could properly focus, I was able to shape them into what they were always meant to be.”
A lifelong film enthusiast with an undergraduate degree in film production, Chris draws heavily from cinematic horror. His first story, The End of Heartache, was inspired by The Phantom of the Opera, while his slasher-influenced tales echo the brutal energy of Friday the 13th and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
Other key influences include Suspiria and the wider filmography of Dario Argento, as well as genre-defining classics such as Hellraiser and The Exorcist. Their atmosphere, visual intensity and emotional weight have helped shape the tone of Seasons in the Abyss.
Music is equally central to the collection’s identity. Chris describes the book as being structured like an album, with each story offering a different emotional experience while contributing to a larger, unsettling whole.
“Some days you want something slow and creeping. Other days you want something that hits hard and fast. That’s how I built this book.”
Chris Carvalho, whose day job is in sales, spends his free time crafting dark, unsettling stories. Fascinated by all things horror, both in books and film, he draws inspiration from the macabre, the unknown and the unsettling edges of everyday life.
mond Literary Press, priced at £9.99, and is available to purchase from Amazon and all good bookshops.