Carol Willis

Novelist, Short Story Writer & Essayist

Crafting psychological thrillers, speculative fiction, and literary narratives that explore the human condition. From the shadows of mystery to the depths of the soul—sometimes with a ghost or two along the way.

Latest News

November 2025

The Summer I Was Accused of Murder

A quirky coming-of-age story set in the Rocky Mountains. If you are nostalgic for the mid-1980s and enjoy a darkly humorous story of crime and misdemeanors, you don't want to miss this one. Coming in Crimeucopia's anthology, You Ain't Read Nothin' Yet.

April 2025

Face of Humanity

Amid a global war, two brothers pause to bury a fallen comrade, grappling with loss and the weight of their own choices. Sometimes, the fiercest battles are the ones fought within. Now available in Volume 9 Artificial Intelligence at War.

Read at Bullet Points →

February 2025

What is a Thriller? - Virtual Presentation

A special presentation for the Central Virginia Chapter of Sisters in Crime exploring the world of thrillers and the craft of creating psychological suspense. Drawing from my journey as a former pathologist turned full-time writer.

Now Available

The Golden Girl

A darkly evocative story of murder included in the anthology Crimes in the Old Dominion, put together by Central Virginia's Chapter of Sisters in Crime. Available in print and ebook.

Get the Anthology →

Essays on Craft

Follow my series of essays on psychological thrillers at Killer Nashville Magazine, exploring the elements that make stories captivate and terrify.

What is A Thriller?

Read Essay →

Five Key Elements in a Psychological Thriller

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It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: Effective Use of Weather to Create Tension

Read Essay →

Published Stories

Something Extraordinary

Inlandia Journal

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High Hopes

Mulberry Literary

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Plainsong

Cowboy Jamboree Magazine

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Fluctuat nec mergitur

Valparaiso Fiction Review

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Unmet Expectations

Quail Bell Magazine

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The Laws of Attraction

Literally Stories

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Love-all

NiftyLit

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The Hundred Thousand Things

Unlikely Stories

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Cold Comfort

The Worlds Within

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A Responsible Man

Dark Horses Magazine

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School's Out Forever

Living Crue Magazine

A story near and dear to my heart, inspired by the place I grew up.

The Weird Ghosts of Lanark Manor

The Horror Tree - Trembling With Fear Series

Read Series →

About Carol

Born and raised in Charleston, West Virginia, I have traveled an unconventional path to the writing life. After receiving my medical doctorate from Texas A&M University College of Medicine and completing a residency in Child Health from the University of Missouri, I practiced pediatrics before pivoting to pathology with a residency at Vanderbilt University. I also obtained an MBA in Healthcare from George Washington University.

My medical career took me from Texas to Western Nebraska to Chicago, before I settled in central Virginia with my husband. It was here that I fully embraced my calling as a writer, earning an MFA in Writing from the Vermont College of Fine Arts.

I write across all genres for adults and children, though you'll almost always find a dead body or a ghost in my work—and sometimes both. My stories often contain speculative elements and explore the darker corners of the human psyche. I have completed a contemporary adult psychological thriller and crime suspense novel, two novels for middle grade readers, and a science fiction saga for young adults.

Professional Memberships

Sisters in Crime • International Thriller Writers • Poets and Writers, Inc. • The Authors Guild

Let's Connect

What are you reading? Any favorites? Any writing tips about craft or inspiration? Any great movies or series you want to share? I'd love to hear from you.

Get in Touch