The Empty Lot Next Door

Do You Believe in Ghosts?

Whether you believe or not, my traumatic real-life experiences in The Empty Lot Next Door will make you question the nature of reality. Discover who Candle Face was, how she taunted me, and how she transformed my childhood into a living nightmare.

Cover of The Empty Lot Next Door (Second Edition) by Arthur Mills. Features a ghostly handprint on a fogged window, symbolizing the haunting based on real events.

Based on True Events of a Haunting in Austin, Texas

The investigation into Candle Face didn’t start with Candle Face Chronicles, it started with my childhood haunting. The Empty Lot Next Door is my award-winning memoir that first introduced Candle Face, drawn from real experiences growing up in Austin in the 1970s and 80s. What began as a terrifying memory became the foundation for everything that followed.

The Second Edition: More Truth, More Terror

My much-acclaimed memoir, The Empty Lot Next Door (originally published in 2010), returns in a more terrifying second edition released in 2023. While the original captivated young readers worldwide, I’ve reimagined this new version to unsettle even the most seasoned horror fans. I've carefully reworked the story to reflect actual events, deepening the psychological tension and heightening the vivid imagery.

Candle Face straddles Ray in his bed, her burned, twisted form wrapping a belt around his neck as he struggles beneath her grip—caught between fear and paralysis.
A scary, abandoned treehouse perched atop the twisted roots of a gnarled tree in the empty lot next door, its decaying structure looming as bats circle overhead.

The Empty Lot Next Door Storyline

When I was young, my family excitedly moved into a new house next to an unusual vacant lot in our Austin neighborhood. A strange, deep hole lay mysteriously at the back of that lot, the site of a home destroyed by fire years before. At first, the empty lot was just an exciting playground where my new friends and I played. But soon, I learned the unsettling story behind it—that a little girl had died in the flames there. According to neighborhood legend, anyone who jumped into the hole would be haunted by her restless spirit.

Drawn by curiosity, I recklessly challenged the legend and became haunted by that same little girl. I called her Candle Face because of her scorched face and body. Soon, Candle Face began invading my dreams, leaving handprints and disturbing signs around our home—even when I was awake.

Yet, The Empty Lot Next Door is more than just my ghost story. It's also about the loneliness I felt as a child, unable to share my fears with my family, who were overwhelmed by their own struggles. I quietly tried to understand my frightening reality, afraid to burden anyone with my secret terrors. Ultimately, my memoir shows how a childhood filled with silence can haunt far longer and deeper than any ghost.

What the Critics Are Saying

Critics agree that The Empty Lot Next Door is a ghost story at its finest, perhaps all the more so because it’s a true story. Professional book critic Lisa McCurley says, “After the first night of sleeping with the light on, I ended up taking off two afternoons from work to finish it which is all it took because I couldn’t put this book down.” Kirkus Reviews agrees, “In a coming-of-age story that’s well paced and layered with emotion, Mills creates moments of true suspense through guileless prose as he unearths a family tragedy.” Anyone who enjoys being scared or wants to investigate whether ghosts are real will add The Empty Lot Next Door to the must-read list.

Candle Face, her gaunt figure draped in tattered robes, reaches out from the depths of a dark pit—lurking near the cursed tree and the remnants of a forgotten past.
Ray struggles to escape as Candle Face, her charred and decayed form rising from the water, grabs his legs and drags him toward the depths.

Award-Winning Book

In The Empty Lot Next Door, I revisit haunting childhood experiences, capturing not only the terror of supernatural events but also the emotional struggles of isolation, sibling abuse, and neglect. My story reveals how loneliness and fear can amplify both imagined and very real dangers, turning everyday life into something quietly terrifying.

Reviewers Choice Awards (First Edition)

​* Kids Award for Best Teen / Young Adult Book of the Year
* Teen (12-16) – First Place
* Regional South – First Place
* Parenting, Family, and Relationships – Honorable Mention

Explore the Haunting Imagery of The Empty Lot Next Door

The Empty Lot Next Door includes 49 original illustrations, bringing its haunting story vividly to life.

The decaying treehouse from The Empty Lot Next Door—a place of childhood adventure turned into a haunting reminder of Candle Face’s presence.

The Tree House in the Empty Lot Next Door

Rich with mystery, The Empty Lot Next Door features a secretive treehouse where childhood innocence confronts haunting nightmares.

Candle Face pinches Ray’s nose and mouth shut, silencing him in the dead of night—one of the most terrifying encounters from The Empty Lot Next Door.

Silenced by Candle Face

In a disturbing scene, Candle Face pinches my nose and mouth shut, forcing silence.

Ray and his friends gather around the mysterious hole in The Empty Lot Next Door, talking about the family who perished in the fire—the beginning of Candle Face’s haunting legacy.

Stories at the Edge of the Hole

My friends and I gather around the hole in the empty lot next door, sharing stories about how the family died in the fire.

KVUE News Feature, Austin (2010)

Main Characters, Places, and Symbolic Elements

These characters, locations, and symbolic details deepen the story, inviting readers to experience the hidden fears and secrets firsthand.

Candle Face is a symbolic or supernatural figure who represents my fears, trauma, and the lingering impact of my childhood experiences.

Throughout the story, Candle Face’s true nature and intentions remain unclear, leaving readers to wonder if she's a creation of my imagination, a genuine supernatural being, or a manifestation of repressed trauma. This uncertainty adds tension and allows room for interpretation, becoming the driving force behind my personal journey toward closure and understanding.

Despite many traumatic experiences, Ricky remains silent, even in the presence of his family. His internalized pain and reluctance to speak about his feelings or defend himself are defining aspects of his character.​

Ricky can be seen as a symbol of innocence lost and the vulnerability of childhood. His creative spirit mixed with his traumatic experiences, underscores the story's themes of the supernatural and the psychological impact of fear.

I’m Ricky’s younger brother and the one haunted by Candle Face. As both the narrator and an active participant in the story’s events, I offer introspective commentary and personal insight into the emotions and relationships involved. Throughout my journey, I evolve as I search for answers to the mysteries of Candle Face and the traumatic experiences I witnessed, driving the story forward and exploring its supernatural aspects.

Griffin was my brother Ricky's imaginary friend, acting as his protector and source of comfort. He also symbolized the tragedy and lost innocence of our childhood. Griffin's presence deepened the confusion surrounding Candle Face and the traumatic events we experienced. Ultimately, discovering Griffin's true significance brought me closure and helped me understand our past.

The empty lot next door was a place filled with mystery and intrigue throughout my childhood. It became the center of countless rumors and legends among my brother Ricky, our friends, and me. Stories of hauntings and tragedy surrounded it, creating uncertainty and curiosity. This vacant lot was central to my exploration of the past and the strange events I experienced, ultimately symbolizing my journey toward self-discovery and closure.

The handprint symbolized the supernatural and the lingering power of my childhood traumas and memories. It marked the disturbing presence of Candle Face, triggering fear, confusion, and deep emotional turmoil in my life. The handprint represented questions I could never fully answer, leaving me haunted by uncertainty and a lingering sense that some mysteries would always remain beyond my understanding.

Get Your Signed Copy!

Cover of The Empty Lot Next Door (Second Edition) by Arthur Mills. Features a ghostly handprint on a fogged window, symbolizing the haunting based on real events.
Back cover of The Empty Lot Next Door by Arthur Mills—a deeply personal story blending childhood terror, real-life trauma, and the ghostly presence of Candle Face.
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Do You Believe in Ghosts? Whether you believe or not, my traumatic real-life experiences in The Empty Lot Next Door will make you question the nature of reality. Discover who Candle Face was, how she taunted me, and how she transformed my childhood into a living nightmare.   Based on... Read More

Also Available on Amazon

You can purchase The Empty Lot Next Door directly from my Shopify store or from Amazon—each option has its advantages. Buying here means you'll receive a personally signed copy and directly support me as an indie author, since Amazon takes a significant percentage of sales and doesn't offer signed copies. However, Amazon provides faster and sometimes free shipping, plus easy returns, whereas signed copies from my Shopify store are non-returnable. The choice is yours, and I appreciate your support either way!

Testimonials

Amazon Review

I didn’t expect “The Empty Lot Next Door” by Arthur Mills to impact me as deeply as it did. On the surface, it’s a ghost story with a terrifying premise—Ray’s haunting by the burned girl, “Candle Face,” gave me chills more than once—but the book is so much more than that. It’s also a heartfelt and honest exploration of childhood, loneliness, and the emotional scars that form when children are left to navigate life’s challenges on their own.

Amazon Review

The Empty Lot Next Door is an eerie and deeply emotional coming-of-age tale that blends the supernatural with raw human experiences. Arthur Mills’ true-life account of Candle Face is haunting, gripping, and impossible to put down.

Amazon Review

well written and very spooky. I like the suspense and the edge of your seat narrative that the author thoughtfully and mesmerizingly lays out for the reader. once you start reading it, you might not want to put it down until you have finished it. very intriguing.