For 18 years, Ginger Nuts of Horror has been a voice the horror genre refused to silence. Now we need your help to keep the server running.
I’m Jim Mcleod, the founder of Ginger Nuts of Horror. I started this website on a whim while recovering from surgery, heavily medicated, and looking for something to do. I thought the name was funny. I never imagined it would become what it is today: Europe’s largest independent horror review outlet, a British Fantasy Award nominee, A Prestige Awards Winner for Best Independent Review Platform, and a genuine lifeline for horror creators.
But here’s the truth no one likes to talk about. Running an independent website costs real money. Domain renewals. Security plugins. Backup services. And the biggest of all – hosting fees.
It didn’t.
This year, the hosting fee for Ginger Nuts of Horror on Hosting.com is $320. That’s less than the price of a gaming console. It’s less than a night out. But right now, it might as well be a mountain. I’ve already sunk thousands into keeping this site alive – migrations, repairs, the cost of moving away from a site‑killing hyperlink attack that wrecked our SEO. The old site, a fifteen‑year archive of horror journalism, is now a parked memory. The new site rose from those ashes, and it’s stronger. But it isn’t free.
So I’m finally asking. Help me pay this bill.
What Your Money Will Pay For
The total goal is $320. Every single cent goes directly to Hosting.com for the next twelve months of server space. I will post a public update with a screenshot of the paid invoice so everyone can see exactly where the money went. No administration fees. No “operational costs.” Just the bill.
If we raise more than $320 – and that’s a beautiful problem to have – the surplus will go toward:
- Premium security plugins to prevent another hyperlink attack
- A faster CDN (content delivery network) for international readers
- One year of scheduled backups so the site never dies again
In the last 12 months alone, GNoH has:
- Published over 200 book reviews, treating debut indie authors with the same seriousness as household names
- Championed debut novelists who later credited a single GNoH feature with landing them a literary agent
And here’s what people say about us:
“Ginger Nuts of Horror is a lifeline for horror creators.” – William J. Donahue
“The world is better with the Ginger Nuts in it.” – Alan Baxter
“A powerhouse of horror.” – Stuart Keane
These aren’t vanity quotes. They are the truth. And they will become eulogies if this site goes dark over $320.
Why I’m Embarrassed to Ask – And Why I’m Asking Anyway
I hate this. I hate writing “please donate.” I’m a reviewer, not a beggar.
But the alternative is silence. And silence is the one horror this website was built to fight.
So here I am. If you have ever discovered a new favourite author on GNoH, if you have ever argued with a review in the comments, if you have ever felt less alone because a weird Scottish horror blog validated your taste for the dark and strange – please give what you can. Nothing is too small.
Transparency Pledge
- Every donation is recorded. I will post a public update showing the total raised and the Hosting.com invoice.
- If we exceed the goal, I will post a second update detailing exactly how the surplus is spent.
- If – god forbid – we don’t reach the goal, all donations will still go directly to hosting costs, and I will cover the remaining difference myself. No one’s money is wasted.
Rewards (The Small Things I Can Offer)
I can’t offer luxury gifts. I’m a guy with a laptop and a horror obsession. But I can offer this:
Any donation $5+ – A public thank‑you on the GNoH social media channels (with your permission)
Any donation $15+ – A handwritten “thank you for keeping horror alive” postcard mailed to you, along with an exclusive Ginger Nuts Sticker
Any donation $25+ – Your name listed on a permanent “Keepers of the Ginger Nuts” supporter page on the website,
Any donation $50+ – A personalised mini‑review of any horror book you choose, a great chance to get a friend’s book reviewed, published on the site with your dedication, plus a personalised postcard, a Ginger Nuts of Horror Badge and a sticker
For the $15 and above pledge levels, please email your address
How to Share This Campaign
Even if you can’t donate, you can save this website. Share the link on Facebook, Bluesky, Instagram, Reddit’s horror communities, your own blog, or just email it to a friend who loves horror. Word of mouth is how GNoH survived eighteen years. It’s how we’ll survive this.
The Bottom Line
$320. That’s all that stands between eighteen years of horror journalism and the digital graveyard.
I’ve given everything to this website. Now I’m asking you to help give a little back.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for caring. And thank you for every review you’ve ever clicked on, every author you’ve supported, every argument you’ve started in the comments. That’s the real horror community. Let’s keep it alive.
Donate now. Share this campaign. Keep the Ginger Nuts burning.
– Jim “The Don” Mcleod
Founder, Ginger Nuts of Horror
