Tis the Season for Some Holiday Havoc!
Hi everyone!
Welcome to the “holiday season”—that special time of year when Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas all intersect in stores. Yes, I know the Halloween merch is mostly gone now, but for a few short weeks in October, you could find spooky ghosts and seven-foot inflatable Santas sharing one aisle.
One year, this “blending” got me thinking: What do you get when you drop a Halloween-loving retail worker in the middle of a battle between Sam Hain and Santa?
Holiday Havoc!
I wrote “Holiday Havoc” in response to the ever-encroaching Christmas merchandise that hits store shelves earlier and earlier each year. In my story, Kira is having a typical, horrible day at her dead-end retail job… when all of a sudden she becomes embroiled in a seasonal battle of epic (and amusing) proportions. Decorations from both sides of the holiday war come to life and fight for store supremacy—until they realize who the REAL enemy is.
“Holiday Havoc” is a bit unusual (okay, the story is as strange as hell), and blends a bit of horror with my wacky, off-beat humor to make a point (or several points). It’s also one of seven speculative/spooky stories that appear in my short story collection, Surreal Escapes.
In this anthology, ordinary people start off having an average, normal day… until they encounter the world of the surreal. They’ve entered another realm where anything can—and does—happen.
Authors are always asked, “Where do you get your ideas?” so I included a brief note at the end of each story (as I did in my sci-fi anthology, Extraterrestrial Encounters), explaining what inspired me to write it, where I got the idea, or general comments about the plot or the characters.
Some of these stories are humorous, some will make you think, and others might unnerve you a bit, but they will all take you on a journey into the surreal for a little while.
Here’s the book summary and links:
Surreal Escapes - 7 Speculative Stories
Are you ready to take a journey into the unexpected?
In these 7 speculative stories, ordinary people start off having an average, normal day… until they encounter the world of the surreal. They quickly realize they’re in another realm where anything can—and does—happen.
Some of these tales include:
“Holiday Havoc” – The night shift in a retail store hosts the ultimate Halloween vs. Christmas showdown
“Little Boy Lost” – After several strange incidents, Beverly suspects her son’s imaginary friend isn’t so imaginary
“The Man in Apt. 3-A” – What do you do when you discover your neighbor is a vampire?
“Whispers from the Past” – Not all ghosts are scary… or strangers
This collection of short fiction will unnerve you, spark your imagination, and make you wonder what else is possible in the world of the surreal.
Order your copy here:
Other Platforms: https://books2read.com/u/b5ge7O
If you love Halloween or you are looking for a few quick, unusual reads, why not give these short stories a try? They’re perfect for a lunchtime break or a short escape from the holiday hustle.
For more mysteries and/or spooky stories, visit the Horror, Mystery & More page on my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror
Or visit my Amazon Author page for a full title list, book links, and more: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins
I welcome questions and comments from readers. If you’ve read one of my books, let me know which one you loved best and why.
Enjoy the rest of the year!
Kelli A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 24 romance novels, and 9 mystery/thriller/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror, mystery, and thriller fiction.
Kelli’s story “Neighborhood Watch” was included in the Witches Save the World: Covens, Cauldrons and Curses Gone Right anthology published by Gorgon’s Gaze Press. Read more about it on her site or here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HBPGVBNS
Her latest mystery/thriller, The Route 9 Stalker, is set in Central NJ and follows Detective Jim Rourke on a disturbing new case. Meet him for the first time in The Route 9 Killer.
Kelli published For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure, in 2025.
In 2024, she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.
Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website/blog www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list, social media links, and more.
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