Ready for Some Holiday Havoc?
by Kelli A. Wilkins
Hi everyone!
Quick question: 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!
That’s the premise of my short story, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg.
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.
I wrote “Holiday Havoc” in response to the ever-encroaching Christmas merchandise that hits store shelves earlier and earlier each year. One October day I was in a store admiring the cute black cats and other Halloween décor…. Then I went around the corner and found myself lost in a forest of artificial Christmas trees.
I have nothing against Christmas, and I know retailers are putting merch out earlier every year to get sales, but really? Can’t they wait til November 1 at least? Give us our Halloween at least through Halloween!
“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 (okay, several points). It’s also one of seven speculative/spooky stories that appears 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:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Ya0h74
Other Platforms: https://books2read.com/u/b5ge7O
If you’re looking for a few quick, unusual reads this holiday season, why not give these short stories a try? They’re perfect for a lunchtime break or a short escape from the holiday hustle.
And if you love 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
Meet the Author:
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has published more than 100 short stories, 24 romance novels, and 8 mystery/horror ebooks. Her romances span many genres and settings, and she likes to scare readers with her horror and mystery stories.
Her twenty-fourth romance, For Love’s Sake, an epic historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in January 2025.
In 2024, she released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and does—happen in this anthology.
Kelli also released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, in 2024. This tender contemporary romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance.
She published The Route 9 Killer, a mystery/thriller set in Central NJ, in 2023. Look for a follow-up story coming in 2026!
Follow Kelli on her Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKelliWilkins and visit her website www.KelliWilkins.com for a full title list and social media links.
This post contains affiliate links.
If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.
Thank you for supporting Sapphyria’s Books.
