Over the summer, I signed up to write a short story for a charity. This short story was to be published in a book. That book is now live and it is an international bestseller!
The Book
Title: Our Christmas Nook
Genre: Anthology/Mixed
Publisher: Fiery Vision Publishing
Charity: International Cat Society
Buy Link: mybook.to/OurChristmasNook
Blurb:
Enjoy this collection of holiday super short stories: these easy, quick reads are meant to entertain, introduce you to some new authors and get you in the holiday spirit. The challenge has been set for authors…four holiday-related prompts have been provided and authors respond by filling this collection with super short stories (max 5,000 words). Mixed genres, mixed point-of-views, there’s something in this collection for everyone!
Which stories will you explore first?
1. It’s Christmas Eve and you’re stranded in the airport. Televisions displaying all the outgoing flights suddenly display “cancelled, cancelled, cancelled.” There’s no getting out of this town tonight, not with a blizzard on the way, and certainly not in time for Christmas with your family…
2. Wrapping presents has always been a favorite pastime, but this Christmas while wrapping, you look out the window and notice the good-looking postman’s gloves are holey and the soles on his boots are worn out. Suddenly, you’re filled with an urge to do something nice for him, but what? Giving him gloves would be too obvious since you noticed he needed them. Perhaps you should ask him out on a date or make him dinner?
3. On December 1st, you pull into your garage for the evening and notice an oddly-shaped, wrapped present has been left for you. Upon further examination, the tag has your name on it, with a note not to open until Christmas…
4. Grandfather always told me this snow globe was magic. So, I finally decided to give it a shake and see for myself…
This book offered four prompts to write to. I chose the prompt about the magic snow globe. My twisted take is titled “Shake.”
Story Blurb: “Only shake it on Christmas Eve,” Ashley’s grandpa always told her, but she loves it so much, she’s having a hard time resisting its call. When things start to go disastrously wrong, is it just coincidence or does that little elf with the chipper smile and the swirling snow have something to do with it?
Excerpt from Shake:
“Did you hear any disturbances last night?”
Ashley started to answer, then stopped. She let her mind drift over last night. Finally, she answered, “No, I heard nothing unusual.”
“Nothing unusual. What are ‘usual’ sounds?”
Ashley shrugged. “You know—cars passing, doors closing, that sort of thing.”
“Oh, okay, thank you.” Officer Pettigrew withdrew.
“Officer Pettigrew?”
“Yes?” He turned back around.
“What happened?”
“Mr. Groves has multiple stab wounds. We’re unsure if they are self-inflicted or if he was attacked. There are no signs of a break-in and only minimal signs of a struggle. Please make yourself available should we have any more questions.”
“I will, thank you, Officer.”
Stunned, Ashley shut the door. The small snow globe caught her eye. The elf still held the Merry Christmas banner up, and his permanent smile gleamed in the light. She bent down and stuck her nose against the glass. “Did you have something to do with this?”
The elf made no movement. No fake snow shifted along the bottom. Ashley laughed.
“I’m crazy. Talking to the elf as if he can hear me. It’s a toy, a freaking toy.”
“Just don’t shake it,” she heard Grandpa say.
Ashley startled. “I know, I know, not before Christmas.”
