Celebrating Women in Horror Month
(Part 1)
By
Kelli A. Wilkins
Hi everyone!
People usually associate February with
Valentine’s Day and romance… but did you know February is “Women in Horror”
month? To celebrate, I’m blogging about my latest horror release Surreal
Escapes, and two ghost stories, Dead ‘Til Dawn and Kropsy’s
Curse.
Here’s the summary and links to Surreal Escapes…
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 unusual 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://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DBWRLCB3
Other Platforms: https://books2read.com/u/b5ge7O
Putting together this collection of unusual short
stories was a special summer project of mine, and I hope readers enjoy this
trip into the surreal. The stories don’t fall into one set category, and range
from a bit spooky, to humorous, to… just about anything I can imagine. At the
end of each story, I explain how I came up with the idea, discuss the
characters, and/or give some insight into the plot or setting.
If you’re brave enough, spend a night in the land of
the dead with Dead ‘Til Dawn…
Dead ‘Til Dawn
Disturbing the dead doesn’t
prove you’re brave – it proves you’re stupid.
After touring Gettysburg
battlefield, Jessica, Tim, and Steve decide to sneak out to the Devil’s Den for
some late-night fun. Jessica’s friend Kathy objects, and warns them about
trespassing where they’re not wanted.
Undaunted by ghost stories and fueled by his own arrogance, Tim races toward
the Devil’s Den. When the group drives through mysterious battlefield fog, they
find themselves surrounded by Civil War soldiers looking for a little fun of
their own.
Kathy leaves the others to fend for themselves and flees to Little Round Top.
Although she’s rescued by a kindhearted Union solider named Charlie, she
refuses to believe what she’s experiencing is real. As the nighttime battle
rages on, Charlie introduces Kathy to other weary soldiers, and she quickly
realizes she’s trapped in the land of the dead until dawn.
Order
Dead ‘Til Dawn here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Til-Dawn-Civil-Horror-ebook/dp/B015LHI08A
All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/4X9aLb
Read
reviews here:
https://www.kelliwilkins.com/dead-til-dawn
So how did this story come about? Well, I
love writing psychological/creepy/spooky horror stories. And I also love
traveling to historic places—especially if they’re haunted.
This novella was inspired by actual events
that happened to me in Gettysburg, PA. I had a very unusual experience with
battlefield fog and I wanted to use it in a story. I wrote a true story account
of the incident, and it appeared in the Out of Time anthology. (You can
order Out of Time here: https://www.timberghostpress.com/out-of-time1.html)
Although I don’t consider myself a
“paranormal investigator” I love exploring haunted places and taking ghost
tours. Historic houses and “anything old and creepy” appeal to my imagination.
Is it any surprise that I love Halloween?
And because Halloween is my favorite
holiday, I wrote this Halloween-themed horror story…
Kropsy’s Curse
Late one Halloween night, two young boys
venture into a secluded graveyard in the hopes of conjuring up a spirit.
Although Kyle is skeptical and would rather be home eating candy and watching
horror movies, he reluctantly goes along with Jerry’s plan.
He doesn’t believe Ouija boards work—until
this one starts spelling out a message…
Kropsy’s Curse is only $1! Get
spooked here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kropsys-Curse-Kelli-Wilkins-ebook/dp/B014IAH848
All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/47kMYj
Read
reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/kropsy-s-curse
This piece of flash fiction came to me
when I was mulling over horror ideas. I actually came up with the (strange)
ending first, then built the rest of the story around it. I can’t give away any
more without spoiling the story, so you’ll have to read it for yourself.
I hope you enjoyed this look at some of my
horror fiction. Stay tuned for Part 2 of my “Women in Horror” blog. Until then,
you can visit the “Horror, Mystery & More” section of my site https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror to read about my other spooky
stories.
Happy Reading!
Kelli
A. Wilkins
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kelli A. Wilkins is an award-winning author who has
published more than 100 short stories, 20+ 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 latest release, For Love’s Sake, an epic
historical/fantasy romantic adventure, was published in January 2025.
In August 2024, she released Surreal
Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative/spooky stories. Anything can—and
does—happen in this anthology.
Kelli released her fourth gay romance, A
Thousand Summer Secrets, in April 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 May 2023.
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 and social media links.
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