Guest Author Day: Kelli A. Wilkins & Spooky Sci-fi Spotlight on… Extraterrestrial Encounters

 

Spooky Sci-fi Spotlight on… Extraterrestrial Encounters

By Kelli A. Wilkins

www.KelliWilkins.com

 

Hi everyone!

Halloween will be here before we know it, so why not start reading some spooky sci-fi stories to get in the mood? Today I’m sharing a look at my sci-fi anthology, Extraterrestrial Encounters: A Collection of Sci-Fi Stories.

Right now you might be asking yourself, “Wait… What? Sci-fi? Don’t you write romances and horror stories?”

Well, yes. I’m mainly known for my romances and horror fiction, but every so often I like to surprise myself – and readers.

I’ve always been attracted to the unusual, peculiar, and “weird” that exists in the sci-fi and horror genres. I grew up watching Tales from the Dark Side, Amazing Stories, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, The Outer Limits, and of course, The Twilight Zone.

I read every sci-fi and horror short story I could find, and I believed in the Ancient Astronaut Theory long before Ancient Aliens ever aired. So I guess it’s no surprise that when I started writing, I wrote what I loved reading: sci-fi and horror. 

For me, science fiction is imaginative fiction, and it’s fun to make up all sorts of strange things. Sci-fi stories explore anything possible (or that may be possible one day), such as time travel, parallel universes, alien contact, lost civilizations, cloning, UFOs, mind control, futuristic societies, and more.

Sci-fi authors are free to dream up anything and use it in a story without having to do too much explaining about how or why these unusual or fantastic things are possible. In general, readers of sci-fi/fantasy are more open-minded about different plotlines, characters, and settings than readers of a romance novel, for example. Readers know the story isn’t “real” and most likely couldn’t happen, but they’re fine with it. They enjoy escaping into the world of the fantastic.

I like writing in multiple genres because I get to explore different plots, characters, and styles of writing in a horror or a sci-fi story. My horror stories tend to be more psychological and creepy than bloody, and my sci-fi stories are about strange things that happen to ordinary people. The tales in this collection are sci-fi, but with a spooky/scary/horror twist.

Authors are always asked, “Where do you get your ideas?” so when I wrote the stories in Extraterrestrial Encounters, I decided to share a peek at my writing process. I’ve included a brief note at the end of each story, explaining what inspired me to write it, where I got the idea, or general comments about the plot or characters.

I hope you enjoy these stories. Some are humorous, some will make you think, and others might scare you a bit – but they will all take you on a journey into the realm of the unknown for a little while.

Here is the book summary and buy links:

 

Extraterrestrial Encounters: A Collection of Sci-Fi Stories

Are you ready to step into the unknown?

In these 18 sci-fi stories, you’ll encounter aliens of all shapes and sizes, curious (and sometimes unlucky) space explorers, and ordinary Earthlings having otherworldly experiences.

Some of the out-of-this-world tales in this short fiction anthology include:

“The Hoax” - A reporter learns that a creature from another planet is a dangerous thing to fool with

“It Grows on You” - A strange kind of mold has invaded an office, and it’s the perfect tool for revenge

“What Lurks Below” - Everyone knows there’s no life on Mars, but nobody thought about what might be lurking under the surface…

“The Con” - An alien becomes an unlikely ally to a down-on-his-luck petty crook

“Space Cowboy” - When a second-rate rodeo star is abducted by aliens, he makes the most of the situation

 “They Just Keep Eating” - A Nebraska farmer encounters a menace from space… and it’s hungry

This collection of speculative fiction will stimulate your imagination, unnerve you just a little, and make you wonder… “What if we’re not alone?”

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W5JG1DC

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3JVJ9e

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/extraterrestrial-encounters

And if you would like to read seven speculative stories where even more strange things happen to people… check out my anthology, Surreal Escapes. Learn more about that book and my other scary stories here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror

I welcome questions and comments from readers. Let me know which story you loved best, which one made you laugh, or why you love reading sci-fi.

Until next time… keep watching the stars!

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.

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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.

Book Review: The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews #BreachWarsBook1

 

We are at war and for one woman, it will change everything. Buckle up as we go into the breach.

The Inheritance by Ilona Andrews

Series: The Breach War Book 1

Alien Invasion Science Fiction, Action Adventure

Release Date: August 10th, 2025

Buy links HERE

My Rating for The Inheritance: 5 Stars and a Recommended Read

As the mysterious gates open and monsters swarm Earth, war ignites and Talents awaken in many people. Now after many years, Adaline is a Talent, classified as a noncombatant and has been working for the government since her world shattered whent he war ignited. Now she risks her life to go into the breaches to find anything to help Earth survive the war: medicine and magic metal just a few things she can do to help with the war effort. Divorced, two kids and a cat to support, this latest breach mission seems like old hat for her but there is something going on with it that strikes her anxiety but in she goes. What happens next will change her, make her question everything she knew about the breaches and beyond that, about herself. For if she wants to escape the breach with her sidekick German Shephard, Bear, she's going to need to traverse the Breach and find her way to escape because she made a promise to her kids and by god, she was going to keep it!

My Review of The Inheritance:

It's been a long time since I sat down to start a book and just lost myself into a world filled with magic, alien worlds, monsters, and characters that literally made me want to meet them for a drink. Ilona Andrews new series, The Breach Wars first book, The Inheritance, delivers all that and so many other things that just captivated me. I couldn't put this book down. I just HAD to find out if Adaline and Bear would make it out of the Breach and find their way back to Earth. What got me sucked in was how lifelike Adaline was to me. She had bills, responsibilities and took care of her family after a shattering heartbreak along with a world changing events happening as her core. That resonated with me on a  deep level as a parent and human being. I  loved her character, the spunkiness and drive she had. She had her meltdown moments but man, did she hike those girls up and took one step at a time, determined to not disappoint her kids. A promise was given and she was determined to keep it. 

This author is one of my favorites to read as they always deliver something so astonishing and craveable with their books that it feels like you are coming home after an extended vacation. I love their books and reread them all the time but I think The Inheritance is by far one of their best works to date also wildly different. I loved all the different characters and world building they did, the cheat sheet with all the Talents listed and the connectiont ot he Innkeeper series was bloody brilliant. 

The Inheritance is a exquisite read that will keep you captivated tillt he very end and now I want more of Ada, Bear, Elias and the Chaos Guild, the Breach secrets and more. I really hope they don't keep us in suspense forit too long because OMG, that ending alone had me cheering and anxious. 

This is an objective review and not an endorsement