Hi everyone,
Happy October! Halloween is approaching fast, and today I’m sharing a look at the making of my horror novella, Nightmare in the North. It’s a cautionary tale about traveling alone in the winter and trusting strangers. Here’s the summary:
NIGHTMARE IN THE NORTH
Stranded during a violent blizzard, Mark hikes to the only
house nearby. George, a well-mannered University professor, welcomes Mark and
gives him shelter from the storm.
By morning, Mark suspects that everything isn’t what it
seems. George’s adult daughter, Kate, who also lives in the house, shares a
disturbing and unsettling tale. When questioned, George insists that Kate has a
psychological issue and can’t be trusted to tell the truth.
Mark quickly finds himself caught in a game of cat and
mouse. Who should he believe? Is Kate’s desperate plea for help sincere? Should
he be suspicious of George? Or are both of them plotting something together?
Isolated from everyone, Mark is forced to wait out the
storm—and find a way to escape—if he hopes to make it out alive.
***
So… how did this novella come about? Believe it or not, I
wrote a version of this story for my eighth grade English class. The assignment
was to write a short story – and boy, did I! The original version was much
shorter and less detailed, but the basic premise was there. I’m not sure what my
English teacher thought when she read it, but I got an A.
I grew up in upstate New York where winters can be brutal
and last a long time. It can be an isolated place, and sometimes you could be
snowed in for days. I decided to use that as the backdrop to the story, throw
in some strange characters, and add a little mystery. After I submitted the
story for my English class, I pretty much forgot about it.
Then, one January I drove to Vermont in a snowstorm. I was
in the car for 12 hours, and naturally, my mind started to wander… I wanted to
write a new horror story, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to write. As I was
driving, I thought back to that original story and decided to rewrite it –to
tell the story the way it needed to be told.
I changed the opening, moved the setting to Vermont, and
filled in all the details and backstory that set the tone. The ending of the
new version is slightly different from the original, but it’s not off by all
that much. I added an epilogue (of sorts) to the end, and spent about twenty
minutes getting the last line just right.
After reading Nightmare in the North, my husband said that
it was well written and it drew you in, but it was “twisted” and “disturbing” –
I consider that high praise!
Order Nightmare in the North here:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07G9QD45X
All other platforms: https://www.books2read.com/u/m2vqOk
Want more horror stories for Halloween? Visit the Horror,
Mystery & More page on my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror
Or
Visit my Amazon page for links, a full title list, and more!
www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins
Happy Haunting!
Kelli
ABOUT 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 August 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.
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