BREAKING NEWS! WITCHES SAVE THE WORLD!

 

Yes, you read that right… Witches are saving the world… at least in the new anthology just released by Gorgon’s Gaze Press!

I’m pleased to say that my story “Neighborhood Watch” was selected for this collection about witches. I’ll be sharing more about my story and the anthology in another blog, but here’s the book blurb and links.

Witches Save the World: Covens, Cauldrons, and Curses Gone Right

The witch is a complex figure. Hero? Villain? Victim? Practitioner of a nearly-forgotten faith or just misunderstood? An elder who should be respected but is instead reviled? Or the member of an oppressed ethnic or sexual minority?

Witches of every sort appear in this anthology. In some tales and poems, the witch embodies the primal forces of balance and karmic retribution, or they act in support of social justice, defending those who cannot protect themselves. Or they act in defense of Nature, calling to heel the corrupt governments and corporations that would strip the world in the name of power and profit. Or they are caretakers of their communities, mending minds and bodies, sometimes at the cost of their own freedom or even their own lives.

These are witches who do what must be done, because someone has to save the world.

Order your print or ebook copy here:

Amazon Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0HBPGVBNS

Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/Witches-Save-World-Covens-Cauldrons-ebook/dp/B0GZ547GQH

Or visit: https://eternalhauntedsummer.com/gorgons-gaze-press/  for more platforms.

Happy Reading!

Kelli A. Wilkins

Nightmare in the North - A disturbing horror novella by Kelli A. Wilkins

 

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.

 

Celebrating Women in Horror Month (Part 2)

 

Hi everyone,

Valentine’s Day is officially over, and if you’ve had your fill of love and romance for a while, why not curl up with a horror story?

As you may know, February is “Women in Horror” month. To celebrate, I’m blogging about my “disturbing” novella, Nightmare in the North and my 2023 horror/thriller The Route 9 Killer.

Nightmare in the North is a cautionary tale about traveling alone in the winter and trusting strangers.

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.

A few years ago, 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 the 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 to set the tone. The ending of the new version is slightly different from the original, but it’s not off by 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 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

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/nightmare-in-the-north

The Route 9 Killer was released in 2023, and it’s been a long time coming. Years ago I had an idea for a serial killer/thriller story that was sparked by something simple: I was driving somewhere and saw a woman’s shoe lying in the road.

I started wondering about the shoe and then an idea hit me. It was a simple “What if…” premise: What if a woman was abducted and the only evidence left behind was her shoe in the road? I bounced this idea off of a few people, and they scoffed. “Who cares about a shoe? Why would anything think someone was abducted based on a shoe?” But, when I explained my story idea, they were intrigued.

As the title implies, the book is a mystery/thriller involving a serial killer. The hero, Detective Jim Rourke, thinks he’s discovered a serial killer operating in Central New Jersey. The only problem is, nobody believes him. The women are abducted from different towns in the same county, and their bodies are dumped in different towns in another county. This makes it hard for the police to connect the crimes or even see a pattern. To them, the killings are random.

See if you can solve the mystery of…

The Route 9 Killer

Detective Jim Rourke suspects a serial killer is hunting women in Central New Jersey. The victims are held captive, brutalized, then murdered and dumped along deserted stretches of Route 9.

There’s no physical evidence, no witnesses, and the killer is smart enough to leave no clues.

Rourke is alone on a manhunt, and time is running out. Eight victims have already fallen prey to this madman.

Can Rourke catch the killer and rescue the next victim before it’s too late?

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Route-Killer-Mystery-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0C63NHC51

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/m2qd16

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/the-route-9-killer

If you’ve read the book and loved it, please post a positive review online (no spoilers, please!). I’m contemplating writing another book featuring Detective Rourke. It’s only in the planning stage, but stay tuned for updates.

I hope you enjoyed a look at my horror stories. If you love to be scared (or at least slightly creeped out) be sure to 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.

 

Kelli’s Quill Newsletter - Happy Halloween 2024 Issue

 

Hi everyone! 

I hope you’re enjoying the cooler autumn weather and getting ready for my favorite holiday, HALLOWEEN! 

This issue of the Quill has info on my new release, Surreal Escapes, flashes back to my summer romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets, and revisits my short horror stories and paranormal romances.

New Release!

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

I'm pleased to announce that Surreal Escapes received a 4 star review and was recommended on BookBub! (Read the review on the book's page on my site.)

Romance Rewind… A Thousand Summer Secrets

Earlier this summer, Kelli released her fourth gay romance, A Thousand Summer Secrets. This tender contemporary romance takes place over a summer weekend, where two friends reconnect while seeking love and acceptance.

A Thousand Summer Secrets

You can’t outrun your past…

Ten years after being disowned by his family for being gay, Eric Warren pays a visit to his family’s summer cabin. It’s his last attempt at reconciliation before moving on. But a surprise from the past is waiting for him.

Eric’s intolerant brother, Jamey, has several friends staying at the cabin for the weekend, including Matt, Eric’s boyhood friend and secret crush. The years haven’t faded their mutual attraction, and they quickly reconnect. But Eric is hesitant to get romantically involved. He’s emotionally broken and scarred from his traumatic past.

As Matt tries to help Eric, Jamey goes out of his way to sabotage his brother. And when the weekend events take a disastrous turn, Eric finds himself at a crossroads.

Should he follow his search for love and acceptance with Matt? Or leave the past behind forever?

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Thousand-Summer-Secrets-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CZYYP5HC

All Other Platforms: https://books2read.com/u/3nMKA8

And if you like paranormal romances don’t miss… In Another World

This contemporary romance novel blends a murder mystery with the world of the paranormal. It’s received several excellent reviews!

In Another World

A Paranormal Mystery/Romance Novel

Disgraced psychic medium Julie Kershaw has finally met her soul mate. The problem is he’s dead… and his spirit haunts the car she just bought.

The spirit of Detective Eddie Mahoney is determined to find his killer and needs Julie’s help. At first, she refuses. She’s tired of being called crazy and swore she’d never use her abilities to speak to the dead again—even if Eddie is handsome and charming.

Eddie persuades Julie to contact his former partner, Lou Kaplonski, to ask him to reopen his case. Skeptical, Lou dismisses Julie as a fake—until she proves she can communicate with the dead—and he finds out Eddie has a lot to say.

Julie channels Eddie’s spirit and together with Lou, the unusual trio tracks down leads and follows clues to solve Eddie’s murder. The case takes them down a dark and dangerous path filled with secrets, where nobody can be trusted.

As they work to find his killer, Julie falls for Eddie. Funny, smart, and sexy, Eddie is the guy of her dreams—and he doesn’t look or act the least bit dead. To her surprise, Eddie discovers a clever way they can be together, and they begin an ethereal romance.

When Lou’s investigation brings him too close to the killer, his life and Julie’s are put in danger—and Eddie may be the only one who can save them.

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09R11STRN

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/bpw16g

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/in-another-world

 

Like mysteries? Don’t miss Kelli’s mystery/thriller set in Central New Jersey:

The Route 9 Killer

Detective Jim Rourke suspects a serial killer is hunting women in Central New Jersey. The victims are held captive, brutalized, then murdered and dumped along deserted stretches of Route 9.

There’s no physical evidence, no witnesses, and the killer is smart enough to leave no clues.

Rourke is alone on a manhunt, and time is running out. Eight victims have already fallen prey to this madman.

Can Rourke catch the killer and rescue the next victim before it’s too late?

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Route-Killer-Mystery-Thriller-ebook/dp/B0C63NHC51

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/m2qd16

 

Looking for a few quick reads? Check out these treats…

Silent Sentinel - A Mini-Thriller

One afternoon, Valerie visits a flea market and meets a peculiar man who tries to sell her an ancient statue of Anubis—the Egyptian god of the dead. Despite her protests, the man insists that she must have the statue. Valerie gives in and brings her new “guardian” home.

Later that night, Valerie awakens to discover an intruder has broken into her house. She’s forced to fight for her life and relies on Anubis to save her.

When the police investigate, they make a shocking discovery about her attacker and his motive. Only then does Valerie realize how lucky she was— the statue was the last thing she wanted, but exactly what she needed.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JB57751

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/mgExB0

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/silent-sentinel

More Than I Bargained For - A Paranormal Mini-Mystery

Katie doesn’t like going to estate sales. Why? Because she sees dead people.

When Katie reluctantly attends an estate sale with her friend Diane, she gets more than she bargained for. The deceased former owner of the house, Grace, realizes that Katie can communicate with her, and she has a lot to say.

As Katie pretends to shop, Grace tells her the story of how she was murdered—and reveals that her killer is still in the house.

It’s up to Katie to uncover the murder weapon and get it to the police… before time runs out.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CG4J8B2

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/me9jzl

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/more-than-i-bargained-for

 

Tis the Season… to be Scared!

If you love to be scared (or at least slightly creeped out) be sure to visit the horror section of my site https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror and read about these spooky stories…

Dead Til Dawn

Kropsy’s Curse

Nightmare in the North

And if you like sci-fi, don’t miss Extraterrestrial Encounters, a collection of 18 out-of-this-world stories.

Don’t forget, my short horror fiction has appeared in dozens of horror anthologies. Visit my Amazon author page for a full title list: www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins

 

If you don’t like to be scared, how about a paranormal romance?

If you love paranormal romances (or romances in general) check out these unusual love stories…

Beauty & the Bigfoot: Can true love exist between the species? Things aren’t exactly what they seem in this paranormal comedy. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/beauty-the-bigfoot

Confessions of a Vampire’s Lover: In this super-hot paranormal romance, a vampire falls in love... at the beach. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/confessions-of-a-vampire-s-lover

The Viking’s Witch: A hot historical romance between a Viking warrior and a Celtic witch. https://www.kelliwilkins.com/the-viking-s-witch

I hope you enjoyed this autumn issue of the Quill. I welcome questions and comments from readers and other authors.

Want to get in touch with me on social media? All my links are listed on the contact page of my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/contact

Curious about the making of my books? Visit my blog and catch up on all of my posts: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog

Happy Halloween!

Kelli 

Kelli’s Quill Newsletter - Welcome Winter Issue

 

Hi everyone! I hope you’re surviving the chaos of “the holidays” and taking it easy when you can. This issue of the Quill recaps 2022—and oddly, it’s mostly devoted to the paranormal! It’s not a throwback to Halloween, but since the Christmas stuff has been in stores since before Halloween, who can tell?

I’m sharing info on a non-fiction paranormal anthology, flashing back to my paranormal romance novel, sharing a link to a yummy cookie recipe, and more!  

Out of Time - 26 True Stories of the Paranormal!

As most of my readers know, I love all things supernatural. My idea of an exciting weekend is exploring historical/haunted/creepy places. (Wilson Castle, VT, anyone??!) I have no qualms about investigating haunted mansions, and videos of orbs or strange shadow figures intrigue me.

It’s no secret that my husband and I have had our share of paranormal adventures. Many of my friends and relatives already know about the unusual events that occurred in Gettysburg—but now I’m sharing my story with the rest of world in the Out of Time anthology from Timber Ghost Press.

Out of Time

Are ghosts real? The question has haunted us for ages. Almost every culture in the world has tales and stories of the unknown things that lurk in our periphery.

Contained within are 26 true stories about ghosts, poltergeists, haunted houses, unexplained events, and possessed items. You'll find stories about strange noises, objects that vanish and reappear in odd places, dolls that refuse to sit still, haunted battlefields, abandoned castles, and much more! But beware: after reading this anthology, you might just start believing in the things that are trapped out of time.

Order your copy here: https://www.timberghostpress.com/out-of-time1.html

I’ve read several of the stories and some of them are pretty creepy—even by my standards! If you love true stories of the paranormal, be sure to get a copy of this book… if you dare. (Makes a great holiday gift!)

And if you like paranormal romances don’t miss… In Another World

This contemporary romance novel blends a murder mystery with the world of the paranormal. It’s received several excellent reviews!

In Another World

A Paranormal Mystery/Romance Novel

Disgraced psychic medium Julie Kershaw has finally met her soul mate. The problem is he’s dead… and his spirit haunts the car she just bought.

The spirit of Detective Eddie Mahoney is determined to find his killer and needs Julie’s help. At first, she refuses. She’s tired of being called crazy and swore she’d never use her abilities to speak to the dead again—even if Eddie is handsome and charming.

Eddie persuades Julie to contact his former partner, Lou Kaplonski, to ask him to reopen his case. Skeptical, Lou dismisses Julie as a fake—until she proves she can communicate with the dead—and he finds out Eddie has a lot to say.

Julie channels Eddie’s spirit and together with Lou, the unusual trio tracks down leads and follows clues to solve Eddie’s murder. The case takes them down a dark and dangerous path filled with secrets, where nobody can be trusted.

As they work to find his killer, Julie falls for Eddie. Funny, smart, and sexy, Eddie is the guy of her dreams—and he doesn’t look or act the least bit dead. To her surprise, Eddie discovers a clever way they can be together, and they begin an ethereal romance.

When Lou’s investigation brings him too close to the killer, his life and Julie’s are put in danger—and Eddie may be the only one who can save them.

Order your copy here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09R11STRN

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/bpw16g

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/in-another-world

Looking for more mystery? Curl up with these quick reads:

Silent Sentinel - A Mini-Thriller

One afternoon, Valerie visits a flea market and meets a peculiar man who tries to sell her an ancient statue of Anubis—the Egyptian god of the dead. Despite her protests, the man insists that she must have the statue. Valerie gives in and brings her new “guardian” home.

Later that night, Valerie awakens to discover an intruder has broken into her house. She’s forced to fight for her life and relies on Anubis to save her.

When the police investigate, they make a shocking discovery about her attacker and his motive. Only then does Valerie realize how lucky she was— the statue was the last thing she wanted, but exactly what she needed.

Links:

Amazon:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09JB57751

All other platforms:  https://books2read.com/u/mgExB0

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/silent-sentinel

More Than I Bargained For - A Paranormal Mini-Mystery

Katie doesn’t like going to estate sales. Why? Because she sees dead people.

When Katie reluctantly attends an estate sale with her friend Diane, she gets more than she bargained for. The deceased former owner of the house, Grace, realizes that Katie can communicate with her, and she has a lot to say.

As Katie pretends to shop, Grace tells her the story of how she was murdered—and reveals that her killer is still in the house.

It’s up to Katie to uncover the murder weapon and get it to the police… before time runs out.

Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09CG4J8B2

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/me9jzl

Read reviews here: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/more-than-i-bargained-for

Kelli’s Been Blogging…             

In November, I blogged about my non-fiction self-help ebooks. If you’re looking for fun ways to make the most of the new year, be sure to check them out!

Journaling Every Week: 52 Topics to Get You Writing: Love the holidays? Can’t stand them? Want to vent about what bothers you? Try Journaling! https://www.kelliwilkins.com/post/love-the-holidays-can-t-stand-them-want-to-vent-about-what-bothers-you-try-journaling

Romance Every Weekend: 104 Fun Ways to Express Your Love: Show you care this holiday season! https://www.kelliwilkins.com/post/show-you-care-this-holiday-season-with-romance-every-weekend-104-fun-ways-to-express-your-love

Kelli’s Blog Series Wraps Up! This year I completed my blog series. The Behind the Scenes blogs examine my romance novels. I talk about why I wrote the book, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book. The Meet the Character Day blogs are fun chats with the heroes and heroines from my romances.

Each series is featured on both of my blogs. If you missed any, you can catch up here:

https://www.kelliwilkins.com/blog or https://kelliwilkinsauthor.blogspot.com/

A Tasty Holiday Treat!

My Spicy Ginger Cookie recipe appeared in the December issue of Still Moments digital magazine: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qxDOtqtRhHk--y9s2omJHePuBTMOTM7A/view

In 2023, I’ll be contributing articles to several issues. You can follow them/subscribe here:

http://stillmomentsezine.blogspot.com

Looking into the Future…

I hope you enjoyed this issue of the Quill. Thank you to all my readers for your support over the last 12 months. If you’ve read one of my books and loved it, please consider leaving a great review on Amazon, Goodreads, or other social media platforms.

As some of you may already know, I’ve been on hiatus from writing and social media for the last few months. I’ll be blogging about why and what I’ve been up to…  But in the meantime I’ll be writing new horror stories and finally writing that contemporary gay romance.

I’m starting a writing-related blog series next year. Stay tuned to my blogs and social media for updates.

I welcome questions and comments from readers and other authors. Want to get in touch with me on social media? All my links are listed on the contact page of my site: https://www.kelliwilkins.com/contact

Happy Holidays! (Please donate to your local animal shelter if you can!)

Kelli 

 

Just in Time for Halloween… Out of Time - 26 True Stories of the Paranormal!

 

Hi everyone!

As most of my readers know, I love all things supernatural. My idea of an exciting weekend is exploring historical/haunted/creepy places. I have no qualms about investigating haunted mansions, and videos of orbs or strange shadow figures intrigue me.

It’s no secret that my husband and I have had our share of paranormal adventures. Many of my friends and relatives already know about the unusual events that occurred in Gettysburg—but now I’m sharing my story with the rest of world in the Out of Time anthology from Timber Ghost Press.

Out of Time

Are ghosts real? The question has haunted us for ages. Almost every culture in the world has tales and stories of the unknown things that lurk in our periphery.

Contained within are 26 true stories about ghosts, poltergeists, haunted houses, unexplained events, and possessed items. You'll find stories about strange noises, objects that vanish and reappear in odd places, dolls that refuse to sit still, haunted battlefields, abandoned castles, and much more! But beware: after reading this anthology, you might just start believing in the things that are trapped out of time.

The anthology features tales from Kristi Petersen-Schoonover, Errica Chavez, Judith Baron, Nat Whiston, Caryn Larrinaga, C. J. Hislop, Lisa H. Owens, Lehua Parker, Chris Tyroak, Amanda Cecilia Lang, Caillou Pettis, T. J. Tranchell, William Presley, N. A. Battaglia, Bryan Stubbles, Nathan Alling Long, Susan E. Rogers, Kelli A. Wilkins, John Stratton, C. M. Saunders, L. E. Daniels, Catherine A. MacKenzie, Rebecca A. Demarest, A. Morton, Brianna Malotke, and Nathan D. Ludwig.

Order your copy here: https://www.timberghostpress.com/out-of-time1.html

I’ve read several of the stories and some of them are pretty creepy—even by my standards! If you’re looking for a great Halloween-season read (or just love true stories of the paranormal), be sure to get a copy of this book… if you dare.

Happy Haunting!

Kelli

Wishing You "Unpleasant Dreams"

 

Hi everyone!

My latest flash fiction horror story "Unpleasant Dreams" appeared in Fabled Journal last week. 

Read it here: https://www.fabledcollective.com/journal/unpleasant-dreams

Part of the story is based on an actual dream (or would you call it a nightmare?) that my mother had ages ago. The visual stuck with me all these years, and when I wrote the story I incorporated part of her dream into the plot.

If you like to be scared, visit the horror section of my site (https://www.kelliwilkins.com/horror) and read about my horror ebooks. 

They're more psychologically creepy than gory - although Nightmare in the North was called "disturbing" - among other things!

Happy Reading!

Kelli

Are you ready to be scared? Beware of Kropsy’s Curse!

It’s October, and you know what that means! Halloween is my favorite holiday, so today I’m sharing a look at my 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…

This Halloween-themed 1500-word short story is a cautionary tale about playing with a Ouija board in a graveyard.

Here’s a mini-excerpt:

“Where is it?” Kyle whispered.

“Over there.” Jerry swung his orange plastic flashlight to the left. “Why are you whispering? It’s just a graveyard. Ain’t no body here,” he joked, then laughed. “Come on.” Jerry hoisted his black backpack over his shoulder. “Hurry up. It’s almost midnight.”

Kyle’s sneakers slipped on the dewy grass as he followed Jerry down the last hill in the cemetery. He paused and glanced around. The moon appeared as a slit in the night sky. Dark clouds floated out of its way, and a sliver of pale yellow mixed with the blue-black night. Something made a noise off to his right, and he jumped. Maybe they should go home. This didn’t seem like fun anymore.

Kyle watched Jerry head deeper into the graveyard. He wanted to call out to him, tell him his plan was ridiculous, it would never work, they shouldn’t have snuck out and come here. Halloween night should be spent trick-or-treating, watching monster movies, and eating candy—not creeping around in an abandoned graveyard and trying to talk to a dead man.

Kropsy's Curse is only $.99! Get spooked here:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Kropsys-Curse-Kelli-Wilkins-ebook/dp/B014IAH848

All other platforms: https://books2read.com/u/47kMYj

Love horror stories? Don’t miss my horror ebooks - Nightmare in the North and Dead Til Dawn. Read about them on my site: www.kelliwilkins.com (or on this blog).

Want more? Visit my Amazon page for links, a full title list, and more!

www.amazon.com/author/kelliwilkins

Until next time,

Happy Haunting!

Kelli