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Behind the Scenes: Surreal Escapes - 7 Speculative Stories
By Kelli A. Wilkins
This “Behind the Scenes” blog is part of a series examining my books. In each blog, I’ll talk about why I wrote the story, share my thoughts on the plot and/or characters, and reveal what I loved most (or least) about writing the book.
Warning: Blogs may contain spoilers.
Hi everyone!
Today I’m sharing a Behind the Scenes look at the making of my latest release, Surreal Escapes. The stories in this collection don’t fall into one set category and range from a bit spooky, to humorous, to… just about anything I can imagine.
I’ve always been attracted to the unusual and “weird” that exists in the horror and sci-fi 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. So I guess it’s no surprise that when I started writing, I wrote what I loved reading.
In this collection of seven speculative stories, ordinary people start off having an average, normal day… until they encounter the world of the surreal. They’ve entered another realm where anything can—and does—happen.
My horror stories have always been a bit different from the norm. They’re more psychologically scary than gory. And some of my “horror” stories aren’t intended to scare at all—they just happen to have main characters who are a little bit… dead.
When I decided to put this collection together, I wanted to feature a broad spectrum of stories that would appeal to a variety of readers. (I also liked the idea of having several of my short stories available to readers all in one place.) They’re not all ghost stories (although several stories feature ghosts in some way) and they’re not all about Halloween. (But of course some are—after all, it is my favorite holiday!)
Authors are always asked, “Where do you get your ideas?” so I decided to share a peek at my writing process. I’ve included a brief note at the end of each story (as I did in my sci-fi anthology, Extraterrestrial Encounters), explaining what inspired me to write it, where I got the idea, or general comments about the plot or the characters.
I hope you enjoy these stories. Some are humorous, some will make you think, and others might unnerve you a bit, but they will all take you on a journey into the surreal for a little while.
Here’s the book summary and links:
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 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
Visit my site to see all my titles
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Putting together this collection of stories was a special summer project of mine, and I hope readers enjoy it. If you’ve read the book and liked it, please share a review online.
I’m also contemplating doing a second volume of speculative stories. If readers would like to see a sequel, drop me a line and let me know.
I welcome comments and questions from readers. Be sure to follow my blog for the latest updates and visit me on social media.
You can read more “Behind the Scenes” blogs about my writings here: www.KelliWilkins.com/blog
Happy Reading,
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.
In August 2024, Kelli released Surreal Escapes, a collection of 7 speculative 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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