Tag: Santa

#Creepfest ‘s Ruth Barrett & The Dark Passenger

#12DaysCreepfest, Blog Hop, Blogging, Contests, Flash Fiction, Guest Post, Kim Koning
Click on the Creepmas tree to take you to more creepy posts on the blog tour...Hurry! There are Prizes!

It’s eleven days in…almost the end but not yet…there are still plenty of tales to read, interviews to follow and giveaways to enter…so if you have been one of the naughty ones this blog hop and not entered yet…click on the Christmas tree above and get hopping…There is still time! Hurry!

Today I have the pleasure of Ruth Barrett on the blog…Ruth specializes in ghostly tales…

The fat man blinked hard as he returned to consciousness. His head roared with pain and a heavy, drugged sensation. He tried to lift his arm to rub his bleary eyes, but found himself immobilized.

What the hell…?

With difficulty, he peered down the length of his rotund body. He was naked. His bulging stomach strained against what looked to be yards of Saran Wrap pinning him down onto a table. Confusion turned to terror as his twinkling blue eyes darted about the room. Beneath sheets of plastic meticulously taped in place, he recognized his own North Pole stables. His breathing quickened in visible white puffs in the chill air as he went over the last moments he recalled: slipping down a chimney in Miami, bending over his gift sack… then a sharp prickle in the side of his neck.

The fat man’s gaze landed on a display of photographs: dozens of reindeer who had served him well, only to be served as venison when they grew too old.

A man’s voice spoke low in his ear:

“Greetings, Santa. I am your Ghost of Christmas Past.”

Santa gasped as a blade deftly sliced a thin cut on his cheek…

[Note to bloghoppers-Aside: So just a reminder…Ruth’s Flash Fiction is the eighth entry into the Creepfest Challenge…Let me know what you think of it and check back here tomorrow for the seventh offering as you are going to help pick the winning Creepfest author at the end of the tour. Please let me know, in your comment below (or rate it at the top with stars), how you rate this eighth entry, in the challenge, by the imaginative Ruth Barrett out of 5 stars (5 = Brilliant).]

Ruth Barrett
Ruth Barrett is the author of Base Spirits: In 1605, Sir Walter Calverley’s murderous rampage leaves a family shattered. The killer suffers a torturous execution… but is it truly the end? A noble Yorkshire house stands forever tarnished by blood and possessed by anguished spirits.

Some crimes are so horrific, they reverberate through the centuries. 

As an unhappy modern couple vacation in the guesthouse at Calverley Old Hall, playwright Clara, and her scholar husband, Scott, unwittingly awaken a dark history. Clara is trapped and forced back in time to bear witness to a family’s bloody saga. Overtaken by the malevolent echoes, Scott is pushed over the edge from possessive husband to wholly possessed…

Inspired by a true-life drama in Shakespeare’s day, this is itself a play within a play: a supernatural thriller with a historical core. 

Only one player can survive.
Ruth, you had me at “Dark Passenger”…Loved this festive spin on “The Dark Passenger”… Great story. Looking forward to tucking into your book, Base Spirits over the festive season. Happy Creepfest & Merry Christmas Ruth! 🙂

Don’t forget to enter my #Creepfest Reader Challenge….This is the last day to enter…Tomorrow I post the results and the winners…Hurry you could still be a WINNER!

Question: The Ghost of Creepmas (Creepfest’s Christmas) Past is making a house call and this week he is visiting your house. He takes you back through time to your worst Christmas Nightmare. (This can be real or imagined.) Tell me about it in 200 words (max) in the comments section.

…then complete the following tasks set by the Creepfest Grinch to be eligible for the prize

follow this blog

  • like my Facebook Page
  • follow me on Twitter
  • after all this is done: tweet that you have been visited by#GhostofCreepmasPast and tag me @AuthorKimKoning 
  • Also make sure that you are hopping to the other blogs in this #Creepfest Blog Tour
  • These 5 tasks will make your entry eligible for the prize….
  • I will choose a winner and a runner-up on the 24th. 
  • The winner will win an ebook copy of Tales for Canterbury + $10 Amazon voucher
  • The runner-up will win a $10 Amazon voucher.

For more info on Tales for Canterbury (which includes my debut short story “The Ring of Fire), click below…

A fantastic anthology of 34 talented authors including: Neil Gaiman, Jeff Vandermeer, Jay Lake, Sean Williams along with others. (Includes my debut short story - a YA dystopian "The Ring of Fire)

#Creepfest Marissa Farrar and Creepmas poetry

#12DaysCreepfest, Blog Hop, Blogging, Contests, Guest Post, Kim Koning
Click on the Creepmas tree to take you to more creepy posts on the blog tour...Hurry! There are Prizes!

We’re behind the EIGHT-ball today, eight days into #Creepfest and the fun is still not over…

Have you been hopping to the other blogs on the tour…click on the tree above to get the full tour list…

You do not want to miss out…these are chances at early Christmas gifts that you won’t just be able to get in a shop…they have each been specially chosen for you by the #Creepfest authors…there are books, there is swag…hop to it…there is still time…

Talking of which…I need some more entries for my contest…you can own a collection of 34 short stories by authors far and wide…including tales by Neil Gaiman, Jeff VanderMeer, Jay Lake…

+ my debut dystopian tale: “The Ring of Fire” + Amazon Gift Vouchers…

HURRY…there are only 4 days left of the tour…4 days left to hop to all the blogs and grab as many contest entries as your hot,greedy little hands can hold…Hurry..Hurry…The clock is ticking….

Today I have some bone-rattling and spine-chilling Creepmas poetry to share with you offered up for sacrifice by the deceptively innocent Marissa Farrar…

#Creepfest Author’s Flash Fiction Challenge

1.) Re-imagine Santa’s visit to drop off gifts by putting a #Creepfest spin on it.
Max words: 200

Christmas Eve, I’m woken by the sound of moans,

And in the distance comes the rattle of bones.

Outside I come to stand and stare,

For what monstrosity should I find there?

Not bells but strung skulls are what I hear,

The elves who didn’t work so hard this year.

The reindeer snort, huffing hot air in plumes,

Eyes glow red as they paw with cloven hooves.

Santa’s not fat or jolly – those were lies,

He’s a skeleton with black holes as eyes.

Nightmares in his sack contain little cheer,

He’s here to deliver Creepfest this year.

[Note to bloghoppers-Aside: So just a reminder…Marissa’s Flash Fiction is the seventh entry into the Creepfest Challenge…Let me know what you think of it and check back here tomorrow for the seventh offering as you are going to help pick the winning Creepfest author at the end of the tour. Please let me know, in your comment below (or rate it at the top with stars), how you rate this seventh entry, in the challenge, by the deceptively innocent Marissa Farrar out of 5 stars (5 = Brilliant).]

2.) On Santa’s list this year, would you be naughty or nice? Tell me three ways you got on to either the naughty or the nice list.

I think I’d have to be on the nice list. While I certainly have my vices, I do try to be good! Okay, so three ways I’ve been nice… 1.) I’ve helped out a number of my author friends with new covers for their eBooks and by writing reviews. 2.) I regularly have a house full of children because I’m often helping out fellow mums by looking after their kids. 3.) Hmm… I can’t think of a third! Perhaps I should be on the naughty list after all!
3.) Who is your favourite villain in a classic fairy-tale and why?

It has to be the Snow Queen from Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tale, ‘The Snow Queen’. It’s so haunting and eerie. I just love the beauty and sorrow of the story.

4.) If you were a character in “The Christmas Carol”…who would you be and why?

The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. I’m terrible about always looking ahead. Sometimes I have to remind myself to appreciate what I have here and now.

5.) What gift would you leave under the tree if you were the Christmas Grinch?

It would have to be the gift my uncle gave my mother one year – a carrier bag with his company’s name on the front. I kid you not…

Marissa Farrar
Marissa Farrar
Paranormal Fiction Author

Blurb – Alone 

Caught in a violent and abusive relationship, Serenity thinks there is no escape.

Upon meeting a stranger, Sebastian, she is shown the possibility of a different future.

Only Sebastian has a dark secret; he is a vampire.

As Serenity’s life takes a terrifying turn, she finds herself drawn into a world she never knew existed; one of murder, love and immortality. She is forced to confront her own weaknesses to save both her own life and that of the vampire she has come to love. But in the end all that matters is; can she find the strength to be Alone?

Book two in the ‘Serenity’ series, ‘Buried’ is also now available to buy from your favourite eBook store!


Here is the buy link for Alone!

http://www.amazon.com/Alone-The-Serenity-Series-ebook/dp/B005J5DL66/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1323782646&sr=1-1

Thank you Marissa for that very chilling poetic twist on Creepmas…I think I hear moans even now as I write this…better bolt the doors tonight! Happy Creepfest and Merry Christmas Marissa! 🙂

The Reader Challenge

~13/12 – 23/12~

I am going to ask you a question and you are going to answer it in the comments. Only 1 entry per person is allowed. However, to be eligible you need to:

  • follow this blog
  • like my Facebook Page
  • follow me on Twitter
  • after all this is done: tweet that you have been visited by#GhostofCreepmasPast and tag me @AuthorKimKoning 
  • Also make sure that you are hopping to the other blogs in this #Creepfest Blog Tour
  • These 5 tasks will make your entry eligible for the prize.

~~~~~~

So drumroll…Here is the question challenge.

Question: The Ghost of Creepmas (Creepfest’s Christmas) Past is making a house call and this week he is visiting your house. He takes you back through time to your worst Christmas Nightmare. (This can be real or imagined.) Tell me about it in 200 words (max).

~~~~~~

I will choose a winner and a runner-up on the 24th. The winner will win an ebook copy of Tales for Canterbury + $10 Amazon voucherThe runner-up will win a $10 Amazon voucher.For more info on Tales for Canterbury (which includes my debut short story “The Ring of Fire), click below…

A fantastic anthology of 34 talented authors including: Neil Gaiman, Jeff Vandermeer, Jay Lake, Sean Williams along with others. (Includes my debut short story - a YA dystopian "The Ring of Fire)

#Creepfest ‘s Annetta Ribken “Naughty, Naughty… Santa”

#12DaysCreepfest, Blog Hop, Blogging, Contests, Flash Fiction, Guest Post, Kim Koning

Four days in and things are crashing against the door…

kim-creepfestlogo

Today I have the lovely Annetta Ribken … an author, editor and blogger who lives to weave webs of words together…

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#Creepfest’s Guest Author Flash Fiction Challenge

1.) Re-imagine Santa’s visit to drop off gifts by putting a #Creepfest spin on it.

Max words: 200

“What’s this?” asked Santa as he pulled out a stuffed doll from his magic bag. “I don’t remember this being on the list.” He placed the doll under the tree. “As a matter of fact, I though little Miss Maisy was on the naughty list this year.”

Thomas scratched his pointy ear and consulted his notes. “She is. This is a special request from Mrs. Claus.” He squinted. “Say, that doll looks a lot like…”

Santa took a closer look.

“Nah, can’t be. We broke off the affair a year ago.” His hand trembled as he reached for the doll to examine it further.

Thomas didn’t bother shouting a warning as he saw sharp, needle-like teeth erupt from the doll’s mouth and sink into Santa’s hand and chew up his arm. Thomas also didn’t bother to call 9-1-1 or mop up the blood; he simply made a check mark on his list and hurried back to the sleigh, grateful these days everything was automated.

Hey, an elf had to earn his Christmas bonus, right? And Mrs. Claus was very generous. Thomas was looking forward to assuming the big seat next year, although dolls with teeth were definitely off the list.

[Note to bloghoppers-Aside: So just a reminder…Netta’s Flash Fiction is the third entry into the Creepfest Challenge…Let me know what you think of it and check back here tomorrow for the second offering as you are going to help pick the winning Creepfest author at the end of the tour. Please let me know, in your comment below, how you rate this third story, in the challenge, by the wickedly, talented Annetta Ribken out of 5 stars (5 = Brilliant).]

2.) On Santa’s list this year, would you be naughty or nice? Tell me three ways you

got on to either the naughty or the nice list.

Naughty and nice are a matter of perspective, don’t you think? That being said, I’m gonna opt for nice.

  1. I took in a shelter kitty this year.
  2. I gave blood.
  3. I didn’t kill any one of the 4,398 phucktards who crossed my path this year.

3.) Who is your favourite villain in a classic fairy-tale and why?

Rumplestiltskin. I think he gets a bad rap. He’s just a guy trying to make a living. He presents choices to people, and then is blamed when things don’t go exactly the way they’re expected. I think that’s unfair. Although Rumple is muy creepy and gives me nightmares. And I always wonder what the hell he has in mind for all these babies he seems to want. What is up with that??

4.) If you were a character in “The Christmas Carol”…who would you be and why?

I’d probably be the Ghost of Christmas Past. I have a baby face, and I think it’d be really cool to have light emanating from your head.

5.) What gift would you leave under the tree if you were the Christmas Grinch?

I AM the Christmas Grinch. Heh. I’d leave beautifully wrapped boxes which are totally empty to remind people it’s not the THINGS that matter, but the spirit of giving and sharing. Ugh. I think I just threw up in my mouth a little.

Author bio: Annetta has been writing since words were carved on stone tablets with chisels. Not only does she write her own words, Annetta is also an accomplished editor. She lives just outside of St. Louis with her evil feline overlord, a rescued shelter cat named Athena.

Twitter me @netta50

Facebook Fan Page: https://www.facebook.com/Annetta.Ribken

Blog: http://wordwebbing.com/

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3414795.Annetta_Ribken

My blog: Creepfest Blog Hop – Day 2 – Rollin’ in the Deep

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Thank you Netta… Your flash fiction was a very original spin on Santa’s visit. No scorn like Mrs Claus it seems…I must say I love Rumpelstiltskin too. Happy Creepfest and thanks for creeping by on my blog. 🙂

The Reader Challenge

~13/12 – 23/12~

I am going to ask you a question and you are going to answer it in the comments. Only 1 entry per person is allowed. However, to be eligible you need to:

  • follow this blog
  • like my Facebook Page
  • follow me on Twitter
  • after all this is done: tweet that you have been visited by #GhostofCreepmasPast and tag me @AuthorKimKoning 
  • Also make sure that you are hopping to the other blogs in this #Creepfest Blog Tour
  • These 5 tasks will make your entry eligible for the prize.~~~~~~

    So drumroll…Here is the question challenge.

    Question: The Ghost of Creepmas (Creepfest’s Christmas) Past is making a house call and this week he is visiting your house. He takes you back through time to your worst Christmas Nightmare. (This can be real or imagined.) Tell me about it in 200 words (max).

    ~~~~~~


    I will choose a winner and a runner-up on the 24th. The winner will win an ebook copy of Tales for Canterbury + $10 Amazon voucher

The runner-up will win a $10 Amazon voucher.

For more info on Tales for Canterbury (which includes my debut short story “The Ring of Fire), click below…kim-talesforcanterbury(large)

#Creepfest Erik Gustafson & Santa’s full moon visit

#12DaysCreepfest, Blog Hop, Blogging, Contests, Guest Post, Kim Koning
Click on the Creepmas tree to take you to the blog tour.

There are more creepy crawlies edging through the doorway…

Three days in...Nine days to go....

It’s the 15th, three days into #Creepfest and the creepiness is only beginning…

Today I have the creepy pleasure of Erik Gustafson…an author who specializes in Apparitions of Fear …Remember to hop over to his blog for more terror this #Creepfest!

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#Creepfest Guest Author’s Flash Fiction Challenge

1.) Re-imagine Santa’s visit to drop off gifts by putting a #Creepfest spin on it.
Max words: 200


Santa pulled hard on the reigns and the reindeer clomped to a stop on the asphalt parking lot in front of the mausoleum. The moon was a bright white circle staring down as the jolly man stepped off his sleigh. He stood in the quiet night and surveyed the rest of the cemetery around the ornate stone structure. Bells jingled on his ankles, wrists, and the end of his thick red stocking cap as he walked to the back of the sleigh where massive burlap bags were stacked. The sound of the bells echoed over the shadowy headstones lining the fields around him.
He cried his trademark cheer. “Ho! Ho! Ho!”
The grounds seemed to move and come alive as dirty, rotting hands reached up out of the ground. Santa strolled through the grass unloading his gift of brains he had collected the night before into their undead, clenching hands.
As he grabbed the final bag off his sleigh, one of the reindeer snorted as he skipped past it.
A tall stone door with angel carvings at the front of the mausoleum creaked open. Santa slung his sack over his shoulder and marched inside.

[Note to bloghoppers-Aside: So just a reminder…Erik’s Flash Fiction is the second entry into the Creepfest Challenge…Let me know what you think of it and check back here tomorrow for the second offering as you are going to help pick the winning Creepfest author at the end of the tour. Please let me know, in your comment below, how you rate this first story, in the challenge, by the wickedly, talented Erik Gustafson out of 5 stars (5 = Brilliant).]

2.) On Santa’s list this year, would you be naughty or nice? Tell me three ways you got on to either the naughty or the nice list.

I would be on the nice list I think. For one, I help people with disabilities all year long, I am great dad and I haven’t been convicted of any crimes this year!

3.) Who is your favourite villain in a classic fairy-tale and why?

Ursula the sea witch from The Little Mermaid. She is cunning and evil, she knows exactly what people want and preys upon that weakness to steal their soul. Absolutely beautiful woman has charm and can sing! Plus who wouldn’t want a pair of electric eels as pets?

4) If you were a character in “The Christmas Carol”…who would you be and why?

I would be Jacob Marley because it would be fun to come back from the dead and mess with people, and maybe try to convey a message or help someone too would be alright too I guess!

5.) What gift would you leave under the tree if you were the Christmas Grinch?

I would find the children’s list, get everything on the list and mangled, shred and smash each and every gift then place them neatly under the tree with bright bows on them.

Stop by my Amazon Author page athttp://amazon.com/author/erikgustafson and check one of my stories. My debut novel is Fall Leaves and the Black Dragon.

I also have several short stories including The Fishers, The Blood Knows, and My Lover, My Garden.
Follow me on Twitter at @Eriktiger

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Thank you Erik. You chilled me with your flash fiction…bbbr..never going to look at Santa’s sack of gifts the same way now. I must say Jacob Marley is also a favourite of mine. You have to love those clinking chains and padlocks. Remind me not to invite your Grinch to my house 🙂 Happy Creepfest! ~ Kim

The Reader Challenge

~13/12 – 23/12~

I am going to ask you a question and you are going to answer it in the comments. Only 1 entry per person is allowed. However, to be eligible you need to:

  • follow this blog
  • like my Facebook Page
  • follow me on Twitter
  • after all this is done: tweet that you have been visited by #GhostofCreepmasPast and tag me @AuthorKimKoning 
  • Also make sure that you are hopping to the other blogs in this #Creepfest Blog Tour
  • These 5 tasks will make your entry eligible for the prize.

~~~~~~

So drumroll…Here is the question challenge.

Question: The Ghost of Creepmas (Creepfest’s Christmas) Past is making a house call and this week he is visiting your house. He takes you back through time to your worst Christmas Nightmare. (This can be real or imagined.) Tell me about it in 200 words (max).

~~~~~~

I will choose a winner and a runner-up on the 24th. 

The winner will win an ebook copy of Tales for Canterbury + $10 Amazon voucher

The runner-up will win a $10 Amazon voucher.

For more info on Tales for Canterbury (which includes my debut short story “The Ring of Fire), click below…

A fantastic anthology of 34 talented authors including: Neil Gaiman, Jeff Vandermeer, Jay Lake, Sean Williams along with others. (Includes my debut short story - a YA dystopian "The Ring of Fire)