Secret Santa and Other Tales

**Oh, the Horror! The Horror!

I've been a fan since my older sister used to wake me up so I could sneak down to watch Creature Feature when I was in elementary school! Funny, I never could seem to get back to sleep . . . While my main writing focus is the paranormal, my passion for the darker side of the scary spectrum was resurrected while working on Indie horror film, In The Woods, helping with the screenplay, writing a novelization, AND having a guest role as "Bar Extra"! That endeavor put Dean Koontz, Stephen King and Justin Cronin into my "Must Read" rotation and convinced me to watch (through my fingers) movies such as Cabin in the Woods, The Others, and Woman in Black.

Tell-Tale Publishing has an eye for the macabre and for authors who know how to wield a Poe-worthy pen. I've enjoyed being one of the judges in their yearly Halloween talent search (two of the winners are in this edition!). I'm always thrilled to be thrilled by something new in the genre, and this collection fits the bill. Quick, blood-curdling reads to curl up with on a dark night, taken a deadly sip at a time, like a fine, hoarded vintage to savor and appreciate when the nights grow cold and the wind howls. That was the wind . . . wasn't it?

Cheers! Happy reading, and don't forget to leave the nightlight on!

Nancy Gideon, award-winning, bestselling author of the "Touched by Midnight" vampire series and the "By Moonlight" and "House of Terriot" shapeshifter series**