Although it may not be as popular today as it once was, the telling of ghost stories and Christmas time have gone hand-in-hand since at least the Victorian era. It’s easy to understand why; we feel safe and warm by the fire in our homes, but it’s not hard to imagine the ghosts and ghoulies that may lurk just beyond the protective glow of the flames.
The tradition of winter ghost stories was admittedly more of a European thing that never really took off in the US and Canada. It’s hard to say for sure why this is. I suspect it has something to do with our culture’s bigger emphasis on Halloween. Harvest time is our main spooky season, after all. But I say, why limit your haunts to only one time of year? Especially with the creeping cold and long nights that create the perfect atmosphere for wintery nightmares!
I’ve always been a big fan of the holiday ghost/horror story, be it A Christmas Carol or Gremlins, and I have long been fascinated by this fading genre. I have ambitions of my own to write a story worthy of the season, though the right idea hasn’t presented itself quite yet. That’s why I’ve been looking forward to putting this issue together since I started this magazine at the beginning of the year. I am excited to bring together four short original stories, and one classic tale–some fantasy, some horror, all creepy and befitting the season–to add some spooky to the holiday.
But before we get to them, I need to thank you, readers and writers alike, for all you’ve done this year.
It’s been a great first year for Perseid Prophecies. Readership has grown with every quarter, as has the number of submissions. What’s more, the quality of those submissions has been superb. If your story was rejected some time this year, please don’t take it as a comment on quality. Instead, receive it as an invitation to try again. Thank you all for entrusting your talent and imagination with me. I feel privileged to read every submission, and I look forward to what I will read in the coming year.
Additionally, I will be recording an episode of the Creative Writing Wizard Podcast with Glen Weatherhead on January 8, 2025. We’ll discuss Perseid Prophecies and some of my other projects as well. Watch the Perseid Prophecies social media for info on when and where you can listen!
So, with that, I wish you happy holidays, a happy New Year, and happy reading!