In 2014, The Speculative Fiction Guild organized an anthology of original, holiday themed speculative Fiction to benefit Indy Reads Books and the NFP’s adult literacy program.
The book raised $40 for IRB in 2014. Over the next three years, the anthology has raised an additional $100, which the SFG will present at the White Dragon Gifts of the Magi Event on Friday, November 11, at 7 PM at Indy Reads Books.
Join Speculative Fiction Guild authors as they celebrate the success of their Indy Reads Books holiday fundraiser for Indy Reads Adult Literacy programs. Answer sci-fi, fantasy, and horror trivia questions to gain access to their geeky stash of “white dragon” gifts.
It’s heeeere… Alien Beer and Other Stories, a collection of 23 of E. Chris Garrison’s short stories and flash fiction! Some have appeared in other publications, many have been a part of the Iron Writer Challenge, and still others, she’s showing to this world for the first time.
The holidays have returned, so it’s time to remind you about the anthology that never went away!
Last year, SFG Publishing, the publishing label of the Indianapolis based Speculative Fiction Guild, released its first-ever holiday anthology with all proceeds benefiting Indy Reads, a not-for-profit organization that provides tutoring to illiterate and semi-literate adults.
Gifts of the Magi: a Speculative Holiday Collection gathers original fiction assembled by editors and SFG members John F. Allen, E. Chris Garrison and R.J. Sullivan.
Amazon Kindle Ebook and paperback: Click here!
*Paperbacks thru CreateSpace. Click here! ——- * NOTE: Paperback orders through CreateSpace will maximize the per-book donation to Indy Reads.
In most cases, these stories are set within an author’s series universe. Readers of fan favorite series can return to familiar settings and characters, such as the Coyote Series by Chantal Noordeloos and the Clockwork Republics tales by Katina French. NYT and USA Today Bestseller Debra Holland also revisited the fantasy world of her Gods’ Dream Trilogy, and the anthology editors have each contributed a new story from their ongoing series.
—-
Stories for Christmas– authors for the New Year!
Find within this magical tome 14 NEW original holiday-themed stories of fantasy, horror and science fiction by a talented group of authors–plus one holiday essay. The tales from our Magi vary from the light and satirical to the dark and serious, and we’ve shuffled the deck to keep you guessing.
In “Unraveled” by A.D. Roland, a time guardian may have to choose between preserving reality or destroying the man she loves.
In “Freezy the Snow Demon” by Scott M. Sandridge, a snowman comes to life, but he’s not a happy soul.
In “How Krampus Saved Christmas” by S.H. Roddey, Santa makes a terrible bargain in order to save Christmas.
On Christmas Eve, a furious fairy princess attacks a double-decker bus in E. Chris Garrison‘s “Christmas Special”.
Two secret agents attend an exclusive Christmas party with an unusual price of admission in “A Quantum of Solstice” by J.P. Bastin.
In “The Dead of Night” by David Jobe, soldiers in the midst of the zombie apocalypse try to find the Christmas spirit.
A boy and his father confront an alien creature on…”The Longest Night” by Matthew Barron.
In “An Ivory Christmas” by John F. Allen, a mercenary packing magical pistols battles a monster while Christmas shopping for her werewolf boyfriend.
Steampunk detectives find themselves fending off Christmas “elves” in “The Curious Case of the Cobbler’s Christmas” by Katina French.
Humans exiled to an alternate world blend alien and human holiday traditions in “A Season of Renewal” by Debra Holland.
A banished prince with a magic chicken finds a nearly drowned soldier–so says the storyteller in “The Warmth of Midwinter” by Marian Allen.
In “An Outlandish Christmas” by Chantal Noordeloos, bounty hunter Coyote searches for a rogue elf.
A traumatized punk girl confronts the spirits from the worst night of her life in “Blue Christmas” by R.J. Sullivan.
In a dystopian future, Christmas is outlawed, as told in “This Thing Called Christmas” by Herika R. Raymer.
…And Shirley Jackson Award-nominated author Nicole Cushing reveals the holiday specials that she feels deserve “Lumps of Coal.”
Amazon Kindle and paperback now live on Amazon. Click here!
*Paperbacks also available thru CreateSpace. Click here! ——- * NOTE: Paperback orders through CreateSpace will maximize the per-book donation to Indy Reads.
_______
Indy Reads is a not-for-profit organization that relies on volunteers to provide basic literacy tutoring to illiterate and semi-literate adults. . “Our mission is to promote and improve the literacy of adults and families in Central Indiana. We believe that everyone should have an opportunity to learn to read, and our goal is to make Indianapolis 100% literate. Our programs include one-on-one tutoring, small group sessions, English as a Second Language instruction, and ‘Literacy Labs’ at neighborhood centers.” Indy Reads operates a bookstore in downtown Indianapolis. Learn more at www.Indyreadsbooks.org .
Local vendors will be on site from 10 am-5 pm on Halloween; you’ll find all sorts of local vendors, including our SFG booth and a separate booth for member publisher Das Krakenhaus Press. You can view the array of titles from Das Krakenhous here.
At the SFG booth, five of our local authors will be selling and signing their books, with a call-out on our ghost story, paranormal, and urban fantasy titles, including:
John F. Allen’s The God Killers and Codename: Knight Ranger Matthew Barron’s Valora; Ill-Considered Expeditions; Temple of Secrets; Lonely Princess; Welcome to Secular Indiana; and I’m Not Gay (DVD) Chris Garrison’s Four ‘Til Late; Sinking Down; Me and the Devil; Blue Spirit; Trans-Continental: Girl in the Gears; and Reality Check
David Jobe’s The Broken Ones R.J. Sullivan’s Haunting Blue; Haunting Obsession; Virtual Blue; and Darkness with a Chance of Whimsy
Check out details at each author’s link or just come by the festival to browse stories guaranteed to pique the interest of readers who like all things that go bump in the night. Each author will be on-hand to sign and personalize every book, pose for pictures, and share their favorite Halloween stories.
SFG Publishing is making GIFTS OF THE MAGI the easy choice in ebook downloads with a Countdown to Christmas Sale starting Thursday, Dec. 18 (That’s tomorrow as we write this).
How’s it work? Simple. You can order our fabulous GIFTS OF THE MAGI holiday short story collection in Kindle ebook from this link as you would normally do, but at a special price as we countdown to Christmas and “count up” to full price.
Order the ebook for only 99 CENTS8 AM Thurs, Dec 18 thru Dec 20, 1 PM EST;
Order for ONLY $1.99 Dec 20-Dec 22, 6 PM, EST;
Order for ONLY $2.99 Dec 22 until Midnight Christmas Eve, EST.
Please confirm you see the special price listed before you follow through and finalize your order.
Come Christmas, the ebook will still be available at its normal price of $3.99, and, y’know, if you just have to buy stuff at full price, that’s okay, too. We’re not judging.
So get yours, buy some for your friends, and help spread the word as we count down to Christmas As always, all proceeds go to Indy Reads Books, a fundraising arm of IndyReads, a NFP organization that provides literacy tutoring for adults in the Indianapolis area.
If you need to review complete details about the collection, click here!
The window to have online gifts delivered in time for Christmas is closing fast. Fortunately, we’ve got the fantasy /horror /sci-fi loving readers on your list taken care of with GIFTS OF THE MAGI: A SPECULATIVE HOLIDAY COLLECTION.
Now’s the perfect time to order, as we’ve just launched the Magi Mall Sale:
When you order the paperback thru Createspace and use the coupon code at checkout, you get 15$% OFF, now thru Friday! As always, all proceeds benefit Indy Reads Books.
Copy the code above and order from this link. (Don’t forget to paste the code in the “Promotion Code” field before your finalize your order : https://www.createspace.com/5059889
Thanks for your support. The authors and editors of GIFTS OF THE MAGI wish you a very Merry Christmas.
Eight authors are scheduled to appear at Indy Reads Books Thursday night to read from, and sign copies of, Gifts of the Magi. Contributing authors scheduled to appear are: John F. Allen, Matthew Barron, J.P. Bastin, Nicole Cushing, Katina French, E. Chris Garrison, David Jobe, and R.J. Sullivan. Authors will read a short excerpt from their story, and will sign copies for shoppers. The signing offers a unique opportunity for shoppers to purchase the volume and come away with the majority of the stories in the collection signed by the authors. (Authors will be happy to sign copies previously purchased.)
Along with Gifts of the Magi, many of the authors will be offering and signing copies of their own books; many of the titles will have some series connection to the stories presented in Gifts of the Magi.
100% of all proceeds from Gifts of the Magi will benefit Indy Reads Books, a source of revenue for the not-for-profit organization Indy Reads, whose mission is to improve the literacy skills of adults in central Indiana who currently read at or below the sixth grade level. Since its release last month, Gifts of the Magi has raised close to $100 for the organization.
“Christmas Special” is a modern fairy tale I wrote that bridges my Road Ghosts books with the upcoming Tipsy Fairy Tales. It stars Enid, who you may have met if you read “Spectral Delivery” early this year, and she’s joined by Gonzo and the Transit King, a jovial gnomish “fairy Godfather” who travels the straight tracks on buses and trades in favors owed.
I wrote the story as a part of the Speculative Fiction Guild’s charity-benefiting anthology, “Gifts of the Magi: A Speculative Holiday Collection”. All proceeds benefit Indy Reads Books, an Indianapolis area literacy charity.
We’ve been very excited about the buzz our first anthology release has received, but what’s a book these days without a spiffy book trailer to help give it a push?
Yep, that’s what we said, too, so co-editor R.J. Sullivan learned how to use a free slideshow program in a hurry, and, several handfuls of hair later, presented us with the following for your viewing pleasure.
Paper copies of Gifts of the Magi: A Speculative Fiction Collection were dropped off at Indy Reads Books, so you can pick up your copy there or order yours online. A great Christmas gift! Available in Kindle ebook, too. All proceeds benefit Indy Reads’ adult literacy programs. Click here to see the dedicated page.