Kevin’s Christmas tales with a twist

Author’s feast of festive horror

An Airdrie author has added a touch of gore to the festive season with the release of his debut anthology.

Burnfoot writer Kevin Kennedy has banded together with 22 horror fiction writer, including a number of Bram Stoker Award- winning authors, to launch ‘ Collected Christmas Horror Shorts’, which is aimed at people who hanker after a darker side to the festivities.

Recruitment consultant Kevin is passionate about things that go bump in the night, other than Santa coming down the chimney, and said his book promises readers “a Christmas like never before”.

The 35- year- old told the Advertiser: “If you like Christmas it has a very Christmassy feel to it but they are not happy stories. Some are a bit extreme.”

He explained “I started over a year ago and I got to know a lot of the indie authors.

“And I spoke to a mixture of the guys I had been reading for years and managed to get them on board.”

Kevin continued: “I decided to put the anthology together myself and most people liked the idea.

“Everyone sent me their stories and I picked the ones I liked best and compiled them.”

Since its release Collected Christmas Horror Shorts has been the bestseller in the genre on Amazon’s UK website and has reached the top 10 in the US chart, in the face of tough competition.

Kevin’s bloodthirsty obsession began as a teenager and he was an avid reader of the genre.

He said: “I’ve always been interested in horror books and movies.

“When I was at Airdrie Academy, English was my favourite subject and my teacher Mr McLean made it really interesting.

“He was so inspirational, which made me want to pay attention in class.”

So it was a natural progression for Kevin when he penned his first blood-curdling tale.

He said: “About a year- and- ahalf ago I wrote something and submitted it online to Alucard Publishers in America and as a result I kept getting invited to major book events.”

Kevin is now looking forward to his next project, a collaboration with author JC Michael, famed for his novel ‘Double Barrel Horror’.

He added: “It’s been great working with him. We’ve almost finished a novella, which is my plan for next year.”

Horror fans can pick up a copy of Kevin’s ‘Collected Christmas Horror Shorts’ anthology on paperback and Kindle from Amazon.

It has a Christmassy feel to it but they are not happy stories