A Fire for Christmas by William R. Hincy
WINNER
Fiction: Anthologies
2023 International Book Awards
WINNER
Anthologies
Holidays
2023 American Fiction Awards
It’s Christmas 2020—be careful what you wish for! After meeting at a pre-pandemic writers conference, struggling sci-fi novelist Jeffrey Dahl attempts to rekindle a romance with renowned holiday erotica author Lourdes D.P. Ivy. But stay-at-home orders, social distancing, and communication gaffes lead to a series of old-fashioned letters as the would-be lovers exchange Christmas stories.
From award-winning author William R. Hincy, A Fire for Christmas takes a satirical blowtorch to our most cherished holiday stories, then invites the reader to make snow angels in the ashes.
Will Jeff and Lourdes catch fire? In 2020, nothing is certain.
Featured in the collection:
A Fire for Christmas: Afternoon cartoons-obsessed Billy Lynus has one item on his wish list—a Navy Stan action figure. But if past disappointment is kindling for future humiliation, Billy is primed to ignite a Yule log that’ll burn for Christmases to come.
The Coal Train: After being naughty on Christmas Eve, Moya and her brother Aden awake to find coal in their stockings and a train in their suburban front yard. The duo stowaway on a madcap adventure, but there are no kindred spirits, kindly ghosts or quirky conductors to guide them. And this train isn’t going to the North Pole.
Dungeons and Santa: A lonely teenager devises a plan to make his Christmas wish come true. The catch—Santa.
Hall-Marked at Christmas: Climatologist Moya Hoffman aims to reverse climate change by making it snow across the globe on, you guessed it, Christmas. But matters are complicated when the tiny hamlet of Christmas Village faces stay at home orders after a nefarious stranger goes scrambling through the local mall, maskless and coughing all the way. Throw in a burgeoning romance with new-to-town mechanic Bill Lynus, a desperate desire for human contact after months of isolation, and the potential sale of the family’s antique car museum, and there are all the trimmings for a Christmas romance unfit for cable TV.
It Isn’t, Actually: After a suicide attempt goes awry, former city councilman Jorge Sanchez finds himself pulling his guardian angel from the river. Granted a glimpse of what the town would be like if he was never born, Jorge is left questioning if it’s really a wonderful life. At Christmas!
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