A. L. Kaplan

Tag: Santa

  • SPECIAL GUEST

    special guest edit

    “Santa?”

    Mable stared at the man in the red coat passed out on her lawn and the overturned sled, ignoring the reindeer munching on her shrubs. Empty beer cans, cookie crumbs, and scraps from her Christmas ham littered the ground. The man’s eyes cracked opened, then slammed shut.

    “Hey. Wake up.”

    “Turn off that damned light,” he groaned. “Let me die in peace.”

    “I can’t turn off the sun,” said Mable. “Get up before a kid sees you.”

    “Quit nagging. You sound like Mrs. Clause.”

    “Well, she’s probably worried sick about you.

    Santa belched. “I doubt that very much. She threw me out after the company party last week. All because of one little kiss. Okay, maybe a bit more than a kiss, but it’s not my fault. Someone spiked my milk and covered the ceiling with mistletoe. I couldn’t stop kissing everyone.”

    Mable didn’t believe what she was hearing. This was not how she pictured jolly old Saint Nick. “So explain that to Mrs. Clause.”

    “I tried, but she just can’t get past the surveillance video. Neither can the elves. The restraining order says I can’t go within 500 miles of the North Pole.” Tears ran down his face. “I’m never drinking milk again. You have to help. I’ve been set up.”

    “Me? What can I do?”

    “You’re the one who wants to be a detective. Here’s your chance, detect. Clear my name.”

    Instead of being happy, Mable winced. Her first case was going to be a doozy.

     

    Happy Holidays Y’all

    Don’t forget to pick up a copy of Star Touched and Wolf Dawn for your special someone.

    Star Touched

    Startouched front cover2Eighteen-year-old Tatiana is running from her past and her star-touched powers eight years after a meteor devastates earth’s population. Her power to heal may be overshadowed by more destructive abilities. Fleeing the persecution of those like her, Tatiana seeks refuge in a small town she once visited. But this civil haven, in a world where society has broken down, is beginning to crumble. Will Tatiana flee or stay and fight for the new life she has built? Only by harnessing the very forces that haunt her can Tatiana save her friends…and herself.

     

    Wolf Dawn

    Wolf Dawn 13

     

    A Hidden Past – A Deadly Secret

    Gifted with the ability to wolf-talk, Kara has lived with the wolves since she lost her memories eight years ago. Now at sixteen, snippets of her past send her searching for answers.

    But the warm welcome she receives in the human village hides more danger than life with the pack.

  • A.L. Kaplan Wins Another Flash Fiction Challenge

    What a great way to end 2015 and start 2016. Thank you all for the votes.

    A.L. Kaplan is the readers’ choice in this week’s Indies Unlimited Flash Fiction Challenge.

    The winning entry is rewarded with a special feature on Indies Unlimited today and a place in their collection of winners which will be published as an e-book at year end.

  • HOWARD BEAR

    Santa’s village was in trouble, big trouble. A massive force of ogres, goblins, and gremlins advanced. All the land escapes were blocked. The village was unarmed and outnumbered; in short, doomed. Elves and other animals ran in panicked circles through the village, unsure of what to do.

    “We’ll never get everyone off the ground before they overwhelm us,” said Santa. His big jolly belly sagged. “What are we going to do?”

    Howard Bear scanned the marching troops. Monsters, all of them, out to destroy Santa’s peaceful haven. He may not have gotten his dream job, pulling Santa’s sleigh, but this was his home. There was no way he was letting those awful people win.

    “I have an idea,” said Howard. “Continue evacuations.”

    He ran to his workshop at the tinsel factory and did what he did best. Using steel instead of aluminum, his sharp claws slashed and twisted the metal with rapid speed. Howard raced back to Santa with bails of barbed tinsel.

    “Spread this out around the village. It will keep them back long enough for you to escape.”

    Howard got his dream that day. He pulled Santa’s sleigh and the last of the villagers to safety. The barbed tinsel entangled the monsters until the gnome army arrived. Thanks to Howard everyone was saved. If you’re ever in Santa’s village, check out the statue Santa had built for Howard the Hero Bear. It’s right next to the one for Rudolf.