Overview

Step into a world where Christmas magic is as chilling as it is heartwarming. A Christmas Menagerie presents a fresh and unforgettable take on the holiday season, introducing The Figure - a mysterious, dual-natured interpretation of Santa Claus. In this anthology of four interwoven stories, The Figure acts as both a fearsome judge and a guardian of Christmas spirit, rewarding good-hearted children and delivering a reckoning to the wicked. Designed to be a quick yet powerful read, this short collection is perfect for fans of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol and those intrigued by darker Christmas traditions like Krampus. Blending the festive and the fearsome, this small but impactful book features timeless woodcut-style illustrations that bring its reimagined Christmas folklore to life. In ""A Winter's Night Tale,"" a wayward boy discovers that some naughty deeds cannot be undone. ""Christmas Shadows"" explores redemption and regret as a troubled child faces the truth behind her actions. ""He Knows If You've Been Bad or Good"" tells the story of a selfless boy whose kindness paves the way to an unexpected future. In ""The Last Journey,"" the origins of The Figure are revealed, blending magic, lore, and the weight of his duty. Ride along on The Figure's Christmas Eve journeys and experience a captivating blend of shadows, lore, and the timeless spirit of the season.

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Keith Simpkins, author of A Christmas Menagerie, grew up in the rural mountains of Virginia in the 1970s, where Christmas was filled with wonder, tradition, and a touch of mystery. Over time, the commercialism of the holiday dulled its magic for him, but later in life, he rediscovered his love for Christmas-stronger and deeper than ever. Now, he celebrates the season with equal parts nostalgia and curiosity, immersing himself in its traditions, history, and folklore.An avid blogger, photographer, and runner, Keith also has a passion for research. Before writing A Christmas Menagerie, he spent countless hours exploring the legends and figures of Christmas traditions from around the world. His holiday travels have taken him from small village markets in Slovakia to the Kukeri festival deep in the mountains of Bulgaria, seeking out both the festive and the forgotten sides of midwinter celebrations. In Cleveland, where he now calls home, Keith welcomes the season early-decorating on November 1st, celebrating the city's festive traditions, and filling his home with four Christmas trees, including a Krampus-themed black tree.His love for Christmas is matched only by his love for horror, and every December, he mixes classic holiday films with campy Christmas slasher flicks. He watches over 50 Christmas movies every year, attends A Christmas Carol and The Nutcracker annually, and seeks out Christmas markets, Krampusnacht events, and alternative midwinter festivals.The first story in A Christmas Menagerie was born on a winter drive home from a Christmas market in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania-typed on his phone in the passenger seat as holiday lights flickered past. With this collection, Keith brings together the warmth and wonder of Christmas with the shadows that lurk just beyond the glow of twinkling lights.Whether wandering a snow-covered Christmas market, decorating for the season, or lacing up for a winter run, Keith embraces both the traditions that shaped Christmas through the centuries and the new ones we create along the way.

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