Wow, we've come to the end of the year and the final CSR of 2015. This month I featured 4 holiday short stories of all different types for readers to enjoy. Since we have 4 authors to feature, I did something a little different. Enjoy their take on these questions and their fun little micro flash giving you another taste of their stories. Don't forget to leave your thoughts and reviews!

Mann Rambling with Rudolph's Tijuana Christmas

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition or memory?
Every Christmas Eve after I get off work (I do retail, pity me now...) my partner and I setup a table full of finger foods that require minimal or no cooking such as: shrimp cocktail, flatbread pizza, fruit, crackers and cheese, and anything else we can think of. Then we start a fire in the fireplace and dim the lights while we drink cocktails, eat until we burst, and watch the marathon of A Christmas Story on TNT. 24 hours! Booyah, baby! On Christmas morning we open gifts with mimosas in hand and have a breakfast of fresh fruit and sweet danishes from the deli. That's pretty much all I need.

What’s your favorite holiday story? (folk, fairytale, play, fiction, etc…)
The movie A Christmas Story came out when I was a kid in 1981(?) and it's always held a special place in my heart. The fact it's a stock broadcast on Christmas (see previous question) only reinforces its dominance for me over all the stop motion Christmas specials I remember as a child. Which I absolutely loved, by the way.

What inspired your story?
My cousin Ken, who was my age and we grew up together, used to torment the younger kids about how Santa crashed during his test runs and there wouldn't be any gift for Christmas morning. (We were awful as kids. LOL) He was also the first person to make jaded comments about Rudolph's less than ideal growing up conditions. The “Santa, get a f*cking flashlight” line was all his. I give him full credit even if he never gets around to reading it.

Micro-flash update: Can you share where your character(s) are this year for the Christmas season in 100 words or less?
Santa and Rudolph have made a killing selling a new line of brandy flavored candy canes to the kids on the naughty list after peppermint was banned from the workshop. The profits allowed them to retire during the off-season and leave the continuing production to the elves. Mrs. Claus has taken her new stage act to Vegas, making insane amounts of money in spite of her not needing a job after becoming the majority share holder of Amazon. Let's put that on a snowglobe.

Valkyrie with Penguin's Christmas Gift

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition or memory?
When I was ten years old, my parents offered me a choice for Christmas. I could start taking riding lessons, or I could get my usual slew of presents. If I chose riding lessons, it meant that I wouldn’t have any presents on Christmas. It was a no-brainer for this horse-crazy young girl…I chose the riding lessons. On Christmas day, I went downstairs fully expecting to not receive any presents, other than my stocking. To my surprise, I had three presents waiting for me! A model horse, a pair of jeans, and a shirt. I was thrilled! I still have that horse, and little did they know that those riding lessons would be the spark for my first career.

What’s your favorite holiday story? (folk, fairytale, play, fiction, etc…)
This is a tough one. I like a lot of holiday stories. I would say my favorite from when I was a child was Nestor, the Long-Eared Christmas Donkey. I’m also partial to the Little Drummer Boy.

What inspired your story?
Penguin’s Christmas Gift was inspired by characters from my story Penguin. I’ve had a lot of requests for more about these characters, so this was my ‘thank-you’ to my readers last year.

Micro-flash update: Can you share where your character(s) are this year for the Christmas season in 100 words or less?
There’s a follow-up story called A Penguin Prompt that gives another glimpse into these guys. I think that Sean and Daniel are in a good place in their relationship, and may be ready for the next step. They have a nice kitty family now, so maybe it’s time that they expanded their human family…

Carlos Hazday with Muscle Bear Santa

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition or memory?
Christmas 1966 was the last one my family celebrated while still living in Cuba. It was years later I realized the meaning of what at the time had no significance: my mother is a very strong willed person. Communism had done away with official celebrations, but mom was obstinate. No such thing as Christmas trees around? No problem, let’s whitewash a dead tree limb, making it look like a snow covered tree, and decorate it. No toy store full of things to buy? No problem, send Dad to the docks, to do a little trading with Canadian sailors. Cuban cigars in exchange for some trinkets I can’t even remember. But I do remember getting a pack of minty chewing gum, something I’d never had before. The indomitable human spirit triumphed over ideology.

What’s your favorite holiday story?
I don’t really have one. Christmas isn’t a big deal for me, commercialism and silly countdowns spoiled it for me a while back.

What inspired your story?
A fraternity brother sent me a Christmas card a few years ago; the image of it served as inspiration. A muscular, bearded, hairy man; wearing a Santa Hat, red velvet briefs with a black belt, and black leather armbands; standing in front of a fireplace with a beautifully decorated Christmas tree to the side. The setting became Tony & Colt’s living room, and the model became Muscle Bear Santa.

Micro-flash update: Can you share where your character(s) are this year for the Christmas season in 100 words or less?
“ANTONIO! Get up!”

“Crap! What’s my mother doing at our place so early?” asked Tony, burrowing further under the covers.

“Cooking!” replied Colt, wrapping himself tighter around his boyfriend.

“How’d she get in? I haven’t given her a key.”

“My mom probably let her in. You know they were planning on getting together to cook a couple of things.”

“But at 8:00 a.m.? The meal’s catered anyway.”

“I know. I’m starting to think it wasn’t such a hot idea to invite my family to spend the Holidays with us in New York.”

“Next year we fly to Miami for Christmas.”

AC Benus with Katie's Sketchbook - Christmas at Famous-Barr 1976

Do you have a favorite holiday tradition or memory?
I have many memories floating around in my head, all images and smells of Christmases past – for example, I made brownies the other day and used Baker's brand chocolate. That's the kind my mom always used, so even just melting it and smelling its aroma put me back in her kitchen as a kid and making her favorite holiday cookie. She had me smash up a bag of cornflakes, then mix the crumbs with melted chocolate and some sugar. We'd spoon little mounds on a tray and wait (sorta…) until they cooled and hardened. As a kid I much preferred these to my mom's other favorite Christmas cookie – Bourbon Balls!

What’s your favorite holiday story? (folk, fairytale, play, fiction, etc…)
In my work, I often try to understand the 'why' of horrible situations; why is one made to suffer when others are vaunted. So this year I have been thinking of a Christmas tale that was talked about when I was a kid, but seems lesser-known today: The Little Match Girl, by Hans Christian Andersen. It's so sad, and yet so brave. It asks that question of why this little girl has to suffer abuse at home, and why she has to toil away instead of being allowed to be a kid. But, in that emotion of frustration from the reader, the author pulls out a set of visions that can take our breath away. It is such a compact story, yet so beautifully crafted and conceived of, it's a real inspiration as I think of how to temper my own holiday tales to withstand the changing whims of time.

What inspired your story?
When I was six years old, our 1^st Grade teacher organized a class fieldtrip downtown to see the holiday displays, and visit the big department stores. It was a wonderful experience, and left me wide-eyed and loving the places we visited. (I've written a little more about the experience here.) After years of wanting to write something like the Christmas at Famous-Barr series, I sat down and mapped it out. I'm pleased to bring two of them to GA readers this year. By next Christmas, all eight should be complete and ready for posting.

Micro-flash update: Can you share where your character(s) are this year for the Christmas season in 100 words or less?
The door opened, and Katie's grandkids came running in around her. "Grandpa Sloan! Grandpa Richardson!" they screeched, climbing into the men's laps.

"Good to be home, Daddies," she said as she placed a kiss on each loving forehead.

"Welcome home, Katie. But did you have to bring the brat brigade with you?" Sloan immediately launched a tickle-assault against little sides, and everyone dissolved into heartfelt laughter.

Richardson smiled. "It's good to have you home, daughter. Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas Father, but where're Jay and Miles?"

Sloan's tone became sly, saying, "They went to check out the new chocolates at Bissinger's!"