Category: Short Stories

Halloween Month and Other News

October 2, 2025

In need of a spooky distraction?

Halloween Month is getting ready to kick off at EvelynKlebert.com. Each week of this month I will be posting a paranormal short story to set the mood for this special time of the year. I do hope you will check back often to see what’s new.

I also am deep in edits for a new collection of short stories entitled A Murder in the Village and Other Mystical Tales of the Ouachita Mountains. I plan to post at least one story from this collection during Halloween Month just to give you a little taste of this book. It’s one I’ve been working on for some time and am so very excited to see it come to fruition.

So, in all sincerity, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone peace. And if you can, take a little time to enjoy this unique time of year. 🙂

Coming Soon!!

A Murder in the Village and Other Mystical Tales of the Ouachita Mountains

At the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains, into their ancient heart, and even perhaps into nearby unexplored dimensions, slip into a series of supernatural short stories. Take a mystical diversion that could very well land you into a realm at the least unexpected and at the most horrifying. But what is clear is that no one, ever, will emerge as they were before.

The Dance – The Short Story

August 11, 2025

Why do I write short stories?

While in the midst of deep edits for my long-form novel, The Alchemist’s Bride, I am at the same time completing another short story collection of paranormal stories centered in the Ouachita Mountain region. And the fact that I seemed to be pulled back time and time again to the short story format made me wonder exactly why that is.

“In a rough way, the short story writer is to the novelist as a cabinetmaker is to a house carpenter.” -Annie Proulx

“Find the key emotion; this may be all you need know to find your short story.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald

“I’ll give you the whole secret to short story writing. Here it is. Rule 1: Write stories that please yourself. There is no Rule 2.” – O. Henry

If you look up quotes about the short story, undoubtedly you will get a thousand different perspectives, and not so surprising some completely contradictory. Perspective, Perspective, Perspective!

Personally, I began my dance with short story writing many eons ago. Actually, my first dive into the literary genre was in high school. I was out of school for some weeks with a nasty case of the shingles when I decided to pick up my pen. I crafted a rather long, winding sci-fi/detective tale using my closest schoolmates as characters, something that will never see the light of day again.

After that, it was some years later that I wrote my first story collection, Breaking Through the Pale, then Dragonflies came next, and so on. And interestingly each collection I crafted came between the writing of several novels, as though I had to shift gears a bit. The truth is that some of my novels came directly from short stories. The novel The Broken Vow was a sequel to the short story entitled “Wolves.” The book I’m working on now, The Alchemist’s Bride, is a prequel and inspired by characters created in a short story called “Emma Fallon.” And I am also developing a full-length sequel to a short story called “The Wizard.”

So, the literary genres do intertwine and overlap, at least in my experience. For me, I find short story writing to be a field of experimentation. Sometimes it’s a brief glimpse of someone’s life. At other times, it’s a deep dive into a character moment, perhaps a pivotal juncture or decision in a life. It can be so many different things, just like the quotes above. But it’s always refreshing, unpredictable, and a lovely place to fly home to.

On The Horizon

June 26, 2025

Well, 2025 has already been an eventful year in all sorts of ways. But in my little corner of the world, it’s been busy as well and is already half over.

In terms of writing, I have already announced that The Story of Enid: Vol. 2 of the Clandestine Exploits of a Werewolf is getting ready to be released at the beginning of July. It is the sequel to The Broken Vow. And for those out there who would like to catch up on the series, The Broken Vow is currently on sale for $2.99 at Kindle and most other online eBook retail sellers. So, do pick up a copy and catch up on the adventures of Ethan Garraint, Etienne, and Geraint, all aliases for my favorite werewolf.

In addition, I am finishing up work on a short story collection that I hope to release sometime during the Halloween season. It’s called Mystical Diversions: Supernatural Tales of the Ouachita Mountains. One of the tales in this collection actually follows a character that is introduced in The Story of Enid.

I am also revising a book titled The Alchemist’s Bride, a paranormal romance set in turn-of-the-century New Orleans.

Beyond these works, several sequels are percolating, including a brand new New Orleans Paranormal Mystery book and a sequel to The Tethering: A Portent of Crows.

So, the balance of 2025 is shaping up to be a busy time. I do sincerely wish everyone peace and all the best.

Take Care,

Evelyn

The Broken Vow: Vol. I The Clandestine Exploits of a Werewolf

In the heart of every man there is a history. In the heart of every monster there is a story. In this first installment of “The Clandestine Exploits of a Werewolf,” Ethan Garraint is on a vendetta that begins in the heart of the Pyrenees with the fall of Montségur and leads him to the streets of New Orleans nearly five hundred years later. But the person he chases isn’t really a man anymore and Ethan has been a werewolf for almost a millennium. With the aid of a gifted seer, he is on a blood hunt that will culminate in a journey that crosses the line between heaven and earth and ends somewhere in between.

Amazon

Finding Inspiration

April 2, 2025

I once read that Agatha Christie would leave notebooks all around her house in case a flash of inspiration came to her that she needed to write down. I keep a number of what are called “fat little notebooks” about and actually never leave without one in my purse in case I need to scribble something down. Sometimes, the name of a town, a street, or maybe a store we’re passing strikes me as unique.


I also take a lot of pictures, in fact, all the time. I suppose it might be irritating to some, perhaps, but I feel driven. A number of these, I’ve used in book trailers that I’ve been posting on my YouTube channel.


While I was in New Orleans, I was constantly taking pictures of houses, apartments, schools, and all kinds of places so I could pinpoint exactly where my characters lived their lives, where they walked and interacted. I also, particularly for Sanctuary of Echoes, had to figure out how the streetcar lines connected. In my mind, it was important for the teenagers in that book to be able to get from place to place.


Inspiration comes in all sorts of curious disguises. Right now, in the community I’m in, it’s apparent a great many people are anxious and upset about what is happening in the country. That changes the feel and complexion of a place, no matter how picturesque it might seem. And that is, in an overarching sense, seeds for writing.


It’s hard to say where inspiration might come from. It can be very small, like a streetlight on a foggy night, or very large, like the COVID epidemic and all its reverberations in people’s lives. It’s always there. You just have to keep your eyes open and be ready to see it.

Finishing Out the Year

November 20, 2024

Well, now that we’re on the downside of this year I thought I’d write a blog to catch up on what I’m working on. It’s been an eventful year, a whole lot of ups and downs for so many people. And my circle has been no exception.


Primarily, I’m finishing up the audiobook of Sanctuary of Echoes. Unquestionably, this has been the longest audiobook I’ve ever recorded. But I have to say I’m pleased with the way it’s turning out. This book has always been one I’m very connected to. In some ways, it exudes the things I love most about New Orleans, particularly its atmosphere, its architecture, just the unique way of life that exists there and for me is unlike any other place.


If all goes well, I’ll send the files to Audible in a week or two and then hopefully it will be released before the end of the year or just at the beginning of next.


In addition, I’m saying goodbye to Kindle Vella, or rather it’s winding down. For those of you who are not aware Amazon decided to pull the plug on their experiment, and all Kindle Vella books, serial stories, will be pulled off the platform at the beginning of February. Where that leaves me is with several completed books needing editing, then publishing, and several uncompleted ones. So, my work is cut out for me. I just submitted my last episode to Vella this month. It was from the collection of short stories entitled “Mystical Diversions” and the completion of a tale called “Kylie” about a woman on the threshold of crossing over, and the adventures she has in transition, definitely bittersweet.


So, that wraps up things for me just now. And by the way, if you haven’t checked it out yet my publishers, Cornerstone Book Publishers is having a 40% OFF book sale until Nov. 28. Drop by and check out their wide collection. I enjoy foraging around the Spiritual/ New Age section, great inspiration for writing.

Take Care,
Sending everyone peace and best wishes during the holidays,
Evelyn

Cornerstone Book Publishers

End of Kindle Vella

October 30, 2024

Just a few days ago, I got an email from Amazon announcing that they were ending their Kindle Vella program. For those of you who don’t know about it, Kindle Vella was a platform for serial or episodic stories in which readers would pay to open new episodes.

I have spent a good amount of time publishing a number of stories on Kindle Vella, some of which I’ve completed and republished as books, including The Lady in the Blue Dress and Dumaine Street.

For me, my time at Kindle Vella was extremely helpful on a variety of levels. Writing on a tight schedule and juggling different stories at the same time stretched my abilities in a way that wasn’t always comfortable but extremely beneficial. Also, learning to master the pacing of episodic writing in terms of story structure I found sometimes challenging but also exciting.

All in all, I don’t believe my time there was wasted by any means. Some Kindle Vella writers have expressed a desire to migrate to other episodic story platforms and while at present I have no such plans, we’ll see what the future brings. I will keep you posted. At present I have three Kindle Vella stories that are incomplete on the platform. One is a collection of short stories, Mystical Diversions: Supernatural Tales of the Ouachita Mountains. I will be completing one short story in the collection before all the Kindle Vellas are pulled in February. The other two are The Vine: A Portent of Crows and An Unintended Witch. These two I will complete as novels on my own time.

I want to thank those who have supported my dive into the world of episodic storytelling with Kindle Vella, and I will keep you posted as to what the future brings.

Promo Videos

July 15, 2024

Lately, I’ve been posting quite a few promotional videos for my revised books on TikTok and other social media platforms. I’ve decided to repost a few of them here in case you missed them. 🙂

@authorevelynklebert

Two paths intersect in a love story that transcends lifetimes. A Quiet Moment is available at Amazon, Cornerstone Book Publishers and most other online retail booksellers. (link in bio) #paranormalromance #urbanfantasy #psychicromance #neworleans #metaphysical #booktok #psychic #evelynklebert #paranormalromancebooks #booklover Jacob Wyss is caught in a rut, in fact on the verge of being engulfed by it. After an excruciating and disillusioning divorce, his life as an artist in a sleepy college town at the foot of the Appalachian mountains has become quiet, routine, and maddening in its predictability. One wintry day, his deep restlessness drives him out in precarious conditions to a largely empty bookstore nearly devoid of another living soul, nearly. Aimee Marston isn’t like everyone else. On the surface, she lives a sedate life working as a feature writer for a small local newspaper in addition to several other editorial jobs to help make ends meet. But just beneath, her existence is largely not her own. She is a sensitive, an empathic psychic, guided by her calling to use her gifts to help others. Unfortunately, as a result, her secretiveness has made her defensive and protective of herself, preventing her from having much of a life of her own. A psychic call for help sends Aimee out on a freezing January morning, where her destiny and Jacob’s collide, sending both their lives spiraling onto an unexpected and often disturbing track. Two lonely souls connect, not by accident but by design. Theirs is the intersection of two spiritual paths, two lovers who must struggle to overcome the phantoms of a past life as well as the challenges of their inner demons to carve out an extraordinary future together.

♬ Requiem For A Dream Theme (From “Requiem For A Dream”) – Ralpi Composer
@authorevelynklebert

The race is on this summer and the stakes have never been higher. Treading on Borrowed Time is available at Amazon, Cornerstone Book Publishers, and most other online book sellers. (link in bio) #paranormalromance #urbanfantasy #NewOrleans #timetravel #booktoc #supernatural #evelynklebert #booklover #paranormalromancebooks #psychic #psychicromance #ghost #reincarnation A New Orleans time travel romance. For Julia Moreau, life seems complicated. Emerging from a failed marriage and managing a lifetime of diabetes, she lives alone in her childhood home, where she communicates with the spirit of her Great Aunt Lilia. But Julia doesn’t have a clue what complicated is until she is thrust into being the key chess piece in a match between two powerful men of extraordinary abilities on the wild hunt for a mystical creature hidden in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Will Julia lose her soul to the karma of a devastating past life or her heart to the love of a man driven by dark forces? What is clear is that whichever way she turns, she is Treading on Borrowed Time.  

♬ original sound – JessieMarieVilla
@authorevelynklebert

Can love really overcome any boundary? Find out this summer. A Ghost of a Chance is available at Amazon and most other online retail book sellers. (link in bio) #paranormalromance #lifeafterdeath #ghost #vampire #ghost #psychicromance #horrorwriter #ghostromance #urbanfantasy #booktok #paranormalromancebooks #bookworm #booklover #evelynklebert #supernatural Jack Brennan, an ambitious high-powered attorney dies, only to find himself constrained to a peculiar afterlife as an earth-bound spirit trapped in an old Virginia farmhouse with a very much living, reclusive writer of campy vampire novels. Hallie Barkly recovering from a painful and disillusioning divorce has forged a career and exorcised her demons by writing under the pseudonym of Sebastian Winters. Their lives intersect and two unconventional lovers are brought together under insurmountable circumstances. Together they must battle an unseen force hell-bent on possessing Hallie’s life and bridge death itself to make possible what cannot be — to find a chance.

♬ Hide and Seek – Klergy & Mindy Jones
@authorevelynklebert

Sometimes taking a risk is the only option. Take a leap into the unknown this summer. White Harbor Road and Other Tales of Paranormal Romance is available at Amazon and most other online retail bookstores. (link in bio) #paranormalromance #shortstories #psychicromance #timetravel #booktok #booklover #bookworm #paranormalromancebooks A psychic soul mate, an enigmatic stranger, a horror writer, and a time traveler take a selection of resilient, life-battered heroines to a place of paranormal healing and transformation. In this collection of supernatural romantic short stories, White Harbor Road is the last stop where life’s burdens and hardships evolve into something unexpected and often miraculous. Take the journey to the other side of the unknown.

♬ Happiness, Love & Peace Frequency in 432hz – Hberg
@authorevelynklebert

In need of a little Halloween mixed in with your summer? The Left Palm and And Other Halloween Tales of the Supernatural is available at Amazon and most other online retail booksellers. (link in bio) #HalloweenSeason #ghost #werewolf #timetravel #fortuneteller #supernatural #shortstories #horror #paranormal #psychic #neworleans #frenchquarter #booktok #bookworm #booklover Halloween is the time of year when that veil between worlds is thinned, and you can just catch a quick glimpse into the realm of the unknowable. In this collection of short stories, Evelyn Klebert takes you to a place where ordinary life splinters into the sphere of the paranormal. The journey begins with one woman’s unstoppable quest for vengeance against a supernatural creature in “Wolves” and continues in an old historical graveyard where a horrifying discovery is uncovered in “Emma Fallon.” In “The Soul Shredder,” a psychiatrist’s unusual patient opens his eyes to a disturbing new view of reality, while in “Wildflowers,” a woman strikes up a supernatural friendship with impossible implications. And in “The Left Palm,” a fortuneteller in the French Quarter receives a most unexpected and terrifying customer.

♬ original sound – evelynklebert
@authorevelynklebert

Ghosts Unacknowledged Do Not Sleep. Unravel the mysteries this summer. Sanctuary of Echoes is available at Amazon and most other online book and eBook retail sellers. (link in bio) #paranormalromance #paranormal #psychic #ghost #psychicromance #urbanfantasy #contemporaryfantasy #neworleans #booktok #supernatural #books #bookworm #booklover Corey Knight has resigned herself to a quiet, reclusive life. She plans to live out the rest of her days in her childhood home on the fringes of New Orleans’ French Quarter. But then, the unexpected specter of her deceased father plunges her into a mad quest for a missing supernatural weapon. It is the very same weapon unearthed by her and a small group of psychically gifted friends long ago. And unfortunately, her only ally is a lost love whom she betrayed. Iain Shaw returns to New Orleans after years of intensive esoteric studies and training overseas. Coming back to the city haunts him, a city he abandoned a decade before while fleeing a devastating past. Here again, he is forced to confront his demons in the visage of the woman he once adored—one that, even to his surprise, he is now determined to get back at any cost. Follow Iain Shaw and Corey Knight in a searing tale of discovery and redemption that begins with a mystical journal and culminates deep in the heart of one of New Orleans’ most historic cities of the dead. To prevail, they must journey through a profound and intricate past as they confront the echoes of a buried truth — a truth that once tore them irreparably apart.

♬ 1111hz Frequency Angel Healing – Alignyourcore
@authorevelynklebert

Join the hunt. The Broken Vow: Vol. I of The Clandestine Exploits of a Werewolf is available at Amazon, Cornerstone Book Publishers, and most other online retail booksellers. (Link in bio) #paranormal #werewolf #supernatural #urbanfantasy #contemporaryfantasy #historicalfiction #revengestory #mystical #evelynklebert #booklover #bookworm #booktok In the heart of every man, there is a history. In the heart of every monster, there is a story. In this first installment of The Clandestine Exploits of a Werewolf, Ethan Garraint is on a vendetta that begins in the heart of the Pyrenees with the fall of Montségur and leads him to the streets of New Orleans nearly five hundred years later. But the person he chases isn’t really a man anymore, and Ethan has been a werewolf for almost a millennium. With the aid of a gifted seer, he is on a blood hunt that will culminate in a journey that crosses the line between heaven and earth and ends somewhere in between.  

♬ supermassive black hole – sov
@authorevelynklebert

Slip into the world of the paranormal and begin to see differently with the adventures of Malachi McKellan. Travel into the Breach: Accounts of a Reclusive Mystic is available at Cornerstone Book Publishers, Amazon, and most other online retail booksellers. (link in bio) #paranormal #paranormalfictionbooks #shortstories #psychic #psychicdetective #urbanfantasy #booktok #supernatural #ghost #witchcraft #klebertattoobrasil At first glance, his life seems quiet, serene, and even uneventful. Malachi McKellan, a 65 five-year-old widower and author of esoteric books, lives largely as a recluse in a house situated just off the banks of Bayou St. John in New Orleans. But unbeknownst to most, he is also a bit of a detective, a specific kind of detective whose specialty is psychic attacks. Alongside his lifelong companion and spirit guide Simon Tull, a nineteenth century, twenty something English gent, Malachi battles the unseen, and is an unacknowledged hero to the most vulnerable – most of the population who have no idea what is really happening beneath the surface of the world in which they live. In this collection of adventures, Malachi McKellan and Simon Tull wage war against the most insidious elements of the paranormal. In “The Three,” Malachi and Simon come to the aid of a young woman being victimized by a group of dark witches. An old apartment building is the scene of an unimaginable battle against monstrous forces in “The Lost Soul.” Malachi and Simon find themselves strategizing against a psychic vampire in “Obsession,” and “The Hotel” turns back time to the 1980s where Malachi confronts a demonic spirit. In “Between,” a past life is revisited as Malachi attempts to rescue a beloved sister from committing her existence to vengeance, and “The Wedding” takes a personal turn when Malachi must confront painful truths while endeavoring to protect his niece from a potentially devastating union. Travel into the Breach with a pair of paranormal warriors who choose to confront overwhelming forces on a battlefield unsuspected by most.

♬ Awakening – SØLYS
@authorevelynklebert

Are you ready to take a leap into the paranormal? Appointment with the Unknown: The Hotel Stories is available at Amazon, Cornerstone Book Publishers, and most other online retail booksellers. (link in bio) #paranormal #paranormalstories #supernatural #paranormalromance #lifeafterdeath #paralleldimensions #astralprojection #newage #spiritual #shortstories #neworleans #metaphysical #soulmates #timetravel #booktok #bookworm #booklover #evelynklebert A hotel, for most, represents a normal place, a predictable realm of commonality. One might even go as far to say a safe space, the reliable where nothing particularly unusual is expected to happen. Or is it? Dimensional traveling, spirit guides, mystical storms, and soul mates separated by time are only a few elements dotting this supernatural landscape. Drop into a collection of romantic paranormal stories where that place of commonality is only the threshold, the jumping-off point, for extraordinary adventures into the unknown.

♬ After Dark (from “From Dusk Till Dawn”) – Movie Soundtrack All Stars

White Harbor Road and The Left Palm now in Hardcover

July 11, 2024

Rounding out a summer of new editions the newly revised versions of White Harbor Road and The Left Palm are now available in hardcover as well as paperback and eBook. If you’re looking for some unusual paranormal tales this summer, I do hope you check them out.

A psychic soul mate, a time traveler, a horror writer, and an enigmatic stranger take a selection of resilient, life-battered heroines to a place of paranormal healing and transformation. In this collection of short stories, White Harbor Road is the last stop where life’s burdens and hardships evolve into something unexpected.

Amazon
Cornerstone
Hardcover
Excerpt

Halloween is the time of year when that veil between worlds is thinned, and you can just catch a quick glimpse into the realm of the unknowable. In this collection of short stories, Evelyn Klebert takes you to a place where ordinary life splinters into the sphere of the paranormal.

The journey begins with one woman’s unstoppable quest for vengeance against a supernatural creature in “Wolves” and continues in an old historical graveyard where a horrifying discovery is uncovered in “Emma Fallon.” In “The Soul Shredder,” a psychiatrist’s unusual patient opens his eyes to a disturbing new view of reality, while in “Wildflowers,” a woman strikes up a supernatural friendship with impossible implications. And in “The Left Palm,” a fortuneteller in the French Quarter receives a most unexpected and terrifying customer.

Amazon
Cornerstone
Hardcover
Excerpt
@authorevelynklebert

Sometimes taking a risk is the only option. Take a leap into the unknown this summer. White Harbor Road and Other Tales of Paranormal Romance is available at Amazon and most other online retail bookstores. (link in bio) #paranormalromance #shortstories #psychicromance #timetravel #booktok #booklover #bookworm #paranormalromancebooks A psychic soul mate, an enigmatic stranger, a horror writer, and a time traveler take a selection of resilient, life-battered heroines to a place of paranormal healing and transformation. In this collection of supernatural romantic short stories, White Harbor Road is the last stop where life’s burdens and hardships evolve into something unexpected and often miraculous. Take the journey to the other side of the unknown.

♬ Happiness, Love & Peace Frequency in 432hz – Hberg
@authorevelynklebert

In need of a little Halloween mixed in with your summer? The Left Palm and And Other Halloween Tales of the Supernatural is available at Amazon and most other online retail booksellers. (link in bio) #HalloweenSeason #ghost #werewolf #timetravel #fortuneteller #supernatural #shortstories #horror #paranormal #psychic #neworleans #frenchquarter #booktok #bookworm #booklover Halloween is the time of year when that veil between worlds is thinned, and you can just catch a quick glimpse into the realm of the unknowable. In this collection of short stories, Evelyn Klebert takes you to a place where ordinary life splinters into the sphere of the paranormal. The journey begins with one woman’s unstoppable quest for vengeance against a supernatural creature in “Wolves” and continues in an old historical graveyard where a horrifying discovery is uncovered in “Emma Fallon.” In “The Soul Shredder,” a psychiatrist’s unusual patient opens his eyes to a disturbing new view of reality, while in “Wildflowers,” a woman strikes up a supernatural friendship with impossible implications. And in “The Left Palm,” a fortuneteller in the French Quarter receives a most unexpected and terrifying customer.

♬ original sound – evelynklebert

2024 – What’s Percolating?

January 8, 2024

While 2024 will no doubt be a ground-breaking year in many ways, on a much smaller scale in my arena, I have quite a few projects on the horizon.

In 2023, I saw the publication of two new novels and audiobooks, The Lady in the Blue Dress and Dumaine Street, which originated as Kindle Vella stories. In 2024, I anticipate the release of two more works: The Story of Enid, a sequel to The Broken Vow, and The Alchemist’s Bride. Both of these originated on Kindle Vella as well.

I’m also planning to continue my audiobook work, releasing not only these two novels in that format but also some older works. This is the year I plan to release Sanctuary of Echoes in audiobook form. I don’t like to show partiality to any of my work, but Sanctuary is one I’ve always kept close to my heart.

In addition to this, I’ll be continuing my work on Kindle Vella. I currently have two Vellas in progress: The Vine, which is a direct sequel to The Tethering, and An Unintended Witch. I also hope to start a brand new book there, the fourth installment in the New Orleans Paranormal Series. If you want more information on any of these works, please visit my Books, Audiobooks, or Kindle Vella Pages on the main menu of the homepage.

    So, 2024 is shaping up to be an exciting time, but I truly believe it’s also a time of great consequence. Our decisions this year will impact us profoundly in the coming years. We must think long and hard about what kind of country we want to live in and what kind of world we want to live in. Do we want to have peace and tolerance for one another, or do we want to dictate to our sisters and brothers and thus put our own freedom in jeopardy? Something to think about: every action and every inaction has a consequence.

    All My Best to Everyone,

    Evelyn