. . and then you're undead?in this must-have collection, five of today's hottest writers—Libba Bray (A Great and Terrible Beauty), Cassandra Clare (City of Bones), Claudia Gray (Evernight), Maureen Johnson (13 Little Blue Envelopes), and Sarah Mlynowski (Bras & Broomsticks)—tell supernatural tales of vacations gone awry. Lost luggage is only mildly unpleasant compared to bunking with a witch who holds a grudge. And a sunburn might be embarrassing and painful, but it doesn't last as long as a curse. Of course, even in the most hellish of situations, love can thrive. . . .From light and funny to dark and creepy, these stories have something for everyone. You definitely won't want to leave this collection at home!

    Here, at last, is that long lost short story, which appears chronologically between the books Reunion and Darkest Hour. Enjoy!

    DJ's boss and mentor, Gerald St. Simon, is the wizard tasked with protecting the city from anyone or anything that might slip over from the preternatural beyond.Then Hurricane Katrina hammers New Orleans’ fragile levees, unleashing more than just dangerous flood waters.While winds howled and Lake Pontchartrain surged, the borders between the modern city and the Otherworld crumbled. Now, the undead and the restless are roaming the Big Easy, and a serial killer with ties to voodoo is murdering the soldiers sent to help the city recover.To make it worse, Gerry has gone missing, the wizards’ Elders have assigned a grenade-toting assassin as DJ’s new partner, and undead pirate Jean Lafitte wants to make her walk his plank. The search for Gerry and for the serial killer turns personal when DJ learns the hard way that loyalty requires sacrifice, allies come from the unlikeliest places, and duty mixed with love creates one bitter gumbo.

    She's been saving her virginity for the lead singer Thane. One fateful evening she gets her wish. It's a dream come true. Except the dream turns to a nightmare when she wakes up in a dumpster, tossed away like yesterday's trash, with no memory of what happened the night before. She feels strange, different, as if something is trying to get out. Soon she realizes she's changing...turning into something not quite human. Now a hunger deep inside claws at her to feed, to siphon energy from those around her. Before she can do just that, Trevor, the band's roadie shows up and stops her from killing. With his help she learns to control the hunger inside, because he's just like her. And in return he wants her help to do one little thing... Help him kill the members of Malice. "You're going to love Static --- a deep, dark and sexy ride. This is a creepy and unique addition to the YA paranormal genre that goes a little bit further and gives a little bit more." - Janet Gurtler, author of I'm Not Her and If I Tell, Sourcebooks Fire. "STATIC is an edgy, dark, and delicious read! Tawny Stokes is a tasty new voice in YA fiction." -Michelle Rowen, national bestselling author of Demon Princess series

    Shadow Days, told from Shay's perspective, chronicles the days before the start of the New York Times bestselling Nightshade, when Shay is taken away from the friends he loves and forced to live in his uncle Bosqu Mar's mansion, where the gargoyles seem to move, magic seems real, and nothing is as it should be.

    This year, I decided I’d do one for Gansey. Like the 300 Fox Way piece, it takes place the December before The Raven Boys begins."-Maggie Stiefvater

    She considers herself lucky. But what if something--or someone-- else is behind it?

    There will be other short stories posted here in the future. And I might possibly participate in an anthology featuring Half-Moon Hollow's cast of weirdos. Enjoy!Note: original URL was from author's now-deleted blog.

    Cast.Living in West Texas is sort of like living in Hell, but without the favorable climate and charming people. Living in Morganville, Texas, is all that and a takeout bag of worse. I should know. My name is Shane Collins, and I was born here, left here, came back here—none of which I had much choice about.This story was first published in the BenBella Books anthology Immortal, edited by none other than P. C. Cast, so if you want to read some other killer YA vampire tales, go in search of it! You won’t be disappointed.I decided to do an action-oriented story from Shane’s point of view. There was a running joke at the time that I should throw some zombies into Morganville, and while I didn’t succumb to the temptation in the books, I veered into it here … in a way. We get to visit some great Morganville locations, fight some zombies, and find out where Michael has disappeared to … and what Shane’s father has been doing just beyond the town’s borders that might change everything.This story is set sometime after Michael’s transformation to full vampire, but not long after; Shane’s still getting used to the idea that his best not-a-vamp friend has switched sides. There’s a little bromance, and a lot of Frank Collins.I might have been thinking just a little bit about the iconic Buffy the Vampire Slayer episode ‘The Zeppo’ … but only in the undead football player sense. And yes, I quoted the eighties movie Buckaroo Banzai. Guilty as charged.

     It's that time again! The Monster community is abuzz with whispers of the most anticipated party of the year. This deliciously exclusive event has tongues wagging even amongst the who's who of the monster community. It will once again be held at an undisclosed location on All Hallows Eve. Don't worry all you underprivileged socialites, The Monster Ball isn't just for vampires, witches, and werewolves. Other creatures of the night have as much of a chance to attend. Watch for your ticket but not in the mail. The silvery slip of parchment is said to appear in your hand by the light of the moon. If you find yourself a fortunate recipient best to keep it to yourself. There are some who would kill for the chance to attend. Because as every good monster knows... what happens at the ball, stays at the ball. xoxo, Elvira Fans of dark fantasy, paranormal intrigue, and romance will devour this story. Year 2 includes an all-new location & theme, new bartenders, and even a few familiar faces! Don't wait! Pre-order now and be sure to reserve your "ticket" to the ball!

    Jared is her Fae protector, and an all around pain in the neck. Then the wheels of fate turn on Jared, and he is given his own quest to complete, against his will.Jared has his hands full as he tries to save a bunch of spellbound boys, capture a beautiful shape-changing Fae, and keep Mina in the dark about it. He’ll need all the help he can get, and will have to recruit one of his old Fae friends to help.

    This novella is from Lord Carlston’s perspective and starts at the point in The Dark Days Club when he and Lady Helen meet for the first time.

    It’s been a year since Layla became a vampire and she still hasn’t tapped into the raw power of her transformation. It’s a point of contention with some of the other, older vampire dancers at Blue Moon Entertainment. But there’s only one vampire’s opinion that matters…Sean O’Rourke, Layla’s maker, protector, husband, and dance partner suddenly seems to be keeping secrets about her true nature…and their future as a couple. But when a sadistic ex-lover appears in Rhodes to reclaim possession of Sean, Layla must finally harness her supernatural gifts and prove her strength…or lose him forever.Layla Steps Up is a brand new novella from Charlaine Harris, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse vampire series, as well as the Agatha Award-nominated Aurora Teagarden series.

    What she senses in her neighbor Nathan could be dangerous. Because he has a secret gift, too, and it's about to be let loose.Buying Trouble by Karen ChanceIn a New York auction house, a Lord of the Fey crosses paths with a fiery redheaded mage named Claire. But in this strange underground society, the rarity up for sale is Claire herself.Mona Lisa Betwining by SunnyAmong the children of the moon, Mona Lisa is of Mixed Blood- part Monere, part human, and destined to be alone. Then she meets a man who could be her salvation- or her downfall.

    The violent acts shroud the harbour town in mystery and fear. In a town where doors are left unlocked and everyone knows everyone else, Aimee James, the unlikeliest of them all, finds herself the next target. But as the stakes get higher and her body gets weaker, Aimee discovers there are worse things than dying. There is something called cursed. This is the YA version of The Devil's Roses.