Stocking Fillers: Twelve Short Stories for Christmas

by Debbie Young

This collection of twelve humorous short Christmas stories, averaging 1,000 words apiece, will delight anyone struggling with their own plans for the festive season.The tales form an entertaining catalogue of how characters of all ages respond to the anxieties that abound at this time of year, from a small boy who tries to give Santa lessons in time management to the elderly lady who is marking what's likely to be her last Christmas. Others tackle such important questions - Will you ever get everything ready in time? - Will everyone like their presents? - Will you like yours? - How will Father Christmas fit us all in? - And who is the real Santa, anyway?Unlike many festive books, this collection does not sugar-coat every Christmas experience, and a few of the characters aren't exactly lovable, but they're certainly memorable. But ultimately it's a heartwarming collection and an easy, quick read to be enjoyed by anyone who loves the traditional Christmas.Whether you choose to spread out the stories across the traditional 12 Days of Christmas, or to consume them all in one sitting, once you've read Stocking Fillers, you'll never view Christmas in quite the same way again - and we mean that in a good way!

Genres: Christmas, Short Stories

77 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 8, 2014

About the author

Hello dear readers!

I hope you will enjoy my warm, witty, feel-good contemporary fiction, full of English humour and heart, inspired by life in the Cotswold village which has been my home for over 30 years. I have three series of cozy mystery novels plus various short fiction, and I've written a couple of non-fiction books too.

NOVELS

My latest book is "Death at the Village Christmas Fair", the third in my Cotswold Curiosity Shop Mystery series. The series begins with "Death at the Old Curiosity Shop", followed by "Death at the Village Chess Club". In this series, moving from the city to the lively Cotswold village of Little Pride, Alice Carroll (50) discovers that nothing is quite what it seems in her new business enterprise. Each novel in this series has at its heart an intriguing item to be found in her bric-a-brac shop, and features eccentric characters, plenty of red herrings and lots of English humour.

My Sophie Sayers Village Mystery series begins with "Best Murder in Show". Originally envisaged as a seven-book series to run the course of a calendar year in the life of the idyllic English Cotswold village of Wendlebury Barrow, it continues to grow, with the most recent addition being Sophie Sayers' ninth outing, "Driven to Murder",

My Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery series is a mashup of romantic comedy, gentle mystery and nostalgia for classic children's school stories but aimed at adults. It focuses on the intrigues among the teachers and visitors to the school, rather than the children. "Dastardly Deeds at St Bride's" (previously published as "Secrets at St Bride's"), and is followed by "Sinister Secrets at St Bride's" (formerly "Secrets at St Bride's"), Wicked Whispers at St Bride's", and "Artful Antics at St Bride's". Two further books will follow to complete the series of six, running the course of the academic year at St Bride's Boarding School for Girls.

All of my novels are now available in ebook, paperback, hardback, and audio in English. There are also German language editions of Sophie Sayers' adventures and Italian translations of Gemma Lamb's.

SHORT FICTION

My series of comedy mystery novelettes, Tales from Wendlebury Barrow, is set in the same world as the Sophie Sayers Cozy Mysteries. The first, "The Pride of Peacocks", is available exclusively to members of my Readers' Club (visit my author website to claim your copy). "The Natter of Knitters" and "The Clutch of Eggs" are available in ebook and paperback. A Christmas special, "Christmas with Sophie Sayers", featuring festive short stories set in the same world, was published for Christmas 2023. Three more Sophie Sayers short stories appear in the charity anthologies, "Fate", "Everyday Kindness" and "The Little Shop of Murders". Look out for another one in the "Courage" anthology, coming in 2026!

My standalone novella, "Mrs Morris Changes Lanes", is a second-chance mid-life romantic comedy with a touch of magical realism, set in the Cotswolds in spring,

Earlier in my career, I published three themed collections of short stories, "Stocking Fillers", "Marry in Haste", and "Quick Change".

PLAYS

I've also now started writing scripts for murder mystery events, My debut play, "The Importance of Being Murdered", was premiered by Hawkesbury Drama Group in April 2025. The original playscript will be published later this year for use by amateur drama groups all over the world, and I'm also working on a novelisation.

AWARDS

The first St Bride's novel was shortlisted for the 2020 Selfies Award given for the best independently-published fiction in the UK. The sixth Sophie Sayers novel was shortlisted for the same award in 2021. My short story "The Alchemy of Chocolate", from "Quick Change", was a winning entrant to the April 2015 Stroud Short Stories competition, and as a result I was later invited to read it at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

FREE EBOOK

Rec

Reviews

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️ 5 ⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of 12 (very) short stories - one for each of the twelve days of Christmas.

Well written, each story as enjoyable as the next. Some witty, some intriguing but all excellent.

I’ll definitely pick this up to read again next Christmas.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well that was a quick read! A fun assortment of festive stories.

[Philippa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard and Soft Centres

This delightful tray of wrapped Christmas bon-bons will round off the excesses most appropriately. You may bite into each and any and be slightly surprised at their flavours, sardonic, satirical, compassionate, humourous, and in the collection there lies an almost a Victorian antiquity, the moral admonition that too much of anything is unwise, indeed a little reprehensible. Yet it is laughingly said, no sweetness is sacrificed it is Christmas and that, as we know, demands restraint, tolerance and goodwill. They are all fun to share and pass around. But like the wrappings in the bin they paint a subtle message that spoilt children, lonely widows, competitive exhibitionism, and dreary duty is also part of the season of goodwill. Debbie knows just how to juggle the flavours. If you can face the complaints turn off the television, build up the fire and read them aloud. A new kind of 'Christmas Carol' for this era of equal inequality, but it caries its morality very lightly and nobody will notice...

[Suzie Grogan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this little collection of seasonal short stories, none overly sentimental or twee and some like Christmas gems. From small boys ticking off Father Christmas to magical alarm clocks we all crave as the big day arrives, you are bound to find something to get you in the mood for Yuletide gatherings

[Fred Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! If you've never read Debbie Young or treasure every word she's ever written, this collection is a must-read (anytime of the year).

[Frosty61 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice respite from the sugary sweet Christmas fiction that's out there. Easily read in a few sittings, the stories are short and charming without being too sappy. One of my favorites: Good Christmas Housekeeping - about how we sometimes compare ourselves to others and always fall short.

[Tara Barron · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really not a fan of this book at all. There were 2 decent stories and then the last one was the best.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not very inspirational at all sadly

[Helen Baggott · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I received this book to read and review, I had intended to wait at least until the beginning of December, to snuggle up on the sofa with a glass of something seasonal, and read.

Clearly that didn’t happen. I then planned to read just one story and save the rest. That didn’t happen either. So, having read the book in November, here’s my review.

This is a charming collection of delightfully varied stories. Yes, the theme is Christmas but each story is so different and yet perfectly balanced that you’re carried along with half an ear listening for early sleigh bells.

Most of the stories contain humour, some are ironic, and one or two are downright emotional. Bit like the perfect Christmas!

Despite Christmas being only a few weeks away, I know I’m going to read this book again – on the sofa with that glass of something seasonal.

As I mentioned at the beginning, I received a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

[Amanda Wampler · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute delight to read. I greedily read it all in one brief sitting and was left wanting more! There's a wonderful range of stories here, really a bit of something for everyone. I can see this as a wonderful addition to holiday traditions and pulling it out each year to reread. I'm very much looking forward to reading the rest of the author's works. Highly recommended.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a cute little read, that I decided to do in one sitting but you could read a story a day for the twelve days of Christmas. Some of the stories are very relatable, and I found myself chuckling at times. It takes a look at several different viewpoints, without being too sugary, and left me feeling very festive afterwards.

[Lorna Sixsmith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a couple of books that I store with my Christmas decorations and reread them most Christmases. This one will be added to them.
Charming, serious, romantic, laugh out loud funny - I think my favourite was the stingy fiance!

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy seasonal reading but never more than at Christmas!
I loved these little stories and will be rereading them for many Christmas to come.
These stories are Short!
But also perfectly formed

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

A great Christmas read! I read these twelve stories stories over the twelve days of Christmas. The characters were in different stages of their lives and the stories were humorous and emotional. Recommended read whilst having a festive drink!

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this really quickly, it was an effortless read with amusing characters.

[Ellen Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short, sweet, funny and heart warming collection of Christmas short stories.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun. 😁

[Barbara Rudge · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really enjoyable and witty set of festive stories. Recommended.

[David Laflin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twelve very different stories for Christmas
Excellent read

[Kacie Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some sweet and some funny. Lovely quick reads for the festive season.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great stories.

This was very entertaining. I was feeling rotten.....laid low with a stomach bug ,...and these stories really brightened up the afternoon. Cheers!

[Kerry Henderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of twelve short stories all about Christmas. These were really interesting. Not your typical all sweet stories. There was a little of everything in it. I liked Park and Ride.

[MaureenAnn · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable collection of short stories for the run-up to Christmas.

[Lucienne Boyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

If, like me, you're a readaholic and one of the most irritating things about Xmas Day is not having time to curl up with a good book, then here's a perfect solution. Twelve little stories for Xmas, each one of which you can read in a few moments - so when the children are tearing around screaming, granny's falling off her chair having had a drop too much of the Xmas Sherry, the nut roast is on fire, and the house is drowning under wrapping paper, orange peel and nut shells, you can sneak off and read one of Debbie's fabulous little tales! The stories are charming, funny and insightful, and they'll perk you up in no time. Disclosure: I was a beta reader for this book prior to publication.