For our agrarian ancestors, winter was a seriously scary time of the year. The days grew shorter, and the nights grew longer and colder. On December 21^st the shortest day and the longest night of the year occurred. It made them worry. Would the sun come back? Would their food stores hold out until spring? Would their animals survive to reproduce? Would there be a spring?

It’s no wonder they started celebrating various festivals of light at this time of the year. Festivals where they got together in groups, wore new clothes, lit fires, ate good things, drank lots of alcoholic beverages -- and told stories. The stories they told were stories about their lives, their fears, their hopes, what had happened, what would happen, what could happen.. Mostly the stories, like the fires they lit, were a way to drive back the cold and the dark and the doubts that winter engendered . They were a means to forget winter and to help bring back spring.

Now, here we are. Entering the 11^th winter of the 21^st century. This is a perfect time to share festivals of light with friends and family . It is also a perfect time to curl up with something good to eat and something hot to drink, and to read a good winter story.

For the Winter, 2011 Issue of 4 Star Stories, we have four great stories for you to enjoy. Lou Antonelli and Susan Sinor have written two very different takes on Santa Claus and the season, Rhonda Eudaly has written an entertaining public/parochial school smack-down for you to enjoy, while Libby Smith has a rather special "cow" she’d like to introduce to you.

Our Guest Artist for this issue of 4 Star Stories is David Lee Anderson. He creates stunning Science Fiction and Fantasy art. We’re certain you’ll enjoy his work.

So, relax, settle back with your favorite hot beverage and enjoy the season and this issue of 4 Star Stories.

And we’ll see you in March, 2012.

The Editors: M. Gray and D. Gray

P.S. We are open for submissions. If you are a serious writer and you have a story you think meets our criteria, send it along to us. We would like to read it.

At 4 Star Stories, we are looking for well-written, original Science Fiction and Fantasy short stories, preferably with an upbeat, positive attitude.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Oh, and writers, remember to self-edit and spell check every story before you send it to us, or to anyone else for that matter. Reading a clean, error-free manuscript makes editors happy, and a happy editor is more likely to publish your story.

Enjoy the Winter Issue of 4 Star Stories. See you for the Spring, 2012 issue, coming March 21, 2012.

Your Editor,

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