By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
Just in time for Christmas, a Yukon author’s story has been published in the latest “Chicken Soup for the Soul” book.
Wendy Klopfenstein wrote “Stupid Old Bat House,” which is featured in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tales of Christmas.
This latest edition of the Chicken Soup for the Soul collection brings together heartfelt and humorous holiday stories from contributors across the U.S. and Canada.
In “Stupid Old Bat House,” Klopfenstein shares a unique and quite humorous story.
“My dad had brought home a bat house as a gift for my mom,” she said. “It was a funny familiar story that, for years, we always laughed about. Anytime something unexpected would happen, we’d say ‘Oh, a stupid old bat house’.
“When I saw they were doing Christmas stories, I submitted it and got selected.”
Whether it’s Thanksgiving turkey adventures, Christmas card mishaps, or New Year’s reflections, this new Chicken Soup for the Soup book captures the magic and chaos that make the holidays memorable.
Beyond the laughs, the collection also shares touching moments about the true spirit of the holidays – family reunions, acts of kindness and personal miracles. It’s a perfect blend of joy and warmth, reminding us why this time of year is so special.
Proceeds from Chicken Soup for the Soul: Tales of Christmas support the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots program, helping bring joy to children in need during the holiday season.
“I really love that,” Klopfenstein said. “My parents were always very giving people. So, I love it that I’m featured in a book where they’re also giving.”
This aligns with Chicken Soup for the Soul’s commitment to giving back through their books.
Klopfenstein’s work has now been featured in three Chicken Soup for the Soul books – Just Say Yes and Believe in Miracles.
“There’s something so incredible in having your story printed in a book,” the Yukon author shared. “As a writer, seeing it in the stories is a nice feeling.”
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Klopfenstein, who grew up in the Yukon/Mustang area, said writing stories is something she’s always enjoyed.
“I never really took the time to explore publishing until around 2017-18,” she said.
Since then, her short stories also have appeared in publications like Guideposts magazine.
Publishing short stories is a much faster process than a novel, she noted.
“You get that fulfillment so quickly,” the local author said. “I do enjoy, in non-fiction stories, giving someone else a good laugh yet share those tender moments from memories.”
Klopfenstein embraces the opportunity to “minister” to the reader through her printed words.
“I really love that aspect of it – that you can touch other people with a simple story from a small piece of your life,” she said.
The Yukon woman’s first full-length fiction novel is coming out in July 2025.
A Christian historical western titled “A Secret Heart” is being published by Sunrise Publishing.
“I call it ‘You’ve Got Mail’ meets ‘While You Were Sleeping’, western style. … It’s a fun story,” Klopfenstein said.
“I was paired with an author, Lacy Williams, who’s written multiple books and we worked on this project together.”
Visit wendyklopftenstein.com to learn more about the Yukon writer’s work.
This post was originally published on here
