AUSTINTOWN, Ohio - The shortest day of the year is also the day to celebrate the shortest stories.

Austintown author and writer, Nancy Christie established "Celebrate Short Fiction" day in 2013, ahead of publishing her first collection of short stories. Since then, she said she has been amazed at how far it has reached. Events and authors around the world now celebrate the day. According the Christie, the day intends to celebrate short stories of all forms, from "micro-fiction to novellas, slice-of-life to traditional plot-driven tales" while also encouraging writers of short fiction to continue telling big tales in small, creative confines.

Before writing a novel of her own, Christie said the most common question she would field at book events for her short story collections was, "Do you have a novel?"

Christie added that she has always wondered why people think any less of short stories.

"I've always been a fan of reading short stories, and writing them," Christie told 21 News. "I knew both from the writers I read and my own experience that short stories are just as difficult if not harder."

Christie's first short story collection, "Travelling Left of Center" was published in 2014. Since then she has released three additional collections plus a series of novels. She intentionally placed "Celebrate Short Fiction" day on the first day of winter or winter solstice — the shortest day of the calendar year.

"It's the shortest day of the year, but rather than bemoaning the lack of sunlight, people should take advantage of the long winter evening to curl up with a good short story," Christie said in a release. "Whether you use an e-reader or prefer the tactile pleasure of turning the pages, the result will be the same: the satisfaction that comes from reading a complete, beautifully crafted story in one sitting."

Over the years Christie has come to realize that not only is writing short stories a skill, it also challenges authors in a way novels cannot.

"It allows the writer to challenge themself and do something different," she told 21 News. "You realize what a challenging literary form it is. But it's fun. It gives you the opportunity to try different aspects of fiction that just wouldn't work in a novel."

Each year, Christie encourages local readers, book stores and libraries to celebrate short fiction on the first day of winter with local events or by simply curling up to enjoy a good story.

"When you read really good short stories, you realize how challenging it can be and I wanted to draw attention to that," Christie said.

For more information on "Celebrate Short Fiction" day and Nancy Christie's published works visit her main website or her "Celebrate Short Fiction" page.