Everyone’s going to have a different answer to this one, at least if we get specific. For some it’ll be a particular dish, for others it’ll be the chance to catch up with family, and for others still it’ll be when it’s over and done with! How is it for you? What’s your favorite or least favorite part of the holiday, or even the holiday season?

I can relate to all three examples given above. I love the food, particularly the smoked turkey and cornbread dressing. I love the chance to catch up with friends and family I don’t get to see very often, something I’m very aware of since moving back to my home state just last week. Now we won’t be driving two hours to go see the in-laws. We’ll just be driving down the street to see my side of the family, plus friends they’ve made over the years.

Still, I’ll be glad when it’s over and we can get back to settling into some semblance of a routine (that a toddler allows). I’m still trying to get my work-to-write-to-life balance figured out, and I imagine that’ll be an ongoing struggle over the next few weeks, but we’re getting there!

One thing I know I won’t be participating in, at least in person, will be Black Friday madness. I save that kind of bargain-hunting for online.

Besides, why deal with that bit of madness above when you can sink your teeth into a new book coming out on Black Friday?

Wavesong Rolling in on the High Tide! (And a special team up at the end)

The next entry in the Joint Task Force 13: Legacy novels is almost here! Wavesong by Michael Gants follows an otherworldly encounter experienced by both the American and Soviet navies during the height of the Cold War. Sea monsters care little for the politics of humans, not when those humans are so tasty…

Something hunting…

In the secret world of spies, a Russian has stolen the most advanced torpedo guidance computer ever developed. America’s only hope of recovering the weapon lies in the crew of the USS Sea Devil. But the Sea Devil isn’t the only predator on the hunt.

Something hungry…

In the hidden world where things that go bump in the night exist, Sergeant John Morehouse and his Marines of JTF-13 stand ready to protect the innocent from the beings of the Never-Never. He’ll bet his guns, bullets, and grenades against their fangs, claws, and sorcery in any fight. And his team is always hungry for a fight.

Something ancient …

The worlds of spies, submarines, and sea monsters collide explosively in the North Atlantic where Sergeant Morehouse finds himself and his team caught between Heaven and Hell against something that sings a…

WAVESONG – Available on Amazon November 24th!

And with the release of Wavesong, we have a special announcement to make worthy of its own heading:

Wavesong Opening Week Sales Benefiting Shepherd’s Men Charity

Three Ravens is teaming up with the Shepherd’s Men organization to help in the organization’s mission to raise awareness of and share the burden for warriors in need of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual support as a result of Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). To aid in this, we are donating $1.00 for every sale of Wavesong during its opening week. That includes pre-orders, so don’t hesitate if either the book or this cause is of any interest to you.

You can also donate directly to the Shepherd’s Men organization on their website: https://www.shepherdsmen.com/

Since this is a sort-of Thanksgiving post, I’ll close out by adding that one of the things I’m thankful for is organizations like this one. So many people need help, but often veterans and first responders don’t receive what they need when they need it most. Coming from a family of soldiers and law enforcement officers but never having served myself, I’m in a strange position of being both an outsider and an insider at the same time. Because of that, these causes really resonate with my siblings and me, so much that my sister is going back to school and changing her career path to clinical psychology with the specific purpose of helping veterans and first responders.

For those of you who are suffering from TBI, PTSD, or any other combat-related injury or affliction (or you know someone who does), know that there are people out there who care and want to help. Some have gone through what you’re going through. Some of us haven’t but have loved ones who have, and others just want to help however they can. If you need help, please reach out. And for what it’s worth, my prayers are with you.