The coffee shop where I do most of my writing has gone full Christmas mode.

Even though it’s still surprisingly warm outside, there’s a fully decorated and flocked tree in one corner, and the seasonal drinks are out in force—from peppermint mochas to the Grinch (yes, it’s green) to something called a Christmas Tree Cake latte.

I usually stick to my standard order, but I love listening to people try the wild stuff while I’m drafting.

I’ve spent the last few months focused on short stories, but I’m finally back to the first Necrolopolis novel—and it’s coming out stronger than ever.

For those who’ve read the earlier stories, you’re in for a treat over the coming months. And for those who haven’t, hop onto our Discord server to follow along with its progress (and the progress of many other authors in the fantasy and sci-fi vein).

I want to share a small moment from A Shield of Souls—a quiet scene in the snow about two-thirds into the book, when our necromancer hero hears something he desperately needs from Edurne: the little undead girl he rescued at the novel’s start, the shiver who becomes his assistant… and who saves his soul just by standing beside him. (Plus, her ice magic doesn’t hurt.)

“Lady Mina could have sent anyone that cold morning. Mister Jilnor, Constables Henrietta and Paul—even Captain Adaliah, if she’d felt like going. I don’t think anyone can order her around.”

Edurne looked down, a gentle breeze stirring her black locks. “They’d have saved me, I’m sure. But…had it been them, or someone else, I think I’d still be frozen.” She held a hand to her chest. “Inside, I mean.

“So, Mister Adelvell, I want you to know…” A faint smile touched her blue lips. “That I’m glad.”

She reached out with her other hand, gloved fingers catching the light of the Sister Moons. Her eyes glittered, like orbs of luminous ice.

“I’m glad it was you.”

It’s a tender moment—soft, snow-dusted, and quietly hopeful—which felt like the perfect emotional bridge to today’s announcement.

Now, enough about my stuff. Let’s talk about books actually coming out this month. We’ve got a couple worth mentioning! One cozy, one… well, maybe not-so-cozy, but the hero is trying his best to make for a cozy world. I guess that has to count for something.

This first book is an anthology by the Pacific Northwest Writers Association, and it is releasing this Friday (December 12th). Check out the description below, and pre-order it so it’ll arrive as soon as it launches! If family and hope is what you need this winter season, then this book and its stories are what you need:

Hope Among the Storm: Winter Holiday stories of Family and Hope

When winter winds rise and the holiday lights flicker, hope shines brightest in the hearts that refuse to let go.

Hope Among the Storm gathers a collection of original, winter-themed short stories that celebrate the magic found in family, second chances, and the quiet miracles that take root when life feels most chaotic. From unexpected visitors and long-buried memories to whimsical wonders that blur the line between the everyday and the extraordinary, these tales capture the timeless spirit of the season.

Inspired by classics like It’s a Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Scrooged, The Snowman, and A Christmas Story, this anthology blends heartfelt emotion with enchanting mystery. Within these pages, snow becomes a storyteller, traditions mend broken hearts, and love cuts through even the fiercest winter storm.

Whether you’re seeking nostalgia, laughter, magic, or a reminder that hope is never out of reach, these holiday stories invite you to gather close, warm your hands, and believe in the extraordinary once more.

Discover the light waiting just beyond the snow—one story at a time.

Shadow Lands – The Not-So-Cozy Winter Thriller Coming December 19th!

Jesse Salazar has been a lot of things in his life – infantry Marine, husband, and priest.

Now he spends most of his days re-inhuming the walking dead and other things that go bump in the night.
Ordered to take a vacation, he does.

Only his boss probably didn’t mean for him to go to another realm, ruled over by ancient Akkadian gods, where he finds answers to a hundred-year-old mystery.
Will he be able to rescue other survivors and, more importantly, bring them home?