Hello again, and happy holidays to you all. Or just happy end of the year, if you prefer. I don’t know about you but I’m very ready for 2023 to be over.

Anyway, you’ve heard me gripe about all that before. Let me give you a few updates…

I’m still editing GJD but the end is in sight. Less than a hundred pages left, which is pretty cool since I added three whole chapters since the last time we chatted like this. Hoping to have it done this coming week, which means my agent has it by the very first of the year, and maybe you’ve got it by… next fall?

This also means I get to go back to TOS, which is great because Ben was just about to start looking into the history of… well, I don’t want to ruin the surprise. I really think you’re going to like it.

Speaking of things you may like… if you’re not already following me on Instagram or Bluesky, I’ve been doing a retelling of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. Specifically, I’ve been telling it with Halloween skeletons on my front lawn, changing their poses and costumes every other day or so. Overall, the neighbors have been highly amused (and a few little kids really love it). I’ve been taking lots of photos and on Instagram there’s a highlight that also has music and some simple filter-effects. No, this will not be a regular thing. It’s way too much work but now I’m committed to the gag.

Speaking of Christmas and the holidays, I must make the standard holiday sales appeal. If you like my books, perhaps consider sharing them with a friend or loved one? There’s still plenty of time to hit your friendly local book store and pick up a copy of The Broken Room or Paradox Bound or maybe one of the Ex-Heroes books? There’s also those two new anthologies I have stories in– Joe Ledger: Unbreakable and The Reinvented Detective. Plus, don’t forget you can give ebooks and audiobooks up until the last minute– digital stocking stuffers.

Also, if you’re in the greater Los Angeles area, Dark Delicacies in Burbank has a bunch of scribbled-in books by me from last week’s signing. Again, too late to ship but if it’s an easy drive for you, thought you might want to know.

And really… I think that’s about it. End of the year. Not many events. Writing projects have hit a nice, smooth pace. Just trying to enjoy the holidays a bit.

What else can I tell you about…?

Cool Stuff I’ve Been Watching– The Doctor Who specials have just been fantastic. I’m also halfway through Blue-Eyed Samurai and loving that. Watching a lot of Christmas classics (which also tends to mean a lot of Shane Black movies…)

Cool Stuff I’ve Been Reading
Again, not as much as I would’ve liked. Just finished Ghost Job by Greg van Eekhout and adored it (highly recommended for kids of all ages). Next up is an ARC of Django Wexler’s newest—How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying. Yes, that’s the title. And after that I’ve got a new one from Jennifer Brozek and another one from Craig DiLouie. Can I be honest? I friggin’ love when I get to blurb books from authors I’d be praising anyway.

Cool New Toys – Look, this close to Christmas I’m really not allowed to get myself anything. Even though I have been sorely tempted by a few things (so many sales!). But I did grab the ReAction Godzilla ‘74 when I was at Dark Delicacies last weekend (to pair with that Megalon I mentioned last time). And my lovely lady agreed that we needed the Four Horseman Jacob Marley. For a Christmas decoration.

Hope you all have a fantastic and safe holiday season. See you next year.