Is Cyber Monday even a thing anymore? I mean, Black Friday starts on Monday or Tuesday at this point. then spills over the whole weekend and two or three days into the next week. Is it just the Black Weeks? Cybercember?

Anyway, I’ve got a few holiday recommendations for you to check out at your friendly local bookstore, if you’re so interested. Just some things I read this year that I really enjoyed and I thought some of you may enjoy, too. Or maybe someone you know would enjoy them.

I mean, assuming you’ve already given them all of my books…

How To Make A Horror Movie and Survive by Craig DiLouie – the other movie-related horror book that came out this year. Craig’s book is a beautifully gory, disturbing story about Hollywood and how obsessive some artists can get and what they might be willing to do in the name of art. As someone who worked in the film industry for many years, I found too many parts of this book completely believable.

Chronicles of the Lazarene by Charles Soule– this is a companion book to The Endless Vessel, which came out a year earlier. They tell the story of a mysterious research ship (for lack of a better term) that’s been sailing the seas for almost three hundred years now. They’re absolutely both worth reading, but I have to admit… I kiiiiiinda like this one a little better.

What If… — three different books, technically all stand-alones, although there’s a thread weaving through them that’s much more obvious by the third book. What If… Loki Was Worthy (by Madeleine Roux), What If… Wanda Maximoff and Peter Parker Were Siblings (by Seanan McGuire), and What If.. Marc Spector Was Host To Venom (by Mike Chen). They thread the line between comics and the MCU, and have some fantastic easter eggs, so they’re great for casual fans or die-hard ones. Full disclosure–Mike named one of Jake Lockley’s informants after me, but that didn’t influence this recommendation. But I am now Marvel canon!

California Bear by Duane Swierczynski –a wonderfully twisty and deranged crime novel about a man released from prison to help an idiot ex-cop, his brilliant daughter, and a reality show based on a legendary serial killer. And honestly, saying anything more than that would be telling. Just trust me, you’ll love it.

A Brief History of Flowers by Advolly Richmond—okay, this probably seems like an odd one but… it’s just what the title says. It’s a collection of short historical anecdotes about how different flowers ended up becoming garden favorites, how they were named, weird stories around them, and it’s all kind of fantastic. Great for history lovers or garden lovers.

Atomic Robo by Brian Clevenger and Scott Wegener ended up being my comfort read this year. Reads, really, as I went back over older books and read some newer ones. It’s the ongoing tale of a sentient, indestructible robot created by Nikola Tesla and the team of scientists and adventurers he’s gathered around himself over the years. It funny, exciting, a little creepy at times—really it’s just absolutely perfect. You can pick up almost any volume and read it as a stand-alone, or start with Atomic Robo and the Fightin’ Scientists of Tesladyne.

I know that’s not much, but I shamefully admit I didn’t read as much as I wanted to this year. And a good chunk of what I did read was stuff that’s not coming out until next year. So if you wanted to preorder some things (gifts of Christmas Yet To Come) I’d highly recommend Coyote Run by Lilith Saintcrow, The Contest by Jeff Macfee, and Two Truths and a Lie by Cory O’Brien.

Also, just in case you missed it, I’m running my usual Black Friday offer for whoever may need a little help this season.

And shamefully, once again, please feel free to give any of my books as holiday gifts. Give lots of them. In multiple formats. I can make recommendations, if you need them.

Next time… the truth about cats and dogs.

Until then, go write.