Okay, that’s a misleading title. One last newsletter from me. I don’t know how many newsletters you’re subscribed to. You might get another fifteen or twenty before the end of the year. Half of them might be from the same person. Who knows.

So, it’s the holiday season. Hopefully it’s going well for you considering... y’know... everything. The world is a dark place right now, and there’s some folks gleefully trying to snuff out every bit of light they can. But I think that’s why it’s even more important to be strong and be bright and cheerful.

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blind to what’s going on out there or just how bad it is. I know there are a hundred reasons or more to not be bright and cheerful. But just remember—everyone feels that way (well, most everyone). Just sharing a little happiness, a little joy, can make a huge difference for someone else. Just saying thank you or wishing someone happy holidays—and meaning it—could seriously be the high point of someone’s day. And if you’re in a space to do more than that... hell, do it! Believe me, it’ll take away some anxiety knowing you made the season a little better for someone. Really.

Just think about it, okay?

Some assorted, end of the year writing and writing-related updates.

I did the big signing tour. A lot of driving. One gas scare going through Grant’s Pass. One speeding ticket. I saw redwoods for the first time and some areas recovering from wildfires. Met a lot of wonderful people and got to say hi again to some other folks for the first time in many years. And signed a lot of books. Well over a hundred. Maybe close to two? And that’s not counting when I stopped at Blackstone HQ (they don’t actually call it that) and signed another hundred copies of... well, we’ll talk about that in a few months, I’m sure.

On a related note, thank you so much to everyone who’s picked up the book, and thank you very much all of you who’ve left a review somewhere online or talked about it on social media. It helps word spread, which is always good from a publishing point of view, but it’s also just really nice—and kind of a relief—to see so many people like it. I know it’s little things, they doesn’t seem like much, but (see above) they make a huge difference. Thank you all.

As I’m writing this, I’m starting the big work on TOS tomorrow with my editor (also named Peter, but he’s a different person, really). We’re going to try trimming about 20K words out of it, for a few reasons. I’ve been looking at it already and I’m already thinking there’s two full chapters I could nix. One near the front, one near the end. Like, seriously, the whole chapter(s)-- gone. They’re very flavorful, one’s kind of horrifying (in the good way), but I also think they’re both a little bit... redundant? They’re not bad, I like them a lot, but they’re just... more words to get through, if that makes sense. They’re slowing things down at points where (for different reasons) I want you to be very caught up in things while you’re reading it. Definitely a “kill your darlings” decision.

This is kind of silly, but I might have some cool stuff to tell you in the next newsletter. I’m just noting it now because things might happen later this week.

In other news... remember the preorder giveaway I did in October? Well, while I was driving up and down the coast it struck me it’s kind of silly to end that when there’s still folks preordering the audiobook. Plus, it’s a nice little bonus for the folks who had to wait an extra two months. If you missed it before, just respond to this email with proof of your God’s Junk Drawer audiobook preorder and I’ll send you a free copy of “The Unassembled Victims.” It’s a short story that appeared in The Reinvented Detective anthology a few years ago, and it’s also a loose tie-in to God’s Junk Drawer (you’ll see how). That’s it. You send a screenshot of your preorder receipt (with all your personal/ financial details blacked out, of course), I’ll send you the story.

And like before, I’ll be sending them out in batches each weekend, so if you send in your proof-of-purchase (so to speak) on Tuesday, don’t complain on Friday that you haven’t gotten it yet.

So hey... go preorder God’s Junk Drawer, read by the always-phenomenal Ray Porter

Also, speaking of, if you wanted a hardcover for the holidays I’m pretty sure there are still copies of God’s Junk Drawer kicking around at most of the book stores I stopped at during the tour (Mysterious Galaxy, Last Bookstore, Borderlands, Eureka Books, Brick & Mortar, and more). There’s probably no time for shipping, but if you’re in the area check with them and maybe they can help you out. Plus I also ducked in and signed a few books at... let’s see, Powell’s in Portland, the Barnes & Noble in Olympia, and the Barnes & Noble in Hazard Center here in San Diego.

What else can I tell you about...?

Cool Stuff I’ve Been Watching
Like a lot of folks, my beloved and I’ve become mildly obsessed with Pluribus. It’s such a fascinating show, as a sci-fi show, a character study, and just from a filmmaking perspective it’s doing so many cool, daring things. This season (partial season?) of Stranger Things is pretty good too. have to admit, last season didn’t do a lot for me, so it’s good to see them going out strong. And we also watched Wake Up Dead Man, which was just delightful.

Cool Stuff I’ve Been Reading
Not much this past month, between the trip and Thanksgiving weekend and did I mention I also had dental surgery this week? No, really. Anyway, the only thing I managed to read (worth mentioning) is Alex Segura’s Secret Identity, which has been sitting near the top of my to-read pile for... two years? It’s a time capsule wrapped in a mystery about a deception. No, really. Wonderful book, especially if you happen to be a bit of a comics nerd.

Cool New Toys
We’re in that Christmas blackout period where I’m not really allowed to get myself anything. I was allowed to empty my pile of loot at Big Bad Toy Store, though, where some preorders had arrived and piled up, including a fantastic Man-Wolf/ Stargod figure which is just absolutely peak late-70s cosmic Marvel comics. Also, the folks at Spero graciously sent me one of their not-quite-yet-released new figures, Necro Armor Pale, who I immediately part swapped/ converted into a Chunari officer I think I’m going to name Cabal.

And I think that’s everything? As always, thanks for reading (the books and the newsletter). I hope you have a fantastic, peaceful, and restful holiday season, and that you get to spend some of it with the folks you love.

Talk with you again next year.