I’ve written a new nature and reflective poem I’d like to share as we usher out the old and ring in the new. As I’ve had time to let my brain breathe during this week between Christmas and New Year, my synapses decided to reflect and let me write poetry after I’ve struggled with some writing block. That happens a lot with me, but I hope to write more poetry in 2026.
Winter and stark stillness in Ohio in late December and January always has me thinking about growth, healing, and changing. And evergreens. Mainly because I love them, and not only do we obviously see them at Christmas, but they are the one green thing we still see standing tall through all the skeleton trees and the bleak white, gray, and doom in rural areas.
I never liked green, but now I love the color of pine green. And its scent! So I wrote a poem and felt like sharing with readers.
I Never Liked the Color Green by Erin Al-Mehairi
I never liked the color green, It made it seem as if I related To the chaos around me, and Reminded me of sickness and Grief. But how did that evolve When I love plants and trees?
Now I remember evergreens, And I love the color of pine; Of the forest, of the leaves. But mostly, it’s the evergreens And their steadfastness, their Bravery through the stark and The cold; their peace and hope.
When I smell in their ethereal scent, I feel whole. When I walk around them, I feel grounded. Pines are my portal to another existence even if for only moments and pockets of time.
Soothing balsam to my soul and A caretaker for safety when I Had none. When I had no one.
Breathing in with the evergreens Cleanses me, completes my circle. Their quiet stillness in the winter sun Sparkling with snow on each bough, The regal memories they forever carry, Makes green more beautiful to me.
—————————
Let me know if you liked it! Hearing from readers is always encouraging.
I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to publish and showcase a poem, and the art that accompanies it, of Medusa by New Zealand creative – author, poet, artist, essayist – Tee Wood. Tee’s theme is Petrify the Patriarchy, and the poetry has such a fitting place on my site, because it’s always been a safe place for people to share their innermost emotions, feelings, and angers in the written form, especially with poetry. Myths and legends often stem from real places and experiences. Have we evolved? Are so many of us still heart broken with grief and rage? Is Medusa really a monster or just consumed by the unfairness of it all and brave enough to speak out?
I hope Tee’s poem touches you and enrages you, and then makes you feel powerful, as much as it did me. It’s still not a fair playing field out there in the world and that’s scary.
They All Look Away (Petrify the Patriarchy)
by Tee Wood
They hear it first— bones tightening, skin screaming, their eyes bursting from their sockets. Their tongues cracking in two between tombstone teeth, as their prayers and their pleas turn to gravel. Their faces fall, held fast in mid-panic, their limbs caught in a freeze-frame of time.
While their flesh is teased from the inside out, their hearts are squeezed with a lithic fist. For petrification does not come gently, no.
It forces its way through blood.
She was not born a monster, but forged by assault—
With hair like gold; and soft, youthful skin— her mind is filled with dreams and desires. A mortal girl in a God’s harsh world, destroyed by his sinful craving. Wrecked by the ruler of the sea, she alone must bear the blame. He will never face the consequences, nor be punished for his wanting.
Her terrified screams rock the great temple walls. The War goddess enraged, her wisdom scorned, cannot see the truth past her temper.
She stands removed from the sisterhood, the disciples she has sworn to protect. Instead, she unleashes her fury and revenge, no wrath at the rapist, only the razed.
As tumbling curls turn to serpent twirls, a trembling girl becomes a violent warning. No justice, only weaponised shame.
Medusa— rejected, cast out, and disfigured learns quickly to wield her monstrous form. Embraces transformation as energy, as fire. Fuel for inexorable, unstoppable power; she feels it, she claims it all.
For her mouth is a wound that will never heal, and her pale eyes flood with death. In the hiss of her hair roars resistance— all the words her lips cannot speak.
Four who stood on the wrong side of honour, playing with lives; a game of rolling dice to decide who lives, who dies. Giving gifts to seduce into service a slayer, not a hero; a mere puppet and pawn.
And he, already blinded by misguided devotion, saw her— severed her— not as sufferer, but as beast. In torment and torn, her blood birthed two children, new life from an unjust release.
Now her severed eyes scream her fury forever. Her fierce gaze; unblinking, unrelenting. Empires crumble under her stare, mortals shatter into fragments of fear. Her memory turns ruiners into ruins; she gifts the world a harsher silence than she knows.
Teaching warm flesh what it means to grow cold, hardened hearts feel like cairns in their chests. The world called her a monstrosity, as it turned away from her innocence ripped open by violence. Her vengeance, retribution for a blood debt owed, a silent shriek of defiance.
Medusa—not a villain—a mirror held up to power; she is strength transmuted through anguish. As a mortal, she fell to the pain of defeat; as a symbol, she rises for all!
A saviour to every soul who was forced to succumb, whose dreams and desires were crushed. She unleashes her relentless coiled fury of resistance,
For every victim refused their voice.
Tee (T.L.) Wood, Biography –
Tee (T.L.) Wood is an Australian Shadows and Sir Julius Vogel award-winning author of weird, dark, speculative fiction and quiet horror from Aotearoa, New Zealand. Disabled, queer and neurodivergent, they often write stories inspired by their lived experiences. When they’re not writing they like strong coffee, soft cats, and spending time by the sea.
You can buy their books, read more of their work, find their website, and follow them on social media via https://linktr.ee/Tlwood.
Thank you to Tee for allowing me to share their poem! It’s a great way to end this roller coaster of a year and I’m happy I had the opportunity to publish it for my poetry project!
Watch for more poetry on Hook of a Book in 2026. See you all next year!
__________________
Medusa Art and Graphic by Tee Wood Poetry Project Graphic by Erin Al-Mehairi Poem Editor: Erin Al-Mehairi
The beautiful book cover has just been released in People Magazine for the next historical fiction book from the amazing writing duo of Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie, A Founding Mother: A Novel of Abigail Adams, coming in May of 2026 from Willam Morrow.
In time for the 250th Anniversary of the birth of the United States comes a sweeping, intimate portrayal of Abigail Adams—wife of one president and mother to another—whose wit, willpower, and wisdom helped shape the fledgling republic. A stunning historical novel with modern-day implications from the New York Times bestselling authors of America’s First Daughter and My Dear Hamilton.
In the heart of revolutionary Boston, Abigail Adams raises her children amid riots, blockades, and the outbreak of war. While her husband, John Adams, rises from country lawyer to nation-builder, often away for years at a time, Abigail builds her own independence—managing their farm, making lucrative investments, amassing savings, battling plague and loss, and defending their home. Unafraid to speak her mind, she famously offers fearless political counsel, urging John to “remember the ladies” in the new government. Through it all, she becomes his most trusted confidante and indispensable ally.
When peace is secured, Abigail steps onto the world stage—exchanging ideas with Thomas Jefferson in the French countryside, navigating court life as the wife of the Minister to Great Britain, and presiding over the parlor politics of the early American republic in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. Even after her husband’s presidential administration, she continues battling political foes and working behind the scenes to advance her family, secure independence for the women in her life, and ensure a better life for the next generation of Americans.
From war-torn streets to the chandeliered halls of power, A Founding Mother is the unforgettable story of a woman ahead of her time—one whose voice, vision, and valor still resonate powerfully today.
Cover Reveal –
And now, take a gander at this gorgeous cover in its glory. I think this one is one of the most loveliest I’ve seen! Look at the little fruit in her basket!! Can someone teach me to do my hair like this? Is there a more perfect shade of blue? The sea! The ships! Let me read this book now!
When and Where You Can Order –
Coming May 5, 2026 to an abundance of places. You can PRE-ORDER NOW, however, from:
STEPHANIE DRAY is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal & USA Today bestselling author of historical women’s fiction. Her award-winning work has been translated into many languages and tops lists for the most anticipated reads of the year. Now she lives in Maryland with her husband, cats, and history books.
A Wall Street Journal, New York Times and USA TodayBestseller, LAURA KAMOIE [Kuh-MOY] has always been fascinated by the people, stories, and physical presence of the past, which led her to a lifetime of historical and archaeological study and training. She holds a doctoral degree in early American history from The College of William and Mary, published two non-fiction books on early America, and most recently held the position of Associate Professor of History at the U.S. Naval Academy before transitioning to a full-time career writing genre fiction as the New York Times bestselling author, Laura Kaye.
Writing historical fiction allows her the exciting opportunity to combine her love of history with her passion for storytelling. Laura lives among the colonial charm of Annapolis, Maryland with her husband, two daughters, and monster German shepherd, Schuyler.
Laura is now working on a solo historical novel, while releasing A Founding Mother with her co-author, Stephanie Dray.
Over the years, I’ve read quite a few Christmas books in the fiction genres of historical fiction, thriller, mystery, fantasy, and feel good and romance that I really enjoyed. I’m sharing 10 of my favorite holiday reads, and my past book reviews of them, in case readers have some downtime coming and plan to run out to their library or bookstore to gather up some reads for some well-deserved, cozy reading hours. It’s an eclectic list of Christmas books with all types of themes, so there is something for almost any type of reader.
Also, as a bonus at the end, I’ve included three Christmas mystery books I hope to read over my own holiday break and vacation time!
What are you reading for the holidays? Any perk your interest from this list? If you’re all set and organized, you can bookmark this for next year!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Christmas BellsbyJennifer Chiaverini
Jennifer Chiaverini’s Christmas Bells is the perfect way to properly step into the Christmas season. I like to write poetry and study it, so with it being set partially in 1860 and featuring Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and his famous Christmas poem, I couldn’t help but love it.
I think it was a beautiful book, and very well-written and researched, featuring a story of several people in modern times juxtaposed with the historic Longfellow story plot line, which all tied up nicely together at the end in a way that brought tears to my eyes. It’s a lovely book for cozy read or a gift.
Christmas Bells, About –
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Chiaverini celebrates Christmas, past and present, with a wondrous novel inspired by the classic poem “Christmas Bells,” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
I heard the bells on Christmas Day / Their old familiar carols play / And wild and sweet / The words repeat / Of peace on earth, good-will to men!
In 1860, the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow family celebrated Christmas at Craigie House, their home in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The publication of Longfellow’s classic Revolutionary War poem, “Paul Revere’s Ride,” was less than a month hence, and the country’s grave political unrest weighed heavily on his mind. Yet with his beloved wife, Fanny, and their five adored children at his side, the delights of the season prevailed.
In present-day Boston, a dedicated teacher in the Watertown public school system is stunned by somber holiday tidings. Sophia’s music program has been sacrificed to budget cuts, and she worries not only about her impending unemployment but also about the consequences to her underprivileged students. At the church where she volunteers as music director, Sophia tries to forget her cares as she leads the children’s choir in rehearsal for a Christmas Eve concert. Inspired to honor a local artist, Sophia has chosen a carol set to a poem by Longfellow, moved by the glorious words he penned one Christmas Day long ago, even as he suffered great loss.
Christmas Bells chronicles the events of 1863, when the peace and contentment of Longfellow’s family circle was suddenly, tragically broken, cutting even deeper than the privations of wartime. Through the pain of profound loss and hardship, Longfellow’s patriotism never failed, nor did the power of his language. “Christmas Bells,” the poem he wrote that holiday, lives on, spoken as verse and sung as a hymn.
Jennifer Chiaverini’s resonant and heartfelt novel for the season reminds us why we must continue to hear glad tidings, even as we are tested by strife. Reading Christmas Bells evokes the resplendent joy of a chorus of voices raised in reverent song.
The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge by Charlie Lovett
If you love The Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens as I do, then The Further Adventures of Ebenezer Scrooge, by bestselling author Charlie Lovett, is a very wonderful companion piece that gives a look at what might have happened had Scrooge continued to spread his joy every day of the year and not just after that first reformative Christmas.
I REALLY loved this adorable, quaint book and also, it reminded me of what’s important at Christmas time … and carrying that all year through. It’s a keepsake! I did write a review for that one and you can read that HERE.
This one is hard to find now for purchase, sadly. You can find it used online. I bought it in hardback upon release and it’s a great keepsake. I think this one needs to still be published. You can also grab from a library, as I am sure some still have copies.
The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, edited by Otto Penzler
A really excellent read full of 60 short stories for mystery lovers like me that I’ve picked up several years in the past is The Big Book of Christmas Mysteries, edited by award-winning Otto Penzler.
Form the book marketing copy:
This collection touches on all aspects of the holiday season, and all types of mysteries. They are suspenseful, funny, frightening, and poignant.
Included are puzzles by Mary Higgins Clark, Isaac Asimov, and Ngaio Marsh; uncanny tales in the tradition of A Christmas Carol by Peter Lovesey and Max Allan Collins; O. Henry-like stories by Stanley Ellin and Joseph Shearing, stories by pulp icons John D. MacDonald and Damon Runyon; comic gems from Donald E. Westlake and John Mortimer; and many, many more. Almost any kind of mystery you’re in the mood for–suspense, pure detection, humor, cozy, private eye, or police procedural—can be found in these pages.
FEATURING: • Unscrupulous Santas • Crimes of Christmases Past and Present • Festive felonies • Deadly puddings • Misdemeanors under the mistletoe • Christmas cases for classic characters including Sherlock Holmes, Brother Cadfael, Miss Marple, Hercule Poirot, Ellery Queen, Rumpole of the Bailey, Inspector Morse, Inspector Ghote, A.J. Raffles, and Nero Wolfe
As for me, the best stories I’ve enjoyed reading were by AGATHA CHRISTIE, such as “The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding” showcasing Hercule Poirot, which was published in 1960 as the title story of her collection The Adventure of the Christmas Pudding and a Selection of Entrees (London, Collins). I also really liked “A Christmas Tragedy,” which she wrote in The Thirteen Problems (London, Collins, 1932). Interesting enough, I can see a difference in her writing between the two. I really liked the old school feeling of the latter, yet the first one was so humorous.
I own this for the Kindle, but some years I just check the chonky book out from the library! I recommend both of these methods.
I really enjoyed The Kingdom of Sweets by Erika Johansen. It’s a beautiful, fantastical fairytale read. I have always loved The Nutcracker and anything nutcracker in general! That’s what caught my eye about this book. It was even better than I imagined. Not a retelling, but a loosely based tale that utilizes different parts of The Nutcracker and its characters. She plays with elements of illusion, light and dark, duality, guilt, social caste system issues of the early 1900s that, somehow, still extend in ways today, and with patriarchal and feminist issues.
Her writing is beyond delicious, detailed, descriptive, and intelligent. The sentences flow and the scenes make me feel as if I was there watching through a window. It was beautiful, but also gothic in all the right places. The character development was excellent even if dark. They were so flawed but that made it all the more interesting. I also loved the description of the nutcracker and other toys, which are almost characters themselves. I loved the world of the Sugar Plum Fairy (both the sugary sweet side as well as the culmination to dark) and Drosselmeyer’s gothic castle. I can tell she put so much effort into writing this book.
It’s elegant and her world building is grand and I love her use of higher vocabulary. I’d recommend this read to anyone, whether Christmas or not. It’s for adults but YA dark fantasy readers will most likely enjoy as well.
The Kingdom of Sweets, About –
Twin sisters, divided by envy and magic, set against one another on a fateful Christmas Eve
Light and dark—this is the cursed birthright placed upon Clara and Natasha by their godfather, Drosselmeyer, whose power and greed hold an entire city in his sway. Charming Clara, the favorite, grows into a life of beauty and ease, while ignored and unloved Natasha is relegated to her sister’s shadow.
But the opportunity for revenge announces itself one Christmas Eve, when Drosselmeyer arrives at their family gala with the Nutcracker, an enchanted gift that offers entry into an alternate world: the Kingdom of Sweets.
Following Clara into the glittering land of snow and sugar, Natasha discovers a source of power far greater than Drosselmeyer: the Sugar Plum Fairy, who offers her own wondrous gifts . . . and deadly bargains. But as Natasha unspools the truth about a dark destiny crafted long before her birth, she must reckon with forces both earthly and magical, human and diabolical, and decide to which world she truly belongs.
I read this book from the library last year, but it’s definitely one I want to own now!
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter was a different, refreshing read for me and a lot of fun! It was a Christmas rom-com and mystery rolled into one by the writer of Netflix’s film, A Castle for Christmas, which I thought was a fun watch. I don’t often read romance but I throw one in a time or two, especially with this type with humor. They always lift my spirits.
Maggie, a bestselling mystery author, is invited to spend Christmas at the sprawling mansion home in the UK of legendary, eighty-something year old author, Eleanor, of whom is also published by her publishing house. As well, Ethan Wyatt, another popular author and her nemesis, and another author Sir Jasper, both of her book’s publishing house, are invited, and family, too.
Eleanor has invited them for Christmas, but within the day of their arrival has disappeared. There are clues that point to someone having potentially murdered her, and attempts of murder of the other authors, too. As Ethan and Maggie inadvertently start teaming to learn how to solve this disappearance and stay alive, they also discover a love for each other that’s very sweet.
Inspired you can tell from the real life occurrence of Agatha Christie’s time period when she was missing for a time and was later found, this is a cleverly-plotted tale that had me both rolling my eyes (in fun!) at times but also smiling at their love story and turning the pages to find out where she had disappeared to and who was trying to kill everyone!
The storyline also has a great undercurrent for gaslighting, and people who do so to others in relationships, that brings about good awareness for that issue as well as a shining example overcoming that type of abuse.
The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year, About –
Knives Out gets a holiday rom-com twist in this rivals-to-lovers romance-mystery from New York Timesbestselling author Ally Carter.
The bridge is out. The phones are down. And the most famous mystery writer in the world just disappeared out of a locked room two days before Christmas.
Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt: She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery. He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy. She hates his guts. He thinks her name is Marcie (no matter how many times she’s told him otherwise.)
But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of Death herself. That night, the weather turns, and the next morning Eleanor is gone.
She vanished from a locked room, and Maggie has to wonder: Is Eleanor in danger? Or is it all some kind of test? Is Ethan the competition? Or is he the only person in that snowbound mansion she can trust?
As the snow gets deeper and the stakes get higher, every clue will bring Maggie and Ethan closer to the truth—and each other. Because, this Christmas, these two rivals are going to have to become allies (and maybe more) if they have any hope of saving Eleanor. Assuming they don’t kill each other first.
If you like the plots of online holiday rom-coms, and suspend disbelief to watch their story lines, then I’d pick this one up and read it. I read it from the library and that’s probably a good way to read this one unless you’re a romance cover collector.
Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb
Christmas with the Queen by Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb: LOVED IT! What a special book. I was crying happy tears at the end. The was such a heartwarming and touching read.
I definitely fell in love with each of these characters – Olive, Jack, and the Queen herself. What a treat to be transported back to when Queen Elizabeth II first took over the throne and offered her Christmas address.
Budding BBC reporter Olive is able to inch into the man’s world of reporting when the normal male correspondent is taken ill by the intense London fog. She has a new take, she as a woman can report on the Queen as a mother, fashionista, and young woman ruling the masses. It’s not a woman’s world in the early 1950s but Olive, a young single mother, takes on Christmas at Sandringham by storm earning the Queen’s ear with her advice for the first address. And the Queen, as a woman, takes on a man’s world as well with her unique calm and grace.
Here, at Sandringham, she’s reunited with an old friend she met on VE Day, Jack, from whom she now has an important secret. He’s an American chef, and working for the royal family’s kitchen staff as he works on his New Orleans recipes and hopes to open his own restaurant one day. The food descriptions took me away to the sights and sounds and smells of food. This is a book for foodies and I’m not surprised! The descriptions of this, plus the grounds and atmosphere at Sandringham at Christmas, are delightful. Further, descriptors of London streets and shopping districts at Christmas transport me to time and place.
Each Christmas brings Olive and Jack both back to meet again. Sometimes at Sandringham and sometimes overseas during the royal tour. The romantic chemistry and tension is clean but high, and we can only wish for them to see what we see as readers! It’s such a lovely story brimming with love and hope.
We also see the budding Queen and her love as they were in the 50s and new to the Crown, and their own love story. We find their impeccable humor and wit – falling in love with hers again, and rolling our eyes at his. We see her compassion and empathy. In the few chapters we were given written in the Queen’s voice, we hear her clearly. I could hear her voice in my head! It truly felt as if she’d written them herself and it brought her back to life.
I would highly recommend this book! I chose to read this following right after Christmas last year and it kept the season close to me and offered me hope and joy in this new year of chaos. I’d go as far as to say, there’s no reason you can’t read it in February if you miss reading it by Christmas! It’s a love story. The spirit of Christmas must remain with us all year, as Charles Dickens wrote. And in these times, that’s more than true.
Christmas with the Queen, About –
Tis the season! The Crown meets When Harry Met Sally in the latest heartwarming historical novel from Hazel Gaynor and Heather Webb, bestselling authors of Last Christmas in Paris, Meet Me in Monaco, and Three Words for Goodbye.
December 1952. While the young Queen Elizabeth II finds her feet as the new monarch, she must also find the right words to continue the tradition of her late father’s Christmas Day radio broadcast. But even traditions must evolve with the times, and the queen faces a postwar Britain hungry for change.
As preparations begin for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk, old friends—Jack Devereux and Olive Carter—are unexpectedly reunited by the occasion. Olive, a single mother and aspiring reporter at the BBC, leaps at the opportunity to cover the holiday celebration, but even a chance encounter with the queen doesn’t go as planned and Olive wonders if she will ever be taken seriously.
Jack, a recently widowed chef, reluctantly takes up a new role in the royal kitchens at Sandringham. Lacking in purpose and direction, Jack has abandoned his dream to have his own restaurant, but his talents are soon noticed and while he might not believe in himself, others do, and a chance encounter with an old friend helps to reignite the spark of his passion and ambition.
As Jack and Olive’s paths continue to cross over the following five Christmases, they grow ever closer. Yet Olive carries the burden of a heavy secret that threatens to destroy everything.
Christmas Day, December 1957. As the nation eagerly awaits the Queen’s first televised Christmas speech, there is one final gift for the Christmas season to deliver…
This is a book you’ll want to treasure in your collection so I highly recommend purchasing, but your library will definitely have it for a quick read.
I’m really loving Christmas novellas, perfect for quick reading around everything else at the holidays. I always seem to also have a penchant for reading holiday thriller or mysteries as well and wish more authors/publishers would offer them. Since I love gothic thrillers, I was excited to learn about The Christmas Guest by Peter Swanson. I had to wait forever for my hold to come in from the library as it seemed very popular, but it came just in time. I read it in two sittings before bed, which was interesting since the book was written in two parts: the diary, and the after, from two different protagonists both involved in the plot.
I don’t always love a book being told by a dairy, and at first I wasn’t sure if all my excitement would be a let down, but once I learned to read in her character’s head voice I could relate a bit better. Sometimes diaries don’t allow you to connect with a character enough, surprisingly, and it’s a lot of telling right at you as opposed to the reader being an observer, but by the the second half of the book, when it stopped, I understood why it was used. The rest of the book had a couple twists none of which I saw coming, but especially the ending. And now I can’t stop thinking about it. I have all kinds of questions as I’m thinking through it. I mean a serial killer novella is creepy but somehow haunting at this festive time of year. Or is it a ghost story? Either way. The setting and descriptions certainly lend to this modern day gothic. The maniacal that is so subtle. The obsession that is just underlying enough I think other readers aren’t even getting it at its core. It’s definitely a dark read, but the first half is as cheery as the diarist Ashley is so that keeps it uplifted and the second half is the reader having a lot of OH NO moments. Ha!
I’d like to say it was a fun read for the holidays as it was entertaining but that also sounds terrible because of the book’s dark content haha! But certainly, enjoyable storytelling and I hope for more novellas in this vein in the future; however, beware a bit based on your preferences!
You can read it from the library as I did, of course. Do not advise paying that hefty Kindle price, but you can read on Kindle Unlimited if you have that. Or a paperback is a better investment if you need tangible and can’t get to the library.
The Christmas Guest, About –
New York Times bestselling author Peter Swanson pens a spectacularly spine-chilling novella in which an American art student in London is invited to join a classmate for the holidays at Starvewood Hall, her family’s Cotswold manor house. But behind the holly and pine boughs, secrets are about to unravel, revealing this seemingly charming English village’s grim history.
Ashley Smith, an American art student in London for her junior year, was planning on spending Christmas alone, but a last-minute invitation from fellow student Emma Chapman brings her to Starvewood Hall, country residence of the Chapman family. The Cotswold manor house, festooned in pine boughs and crammed with guests for Christmas week, is a dream come true for Ashley. She is mesmerized by the cozy, firelit house, the large family, and the charming village of Clevemoor, but also by Adam Chapman, Emma’s aloof and handsome brother.
But Adam is being investigated by the local police over the recent brutal slaying of a girl from the village, and there is a mysterious stranger who haunts the woodland path between Starvewood Hall and the local pub. Ashley begins to wonder what kind of story she is actually inhabiting. Is she in a grand romance? A gothic tale? Or has she wandered into something far more sinister and terrifying than she’d ever imagined?
Over thirty years later the events of that horrific week are revisited, along with a diary from that time. What began in a small English village in 1989 reaches its ghostly conclusion in modern-day New York, many Christmas seasons later.
Believe it or not, thriller lover that I am, I haven’t read any Lisa Unger! Christmas Presents is a perfect little novella to start off with at this festive time of year. It has a fitting title for several reasons and is perfect for thriller, horror, crime, mystery, and dark fiction readers. It’s darker than a cozy mystery of course, but doesn’t tread into unsettling descriptions or the like. It rather tells the story through survivor and bookstore owner Madeline, when she helps re-open a cold case, and solve some new crimes with possible links to the old, with a famous true crime podcaster who comes to town. Her best friend, Badger, and her dad (who was the Sheriff but has suffered a stroke and is unable to speak, walk, or help) through his office files, also assists in ways.
I liked how she wove the business of the bookstore during the holiday season, the merits of long-lasting friendships, having family you love and then family you choose as family. I loved the hope on many levels that this novella brings as well as the positives and negatives of people running true crime podcasts. I loved the idea of the presents which created tension throughout. It was a really seamless read with lots of Christmas references and twinkling lights but woven around a quick, dark mystery.
Recommend for holiday reading! I’ll pick up more of Lisa Unger – she’s a really good writer. Oh, and can people write more Christmas thriller novellas please? Thank you!
Christmas Presents, Lisa Unger
Instead of presents this Christmas, a true crime podcaster is opening up a cold case…
Madeline Martin has built a life for herself as the young owner of a thriving business, The Next Chapter Bookshop, despite her tragic childhood and now needing to care for her infirm father. When Harley Granger, a failed novelist turned true crime podcaster, drifts into her shop in the days before Christmas, he seems intent on digging up events that Madeline would much rather forget. She’s the only surviving victim of Evan Handy, the man who was convicted of murdering her best friend Steph, and is suspected in the disappearance of two sisters, also good friends of Madeline’s, who have been missing for nearly a decade. It’s an investigation that has obsessed her father Sheriff James Martin right up until his stroke took his faculties.
Harley Granger has a gift for seeing things that others miss. He wasn’t much of a novelist, but his work as a true crime author and podcaster has earned him fame and wealth—and some serious criticism for his various unethical practices. Still, visiting Little Valley to be closer to his dying father has caused him to look into a case that many people think is closed—and some want reopened. And he has a lot of questions about the night Stephanie Cramer was killed, Ainsley and Sam Wallace disappeared, and Madeline Martin was left for dead, bleeding out on a riverbank.
Since Evan Handy went to jail, three other young women have gone missing, most recently a young college dropout named Lolly. Five young women missing in the same area in a decade. Are they connected? Was Evan Handy innocent after all? Or was there some else there that night? Someone who is still satisfying his dark appetites?
As Christmas approaches and a blizzard bears down, Madeline and her childhood friend Badger return to a past they both hoped was dead—to find the missing Lolly and to answer questions that have haunted them both, discovering that the truth is more terrible and much closer to home than they think.
Coupling a picturesque, cozy setting with a deeply unsettling suspenseful plot, Christmas Presents is a chilling seasonal novella that can be enjoyed all year long.
I also saw she has a 70-page story for the season on Amazon Originals as well. I’ve purchased to check out this year! You can too, here.
A Lighthouse Christmas by Jenny Hale
A Lighthouse Christmas by Jenny Hale is a warm, festive read for lighthouse lovers. One year I was looking for Christmas reads and bought this one because I’m obsessed with lighthouses.
It turned out to be a lovely, quick read for the holidays about finding oneself and starting over! I loved all the lighthouse details inside and out, you can tell the research that went into it, too. I loved the Christmas decoration details as well as the bakery descriptions. I loved being able to see and smell everything in this book. The characters were genuine and kind. The romance was clean and subtle and had a great build.
I needed a feel good, escape read with a happy ending and this really fit that need! The family theme was also endearing.
I’ve found myself more in the holiday seasons coming round to adding happy, joyful books to add to my reading rather than just my usual dark horror, mysteries, suspense, or historical fiction. The world has been so bleak enough on its own, so I’ve been sitting watching feel good movies and seeking out hopeful books as an escape. This book fits that cozy, feel good theme if that’s what you love to read!
A Lighthouse Christmas, About –
A heartwarming page-turner about the beauty of being at home with family, second chances, and the magic of Christmas, when anything is possible… A gorgeous festive treat for fans of Debbie Macomber, Pamela Kelley, and Sheila Roberts.
When her beloved grandmother passes away, Mia Broadhurst returns to the snow-covered seaside village of Winsted Cape, where Grandma Ruth ran the lighthouse overlooking the golden beach.
This will be Mia’s first Christmas without her, and she can’t bear to part with the lighthouse that has been in their family for generations. As she steps into it, childhood memories rush back to her. She can almost hear them playing tag on the steps… But her life is back in New York, dedicated to a busy PR firm, and she has no choice but to sell.
With the snow falling, turning the grounds into a winter wonderland, Mia works with real estate agent Will Thacker. As they restore the historical building, she tries not to notice how handsome he is. After all, she’s only home for Christmas… And Will’s deep blue eyes, as stormy as the Atlantic Ocean, tells her he has his own heartbreak to contend with.
Warmed by a crackling fire, Mia packs up Grandma Ruth’s belongings with the help of her mother and sister. But waiting for them is a black-and-white photograph with a faded inscription. The mysterious message is the key to a family secret that has been hidden for decades––one that changes everything.
When Mia finds out the truth, will it save the precious lighthouse and show Mia where her heart belongs? Or will it tear her from Winsted Cape––and Will––for ever?
I purchased this for the Kindle several years ago and read it that way! It’s pretty well priced in that format, but you can get in paperback cheaply or from the library as well.
Nothing beats the quaint village feel and humor of British writers for me. A Not So Quiet Christmas was wonderful. I had read a book by Suzie Tullett many years ago and loved it, as well as following her updates on social media. I always enjoy her endless positivity, so I had no problem purchasing this for Kindle as one of my holiday reads a few years ago. I’m glad I did!
Whereas yes, the plot is simple and straightforward, it’s the characters we love to get to know. They felt like family once I was done reading it and I’ll want to know what they’re up to (so a sequel would be great! SUZIE!?). She arranged a cast of characters her London city girl meets when she has to go to the countryside that is just perfect. Speaking of her protagonist, she’s quite awkward and funny and quirky and I loved watching her come around to her next stage of life and letting people into her circle. Watching her finally have a “home” and people to care for was touching. She showcased her huge heart which was endearing (but yet, the character didn’t even know that about herself, which was also sweet). And her problem solving skills were on point as well! She makes the best of every mishap or situation.
It’s a very light-hearted read culminating in Christmas Day festivities. On top of there being a sweet little boy and his single mom, a farmer and his mentally challenged brother who gives us a wealth of international Christmas facts (speaking of which, this part was written so well), and a cantankerous old man, there is also a slow paced, beautiful, light romance that runs behind everything else. I liked how it was a female-led, the blossoming, and the man polite, kind, and loving.
I feel like I was able to view this village and countryside, maybe even step inside it, from her descriptions! The humor of country life had me in stitches. I’d love to visit here and take in the tavern, shops, even the mountain!
Also, as she dawns in her possible career choice of “reclamation specialist,” I found it perfect for her and what a fun entrepreneurial idea she gave her leading lady. I’d like to see how that plays out if she stays on living the rural life. Also, I had no idea it was illegal to take someone’s curb trash in England! Ha! Here, people drive by and pick up your items all the time.
Anyway, the whole book worked for me from the characters to the setting to the humor. A person can read it in a night or two, it’s a quick read, but it lasts in the mind! Posting this I remembered all over again how much I loved it.
A Not So Quiet Christmas, About –
A solo getaway at an English country cottage is a pleasant way to spend the holiday—but it takes two to really make things merry . . .
Antonia prefers a quiet Christmas. She’s happy to spend it on her own, watching Hallmark holiday movies in her pyjamas, eating what she wants, when she wants.
Antonia’s friend Jules, on the other hand, loves a big Christmas celebration and plans on travelling to the Yorkshire Dales for a festive break. But when Jules breaks her leg, she persuades Antonia to make the trip on her behalf. Arriving at the little cottage, Antonia meets the handsome property agent Oliver. But she can’t escape the weird locals—or avoid embarrassing situations like mistaking a cow for a burglar.
As Christmas approaches, the attraction between Oliver and Antonia grows. She could choose to return to the bustling city and spend it alone. Or she could choose love and have a not so quiet Christmas . . .
It’s worth buying the Kindle or paperback copy. I’m not sure it would be available in a library here.
Of course, since it’s the Christmas season, I thought I’d talk about what I plan to read this year and the week between Christmas and New Year! I hope to have a good amount of reading time and my mind feels like diving into some Christmas mysteries. There’s lots of good ones out!
The Christmas Murder Game by Alexandra Benedict
A locked-room Christmas mystery where riddles reveal deadly family secrets… and the only escape is through the truth.
Fans of Agatha Christie and Lucy Foley will savor its locked-room twists, interactive puzzles, and chilling emotional stakes. Play along, uncover the truth, and beware: at Endgame House, the most dangerous gift is buried in the past.
Lily Armitage never wanted to return to Endgame House. The grand estate holds too many painful memories―including the unsolved murder of her mother, twenty-one Christmases ago.
But when a cryptic invitation arrives, Lily can’t ignore it. Her aunt has resurrected the family’s infamous holiday tradition: twelve days of riddles, one each day until Twelfth Night. The prize? The keys to Endgame House―and a promise to reveal her mother’s killer.
Snowed in with her estranged, scheming cousins and a deadly game underway, Lily must confront the ghosts of her past, decipher riddles that cut to the bone, and survive a chilling race for the truth.
Because at Endgame House, everyone has something to hide. And this Christmas, the truth is worth killing for.
You can get this at the library or the bookstore or online for decent prices.
Miss Winter in the Library with a Knife by Martin Edwards
Six down-on-their-luck people with links to the world of crime writing have been invited to play a game this Christmas by the mysterious Midwinter Trust. The challenge seems simple but exciting: Solve the murder of a fictional crime writer in a remote but wonderfully atmospheric village in north Yorkshire to win a prize that will change your fortunes for good.
Six members of staff from the shadowy Trust are there to make sure everyone plays fair. The contestants have been meticulously vetted but you can never be too careful. And with the village about to be cut off by a snow storm, everyone needs to be extra vigilant. Midwinter can play tricks on people’s minds.
The game is set – but playing fair isn’t on everyone’s Christmas list.
You can get this at the library or the bookstore or online for decent prices.
Yorkshire, 1952. Christmas is fast approaching when a dead stranger is found lodged up the chimney of Holly House in the snow-covered village of Elderby. Is he a simple thief, or a would-be killer?
A mystery that can’t be solved.
Inspector Frank Grasby is ordered to investigate. But as is often the way for him, things don’t go according to plan.
A Christmas to remember.
When the local doctor’s husband is murdered, Grasby begins to realize that everyone in Elderby is hiding something. And if he can’t uncover the truth soon, the whole country will pay a dreadful price…
I bought this one on sale at Barnes and Noble! Each month in the cafe, you can get a select book for five dollars only when you buy a coffee!
You can get this at the library or the bookstore or online for decent prices, too! I love its cover.
Christmas time seems just right for murder and romance and visions of sugarplums dancing in our heads. I love reading this time of year. We usually are snowed in quite a few days at the end of the year, which makes for perfect tea and reading (and movie watching) days for us all.
If I don’t leave book reviews for my reads this holiday season here, you can head to my GoodReads for them!
Are Email Lists Really that Important for Writers and Authors?
by Tanya Joy Morgan – Digital Strategist and Educator for Writers and Author
As a writer or author, you’re all set up on social media working on building your following, getting decent engagement, and things are ticking along.
Then, out of nowhere, your followers aren’t engaging as much. You notice your reach has dropped and your posts are getting fewer views. A few people who used to comment daily seem to be MIA. You feel the panic bubble up, just a bit at first, then with growing intensity as you start to question what you’ve done wrong. Why isn’t your content performing anymore? Your stress goes through the roof, your writing time goes out the window, and your creative juices tank while you scramble to figure out the solution to a problem you have little to no control over.
Sound familiar?
In most cases, you are not the problem. This is life in the world of social media.
Algorithms shift based on their own agendas and the ever-changing whims and behaviors of users. Trends and topic popularity evolve. Users take breaks, shut down accounts, or get inexplicably banned.
Social media has its place in our journey as authors. However, it’s important to remember that it’s borrowed space that you don’t control.
This is where email lists come into play and really shine.
Email lists matter for authors
An email list is an asset you fully own and control. Once you have a list of email addresses for your readership, no one can take that away from you, and you can keep using it for years to stay connected with your readers.
This isn’t just another task to add to your to-do list. Building an email list should be a core end goal of most marketing and visibility efforts if you plan to build an author career that will serve you for years to come.
When you establish a strong email list of readers who are genuinely interested in your books, you’re far more likely to have an audience of people ready and willing to buy your next book, with much less effort on your part. It’ll start out small, with a handful of people. But as time goes on, and if you manage your list well, you’ll continue to grow that audience day after day, year over year.
Building a healthy email list
So what does building and managing an email list look like? It doesn’t need to be complicated.
There are a few components to building an effective email list:
Offer a compelling reason for why readers should subscribe. This is typically done with a relevant reader magnet that your ideal reader would be excited to get their hands on.
Use an email marketing service provider that offers automations. I recommend Mailerlight or EmailOctopus as they offer reasonable free plans for getting started and are user-friendly, but there are many providers to choose from.
Strongly consider using a double opt-in system to improve the quality of your list.
Set up a welcome sequence of three to five emails that send out automatically.
Aim to send at least one email per month to your list.
Common mistakes that make email lists feel ineffective
But what about all those authors who mention that email lists don’t work? What’s going on there?
One of the biggest mistakes I see authors make when building an email list is using generic group promos to try to get as many subscribers as possible.
Why can this be a problem? Because in many cases, those subscribers aren’t specifically interested in you as an author or your specific books. They’re often “book-collectors” who grab as many freebies as they can, even though they might never read them.
A large email list doesn’t necessarily make for a strong email list.
You want to attract subscribers who are specifically interested in you and your writing.
This leads to the second common mistake, which makes attracting subscribers difficult: they don’t offer something relevant, interesting, and of value to their readers. This is where a good reader magnet fits in.
The people most interested in your life updates are your friends and family. The people most interested in receiving accountability updates on your writing are your writing partners. And most people are more interested in news updates about celebrities.
This doesn’t mean you can’t or shouldn’t share this information with your list. It means these points aren’t what will make someone excited about joining your list in the first place. So your goal is to come up with (and test) different reader magnets you can offer that your readers would genuinely enjoy and want to receive. That’s how you draw them in.
And guess what, this leads to another common mistake … forgetting to invite people to your list. This is where social media comes into play. Many authors focus too much of their attention on sharing purchase links on social media in an attempt to get one more sale. This applies to all Visibility Routes (something I talk about in my Anti-Marketing Roadmap guide). People aren’t going to know to join your email list if you’re not inviting them to do so with a really compelling reason why they should. And when all your efforts are focused on making one sale at a time, you have to keep at that grind over and over with every book.
When you instead focus on building your email list, you create a direct line of communication with a pool of people who have raised their hand to say, “I’m interested in your books.” Over time, selling the next book can become as simple as sending one email that reaches many ideal readers.
But it’s not quite as magical as it might sound. It’s not simply a case of “build it and they will come.”
Keeping your email list warm
Once you have people subscribing to your list, you do need to stay in touch with them and continue to send them interesting information.
First up, start with a warm and inviting welcome sequence that lets them know more about you and what they can expect by being part of your community. You can get away with just one welcome email (one is certainly better than none), but typically the sweet spot is three to five emails that drip out information over a shorter period of time (one to two days apart) to really settle them into being part of your list.
From there, you can scale back to just one email per month if that suits you best. You can also send out emails more frequently if you want. Ideally, you don’t want to go more than a month between connecting with your list.
The reason is good ol’ human memory. The more time that passes between when someone hears from you, the more likely they are to forget who you are and why they’re getting emails from you. This can result in an email list going cold. And once a list is cold, it can be really hard to warm it up again. Your open rates will drop and fewer subscribers will engage with your content.
There are loads of things you can talk about in these monthly emails, but first and foremost you want them to continue to experience your writing world as a reminder of why they subscribed. Try not to overthink this too much. Be the author you are and engage them with your writing, stories, worldbuilding, and characters. That’s what they’re here for.
The technical basics
When it comes to the technical side of setting up an email list, there are a few considerations and best practices to keep in mind.
For starters, use a reputable provider. While you can send emails out directly through your Gmail (or other) account, it’s not recommended. It’s a lot of manual work, especially if you’re sending emails to one person at a time. And if you use the BCC option, it’s impersonal and feels spammy, which can lead to deliverability issues. Providers like Gmail also have stricter limits on how many emails you can send out, which can cause problems.
So use an email marketing provider who is built to handle this type of communication. Using well-known providers is also a better option, because some smaller or lesser-known services don’t always have the strongest deliverability standards, which means your emails may be less likely to land in your subscribers’ inboxes.
Reputable providers will also provide information and guidance on some specific records needed for improving deliverability. These records, such as DKIM, SPF, and DMARC, need to be added to the DNS records when you’re using a custom domain.
Since price is often a factor, do some research on what different providers offer. As mentioned above, Mailerlite and EmailOctopus offer decent free plans and more affordable paid plans for when you grow. Some of the bigger players, such as Mailchimp, Kit, and Flodesk, are options as well, but make sure you understand what you’re getting for free and what the upgrade costs include. The key is to compare all aspects of what the different plans offer, because it’s never a case of comparing apples to apples. Providers tier their features differently. One might offer a higher subscriber allowance on the free plan but no automation workflows. Another might not even allow you to pre-schedule one email at a time. You might find yourself working with a provider that was great for building a free list, but their paid plans end up being a lot more expensive to get the features you need, before you’re ready for the investment.
Switching email marketing providers is possible, but it can get a bit complicated. So it’s best to do your research thoroughly before investing your time and money into a provider that perhaps wasn’t quite what you expected or needed.
Single opt-in vs double opt-in
The other technical component I want to touch on is double opt-in versus single opt-in. This is the confirmation process for getting subscribers onto your email list.
Single opt-in means that they just need to fill out the form you provide and they’re immediately added to your list with no further action and you can start sending them emails.
Double opt-in means that after they fill out your subscription form, they’ll be sent a confirmation email and need to click a link or button in it to confirm their subscription, before you can send them any emails (including your reader magnet or welcome sequence).
Single opt-in has less friction, because subscribers don’t need to do an extra step. But it also means that bots and spammers can more easily subscribe to your list, which inflates your subscriber count, which could cost you extra money. It also means you could end up with subscribers who have incorrectly entered their email address, which will increase the bounce rate of the emails you send and hurt the deliverability of all your emails to all subscribers. It’s generally considered a less secure option and is often not recommended, especially if you care about keeping your list clean and engaged.
While double opt-in creates an extra step for your subscribers, it’s widely seen as a best-practice approach for reputable email lists, offers protection for your subscribers, and helps to ensure your list in general is better quality.
When possible, I always recommend going for the double opt-in option. It’s not flawless, and you will end up with unconfirmed subscribers, which can be a bit frustrating, but the pros outweigh the cons in the long run.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, email lists give you stability, consistency, and a direct connection to readers that social media simply can’t guarantee.
Building a strong email list isn’t a silver bullet. It’s not a path to guaranteed success for your author career. However, it is a more stable and reliable means of building an audience you can continue to nurture for years. It’s also more personal and less fickle than social media.
Start small, take it one step at a time, and grow it with intention. Your future self will thank you.
Tanya Joy Morgan, Author Bio –
Tanya Joy Morgan is a digital strategist, educator, and fantasy author who teaches fiction writers how to build an online presence rooted in storytelling instead of stress. She’s the founder of Panoptic Foundations, where she simplifies tech, strategy, and sustainable visibility so authors can grow their readership without burning out. Tanya also provides ongoing support and resources for authors inside her Patreon community.
For more information or to follow Tanya, head to any of these places online:
While working as editor on the novel Red Snow in Winter, I was intrigued by the setting chosen for more than half the book: Washington, D.C. This is a taut espionage story set over a few weeks in 1945, whose main character, Julius Orlinsky, is a young lieutenant in Army Intelligence who gets caught up in a seemingly routine assignment that turns to murder and blackmail.
You might ask, why be intrigued? After all, what would be more logical than Orlinsky being stationed in Washington? The answer is yes, it’s logical, but in setting the story there, the author created a book uncommon in today’s fiction market. My research into the subgenre of World War II historical novels reveals that very, very few such books—espionage or otherwise—are set in the nation’s capital.
The author, Max Eastern, dug up some surprising facts about life in D.C. from 1942 to 1945, things that I never realized, even though I have family in the D.C. area and have visited many, many times. Max’s intense research, which took him many months, helps create both a rich atmosphere and character conflict within the novel.
In this article, I am sharing some of the author’s research on Washington, D.C., as well as photos from a 1943 Life magazine article, “Washington in Wartime.” Max bought the original issue of Life over eBay—the photos accompanying this post were scanned to share here on Hook of a Book.
{Article feature from January 4, 1943 in Life Magazine. It was Vol. 14, No. 1}
First, I’d like to put this fiction analysis into context. Over the last decade, the overwhelming majority of WWII fiction—the time of the “boom” in commercial fiction set during this global conflict—has not been set in the United States, but rather in Europe. The most popular settings are France, the Netherlands, and Belgium, with stories focusing on the Resistance Effort, followed by stories set in England or Germany. In historical fiction, those are the plots that acquiring editors at the Big Five publishing houses are looking for.
What is somewhat strange is that while perhaps as little as ten percent of World War II historical fiction takes place in the United States, the war profoundly changed this country. Nearly one in 100 American families experienced a servicemember killed or wounded, leaving many wives as war widows and children without fathers. In addition, the war effort dramatically shifted the financial roles within the American family, with the number of married women in the labor force nearly doubling between 1940 and 1957.
{Photo from Library of Congress –An instructor of the Capitol Transit Company teaching a woman to operate a one-man streetcar, photographer Esther Bubley}
The war’s transformation of America is hard to describe; it is so fundamental. After World War II, the United States emerged as the world’s economic engine and leading superpower. Europe and Asia had been torn apart by battles and bombings, with many economies in ruins. The fact that no battles took place on American soil protected civilians and cities from such carnage and obliteration.
In contrast, the Soviet Union and China suffered the highest total number of deaths, accounting for more than half of all worldwide casualties. Their combined loss of life, estimated at over 40 million people, eclipses all other nations.
When it comes to the wartime novels that have been set in the United States, they seem to be divided among books tackling the deplorable internment of Japanese Americans, the development of the atom bomb, and the massive shift in factory work. Examples like Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, The Physicists’ Daughter,and The War Outside spring to mind. Another type of historical novel that overlaps with this genre tells the story of a compelling person who lived in Washington—at least for part of the novel—during this critical time, such as Stephanie Dray’s Becoming Madam Secretary or Allison Pataki’s The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post.
{1943 Life Magazine depicts this as a stenographer in D.C., from Houston}
Few World War II novels are set in America, compared to Europe. Still, even fewer are set in Asia, despite battles, invasions, bombings, spy missions, and countless dramatic and poignant human stories. This is, to me, mystifying and even infuriating. A notable exception is Weina Dai Randel’s The Last Rose of Shanghai.
While fiction has stayed away from Washington, D.C. as a setting for a World War II novel, it was the nerve center of the nation—and beyond. The Combined Chiefs of Staff, which met continuously in D.C., was responsible for coordinating all major military decisions, prioritizing weapons and supplies, and deploying combined U.S. and British forces globally. The massive mobilization of the economy was directed entirely from Washington. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the strategic command for the nation’s first centralized intelligence agency, was also located in Washington, as were critical cryptographic efforts. Spycraft became an obsession.
In the years leading up to 1942, this would have been unimaginable.
“Before the war, Washington was essentially a large, dull Southern town,” journalist Joseph Alsop said. “There was a core of sophistication, of course, but the atmosphere was provincial.”
And journalist Walter Lippman wrote that before World War II, Washington, D.C. was “a city of temporary, itinerant inhabitants, a city of talk, gossip, and social pretense, a city of Southern somnolence.”
This changed rapidly.
Washington, D.C.’s population jumped by over 140,000 residents (a more than 20 % increase) in the early 1940s. This influx was fueled by approximately 5,000 new government workers arriving each month in the early war years. This caused a severe housing crisis. With virtually no new housing construction allowed (due to wartime material bans), the supply couldn’t keep up with demand.
{Photo of Hecht’s department store packed at the counter in D.C. from 1943 Life Magazine}
To cope, many private residences were converted into crowded boarding houses to accommodate the thousands of single female workers who came to D.C. (The exciting potential for stories taking place in an all-women Washington, D.C., boarding house is explored in Kate Quinn’s novel The Briar Club, which takes place in 1950.)
As Walter Winchell wrote, “Washington has become one of the most crowded, lively, nervous, and electric cities on the globe. In the crowded apartments and temporary buildings, the normal restraints have given way to the intensity of the war effort.”
Day-to-day existence may have been “lively,” but it was also difficult. Among the challenges:
Traffic Standstill: Despite gasoline rationing (which curtailed private driving), the city’s streetcar and bus systems were overwhelmed by the massive increase in population and military personnel. Transit was severely crowded, and commuting was often a nightmare.
Rationing Hassles: Families had to cope with the rationing of essential goods such as meat, sugar, butter, and shoes using ration books and stamps, which required careful planning and budgeting.
Blackout and Security Drills: Washington, as the capital, was a high-value target. Residents had to participate in blackout drills (covering windows to prevent the city from being lit up by potential enemy bombers) and in air raid preparations, adding a layer of fear to daily life.
{Lobby of the Earle Movie Theater in D.C. in 1943. Photo from Life Magazine, January 1943}
Remember the Life magazine that Max Eastern ordered from eBay? This is the article headline, and it pulls no punches: “Washington in Wartime: This Is a Terrible Place to Live.”
The article says:
“If the war lasts much longer, Washington is going to bust right out of its pants. Already it is straining at the seams. Apartment houses, hospitals, hotels, restaurants, government buildings, stores, buses, trains—all are terribly overtaxed. Millionaire dollar-a-year men and underpaid government clerks, Republicans and Democrats alike, have the same gripe: to do almost anything in Washington, you must first stand in line.”
Along with the hardships of daily life came the pleasures, blackout warnings notwithstanding. Washington, D.C., raged with parties. The city was flooded with military officers, diplomats, and intelligence agents from Allied nations, creating a sophisticated and international mix of people.
Not surprisingly, people dove into love affairs everywhere. It was “Carpe Diem” time. With the world at war, there was a sense that life was short and that this historic moment might not last.
Doesn’t this description of the city sound like it has the ingredients for an exciting historical novel?
Now you see why I determined, as the editor of Red Snow in Winter, that the avoidance of Washington, D.C. as a setting for WWII fiction is a mystery all its own!
Nancy Bilyeau, Biography –
Nancy Bilyeau is an editor who has worked on the staffs of Rolling Stone, Good Housekeeping, and other newsstand magazines and is the author of eight historical novels, ranging from the Tudor era in the Joanna Stafford series to 20th-century New York City in Dreamland and The Orchid Hour.
The stories his father told him growing up about being an intelligence officer in World War II inspired Max Eastern to write his debut historical novel, Red Snow in Winter. He has written non-fiction articles about subjects ranging from Ulysses Grant’s first command to Attila the Hun. His modern noir novel, The Gods Who Walk Among Us, was a Kindle Scout selection in 2016. A lawyer specializing in publishing, he resides in New York State.
In the final weeks of World War II, a young American intelligence officer is caught in a web of deceit that stretches from the Pentagon to the war-ravaged streets of Europe. Lieutenant Julius Orlinsky, a veteran of clandestine operations in Prague, is thrust back into the field when a seemingly routine assignment leads to murder and attempted murder.
Determined to uncover the truth, Orlinsky’s quest takes him from the quiet suburbs of Washington, D.C., to a prisoner-of-war camp in Maryland, and, finally, to the city of Budapest under siege. It’s a shadow world where allies can be enemies and the lines between patriotism and treason are blurred. And the personal stakes couldn’t be higher. Investigating who was responsible for a family’s tragedy in Prague could expose a betrayal by the first woman he has ever loved.
Orlinsky has no choice. Racing against the clock, he must confront the ghosts of his past as he navigates a terrain of double agents, war-hardened German and Russian soldiers, and fanatics who will stop at nothing to silence him.
This thrilling espionage novel, with its captivating plot of secrets, conspiracy, and trust betrayed, is perfect for fans of Philip Kerr, James R. Benn, Andrew Gross, and Susan Elia MacNeal.
Available now! Red Snow in Winter for Purchase: Universal Link
Praise for Red Snow in Winter –
“This is a fast-moving, page-turning espionage thriller set near the end of the war. Highly recommended for anyone who wants to be kept up at night!”
-Deborah Swift, author of The Shadow Network
“Morally sharp, historically vivid, dangerously thrilling—RED SNOW IN WINTER.” -Gabriel Valjan, author of the Shane Cleary mysteries and The Company Files thrillers
__________________________
Photos: Provided by author from owned copy of Life Magazine, January 1943 and Library of Congress. Article edited: Erin Al-Mehairi
Thank you to Nancy for this interesting and compelling article about historical fiction publishers (and writers) missing out on all the ripe themes to be had in Washington D.C. during WWII. Glad Red Snow in Winter tackled it in part! I see a movie in its future and I can’t wait to see it.
The theme of the essay below for writers, “How Writing Can Help Heal Writers, Too,” by Lisa L. Trujillo, explains to us how writing can help heal writers as much as their writing can heal or console readers. Writing is a wonderful tool to use to work through emotions, especially all those feels we harbor from the world today.
But first, I want to give a little introduction. I’m compiling a series of articles and essays that help writers through their adventures or misadventures (as well as for readers) called The Writing Adventure. I have and do encourage a plethora of writers from all backgrounds and beliefs and genres to submit articles and essays for consideration on the Hook of a Book site, on this theme or otherwise! As a field of diverse writers, we can all learn from each other, and together, embark on this writing journey. I’ll be having, and open to having, all types of writers who write in various genres on my site with insights. This is an inclusive space where most thoughts are considered.
Though I’ve always had guest articles and essays on my site on a variety of topics, by writers from many walks of Iife, here is the first one in this new phase of postings. Welcome!
-Erin
How Writing Can Help Heal Writers, Too!
by Lisa L. Trujillo, author
Writers don’t just observe life … we absorb it!
We carry stories in our minds and emotions in our bodies, long before we ever put a single word on a page.
There is a sensitivity as creatives that can also feel heavy. Many writers silently wrestle with anxiety, perfectionism, burnout, or emotional exhaustion simply because we process the world at a deeper level.
However, the same thing that burdens us is also the thing that heals us? Writing gives the mind a place to lay down what it’s been carrying … a release to expel it. It turns the invisible into something we can see and understand. Each thought becomes a sentence, which in turn is a form of self-care. Each paragraph is a small act of bravery.
And EVERY story, even the ones we never publish, becomes a step toward wholeness.
For many writers, healing doesn’t happen in a single moment. It happens slowly, quietly, in the showing up to the page.
This is putting down the burden in your mind and heart on paper, releasing the heaviness.
Writing gives us permission to feel, to speak truthfully, and to process what life has handed us. It reminds us that our voice matters, not just to readers, but to ourselves.
When writers choose healing, our writing changes. It becomes clearer, more compassionate, more honest. And when our writing changes, the people who read our words are changed as well.
That is the beauty of being a writer. We heal as we write, and we help others heal by writing.
Lisa L. Trujillo, Biography –
Lisa is a certified mentor and coach, ordained officiant, and published author called to help people become Healed, Healthy, and Whole through the power of God. Her journey into ministry was born out of her own personal healing. After battling emotional pain, and depression, she encountered true transformation through an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ. That healing didn’t just restore her, it awakened her purpose.
With a heart for the hurting and a passion for restoration, she uses a faith-based approach that ministers to emotional, mental, and spiritual needs. Whether she’s mentoring one-on-one, writing, or interceding in prayer, her mission remains the same: to help others discover healing, reclaim their identity, and walk confidently in their God-given calling.
If you’re a writer, editor, or reader of books like me, it’s likely that you’ve also written, worked, and read at a variety of places. Writers and editors often work from home and remote working can be a highlight to change the physician and mental landscape. As a writer and book editor myself, I’ve worked at a plethora of cafes, restaurants, libraries, parks and other outdoor spaces, and even in the car!
I thought it might be interesting to write this to show insight into that part of my life and hopefully talk with others who might work or write remotely as well.
When I look back over the last almost fifteen years, which is when I switched from my public relations and marketing job in healthcare to working for myself (and also reignited my love of fiction and poetry writing instead of my only writing being communication, journalistic, or business writing), I’m amazed at how many temporary offices I’ve worked from. And this wasn’t just after COVID hit us and after, when the remote boom for others started, but well before that for me.
There are so many memories I have working various places, and when my kids were young, bringing them along on weekends or school breaks. They were always pretty eager to go because it usually meant a special latte and treat for them. They’d bring their books along and read, work on school papers, or laugh with each other talking about their favorite singers. Often depending if it was spring break or a Sunday, we’d have an outing afterwards at a nature garden or a hike on a local trail. My kids were used to our everyday life including my freelance editing and marketing and PR work intertwined into all we did at home or out.
Mostly early on in my time as a freelancer and writer, I sat at McDonalds, Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Panera, and local cafes like Relax, It’s Just Coffee in Mansfield, Ohio. This cafe was where I also wrote a lot of my poetry and short stories that went on to be published. It’s been years now since I’ve been there (we moved), but they have the best coffee and danishes. Tim Hortons also housed me while I wrote or edited my own stories and many Sundays were spent there doing client editing with a mocha while my kids hung out with me. I still love their coffee, but they close so much earlier now and I work mostly in the evenings and try not to work on weekends much anymore.
{Working remotely at Relax, It’s Just Coffee}
Sometimes days would be spent at a local library, in the winter if it was snowing or in the summer if the kids (or me!) wanted books and air conditioning. One seat in the SUV was often taken by a stack of books on the way home. And often if it was nice out, I also would pack my lunch and work on editing at a park. With or without the kids, it would usually contain a walk afterwards. These days, most of my remote work hours are still at libraries, and I usually can’t wait to get there. It’s like a warm hug being surrounded by books.
{Doing some editing and press release work at a library for a publisher in 2021}
Of course, this makes it sound like it was always perfect and wholesome, but in reality, we had mishaps. Forgotten items, running of errands between, encounters with strange individuals, or the times I spilled stuff on myself away from home. I remember once ten years ago my girls were on spring break and we went to Panera for me to work half the day and have lunch with them before going out for some fun. I spilled all my coffee down my front soaking my shirt and my contact popped out of my eye! We had to rush to a store for me to buy a new shirt and I spent the day with one contact in (and I have bad eye sight). I think my girls learned the art of improvising then, and rolling with whatever…
{Working on a client’s book editing at Panera just the other evening!}
When we had to move, more property and a change in circumstances allowed me to work outside among the trees at home when the weather was nice. Currently, I still work on editing books outside, especially in the autumn when the trees are beautiful! I set up a TV tray and have my coffee and it feels perfect. I also might work in the garage on rainy days at a table – this first started when my kids would be working on gardening or other activities such as painting things so we’d all be together.
{On good years, my lovely fall view at home while working outdoors. This was taken a few years ago.}
Speaking of kids and being a busy mom for a majority of my life while owning my own business, I’ve spent hours of time also working from the car on the way to cross country meets, if an hour or two away, or while waiting on one of the kids when they had a meeting or practice! I’ve also worked in the car or in hotels on trips to see two of my kids when they were in college many hours away out of state.
{Working at Tim Hortons out of town on final edits for a short story I had included in an anthology. I squeezed it in just before going to watch my daughter in her Cross Country race. I think it was 2019!}
Much of my mom life, I’ve also had to do our piles of laundry at the laundromat so I’ve worked there as well waiting on clothes to dry! I’ve mostly stopped that though and leave while waiting as the cast of characters is challenging.
{Doing work, and not happy about it, at the laundromat years ago haha!}
My kids are older now (26, 22, and 18), and things have evolved, and I’m often alone when working outside now. It’s accompanied with having to do the care we provide to the stray and rescued cats, too, that come to our yard. I can’t say I’ve ever worked outside that at least one cat over the years hasn’t joined me. Matter of fact, it also happens inside when I work at night as well. I’m quite used to my indoor cat bosses!
{How I’m often currently stared at when working at night. I’ve had several cats do this for over a decade!}
I am not a creature of habit like many writers. I love to change my space. Though I like quiet for the most part, I find the greatest quiet in focusing and actively tuning out noise. I know that probably doesn’t make sense, but to me, complete silence is more deafening! But I do enjoy the more relaxed areas of libraries and enjoy traveling around to various ones as well as other historic places. Libraries give me the solace I need and crave while also allowing me to see people bustling about me and a chance to stretch my legs and look at books.
{Working on editing at one of the libraries in Cleveland area last year.}
Besides libraries, I also really like working at various Panera Bread locations. Their atmospheres are often cozy and peaceful if I go in the evening. Their booths are good to me with the pain in my legs that I suffer through during pain flares. It’s important to have good chairs/booths at the proper height. And they have fireplaces in the winter (as do many libraries) and I can refill my tea or coffee.
I sit at McDonald’s sometimes in a pinch of later night need, those few that are still open later inside, but honestly they’re a bit loud, whether it’s employees yelling or acting crazy or mopping or DoorDash guys shooting the breeze with each other, and there are some very weird people. Although, it does make for funny stories to tell, and honestly, it’s fun to get a kid’s meal.
These days, since the kids are older, I’m heading back into writing and editing at coffeehouses or the Starbucks in certain Barnes & Noble locations. It depends the location I’m in and how busy they are or their seating arrangements.
{Working at Starbucks in a Barnes & Noble this September on some book PR and editing.}
I’d also say that my environments for working on client work are a bit different than for my fiction or poetry. I like to be outside to write for pleasure or in a quieter or interesting place that inspires me without many distractions. I believe that creative writing taps into a different part of my brain. But I’ve learned in my editing and PR work to focus just about anywhere I need to in order to complete it!
{Working at Relax, It’s Just Coffee! in 2017 finishing up my emotional story “Dandelion Yellow” that’s in my collection, Breathe. Breathe.}
Let me know the places you like to work or write that are outside your house or apartment, if you do that sort of thing?
If you’re a reader, and want to talk about places you like to read, I’d love to hear that also!
You can let me know in the comments below or email me! That’s what I mean by wanting to work on building a community. Sharing our stories, advice, and uniqueness. I want to hear about your processes, too!
I’m going to work really hard on writing more articles like these. They’re in me, I just need to make time to do them.
And while we wait, if you have any editing work for me to do at a coffee shop or library, I’d be really happy for you to send it my way. You can check out about my editing here.
Hi all! I know it’s been quite some time since I updated my main page with news. I don’t know where 2025 flew to, but it’s went by quickly. I’ve been busy with editing books and articles, doing book PR for a select few, and organizing my own writing career (which means getting it back on track)! Besides that, it’s been a busy year for our family with lots of ups and downs.
{Wildflowers from our gardens!}
It’s kept us busy but the good is that my youngest graduated high school and started her freshman year of college. She’s been running cross country with the club team there and they just made it to nationals. My other two have grown into full-fledged adults! We have added to our cat brood, and as well, giving much of our new free time from kid raising to helping stray cats and their kittens in our rural area of land. It’s been both rewarding and tiring. We also give a good amount of time to caring for my 87 year old parents (while pretending we’re not so they can be independent as they like it) and their home and rural property. There is much more, too, but I won’t digress further.
Besides that, we still love visiting libraries and museums and bookstores as well as Lake Erie and any gardens and parks. We hike as my body allows, when I’m not in a pain flare. This spring, I logged the most miles ever and it was wonderful. This summer, we also gardened a lot – mostly wildflowers and herbs which has been such a gift. And the cats love the catnip!
{One of the mama kitties! We’d love to find her a good home.}
The state of the world is such a melancholy thing at the moment, and I’m on the side always of empathy, but I’m finding glimmers of positivity every day and things to be grateful for all around me. As I sit with a good cup of coffee, I’m reminded how blessed I am in so many ways while also knowing I can’t hide or deny there have been major struggles in life as well as the publishing field!
So, I hope now that the cold has hit here in Ohio and we’re getting into winter months, I’ll write a bit more here as well as poetry and fiction! I’d like to use this platform more to keep everyone updated and build a needed community as well as feature other writers and books and reviews and some interviews!
And if you, or anyone you know, has any editing to send my way – developmental, copy, line, or proofreading, I’m ready for it! Books, articles, websites, etc. – I do it all. I try to keep my rates reasonable still, and since this is my full-time job now, it helps my family and all our cat pursuits. We do need and take cat donations, too, though if that’s something you’d like to help with.
I hope everyone reading this is well! I’d love to hear from you and learn what is going on in your life! Feel free to drop me a line anytime.
It’s women’s history month and the perfect time for a historical thriller book cover reveal! My friend, historical author Nancy Bilyeau, has a new historical thriller novel coming out this spring (April 17) called THE VERSAILLES FORMULA.
Check out this beautiful cover evoking atmosphere and curiosity, which are often words to describe Nancy’s books, too, with her adventurous heroines. It’s on my ‘to read’ list and I can’t wait. Nancy is a fabulous writer and I love her books!
ABOUT THE BOOK –
This is the third in Nancy’s 18th-century Genevieve Planché series, but it can be read alone.
Genevieve craved purpose. She found danger. Now, there may be no turning back.
Genevieve Sturbridge was never meant for a quiet life in the English countryside. Once an artist in the heart of London, she now spends her days in restless solitude. But when a familiar figure from her past arrives with an urgent request, she is thrust into a perilous world of spies and a formula that could shift the balance of power between France and England.
The thrill of the chase is intoxicating—the cryptic clues hidden in plain sight, the challenge of ferreting secrets from dangerous opponents, the undeniable rush of being needed again. But with every step deeper into the mystery, the danger grows. Someone is watching. Someone is hunting. And the more she uncovers, the more she wonders: Has she walked willingly into a trap?
‘A plucky heroine, intriguing mystery, and rich, well-researched historical background. Nancy Bilyeau has found the winning formula!’ — Eva Stachniak, author of The School of Mirrors
Again, it drops April 17 from LUME at many places books are sold. Or ask your local indie bookstore or library to order! To learn more, go to Nancy’s website! You can preorder the ebook at a VERY SPECIAL discount on Amazon US, UK, and Canada for a short time, and print will be available soon as well.
– Erin Al-Mehairi, editor and author
Check out my big editing sale for women this month in celebration of women’s history month!
I am a professional journalist, writer, editor, publicist and marketing and public relations professional, with bachelor's degrees in Journalism, English, and History. I have thirty years of experience in a wide variety of areas in my fields and I’ve currently operated Hook of a Book for fourteen years. I’m also an author and a poet!
I'm the author of Breathe. Breathe., a dark poetry and short fiction collection published by Unnerving 2017, which debuted at #2 on the Amazon best-selling paid charts right behind NYT best-selling poet Rupi Kaur's newest release and in the Amazon paid top five of horror short stories. This was the extended edition, following a sold-out print chapbook special edition. My poems and stories have been in multiple anthologies and print and e-zines.
In addition to publishing Breathe. Breathe., I also have a short story in the anthology Hardened Hearts, called "The Heart of the Orchard." My short story from Breathe. Breathe., "Dandelion Yellow," has also been re-printed in Project Entertainment Network's anthology My Favorite Story, a collection of stories from podcasters on that former network. My poem "Chained by Love," was featured in the February 2018 issue of Enchanted Conversation: a fairy tale magazine. In the anthology Dark Voices, an all-female TOC published in 2018 with proceeds going to breast cancer awareness, I have a poem called "Wrapped in Battle." In 2018, I also spent time as a co-editor on a Gothic anthology of poetry and short stories called Haunted Are These Houses, featuring some of the biggest names in poetry. 2019 saw several poems published in The Siren's Call Magazine, a short story called "Mia" in the print magazine Outpost 28 which published on Halloween 2019, and a long fiction story of mine published alongside six other author stories in the anthology 7 Deadly Sins of the Apocalypse (which debuted at #1 paid on Amazon best-seller list for horror anthologies at the end of Sept. 2019). In late 2020, I had a short story in the anthology We Are Wolves published by Burial Day, which is an anthology raising funds for women of sexual assault. In 2022, I had a short story about Aphrodite in the anthology Musings of the Muses from Brigid's Gate Press.
I have several books, collections, and poems in various genres in writing process, too, and hope to get a lot more of my own writing completed within the next year. I’m looking for publishers and representation.
With Hook of a Book Media, I have specialized in public relations (PR) and marketing for authors in many forms, and as well I work as a writing coach and editor. I’ve been an editor in some form for thirty years, but almost fourteen in fiction. For three years, I was an editor at an indie horror press, where I also performed marketing and publishing duties. I also recently spent five and a half years with Raw Dog Screaming Press doing PR/publicity. I’ve also frequently done work for several other presses and I am a freelance editor for many authors in various genres (kept that afloat while working for publishers). I have worked with hundreds of authors, many award nominees and winners, with both PR and editing work.
I also have always volunteered in my community, spending fifteen continuous years on many various board of directors and trustees, the most recent spentding two years as President of the Board of Directors for a growing mental health center and rape crisis domestic violence safe haven. I've won a Woman of Achievement Award from my community, been featured with my PR business in Success Magazine, and was the Young Careerist of the Year Representative for the State of Ohio to the Business and Professional Women National Conference.
Besides once being a judge for my past town of residence’s holiday parade, more recently I have judged several literary awards. I have been a screener and final fiction judge for three years for the Ohioana Awards, now the Ohio Book Awards, one of the most prestigious state awards for literature in the nation. I also was a guest judge of the Halloween fiction contest for Olive Branch Review online writing community in 2024.
I have three children - ages 25, 21, and 17 - who I love to spend time with, and a menagerie of rescue cats that we care for to try to give them better lives. I love books, reading, writing, art, photography, hiking, travel, and Lake Erie. I really enjoy the outdoors and escape to it whenever I can. I live in rural Ohio nestled in the forest, but am close enough to spend many hours every week enjoying all the wonder the Cleveland area has to offer.
HOOK of a BOOK!