Hello Reader!

I consider myself a go with the flow kind of guy. But when it comes to Christmas, I’m a lot like Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof. “Tradition!” I love everything that comes with it—milk and cookies by the fire on Christmas Eve, opening presents Christmas morning (everyone taking their turn in proper order, of course), even the yearly trip downtown to pick up packages and food. It all has to be just so.

Living in Nicaragua, however, means letting go of a few of those traditions. Here, Christmas Eve feels more like New Year’s Eve—everyone stays up until midnight, and when the clock strikes twelve the sky explodes with fireworks. It’s bright and noisy and alive. Very different from the silent, snowy nights I grew up with. Christmas Day, honestly, isn’t a big deal here. It’s simply a day off to recover from the night before.

Even so, there’s one tradition I’ve held onto tightly: Christmas specials.

It’s Christmas, Charlie Brown, How the Grinch Stole Christmas (the original 1966 version with Boris Karloff, mind you), and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (What’s Christmas without bad claymation?) are non-negotiable. No matter how many times I’ve watched them, they are set in stone.

As the new generation of kids have come into our family, a few new specials have slipped onto the list—Prep & Landing among them. But one stands above the rest (and dare I say I might even like it more than the Original Three?).

Klaus

The story of a selfish, entitled postal worker dumped into a town torn apart by feuding clans—who then tricks kids into writing letters to a reclusive woodsman named Klaus—checks every box for me. Funny, adventurous, and genuinely endearing, it’s become a must-watch in our home.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I highly recommend giving it a try. Who knows? It might just become your new Christmas tradition.

What are some of your favorite holiday tradtions? Shoot me a reply and let me know. I'd love to hear!

Worldbuilding Diaries: Earth Medieval

In my last newsletter, I started sharing a bit of my worldbuilding and take look I'm currently working on. For this newsletter I want to touch on my favorite part of worldbuilding. Creatures!

At the height of humanity’s scientific prowess (and pride), biological experiments and genetic engineering formed creatures out of fantasy. Dragons, trolls, griffins, and a slew of other once-mythical beasts.

All for the sake of amusement—as novelties at zoos and theme parks.

Now, 600 years after the fall of civilization as we know it, these creatures are out in the wild, long adapted to their environment, making Earth even stranger and more dangerous than it was before.

One of the creatures is the manticore.

Thanks for joining me on this journey of writing and worldbuilding.

Happy holidays!

Jason

PS - A bunch of authors (myself included) have come together to build a massive giveaway of fantasy and sci-fi ebooks.

With over 70 authors participating, you're bound to find one that catches your interest. Check them—click the image below: