It’s Christmastime, which means it’s time to play SKEAL again.
It is free. It is brief. It is delightful.
It is an annual tradition in my life. Now I pass it on to you.
Play SKEAL now in your browser
Tag: christmas
A bittersweet book birthday
Today’s book birthday belongs to Midwinter Magic: Three Original Christmas Fairy Tales. This book, finished in 2018, was dedicated to my middle-school English teacher, Mrs. Hodson, who unexpectedly went to Heaven earlier this year. “Her” book turns 4 today, so I’d like to take a moment to remember a supportive teacher and wonderful woman.
Back when I was in school, she seemed legitimately eager to read the next adventure I submitted to her as part of our English creative writing assignments, and that stuck with me. She also joked that she wanted me to dedicate a book to her someday (this, even though I had no plans at the time to become a writer; it was just something I did for fun as a kid). Even though I lost touch with her, I never forgot that wish. So when I finally decided to become a writer, many MANY years later, I kept on the alert for a book I dedicate to her. I had to pick a story that felt right.
In 2018, I finished Midwinter Magic and thought its heartwarming fairytale charm would be a good fit for her. So I dedicated the book to her, not knowing if she’d ever see it.
The Lord blessed us both when we bumped into each other at a local Kneaders restaurant in December 2021, five years after starting my writing career. I was able to show her the book I’d dedicated to her, and we were able to have a little email chat. Even at the time, it felt like a miracle (so many years had passed, and I live in a BIG city), but now, it feels like an especially tender mercy from the Lord.
If you’re the praying type, I ask today you send a prayer up for Mr. Hodson and the other family members going through their first Christmas season without her.
Thank you for your time.
Find out more about Midwinter Magic
SANTA, INC is a dumpster fire. Here are 5 lesser-known Christmas stories for adults that actually celebrate Christmas.
With all the negative audience reaction towards that scrooge of a “””Christmas””” show SANTA, INC., I thought I’d post a few of my favorite, obscurer Christmas shows/books/games that my husband and I enjoy. Nothing edgy here, but these shows/books have a more adult sensibility to them than some other Christmas specials.
If you’ve enjoyed any of these specials, games, or books before, feel free to reminisce in the comments section!
OLIVE, THE OTHER REINDEER
Executive-produced by Simpsons-legend Matt Groening, this TV special (based on the children’s picture book) about a dog who thinks Santa wants her to fill in for an injured reindeer is full of dry and witty jokes that fly fast and furious. Also, it has a bar brawl.
Drew Barrymore’s endearing here as upbeat and optimistic Olive. And if you like FUTURAMA you’ll hear a lot of familiar voices in the supporting cast. I’m partial to worldly con-artist Martini the Penguin, however!
Purchasable through Amazon.
PREP AND LANDING
My family watches this EVERY Christmas! It’s a Pixelvania tradition!
With 2 half-hour specials, an even shorter short film, there’s plenty to enjoy from this world of high-tech elves on Christmas night. (Think of the beginning of ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, but zoomed in to just the elves’ point of view.)
Like so many things made during the golden age of Pixar, it addresses adult concerns (feeling tired of Christmas, feeling unappreciated) in an entertaining way and is chock full of great jokes and sight gags that reward repeat viewing.
Currently streaming on Disney Plus.
KLAUS
While not perfect, as a 2D animation nut, I adore what they’ve done with the art form. And watching cynical Jesper change his ways is oh-so-satisfying. I seem to recall the townsfolk having a little bit of a Tim Burton vibe, too (I don’t have Netflix)
Currently streaming on Netflix.
DRACULA CHA CHA and SKEAL
Playing these two short, ridiculous, off-the-wall indie Christmas games is another Pixelvania Christmas tradition!
Here’s a touch more info on the winter-wonderland catchy-music single-button platformer(?!) that is DRACULA CHA CHA here on Rock, Paper, Shotgun.
But I refuse to tell you anything about SKEAL because it is so short and the gag is so amazing.
Game page and browser version here.
A GINGERSNAP CAT CHRISTMAS
I wrote a Christian Christmas book that’s basically HIGHWAY TO HEAVEN with kitties as the angels. While the focus is on the kitties winning over the kids, the kids themselves are dealing with a family member permanently altered from an accident, and their mom has housing and job worries during Christmas.
That’s all for now! Thanks for reading!
The perfect last-minute (digital) stocking stuffer – MIDWINTER MAGIC
Once upon a time, magic left the world for a night. It sighed back in through the scullery door in the morning with the cat, but by then, the Queen of the Northern Elves had fallen into a deep sleep, and, greatly diminished, the returned magic could not wake her.
From the author who brought you The Purrfect Christmas and A Gingersnap Cat Christmas comes an enchanting collection of three original yuletide fairy tales, written in the tradition of Jane Yolen and Ursula Vernon.
A little Christmas present from me to you. If you like reindeer, Santa Claus, elves, and mythic origin stories, you’re probably gonna dig this.
Buy from your favorite eBook retailer here (includes Amazon)
More info and excerpt here on MIDWINTER MAGIC’s Pixelvania Publishing page.
New! A GINGERSNAP CAT CHRISTMAS – my first paperback release!
Gingersnap Cat is an orange tabby feeling blue. Heaven’s paradise, but it’s just not home without his human family by his side. Not even Christmas with his feline friends can cheer him up.
But when Heaven needs an extra paw, Gingersnap answers the call. Sent back to Earth, Gingersnap must help a little kitten fulfill a big destiny!
Announcing my latest Christmas novel (and first paperback release!), A Gingersnap Cat Christmas.
If you’re like me, you love Christmas specials like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Disney’s Prep and Landing, and A Garfield Christmas Special. But while all of these shows are great at talking about Christmas spirit, it’s hard to find a kid-friendly story (with exception of A Charlie Brown Christmas) that even mentions Jesus Christ, the actual reason for the season. And it’s doubly hard to find a Christian Christmas story that’s not too…well…preachy.
That’s why I wrote A GINGERSNAP CAT CHRISTMAS–to meld all the festive fun of a classic Christmas special without leaving the Savior out of his own celebration.
(I also wanted to write a story where the cats are the heroes, instead of selfish jerks.)
Anyway, if you ever wondered what Highway to Heaven would’ve been like with feline stars, you’ll love A Gingersnap Cat Christmas.
At 200 pages long, it’s a great novel for voracious young readers, but with 25 chapters, families can read a chapter a night in December for a new Christmas tradition.
You can…
- Read an excerpt here at Pixelvania Publishing
- Buy the paperback from Amazon
- Buy the ebook for your Kindle, Nook, or other device (just select your favorite retailer at the link)
Thanks for reading, everyone! I hope this book can help you whittle down your Christmas list early. 😉
Gingersnap Cat Christmas excerpt available
Busy getting A Gingersnap Cat Christmas ready for print! In the meantime, I posted an excerpt on its book page–scroll down to the bottom to read it.
Sneak Peek: Gingersnap Cat print novel in progress!
As previous reported, A Gingersnap Cat Christmas was written last year but didn’t get out in time for Christmas 2017. So once I was finished, I vowed to use the extra time before Christmas 2018 to turn it into a print book.
So here it is! Being worked on in the free program Scribus.
I’m sitting here realizing that it’s kinda wild that I went from knowing nothing about book production to, you know, making pages of a novel I wrote. When the proof’s actually in my hands, though, then I’ll know I can conquer the world.
A GINGERSNAP CAT CHRISTMAS cover reveal, plus vampire novel news
Hi, everybody! February knocked me down with a nasty cold/bronchitis illness so I’m still getting into the swing of things.
A Gingersnap Cat Christmas was finished, um…January, probably? And is in “post” so to speak. But since I missed my deadline, rather than releasing it right away, I’ll be looking into making it into a print book for next Christmas!
In the meantime, please enjoy the fabulous finished cover!
(My husband desperately wants me to animate the kitten rising up…Any volunteers?)
In other news, my nosferatu novel hit 40K…and it’s just getting started! Hoo-wee!
The fate of the Kitty Christmas Story…
The good news is: the content’s finished (almost made it to 40K!), it’s in my proofreader’s hands, and the story’s cute!
The bad news: I missed my Christmas deadline (obviously)!
But that’s OK. As soon as it’s ready, it will be posted here for your reading pleasure (even if you don’t get to it ’til Christmas 2018!).
Thanks for sticking with me, folks!
Currently on the docket: Frenchies 2, Nosferatu Novel, SCVK edits.
30K words reached on kitty Christmas story!
Wow! I just finished typing up what I have so far of A Gingersnap Cat Christmas and I’ve reached 31,000 words! A few connecting scenes, a proofread and a cover, and this’ll be out! Hopefully before Christmas! *fingers crossed FURIOUSLY!*