Dear Reader…
Welcome back to The Weekly!
Happy Holiday Limbo time, dear friends! I hope that you’re finding some measure of lingering peace, joy, and contentment in these post-Christmas days, whether you’re still recovering from the seasonal craziness at home or you’re back at work, trying your best to focus with mixed results. (I relate!)
Before we saunter into 2024, I wanted to make sure I gave you all a quick and thorough round-up of what Talebones has been up to over the past few weeks, including some seasonal fiction and some extra fun.
Let’s Get Started!
Holiday Round-Up!
In Case You Missed It…
The Cacao Muse Holiday Tour - This month, I was invited to join in with a fabulous—and delicious—seasonal Advent calendar of content by the wonderful Birgitte Rasine ! Birgitte is a connoisseur of all things chocolate, and she managed to pair Substack newsletters with incredible chocolate (and cacao facts) in this creative Holiday Tour. Talebones was on Day 21, and paired with one of my personal favorite small chocolate makers, Mānoa in Hawaii. Click the link for a fun interview (featuring my sweet doggo, Finn!) and take a look at the rest of the tour for some quality newsletter-and-chocolate pairings!
The White Horse - In this experimental, personal piece of solstice “unfiction”, I go on my own ramble in the woods of Ferris Island and contemplate some holiday feelings through a search for the mystical.
Under The Mistle Crow - In this Christmas tale, Dennis realizes that he’s going to be alone on the holiday thanks to a freak snowstorm and finds compassion and connection in an unlikely source.
A Thing Must Be Loved - In this horror tale, a parking garage attendant is caught up in an otherworldly threat and an unlikely role. This piece of fiction has escaped from our Archive and is roaming FREE until January 1st, so check it out before I manage to wrestle it back into its cage! :)
Our Winter Serial is underway! Check out Freelance and Fishmaids and its available episodes:
Episode Three drops this Friday, so subscribe to make sure you don’t miss it!
2024, Here We Come!
I can’t believe we’re stepping into a brand new year of Talebones!
[Must have an emotional blub, for a moment. Bear with me.]
Thank you, one and all, for your readership, encouragement, sharing, and support. I cannot overstate how much this newsletter is an impossible dream come true, and I am forever grateful for your loving attention in this increasingly busy world.
In particular, your beautiful and generous comments and holiday well-wishes on Under The Mistle Crow were so incredibly touching. I could never have hoped for a more inspiring, gracious, and just plain fun readership. I keep pinching myself; apparently I’m not dreaming! ;)
Let’s keep the stories rolling, shall we?
Many blessings on you all as we tumble into 2024, and Happy New Year!!
Your grateful storyteller,
I love this weekly! Never fails to deliver an upbeat good news moment!
“Under the Mistle Crow” was my favorite Christmas new story!