ho ho ho, guess who's here? your fat and jolly friend blogs near

Well, it's still Sunday on the west coast. You know how holidays go sometimes. Anyway, this is a special Sunday catchup, as after the cut, I present...my top songs of 2016! (Warning: Lots of videos ahead.)

I'd like to blog about all the things your eyes and mind can see

Sunday catchup, and since we're heading for the thick of it, happy holiday season to all! (I apologize for missing Beethoven's Birthday, though.) I hope that it's a beacon of light for you, even with all the darkness that may be ahead. Lots of trimmings coming up after the cut, including where all those Sunday blog titles for 2016 came from.

Skyblade's Gambit: FAQ time!

Skyblade's Gambit, unlike the Monkey Queen books, doesn't lend itself to a "behind the scenes" blog post, mostly because it's not jammed with pop culture references the way Michiko and Beth's adventures are. I did have some observations, though, along with a Big Secret to reveal about the Skyblade Saga. So, I decided to write an FAQ about this first adventure for Annabel and Victorie. No spoilers this time, but if you were to read Skyblade's Gambit first, I wouldn't mind (and if you missed it, head to Amazon and get your copy!).

So, me fine pirate lads and lassies, hoist the mainsail, load yer pistolere, and find out more about the makin' of this fine pirate treasure of a novella...after the cut! Yarrrr!

This blog's a long old road we shouldn't have to walk alone

Sunday catchup is late today, and we can blame that on the flu bug I picked up on Friday. Or thank it for that. Anyway, let's lead off with this request: If you've enjoyed Skyblade's Gambit, The Crown Of Kylthena, or any of the other books I've written, please scoot over to Amazon and leave a review or three. Reviews do help attract new readers and attention, and both are very welcome sights to me. Feel free to also leave reviews elsewhere - Goodreads, Kobo, your blog or Facebook timeline - but Amazon does work best. More after the cut.

(A quick reminder: If you're outside of the US and want to buy a copy of Skyblade's Gambit, contact me. We can work this out.)

Speaking of Amazon, here are two other ways to help support my writing. One, if you need to do some last minute shopping there, start by clicking on any of the Amazon links in this post. If you do and then buy anything, I get a small but welcome cut of the proceeds. Thanks.

The other? I've revised my Disney Infinity want list on Amazon to no longer be just Disney Infinity. There are all sorts of goodies on there, and I'd be happy to get any of them, big or small. Click here and shop away!

But I'll be even happier if you consider donating to the GoFundMe page my friend, and big Monkey Queen fan, Amber Goss has set up. She's raising funds to help pay for tuition and other charges for a class she needs to take to graduate...but that her financial aid plan won't pay for.  She's met the most urgent need, but she still needs a little bit more to pay for some application fees. Any help you can give, even $5 or $10, means a lot.

Oh, if you didn't notice, the holiday season is upon us, and I have two videos I wanted to share. First: This song debuted on Amazon in 2014, but wasn't available elsewhere (including YouTube) until recently. It's not where I got the name or inspiration for "Best Christmas Ever!" from...but it's still a song I could see Mandy singing over the holidays.

And as improbable as it seems (especially in 2016): Is your holiday season lacking a little DOOM? Do you need a more DOOMY Christmas? Meri Amber's got you covered.

it's enough to make kings and vagabonds blog the very best

Starting off Sunday with this reminder: Skyblade's Gambit, my new novella, is now available through Amazon! Be advised that as a Kindle Worlds book, it's only available through Amazon's US store. If you're outside the US and want to get this book, leave a comment here or message me through my Facebook page; there is a workaround, and I'll be glad to help you get your copy. More after the cut!

Skyblade's Gambit: Now Available! Take to the Skies!

Today is the day! ARRRR! Buckle your swash and prepare to set sail! Skyblade's Gambit, my new novella, is now available! Click here to get the first chapter of The Skyblade Saga! Can a pirate and a Navy officer rescue stolen treasure...while falling for each other? Find out now!

An important note: Due to restrictions of the Kindle Worlds program, Skyblade's Gambit is only available through the U.S. Amazon store. You should be able to buy the ebook at that link even if you're outside the U.S., but if you have any issues, contact me and I'll see what I can do.

And don't forget that Skyblade's Gambit is part of the Plundered Chronicles, featuring a great selection of pirate stories inspired by the books of Alex Westmore! Click here for more info!