Several years ago, Kristine Kathryn Rusch sent me an online Christmas advent calendar to share with my daughter, Nola. That one thoughtful gift has turned into a much-anticipated family tradition, in which Nola, my husband, John, and I eagerly check into that calendar each day to see what new and wonderful surprise awaits us.
It’s not a religious thing. It’s a magical Christmas calendar that helps us count down the days until Santa’s visit with games, computer crafts, fun scenes, and more. It’s lovely. I hope Kris knows just how very special it is to us.
I, in turn, started sending it as gifts to friends and family. Just as Kris discovered it when a friend sent it to her as a gift. That is the magic of the holiday season, to me.
So, when Kris proposed the idea of a holiday project that would be a Calendar of Stories, the staff here at WMG jumped at the idea. After a year in development, the project has launched on Kickstarter as the WMG Holiday Spectacular 2019!
Backers of this project at the $15 level and higher will get an original holiday story delivered to their inbox every day from November 28, 2019, through January 1, 2020. That’s 35 total. The stories, which range from magical romance to dark crime, will be released in anthology form in the fall of 2020 in three books: Joyous Christmas, Winter Holidays, and Bloody Christmas.
Plus, all backers at the $5 level and higher will receive an electronic copy of Kristine Grayson’s new Santa Series novel, Tidings of Comfort and Joy.
And that’s just the start of the reward levels, which also include gift options (for easy gift-giving), paperback editions, workshop credits, and a brand-new holiday-themed Kickstarter-exclusive workshop.
To read all about the Kickstarter, watch the fun video Kris narrated about the genesis of the project, and see all of the available rewards and stretch goals, click here.
What a great way to get into the holiday spirit and start checking off your gift list (for yourself as well as others).
Allyson Longueira is publisher of WMG Publishing. She is an award-winning writer, editor and designer, working mother, and brain tumor survivor.