A Tragedy in the Making

Happy Hanukkah to all who observe the eight days of miracles! My prayers go out to the victims of the Australian tragedy, and I hope the light of God burns strong in the lives of those affected. Terrorism will not silence the voices and wishes of those who follow Yahweh. We will press on no matter the cost.

Today’s post isn’t about this, though. I have another novel coming out in 2026 during the holiday season about a little supernatural work in a small town.

A former soldier has taken seven people hostage in a small Colorado town (I’m partial to Colorado as I’ve lived here for decades and love the climate and sights), and he bids the townsfolk into a game to save their lives, during a massive blizzard that keeps law enforcement out of reach.

It soon becomes clear that the man is more than he seems and that divine intervention plays a crucial role in the tragedy’s aftermath. Is it deus ex machina if it’s written into the plot that way intentionally? I don’t know the answer to that, but art can go any way we choose.

Heaven comes down in a story about an old widow named Natalee Knight, who finds her life changed forever when she realizes the ice sculpture of an angel in the town square is a bridge to the divine abode of the messengers of heaven.

This novel will deal with trauma, deep-seated grief, and what it means to move on after the unspeakable.

The subject matter is quite melancholy, and the novel will not be easy for children to read (this is a tragic story built upon the premise of all-consuming depression).

I’ve wanted to tackle this story for the last four years, but I didn’t think I was skilled enough to write it just yet. The idea was far beyond me at the time I had the first conception, but I figured out the plot twist to the entire story immediately.

There are some stories that we aren’t quite ready to write when we have the idea. The Orchestrylus Odyssey was one of those stories, too, but I felt it in my spirit to start it in 2023 (the original outline is from late 2022).

This will be my most emotional and dark story, but there is a little touch of heaven involved as well, so there is an element of hope, even if the tragedy is unavoidable in this book.

I hope you’ll look forward to reading it next holiday season!