Well, the holidays are upon us — a cherished time to reflect, snuggle with loved ones, quaff eggnog, and toss innumerable catalogs in the recycling bin. It’s also a time to coax one’s bewildered toddler into sitting on a stranger’s lap. I’m not certain which aspect of this photo is more upsetting; the fact that my son is howling or Santa’s glazed, semi-creepy smile. Hopefully, Charlie will forget all about the experience and we can put this little gem aside for his wedding slideshow….

Apologies for the sporadic blog postings, but I was in California to launch The Maelstrom and returned to the NYC-area just in time for Hurricane Sandy. Exciting times as the Neffs camped out in the basement while the hurricane raged outside. Couldn’t help but think of Yuga. Having lost power for nearly two weeks, we packed up and headed down to Virginia to stay with family. Fortunately, we didn’t suffer any significant damage — many neighbors and surrounding townships were not so lucky.

Now that we’re back home, I’ve been busy writing The Red Winter and planning out some future projects. That’s the tricky part of being an author — your career is only as good as your next contract. It’s now time to pitch what comes after The Tapestry and we’re getting ready to do just that. The concept is very cool and I’m both hopeful and optimistic that a publisher will be interested. I’ll share more as things develop, but it that would build upon the world established in The Tapestry and allow me to explore a host of really exciting story lines….

In any case, that’s what’s happening in this neck of the woods. Wherever you are, I hope you’ve had a chance to read The Maelstrom, that you enjoyed the story, and that you have a wonderful holiday with your loved ones. Thanks for sharing Max’s grand adventure!