This is the month, and this the happy morn,
Wherein the Son of Heav'n's eternal King,
Of wedded Maid, and Virgin Mother born,
Our great redemption from above did bring;
For so the holy sages once did sing,
That he our deadly forfeit should release,
And with his Father work us a perpetual peace.
—John Milton, On the Morning of Christ’s Nativity
A DEMON’S CHRISTMAS
short story | a fancy
by NATHAN GILMORE
A demon’s day job—corrupting tyrants—is interrupted by a cataclysmic event that upends his plans, and those of his masters.
Artwork by Ashley Carr
THE GODS OF THE ISLES
short story | history / chronicle
by ALEX J. TAYLOR
Seeking to expand his campaign beyond the borders of Gaul, Caesar sends his emissary—Gaius Volusenus Quadratus, Tribune of the Twelfth Legion—to the unknown, and feared, shores of Britannia.
MARGOT’S OBJECTIVE
short story | literary fiction
by CAMILLE DASILVA
Haunted by the past and facing an uncertain future, Margot finds her dissertation paper on the heroines of Charles Dickens paralleling her current situation.
Artwork by Ashley Carr
AN INKLINGS CHRISTMAS
essay | j.r.r. tolkien/c.s. lewis
by DR. CRYSTAL HURD
Friends, colleagues, and also two of the most influential writers of the 20th century, C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were also interested in the themes of Christmas in their lives and their stories.
Artwork by Ashley Carr
THE LEGEND OF KRISTOFF
short story | fantasy
by TERRY K. JONES & WILLIAM RIGGS
When the Kringle family finds a lost child near the wintry stream, they take him in and raise him as one of their own. A fantastical, action-packed reimagining of some Christmas legends.
Artwork by Terry K. Jones
A VERY MURRAY CHRISTMAS
short story | mystery/comedy
by SCOTT HAMILTON
When Detective Murray shows up (again) at their doorstep, Bones and Badger have no idea what to expect. Help cut down a tree for Christmas? There has to be a catch.
Artwork by Kennila Gruen
MY WINTER CHURCH
poetry | seasonal
by STEPHANIE STAHLMAN
In this contemplative and questioning piece, Stahlman asks—can a soul find peace in the constructs it makes?
Artwork by Ashley Carr
WINTER’S MELODY
short story | fairy tale
by PHILIP J. PALACIOS
An abandoned child is adopted by Winter. Through friendship she learns the power of music and personal belief.
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