December 2025

A sweet drink for Christmas and New Years, a war hero in review, a future plotted out.

Nov 30, 2025

A date which will live in infamy

General Dwight D. Eisenhower famously stated “the eyes of the world are upon you” to the allied forces preparing to invade fortress Europe. His words ring true today with our constant look back on World War II. Not just for those who broke the European front either, but the conflict that shaped the modern world. With a conflict that impacted so many lives, it’s no surprise we still talk about those terrible years.

But time erodes the fine details. We can tell dates—December 7, 1941; June 6, 1944—and the names—Eisenhower, Patton, Rommel, Montgomery, Yamamoto. But the finer details fade. The memories are lost like tears in the rain. It’s a tragedy. The lived experiences passed down, hopefully in interviews, or journals, maybe newspaper, or the old tribal method, by stories told in moments of vulnerability.

I wanted to do my part in preserving a piece of that history—my grandfather’s story. I never had the fortune to meet him, but I grew up hearing fragments of his life, passed down like echoes through generations.

I wanted to document my grandfather’s true story the best I could.

I reached out to The National Archives in 2023 and didn’t hear back for more than seven months. I assumed my request was lost—until, nearly a year later, a thick envelope arrived. Inside were more than 200 pages documenting my grandfather’s service.

My grandfather survived the attack on Pearl Harbor and served the entire war in the Pacific. His story is just one among millions — each a thread in the vast fabric of that generation’s sacrifice. If you’d like to see his service record, I’ve documented it in the link below.

James M. Fitzgerald

Birds with Words, Episode 12: LIVE with Author L.N. Holmes!

This month’s episode was recorded live on 11/14 and marks the first ever LIVE episode of Birds with Words.

Come listen to L.N. Holmes, the mind behind the fantasy epic, The Floating Castle. We discuss her new series launch, and what makes her tick.

BwW: Episode 12 on Substack

Episode 12 on YouTube

Alone Together: Cocktail - Apocalyptic Apple

Time for another Alone Together inspired cocktail!

I was rough with my last two drinks. This one is friendlier, sweeter, and made to finish the holidays (and the year) off with a savory memory.

I’ll tell you right now, this will taste like you’re biting into a caramel apple.

No fancy tools or measurements required for this one. This is a cocktail I’ve been making for Thanksgiving and Christmas over the last three years for family and guests.

Take your drinking glass and with your preferred caramel sauce, line the walls with caramel. I aim for a tablespoon worth, but you can go heavier if you’d like.
1-part Bambu original spiced rum
3-parts apple cider (I use Kirkland brand apple cider). You want to use cider too, not juice. It won’t taste right if you use plain juice.
Stir the cocktail and enjoy!

The Crystal Ball

I don’t actually have a crystal ball, and fun fact, true crystal balls can cause fires if left in the sun, which I don’t need to tell you, I get a lot of sun here in Florida. I can’t see the future, but I can tell you what plans I have for the future, which is essentially the same thing, right?

Let’s knock out the ones you know already. The Alone Together series will likely get another two installments in 2026! Alpha readers currently have book 3 in hand! That’s two more entries in a single year where our survivors will begin to see just how alien the earth is becoming, and the threats from further west grow more ominous.

A Killer Mind, which is my collaboration with Shaun Jooste, is in progress. We already have the first few chapters drafted and an outline that will ensure a twisted tale for you!

Let’s talk about my other projects I have kept in the back. I plan to re-release Sinner’s Pass. The date as of right now is unknown but expect it sometime early 2026. This will include a teaser for Alone Together for any new readers, updated artwork for the different versions, and the hardcover will receive all the associated short stories in the back of the novel along with the additional art created for Sinner’s Pass.

I hope you have an amazing time with your loved ones, and I’ll see you next year, survivors!

The Crafty Bookstore

The Crafty Bookstore and I are partnering to provide our readers a better experience in book shopping. All future titles will be available in both signed and unsigned editions!

The Crafty Bookstore