Hello Reader.
I can hardly believe we’ve reached December already. This year, Yule will be a much quieter affair in the Sheppard household. Mr Shep is still in his space boot and unable to walk, with the latest diagnosis pointing to arthritis in the metatarsal bones of his foot. I’m still without income, the Puds are doing their best to manage their mental health, and we recently received the heartbreaking news that a very dear friend of ours passed away from throat cancer.
After an incredibly difficult few months, it feels as though the year is ending on a particularly heavy note. I can’t pretend I’ll be sad to see 2025 go. Here’s hoping 2026 is kinder to us all.
And yet, even in the midst of all this, I truly wish each of you all the joy, sparkle, and warmth the season can offer. I only want to offer a gentle reminder that not everyone steps into the holidays from a place of comfort or ease. Some are grieving, some are struggling financially or with safety, and some simply aren’t in the headspace to celebrate at all.
Please be kind — to others, and just as importantly, to yourself.
Anyway, what else has happened since last we spoke? Let me tell you... 💙
The ARC list for Gerallt’s story is currently still open—though not for much longer! If you’d like to read it early, make sure to sign up before the list closes and the copies go out.
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For twenty-four years, Gerallt has borne Arianrhod’s blessing of a swan’s wing in place of his arm as a living reminder of a past he cannot forget. He kept the wing as a memento, a symbol of his vow to seek redemption and right the wrongs that had shadowed his life in Melthkior.
When an act of violence leaves him helpless, a vision of starlight leads him to Aderyn, a humble girl who listens to the secret language of geese. Through her patience and uncanny gifts, Gerallt learns that true healing may not come from strength or steel—but from love, patience, and the courage to embrace who he truly is.
Yet shadows of the past linger. A betrayal long ago by Mared, fuelled by ambition and dark bargains with the Otherworld, still threatens to claim what is right. Within the walls of Prince Eryndor’s hall at Caerwynd, where song and starlight collide, Gerallt and Aderyn must face the lingering shadows of deceit—and fight to claim the freedom and love that has long been denied them.
A mythic tale of love, redemption, and the intertwining of mortal hearts with divine hands, Whispers and Wings tells the story of a curse that lasts a lifetime, and the love strong enough to make it whole.
Blending the timeless tale of Brother Grimm’s The Goose Girl with the ancient mythology of Welsh deities, Whispers and Wings is the final installment in the Brodyr Alarch series, with Sealed with a Curse as the unifying thread that weaves the series into a single, mythic tapestry.
#Fantasy
#Romance
#WelshGods
#BrodyrAlarch6
#BrothersGrimm
#FairytaleRetelling
In the darkest months of the Welsh year, a white horse emerges from the shadows: the enigmatic Mari Lwyd. Traditionally appearing between Christmas Day and Twelfth Night, Mari is decorated with festive lights and ribbons, accompanied by an ostler and, in some regions—such as Ystradgynlais in the Swansea Valleys—additional characters like a jester or a Lady. These lively additions bring the celebration closer to the spirit of the old Mummers’ Plays, once performed by working-class communities in the 18th century.
When the Mari Lwyd party arrives at a home, they sing Welsh-language songs, wassails, or take part in pwnco—a playful exchange of witty, often cheeky rhymes with the household. If the Mari wins entry, it’s said to bring good luck for the coming year. Mischievous at heart, she’s known for trying to “steal” small items or chase people she takes a liking to, adding a joyful chaos to this winter tradition.
While Mari Lwyd wanders from door to door, another modern tradition tests the mettle of the brave: festive swims. From Christmas to New Year, thousands plunge into icy waters across Wales—at Porthcawl, Tenby, Llandudno, Pembrey Country Park, and the Lisvane & Llanishen Reservoirs, among others. For many, it’s a way to celebrate the season, greet the coming year with courage, or raise money for charity. Learn more here.
Here are some notable dates to keep in mind this month:
2nd December – Festival of Arianrhod
Honouring the star-crowned Welsh goddess, who watches over the turning seasons and the ebb and flow of the tides.
4th/5th December – Full Moon
The final full moon of the year rises on the 4th and reached full illumination at 00:14 on the 5th in Germany. It’s the third and last supermoon of 2025—and the final one until November 2026. This moon also climbs higher in the sky than any other full moon we’ll see until 2042.
6th December - Saint Nicholas Day
Celebrating the patron saint of children, whose legacy helped inspire the figure of Santa Claus.
7th December - National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day
8th December - Bodhi Day
Marking the Buddha’s enlightenment; the celebration often mirrors the contemplative, joyful spirit of Christmas in Christian tradition.
13th December - St. Lucia’s Day
A festival of light long tied to the winter season. Before the 1752 calendar reform, it fell on what was then the shortest day of the year, hence the old saying: “Lucy light, Lucy light, shortest day and longest night.”
14th December - Hanukkah begins
The start of the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights.
21st December - Winter Solstice / Gwyl Canol Gaeaf
The Winter Solstice marks the moment when the Northern Hemisphere tilts farthest from the Sun, giving us the longest night and the shortest day of the year. Since ancient times, people have celebrated this turning point with Yule—honouring the rebirth of the sun and the slow return of the light. Folklore says that frost on the shortest day foretells a harsh winter ahead.
Gŵyl Canol Gaeaf (pronounced Gwil Kan-ol Guy-af) is the Welsh celebration of this midwinter moment. Steeped in Celtic tradition and connected to older beliefs surrounding Calan Gaeaf, it embraces themes of darkness, renewal, and community. The festival also ties into myths of the season, including stories of Gwyn ap Nudd, the Celtic Lord of the Underworld, who guides lost souls and stands as a guardian between worlds. Modern observances continue to blend creativity, connection, and ancient lore, welcoming the slow return of the light.
25th December - Christmas Day
A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
26th December - Boxing Day (Canada & UK), Kwanzaa
Boxing Day is a public holiday is celebrated in Britain, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries. Boxing Day is also known as St. Stephen’s Day. He was known for helping the poor, and he was the first Christian martyr.
During the Victorian Era (1837–1901, the period of Queen Victoria’s reign), the upper class would box up leftover food, money, or goods and give them to their tradesmen as well as their servants for reliable service all year. One of the earliest records of these box gifts dates from 1663.
The money in the Alms (charity) boxes in the church was given to the poor. The church parishioners deposited donations into a box the clergyman set out for that purpose and handed them out at Christmas.
Kwanzaa is a weeklong holiday celebration of African American culture held annually from December 26 to January 1, culminating in a communal feast.
This is not a religious holiday but a cultural celebration based on African harvest festival traditions and is a way to celebrate African heritage and legacy, much like other cultural celebrations.
FREE BOOKS
As December wraps the world in frost and candle-glow, I’m thrilled to bring you a new selection of free reads — filled with fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal tales to curl up with on these long winter nights. These collections gather together imaginative authors who conjure worlds of wonder, adventure, mystery, and a touch of the uncanny — perfect companions for quiet evenings, twinkling lights, and something warm in your favourite mug.
They’re free for a limited time, so be sure to dive in and claim your next magical escape while the winter enchantment lingers. ✨📚
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What are you looking forward to this month? Any bright moments, cosy plans, or special events on your December calendar? I’d love to hear about them — and yes, AUTHORS, that absolutely includes you!
If you haven’t already, you’re warmly invited to join my Facebook group, Morgan’s Musings — a little corner of the internet where we keep the conversation going, share bookish delights, and enjoy a bit of community magic.
Wherever you are and however you spend this season, I hope you’re finding comfort in the small things — the quiet rituals, the soft lights, the stories that keep us company. May your nights be gentle, your heart steady, and your winter filled with the promise of new beginnings waiting just beneath the frost.
Thank you, truly, for being here. Your support means more than I can say. Keep an eye on your inbox for more updates, and feel free to hit reply anytime — to share, to ask, or simply to say hello.
Until next month, take care and happy reading! 💙
