Our Featured Books for November 2025
When I was asked to serve as Nicholas' Woodsman, I was given an incredible gift and I was expected to share it.
The hidden magic of Christmas - how Christmas works throughout the year, and more importantly ('most importantly'?)
the key to believing a story your best friend might tell you is a myth. Through the logs, journals, and diaries of
my twelve predecessors, and a few visits with reindeer masters, I learned incredible stories about how Christmas
works - behind the scenes. These stories were first presented in "Finding Nicholas"
then simplified for those who
like to share stories in "The Secret Stories of Santa." (We also added a few.)
Then, to answer the challenge of a
good friend, I have shared much of what I have learned as Santa's Woodsman in "Lessons of Christmas." Warning -
do not attempt to read LOC if you want to "believe like the others," I do share some heart-opening lessons.
So, welcome to the wondrous magic that keeps Christmas alive 365 days a year.
We have included these three books to the Woodsman Stories series on Amazon. You will find special pricing on these books in that group over Thanksgiving Weekend. To get a print copy of "Finding Nicholas" direct from The Silver Wreath at discount, $9.95, use the link below. Remember, special pricing is only good over Thanksgiving Weekend, November 27 - 30.
Other conjurings from this old author
In addition to working on two, often three, novels at a time, I also write special stories for my bride throughout the year - Christmas, anniversary, birthday, etc. Some writers may be blessed with the ability to sit to their keyboard (typewriter) and pound out a story. The introduction to the old Ray Bradbury TV show, showed Bradbury doing just that. He entered his office, sat to his desk, looked at all the trinkets, souvenirs, statues, gizmos, and whatnots and found a story. With something on the order of 250 short stories in my collection, I am now struggling to come up with new ideas. I hate the thought of "reusing" and old idea. To relieve my dilemma, somewhat, I do keep a folder of story ideas - never throw an idea away! But, once you get an idea for a story, when do you start writing? Define "writing." Is it pounding the keys, inspired by the clicking and clacking rhythm of your fingers pulling magic from the air? OR is it nurturing an idea, molding it in your mind, tasting it with different condiments, stretching it this way and that to test its strength? When I studied computer programming at NCSU, we worked with the rule / advice "the sooner you begin to code, the longer it takes to finish." I have tried to pound out stories with only the barest concept of what and where it was going. That is hard!! But to allow a story to control your imagination, shape different worlds, beginning with the inception of the idea is a grande adventure. When do you start letting your fingers dance to the music of this tale? When the story tells you it is ready and not a heartbeat before.
What are you working on?
Beyond Books -
My yard, which requires cutting every five minutes during the summer, covers nearly 3/4 acre. That is 3/4 acre of GRASS!
Unfortunately, I can't start cutting until about 10:30. That is when the sun dries it enough that it doesn't clog the
mower. Next problem, I don't cut it every day, lucky to get it every week, and I hate the sight of dead grass on top
of my green grass. So, I bag it. I cut the largest portion of the yard with a riding mower / lawn tractor with a
bagging attachment. If there is the slightest bit of moisture on the grass, it sticks in the tube that feeds the bagger.
After three years, this tube has also developed some rather large gaping holes. Now, there are two problems - tube
holds grass and tube has holes. Need a new tube. So I priced new tubes - EGAD! Not being a fan of spending $100 on something that barely works, I went a-hunting. Found an idea that would make any OM coach proud. (Odyssey of the Mind -
yep, I did that, too) Eight inch aluminum HVAC tubing. For a grand total of about $24 I purchased a couple elbows and
straights and made my own tube. Looks kind of funny, see the picture, but it works. Well, mostly. Yes, it still clogs if
I am cutting too fast, too long, or wet, but it works better than the $100 tube and it won't get holes in it from taking
it off to clear it.
Tidbits of lost information
A couple months ago (last Conjuring Silver) I talked about the importance of a book's cover. Like the scent of a sizzling steak, the cover should draw a potential reader into its magic. But what does a reader do when they see an interesting cover? They turn it over and look at the back. If the front cover is the enticing aroma to get the reader's attention, the back is the eight-second opportunity to serve up dinner. I have been told that is about how long you have to get a reader's interest after you get their attention. Eight seconds. What can you say in eight seconds? How should you use this precious opportunity? I wish I knew. I try to say enough about the book to draw my audience inside the cover. To make them think, "Yes, I'd like to give this one a try," or maybe, "I want this adventure!" There are detailed courses of study to teach authors and publishers how to do this, but how long will this advice last before it is outdated? A year? A heartbeat? There are also professional copy writers who do this for you, but will they be able to paint your soul? The text on the back of the book is an eight second opportunity to display the soul of your story. Are mine any good? Can't say - just like my stories, there is too much of my soul in them.
www.woodsmanstories.com
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Copyright 2025 by E. Gale Buck
November 4,2025