Hi Violetear Books Community!

How have your holidays been treating you? When I was a kid, Christmas was my favorite time of year. It felt like anything could happen, and love was just around the corner. I would listen to Christmas music nonstop, shake the presents under the tree, and watch every holiday romance I could get my hands on. I remember asking my mom how anyone could feel lonely during such a wonderful time, and as a kid, I could never understand. Now that I am older, I get it. My siblings have their own families, and when my grandma passed away, Christmas seemed to leave with her. She was the glue that held us all together. More than that, time and age have taken away the magic I used to feel.

I think part of me misses the simplicity of those childhood Christmases. The excitement, the wonder, and the feeling that the world was so much bigger than I could ever imagine. Back then, it was not about what I had or what was missing, but about the joy of the moment. I do not know if I will ever feel the same kind of magic I did as a kid, but maybe that is okay. Maybe the magic can look different now, less about the wonder of what is to come and more about the gratitude for what still is.

📖 What I’m Reading This Week

I’m rereading what might actually be my favorite fantasy book, and based on a recent poll, not many of you have read it! I’m currently on my third (maybe?) read of The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman. This story has everything I love: a richly built world that feels incredibly real, morally complex characters making questionable choices, an incredible magic system where your soul exists outside your body as an animal companion called a daemon, and profound philosophical questions all presented as YA fantasy. If you have read this as an adult, it is clear this book was written for more than just children.

📅 Upcoming Events

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❓ Question of the Week

If you could bring any fictional character to life for one day, who would it be and why?

🌟 Motivation Monday

"The only thing you absolutely have to know is the location of the library." – Albert Einstein

✨ Community Spotlight

ALL OF YOU!

📚 Kevin’s Book Recs

The Golden Compass by Phillip Pullman

Inferno's Heir by Tiffany Wang

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

🔮 Exclusive Sneak Peek

Black Salt Queen art in progress...

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💌 Wrap-Up

Thank you for everything. Violetear Books wouldn't exist without you.

📢 Call-to-Action

Make sure to check out my two bookclubs on Fable! If you want to read fantasy romance I have the Swords & Seduction book club

https://fable.co/club/swords-seduction-book-club-with-kevin-norman-129929132075** **

And if you want read more LGBTQ+ stories I have the Say Gay Book Club!

https://fable.co/club/say-gay-book-club-with-kevin-norman-110115934429

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