I’m continuing my Gifts of the Magi: A Speculative Holiday Collection series of Whiteboard drawings, this week with Katina French’s Clockwork Republics short story, “The Curious Case of the Cobbler’s Christmas”. The steampunk fairytale stars my favorites of Katina’s characters, Kit and Greta, who are seen here fending off some poorly drawn homonculi in the cobbler’s shop mentioned in the title. It’s a thrilling story of adventure that’s a followup to the book that made me a fan of Kat’s work, Bitter Cold, a story taken from the same Snow Queen that inspired Disney’s Frozen. If you liked the latter, and if you like steampunk, you HAVE to pick that one up. Go on, I’ll wait.

Also in GotM news, last night a box of the paperback versions of the collection landed on my doorstep. Tonight, I will deliver them to Indy Reads Books, the beneficiary charity / nonprofit bookstore on the far end of Mass Ave here in Indianapolis. If you live in the area, do yourself a favor and stop by, browse their collection, and pick up a copy of the book for just $10. You’ll be helping a great organization, and getting an introduction to a wide array of talented authors. Pick up two, I know you know someone who’d like this for Christmas!