The week before Thanksgiving I took a trip with my sister to Seattle, Washington to visit an aging relative who can’t travel on his own anymore. While it’s always fun to see cherished family, it can be difficult to see them slowing down and unable to do the things that they enjoyed in the past.

His mind is still sharp, its just the body that’s breaking down. The trip was a great opportunity for me to get a break from the daily grind and see something different. I’ve been to Seattle a couple other times and have always liked the city and the area.

While the trip did interrupt my regular writing habits, I made progress on some reading and had a chance to generate ideas for projects that I’m working on. With a new year right around the corner, it’s time to plan for my writing for the new year. My biggest problem is that I have so many story ideas I’d like to work on. Whenever I finish writing a book the hardest decision is which one do I start writing next? And, with multiple books finished, which one do I publish next?

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I’m already planning for attending some local writing workshops and author events in the next year and I’m sure more opportunities will arrive. I’m nearing completion of the book I’m working on, and, if all goes well, I’ll be publishing that book in the first half of next year. I also have the third part of the Dimensions Trilogy that will be coming out next year as well. I also must decide what project to take on next and see where my imagination takes me.

But before we get to the new year, we’ve fully entered the Christmas season. Decorations are up, gift advertisements are everywhere, and holiday music is blasting on the radios. We’ve had our first snow in Minnesota and local governments are sending out letters on how they’ll be handling snow emergencies this year. But from an author’s perspective, Christmas has inspired some great literature and some cheesy stories. From heartfelt moments of family, friends, and peace on Earth to stress rage, finding the perfect gift, and aliens abducting Santa, there’s something for everyone in Christmas stories. I’ll take a unique look at one of my favorite stories towards the end of the month, but for now, let’s look at some unique Christmas stories that are unforgettable.

About Leif J. Erickson

Leif J. Erickson is a science fiction and fantasy author from a small farming community in west central Minnesota. Using his time wisely when he was a farmer, Leif developed many ideas, characters, and storylines to create over fifty unique first drafts and outlines for stories. From his start in a small town school, to college at North Dakota State University, back to his family farm, then to the bright lights of Minneapolis, Minnesota, and back to his small farming town, Leif has always had a love of writing.

When Leif isn’t writing he can be found with his wife hiking in state parks, canoeing local lakes and rivers, exploring local and regional ghost towns, experiencing museums, or simply reading or hanging out with friends and family. Leif draws on the local nature and ecology to find inspiration for his writing while he also asks what’s possible for technology and the human race, weaving them together for amazing stories that will stay with the reader for years to come. Leif looks forward to having many novel and story releases in the years to come.

You can see all of Leif’s Books here: Leif’s Amazon Author Page