What makes a place feel like home at Christmas?

In the opening volume of Stories by the Fireplace, twenty original tales begin with the things people almost overlook: an ornament brought down from the attic, a bakery still warm after the streets go quiet, a candle in a window, a letter waiting to be opened, and a place saved at the table.

Some stories carry a touch of mystery. A few leave room for gentle magic. Most find their wonder somewhere closer to home-in people returning, asking for help, changing an old tradition, or making room for someone who thought they would spend the season alone.

Warm, emotionally honest, and accessible to readers of different ages, these stand-alone stories can be read aloud with family, enjoyed one per December evening, or opened whenever the world needs to become a little quieter.

Inside you will find:

• 20 complete, stand-alone Christmas stories
• A classic, cozy atmosphere with realistic emotion and a light touch of wonder
• Stories created for family read-alouds and quiet adult reading
• Themes of homecoming, belonging, memory, kindness, and changing traditions

Because home is not merely where Christmas happens. It is something people create for one another.