Celebrate Winter

A memoir from Welsh travel writer Horatio Clare, The Light in the Dark is a look into a British winter from the perspective of someone suffering from seasonal affective disorder. Written as diary entries, Clare shares memories of past Christmases, beautiful winter landscapes across the Welsh countryside, and the birth of his son, born in January. His focus on happy winter memories does not work, but after seeking medical advice, he learns of simple ways to treat his depression. No matter how dark winter feels, the promise of spring burns bright.

A fictional account of Maria Feodorovna, born a Danish princess and married to the Romanov heir. Her father-in-law, Alexander II, enacts liberal policies such as the abolition of serfdom. Upon his assassination, her husband becomes Tsar Alexander III and retaliates against any opposition. A tale that spans three emperors, The Romanov Empress explores power, revolution, and family dynamics.

A fantasy medieval tale with elements of the classic “Rumplestiltskin” story, Spinning Silver focuses on Miryem, a business-savvy daughter who takes over her father’s failing enterprise. She seemingly turns copper and silver into gold by accumulating and selling debts for services and goods others want. This attracts the attention of the Staryk, coldhearted fairies who covet gold. Set against a winter landscape, Miryem accepts the challenge to turn fairy silver into gold. Success will make Miryem a queen; failure has chilling consequences.

A look into the concept of gratitude driven by the story of Sarah Josepha Hale. Hale, a widowed mother with no formal education, campaigned for the holiday of Thanksgiving to receive national recognition at a time the country was at war with itself. With a supporting cast of Abraham Lincoln, Sojourner Truth, Walt Whitman, and Norman Rockwell, Kiernan shows readers how strong-willed people in difficult times can create lasting legacies.