Dayle A. Dermatis is the author or coauthor of many novels (including snarky urban fantasy Ghosted and YA lesbian romance Beautiful Beast) and more than a hundred short stories in multiple genres, including fantasy and SF, romance, mystery, thriller, and YA.

Called the mastermind behind the Uncollected Anthology project, her short fiction has been lauded in many year's best anthologies in erotica, mystery, and horror, as well as Publisher's Weekly. Her romance has been published in Heart's Kiss and various Fiction River anthologies, among others.

Dayle eloped properly in Gretna Green, Scotland, rode off on the back of a motorcycle, and hasn't looked back since except to smile and sigh happily. Unsurprisingly, she writes romances that are sometimes sweet, sometimes spicy, sometimes spooky, and sometimes funny, but will always make you smile and sigh happily.

An unabashed romantic, she lives in a historic English-style cottage with a wild and fae back garden, and whenever she can, she travels the world for inspiration and loses herself in music.

She'd love to have you over for a virtual cup of tea or glass of wine at DayleDermatis.com, where you can also sign up for her newsletter and support her on Patreon.

Winter Wonderlands by Dayle A. Dermatis

Accidentally summoning a Solstice deity.

Dealing with a magically super-annoying HOA.

Visiting a haunted Adirondack inn on Christmas Eve.

What, don't things like this happen to everyone during the holidays?

If not, experience them vicariously! Snuggle before a roaring fire with a beverage of your choice and enjoy these ten tales of winter holiday magic, mystery, and romance.

 

REVIEWS

  • "Trust Dayle to write a winter holiday story about the solstice and magic. She manages to combine the claustrophobia of a suburban neighborhood with the competitiveness that women sometimes engage in with holiday ritual. Only the holiday ritual here isn't decorating a Christmas tree or singing carols (although there is a discussion of carolers that made me chuckle). Nope. This one is about pagan rituals. The story's wonderful, funny, and a do-not-miss."

    – Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Hugo-award winning author

  • "Housewitches, upscale neighborhoods, pagan rituals? What could go wrong?"

    – Kristine Kathryn Rusch, Hugo-award winning author
 

BOOK PREVIEW

Excerpt

The bowl was clear of snow, and a layer of ice covered the surface. The water and the ice on top were so black, they didn't even seem to reflect the moon…

As I watched, a hand pressed flat against the underside of the ice.

I didn't think. I only acted.

I made a fist and punched through the ice. Even through my leather glove I could tell the water was bone-chillingly cold.

Magic works best without barriers. I pulled out, tugged off my glove, and plunged my bare hand into the birdbath.

The hand that met mine not only felt warm, it felt dry….

(From "Good Scrying Gone Bad")