JMalrix

Merry Christmas, goofies.

Whether you’ve been here since the first awkward post or you just wandered in by accident, I’m really glad you’re here. This year didn’t come with fireworks or viral moments or a surprise Patreon boom—but it did come with stories, persistence, and one aggressively large candy cane.

Honestly? I’ll take it.

Today’s Releases (Yes, Plural)

First things first:

Today is busy—in the best way.

I’ve got two Christmas specials for Secret Chords releasing today—exclusive to Patreon—along with multiple other releases across my writing projects.

Those holiday chapters are my little thank-you for the folks who choose to support the work directly. They’re quieter, softer moments — very Secret Chords — and I loved writing them.

If you’ve read even one chapter, clicked a link, or thought, “Huh, this is kinda nice,”—thank you. That still counts. A lot.

Even when the audience is small.

Especially when it’s small.

The Unexpected Highlight: An Old-School Christmas Goodie Bag

Somewhere between errands and writing, I was handed one of those old-fashioned Christmas goodie bags.

You know the ones:

• Fruit
• Nuts
• A candy cane
• No explanation

The kind of thing that feels like it came straight out of a 1950s holiday photo.

At first glance, it seemed normal.

Then I pulled out the candy cane.

This Candy Cane Is a Weapon

This was not a festive snack.

This was a structural element.

A load-bearing candy cane.

So naturally, I had to test its scale.

For reference: that’s the steering wheel of a Tesla Model 3.

The candy cane did not feel intimidated.

I’m not saying it could be used as a walking stick—but I’m not not saying that either.

A Quiet Thank You

Here’s the honest part.

I don’t have a massive audience.

I don’t have a bustling Patreon (yet—and that’s okay).

There’s no algorithmic magic happening over here.

But there are people who read.

Who check back.

Who encourage quietly.

And that matters more than numbers ever will.

If you’re one of those people—whether you support on Patreon, read for free, or just pop in occasionally—thank you. Truly.

This whole thing still feels worth doing because of you.

Christmas, Exactly As It Is

This Christmas isn’t about metrics or milestones.

It’s about showing up, releasing the work, eating overripe fruit out of a paper bag, and laughing at a candy cane that’s bigger than necessary.

It’s about making stories anyway.

So wherever you are—whether you’re celebrating big, celebrating quietly, or just passing through the day—I hope it’s gentle. I hope it’s warm. And I hope there’s at least one small, ridiculous thing that makes you smile.

Merry Christmas again, goofies. 🎄

— JMalrix