December 28 2025
Check out “Winter Murderland,” one of the newest novels by Nicholas Bruner, president of the Writers of Chantilly
About Nicholas Bruner: Nick has been writing books since the age of eight, when he wrote his first novel on notebook paper, providing illustrations himself with magic marker. His brain was always full of unusual characters speaking to him about their exotic adventures. After college, he put away childish things like writing and took a corporate job that paid well and provided benefits.
Unfortunately, he noticed that the characters and adventures in his head started disappearing. It was getting lonely in Nick’s head! So he started writing again. Gradually, the characters came back, telling him about their new adventures. Now he writes books about people with big dreams–whether its Dani and her dream of being a blues guitarist in The Ballad of Dani and Eli; Alva and his dream of designing the next important invention in The Love Machine; or J.T. and Rache and their dream of bringing powerful lawbreakers to justice in Jesus Bugs. Learn more: nicholasbruner.com
About Winter Murderland: Saint Nick and Mrs. Claus are ready for a holiday away from, well, the holiday! Their destination? Las Vegas! But you know what they say about best laid plans, heh.
See, some genius came up with a great idea… a new casino hotel shaped like, of course, a Christmas tree. Santa’s escaped the North Pole, only to get stuck viewing this eyesore called Christmasland from his hotel window. Can’t a guy catch a break?
And to make matters worse, the whole thing is just an offensive caricature of the holiday he’s in charge of. How dare these greedy people exploit Christmas for purely commercial ends?
But when Saint Nick learns who is operating the place… well, things get downright hilarious as he and the missus try to save the day.
Nick is the president of the Writers of Chantilly. Be sure to listen to his podcast interview with club member Chris Heyl that was recorded at the 2025 annual holiday event at Elaine’s Literary Salon. Learn more about the writing group here: writersofchantilly.blogspot.com • Check out the Salon here: ElainesLiterarySalon.com