December 2025

“Death is lighter than a feather. Duty, heavier than a mountain.”
-Robert Jordan, The Eye of the World

Dear Reader,
Here’s a quick update as we finish out 2025!

"Kindness and Joy" A moment between two loved ones.

Writing Highlights:

• Mystic Springs: A Collection of Anomalies has had a good reception since its release last year. Go here to check it out: https://writersofwsbg.weebly.com/mysticsprings.html.
• Progress at the end The Blighter’s Shadow slowed considerably, but I’ll explain why below.
• Writing Project #1 is still in the works, but it is on back burner until other more important projects reach fruition.
• Writing on Substack has continued, and I have enjoyed offering shorter essays. Those essays touched upon personal and societal issues that I need to grapple with through writing.
• I am working on January Novel Writing Month with a great deal of help from members of the Writers of Warrensburg. NaNoWriMo is no longer an organization, so WoW decided to switch from November to January. 
  • January is a less stressful month since there isn’t a major holiday in which family/friends visit over the course of several days.
• WoW is planning on third anthology. It is in the early stages of development, but it is coming to light, and it is planned to be released in late 2026.

Since my last update earlier this year, life turned upside down.
My mother-in-law needed additional assistance beyond what we could provide at her home, which required a move to a facility which could better serve her needs. Despite the initial stress and newness, she has really enjoyed her new home.

Then, after a series of hospital visits since last year, my father passed away in mid-October. He needed additional care, of course, as his lung condition persistently worsened. Between his doctors, nurses, family, and friends, we helped Dad through his final year, final months, and then final days.
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Hospice offered assistance in his last week, and there is seemingly no one more patient and compassionate than a hospice worker.

During Dad’s last two days, hospice workers cared for him, offered him a chance to laugh and cry, and just listened to Dad’s stories. In the final afternoon, Dad ensured that his family knew his final wishes. He also got to enjoy one of his favorite treats: a Blizzard!

We held his hands at the end, offering him reminders that we were there, that he wasn’t alone, and that we loved him.
Then we took on the duty of working through his final wishes. Through that duty, we laughed, cried, and toiled through the freshness of his passing. We learned more about him, too, as we became aware how his influence had grown considerably due to his ability to never meet a stranger. Ever.

Regardless, the pain is still fresh. I know now that the pain will really never be gone, but it will be a welcome reminder when I need it most. And my duty continues, as I continue writing while remembering his always welcome question: “How’s the next book coming along?”

When The Blighter’s Shadow arrives next year, I can answer him: “Dad, it’s coming along well. Thanks for your encouragement.”
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He’ll smile and answer, “That’s good. Now, how’s the next one coming along?”

And my duty continues, as I continue writing while remembering his always welcome question: “How’s the next book coming along?

As for the book, I have a few Beta Readers committed to assisting with reading the entire book prior to its final publication. There is still time to assist. If you are interested, please let me know via email. I’ll get you details on the next steps as soon as I finish the first full draft.

You may be thinking: How can I help an author?

It’s easy really – share this update or other authors’ newsletters with your friends. Encourage them to sign up for newsletters/updates of the authors they enjoy reading.

Write a review of the book you finished. You don’t have to write much at all. “I enjoyed this book” is a simple, yet effective method and takes a few seconds.

What am I reading, watching, and listening to?

• Waste Land by Kaplan
• Witcher, Season 4
• Stranger Things, Season 5
• How the World is Passed by Clint Smith

Inspiration:
This section has expanded to be much more fleshed out, just in another place. You can find a series of essays at Substack. It is a welcome alternative to other social media sites, such as Facebook, which are littered with irrelevant ads. Visit this link to check out Substack.

The band Bread recently shifted to one of my favorites due to their inspiring lyrics. Bread is mostly forgotten by modern listeners, yet the band had a series of hits in the 1970s. Since early October, I’ve seemingly had their songs on repeat, either on the turntable or in mind my mind. Dad loved Bread, and he gave us the album with the song “Everything I Own.”

“Everything I Own” carries a unique resonance, and some of the song’s lyrics help remind me of the importance of our relationships.

Is there someone you know
You're loving them so
But taking them all for granted?
You may lose them one day
Someone takes them away
And they don't hear the words you long to say

Challenge: 
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Take a few moments to think about those lyrics, then take a few minutes to listen to the song here: https://youtu.be/AeadLurGR1U?si=lKevw_V-uJr001D0. 
I’d like to hear your thoughts about it, if you have time to drop me an email.

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​Please be sure to check out my website for continuous updates on my progress.

If you have questions for future newsletters/updates, please be sure to send them to [email protected]. There are numerous media links for your convenience: on Facebook at Dan Brigman, Author or on my website, www.danbrigman.com. I'd really appreciate you passing on my newsletter to those who you think would be interested.
Thanks again for your support! Besides taking the time to read my updates, please visit the following links to create a review of The Alterator’s Light, The Point of Woes, The Tower of Dread, Mystic Springs, and/or Hawthorn Creek, if you’ve read those stories.

Reviews are quick to create!

They offer potential readers insight into what you thought about the book. They also help get the word out about the stories and the author. You can simply search for the title of each of my books on Goodreads and/or Amazon or follow the links below.

For Amazon, please click here.
For Goodreads, please click here.
You can also check my work out at BookBub by clicking here.

Until next time, take care of yourself. May the next month bring you solace.