First published 2022
On a bleak Christmas Eve, young Edgar Allan Poe sits alone, consumed by grief over losing his first pen, Lenore. He has sworn off writing forever. Then a raven arrives at his door. The mysterious bird takes Edgar on a journey through time to convince him that he must continue writing. The raven shows Edgar scenes from his past, reveals his present circumstances, and unveils his future as the ghost of Christmas yet to come. In the final vision, Edgar witnesses the Masque of the Red Death. Through these revelations, Edgar must decide whether to abandon his gift or embrace his destiny as a writer. This reimagined tale combines the structure of Dickens's Christmas Carol with Poe's most famous characters and stories, creating a new origin story for the master of gothic literature.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, fantasy, 21st-century, 19th-century, gothic
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, emotional, thought-provoking
Tropes: chosen-one, time-travel
Period: Christmas Eve
Paperback