Merry Christmas! Wait… it’s only July? No, I haven’t lost my damn mind. That happened ages ago. I simply wanted to remind everyone about the awesome Coventry short stories that have graced the Patreon page over the last couple Decembers, with a recap of what’s come before and where we’re headed next.
Don’t want to be spoiled? Read the stories now! (They’re free.)
Enjoy all four Coventry tales to get ready for the new pair arriving this holiday season.
All set? Cool. Let’s talk about Warren’s crazy world!
The reason these tales exist is twofold.
One: I wanted to offer a treat to readers at the end of the year. Simple as that.
Two: This is the big one. Having written the opening installments of a couple series so far, I realized I wasn’t as prepared to enter Warren’s world from a character/plot development standpoint. In order to flesh out the principal players, as well as the rules for Warren’s gifts, I thought it would be wise to throw them into some smaller situations to see what made them tick.
The Christmas motif lined up with my motivations and the timing of the stories. Easy peasy.
What’s come before?
If you’ve read the previous installments, you know Warren has been gifted with Anansi’s eye. Gifted might be the wrong word, considering what Warren now endures because of Anansi, but it does provide him insight into other worlds. Warren can see beyond our reality, finding doors to new worlds or uncovering the secrets hidden right in front of us.
Legends spells this out more clearly, while also introducing a dangerous element that will play a huge role in the series. Remnants are one of my favorite creations to date.
Where Coventry differs from Greystone is in the use of myths and legends. Greystone very much plucks known creatures and puts a new spin on them. With Coventry, I wanted to push myself to create new legends and build new myths. That’s been the fun of this series.
Of course, there are known mythical creatures in the series. Nachtfey and Tots for Toys bring elves into the mix. Each occasion has slipped in some lore about the six houses that make up the elvish political structure and how they work against each other more than they should. Something is very wrong with the elves, and this will play heavily in the series as well.
Every story has been an attempt to develop some aspect of the series, be it the villains or the heroes themselves. Warren’s guilt over his selfish past is at the heart of Endless Winter. He was the anti-Indiana Jones until he met Anansi. Now, he has to make up for the errors of his youth by sharing his discoveries with the world through Alissa Windell’s museum at the Lore Theatre.
Speaking of the Lore Theatre, this is where Eric Bryson is introduced. He’s my favorite of the bunch. I love the way he plays off Warren in each story. I’m sure you’ve seen the banter between them. Get ready for even more in the second of our stories this year. It’s called Hope’s Flame. Warren is pulled into a dystopian nightmare version of the world and has to find his way back before it completely overwrites his own reality. Eric plays a massive role, and the story allowed me to play him a little differently than before, while maintaining his true essence at the core. You’ll see what I mean.
Alissa also has a story to tell. She hasn’t been given as much of a chance to shine, but that’s going to change this December with By Starlight, the first of our Coventry Christmas Tales for 2026.
(Yes, it’s named after a Smashing Pumpkins song. Why? Because they’re the best and always will be.)
Check out the scripted first chapter of By Starlight now.
CHAPTER ONE
WARREN COVENTRY drives ALISSA WINDELL on a shopping excursion. It is the last thing he wants to do.
It’s Christmastime. The holidays are in full swing. With everything that has happened over the last year, Warren doesn’t want to deal with the usual madness that comes with Christmas.
His left eye is uncovered–he is driving after all–and he worries for what he will see during their travels.
Alissa is trying to be helpful. She always tries this during the holidays, knowing how troublesome he finds them. With good cause. That last few seasons have brought endless winters and dangerous elvish revolts. He can only imagine what comes next.
ALISSA – Take the next right.
Warren huffs. He doesn’t like being led like this, but he complies with the instructions.
WARREN – Uh-huh. Tony off today?
Alissa keeps her gaze out the window instead of meeting his question head-on.
ALISSA – Anthony’s daughter had a setback. It’s to be expected.
She doesn’t need to say more. Tony’s daughter was one of the kidnapped children during the elvish revolt that almost brought down the six houses. Things would never be the same with the elves after the affair. The reverberations would last generations.
Tony certainly felt them. His poor daughter did as well.
WARREN – He let you guide him like this?
ALISSA – Warren…
WARREN – You could give me an address, Alissa. You’re holding everything else back.
ALISSA – I told you. This is a simple–
WARREN – Shopping trip. Right. Simple hasn’t been part of my vocabulary in quite a while. This artifact we’re after?
ALISSA – Priceless.
WARREN – And your dealer?
ALISSA – He prefers intermediary. Less unseemly. He also prefers his privacy.
Warren grumbles at the lack of answers. She points down another block.
ALISSA – You needed to get out of the Lore.
WARREN – That’s your opinion. I was perfectly content riding out the holiday in solitude.
ALISSA – I thought you were passed this cynicism.
WARREN – Cynicism? Have you missed the last couple holidays?
ALISSA – A little excitement–
WARREN – Ha. You can have your excitement. I’ll take the quiet.
ALISSA – It will be a quick exchange. Promise.
She points ahead again.
ALISSA – His place is on the next block. Left at the light.
WARREN – Where–
A car swerves out at them, rushing from the building Alissa has indicated.
WARREN – Whoa!
Warren barely pulls out of the way. He slams on the brakes to get control of the vehicle again.
He checks to make sure Alissa is all right.
WARREN – Did you see those lunatics?
Alissa nods, still catching her breath.
WARREN – Where the hell are they going in such a hurry?
He turns to the fleeing car and notices the special pin on the lapel of the driver and the license plate holder with the casino logo.
Alissa is looking ahead, eyes locked on the brownstone before them with the door still ajar.
ALISSA – I’m more concerned about where they’re coming from.
Tire marks stretch from in front of the building. Warren nods and parks as quickly as possible. He moves for the door, then stops.
WARREN – Wait in the car.
ALISSA – Warren…
He gets out and gets her a stern look.
WARREN – Wait. In the car.
Warren heads inside.
WARREN – Hello? Is anyone… Oh.
A man is lying on the ground. Blood pools around him.
Warren rushes over to him.
WARREN – Hold on. Don’t move. I’ll–
ALISSA – Oh, my.
WARREN – Alissa. Call for help.
The OLD MAN grabs Warren by the wrist.
OLD MAN – No. Too late.
He looks around Warren for Alissa. He smiles a knowing smile, his history with Alissa clear.
Warren sees him through the eye, and the lives lived. (MAYBE AN ALLAN QUARTERMAIN kind of thing?)
OLD MAN – So sorry, bright one.
ALISSA – You don’t have to be…
OLD MAN – You… You have to stop them. They took it. Took the Evening Star. And with it…
He dies.
Alissa struggles to hold back her tears.
ALISSA – The light of the world.
I hope you’ve been enjoying these tales. They are a blast to put together every year. The series is going to be so much richer because of them.
Come back this December for more Coventry!