Following on the heels of Han’s Cottage, which was yet another very different kind of story, I am about to release yet another instalment of the Curio Chronicles. This book is to be released at this time for two reasons, the first being, with three out in 2022, it gives me a little space and time to continue writing some of the other stories I have on the go.

The second and probably the principal reason for putting the third book out now, is that the third story in the life of Abigail Watson, is set at Christmas time. It is indeed a festive themed story, and what better way to enjoy this book, than to read it over the actually season it is set in.

Just to look back a little, all of this series of stories was written back in the year of 2020, during what was lockdowns due to the virus. The whole series was written between October 2020, and April 2021, so as the lockdowns ended, I moved onto other things, such as my business and more writing. I actually wrote this third part of the story during the Christmas period, which was a little bit of a bleak time, as the world was in crisis and things looked bleak for all of us, and yet within the joy we created at home as a family, I dug deep into myself, and threaded Abigail’s story around the festive period.

Abby has moved on a little, in this book she is two years older, and has spent two years living in the house on Waterside Lane with the rest of her Curio friends. She is working hard at writing, and feeling more settled than ever before, apart from the village, which does not change, she is growing up a little, as are her friends.  Just to give you a little insight to what is to come, normally Birch would be home with her parents, Anthony whose father rejects him, is normally with Delphine, and Chloe and Edwina are at home with their parents. Abby takes it in turn each Christmas to spend time with her parents, and also visit Roni and Will up north, and Deb’s, is married to Jimmy and lives in their complex on Bradley’s estate. They have never actually been all together on Christmas Day, so when Bradley invites Roni and Will to join them in the Bahamas, and Jimmy is away on a tour of Asia, suddenly, Deb’s and Birch, find they are alone at home for Christmas, which also means so is Abigail, as she is partnered up with Birch. Plans are made, and a full Curio Christmas is on the cards, and hence, the fun starts.

Christmas is a complicated season, it is seen by most as a season of joy and happiness, but to many, it is a sad time, a time of loneliness, and most importantly, it is a time of giving, which when you add all of that up, and throw in some tinsel and baubles, you have the making of a good story. Curio’s Christmas is exactly that, a good story.

Growing up, people slowly change, and as you start to read, you will notice that there is a more grown up side to Abby and Birch. They are settled and together, and even though there is a lot of messing around and joking, their more serious sides appear, as I get to again open up their characteristics and show more of the people they are becoming. In the last chapter of Abigail’s Summer, Abby reflects on Roni’s speech, and especially the line of, “who you were, who you are now, and who you will become, are all different people,” and that really is the golden rule of writing this series, as I document the process of change, and move the characters from immaturity, towards maturity.

In book three of the series, Abigail is 26 years old, and seven years on from the first book, and there is a more settled air to her, although she still can freak out and fall apart at the drop of a hat. She is a little braver, and more world wise, and has reached that point of understanding from her conversations with Birch, where she understands her life and past history so much better than ever before. Living with Birch and her crazy antics at times, Abby has focused more on her writing and is improving every day, and has published Seeds of Summer, which she began to write at the start of book two. Seeds of Summer like Birch predicted, has become a hit book, and due to that she has become a more confident writer, which in turn has shone a light on her vampire stories. She has also finished and recently published Sanctuary Arch, the third in her gothic vampire series, ‘The hand of death.’ She has a lot of time at home alone, as Birch and others all work, apart from Chloe who lives in her studio painting, and in a way has inspired Abby to focus more on her own creative work of writing, and she has grown to love her life, and is now a prolific writer, and is seeing the first rewards of her labours.

Never forget where she lives, and yes, even though she is no longer on the Parish Council, Marjorie is still a dominant force in the village. Gossip has a habit of growing and spreading, and in this book, I aim to highlight this with a slightly different direction for the Curio’s. Like the ripples of a pool, the rings move ever outward, and as Abby starts to see some recognition for her writing, she becomes a victim of the press, fuelled by the rumours started by Madge. Curio’s Christmas has a lot of twists and turns and a little suspense, as the group tackle the ever growing world head on, with some fraught moments of worry, and a lot of good humour.

I feel this is a fuller story, with a deeper context, and again it reflects a lot of what I have seen and heard in my many conversations with others over the years. I have watched this journey with many younger people over time, and it felt good to work it into the dynamic of the group. The Curio’s are closer, and as a result more open and honest with each other, and yes at times, they even fray each others nerves. I feel it is a good reflection of true friendship, and that means not everything is coming up roses, and they can fall out and irritate each other at times.

I have said several times in my blogs, how easy it can be to be distracted by some of the more graphic aspects of the story, which is indeed at times a good distraction I have created based on truth, but never the less a distraction all the same. This book is less graphic, book two filled with vibrant 24 years olds was always going to be the wildest book, but that is done and behind me, and so now I can really focus on some major aspects of Abigail’s journey through life. I have always stated that those who stick with this series will discover a very wonderful and beautiful story, and I still say that, and in this book, you will truly start to see that, especially in regard to the bond of the Curio’s, and within the relationship of Birch and Abby.

This story has far more impact than the others, as it looks deeper into family loyalties, friendships, and the deep bond of real love, it also has its surprises, as a more human quality starts to shine out from some of the characters. This story has a lot of empathy and compassion within it, and it also brings in some new characters in so much as friends of the Curio’s appear in a time of great need, it really is a fast paced story with some heartfelt moments, and a lot of the usual twisted Curio humour filled with inuendo, and Bell Twats, even a sound proof house cannot keep them completely out.

The festive theme really works well, even if Birch does have some strange ideas about the origins of Christmas, which I will add here, are actually based on true stories told even in this day and age, although at first you will not completely think they are. There is some more Bev, (Guard your vagina) how could I not include her, she is so lovely, and I feel has earned her place in Curio history? Below is the back sleeve blurb.

Christmas is coming, and normally, all the Curio’s are spread out, but this year, Roni and Will have decided to head to the Bahamas with Bradley and Ellen, Jimmy is on tour, and Edwin is unhappy with Abigail, so they are stuck at home. There is no other option, and it’s decided, it is time for a full on Curio Christmas, which means, Shopping.

Birch has no understanding of Christmas, because it belongs to the bell twats, and so Abby is determined to make it the best Christmas ever… Let the madness begin. Pooling their resources, they decorate the house, buy a tree and prepare to party, that is, until the press start with their attacks, and imply, someone inside the house has been sharing their secrets.

As Abby fights to pull off the perfect Christmas, problem after problem occurs, building up to a final collision of chaos that leaves the whole village reeling in the aftermath of splintered loyalties.

Creating a fast and exciting series of events that leave the reader gasping, Robin John Morgan raises the stakes again, in what is a brilliantly fast paced, witty, and emotional third tale of the Curio’s journey through life on Waterside Lane in Wotton Dursley.

The book is due to hit the shelves on October 24^th, which gives me time to deal with all the usual problems with the world’s most dominant bully and retailer of books, and so the book should be out in lots of time for Christmas, I do hope you will add it to your wish list, and if you do, I thank you deeply. Curio’s Christmas, part three of the Curio Chronicles, will be here with all their usual crazy, to hopefully enhance your own festive season, and with that, I will leave you for now, to get promoting.

Thanks to everyone who has supported me over the years, as it allows me to keep writing, and at my age, that is far better than working outdoors over Winter as I used to.

Curio’s  Christmas, The Curio Chronicles part three, by Robin John Morgan, will be available and digital format from October 24^th 2022. All his work is available in both formats from all online retailers of good books.