I received an early Christmas present this year. Two, in fact. My hunch is, they may be related.

The first was an unanticipated green light.

The other, a thinly disguised threat.

Or maybe it wasn’t thinly disguised.

To set the stage, I’ll reveal just a bit about my current project. Something more than me sitting around whining about how far behind I am, and how I blew out my deadline and now am in a mad scramble. Yes, I’m still behind, but I’m making progress. That’s where these two gifts come in.

I’m writing a book about a fairly well-known case in true crime circles. In fact, there are several books out there already about the topic, in addition to hundreds of podcasts, a few cable series episodes, and a host of YouTube videos. Most are garbage, to be honest. I don’t mean to impugn the work of others, but my gosh. People should do a little research. Hire an editor. Be curious. Ruffle a few feathers. Maybe conduct actual interviews (if you can get them).

For years, there have been lingering questions about the ins and outs of this case. I won’t lie―this book won’t answer all of them. But it will present information no one else has. It will also unapologetically confront people close to the crime, including those on both sides of the law. No one will be spared.

I’ll be honest. That last sentence hits me hard. Some of the things I have to say really bother me. I’m not a heartless journalist. I’m not a journalist at all. I’m a novelist, for the love of Pete. I only hurt fictional characters. And even then, it makes me sad. There are some very decent people who I’ve had to say certain things about, which brings me zero joy. I’m as fair and considerate as possible. But I won’t lie.

Anyway, back to my presents!

Next week, I have a significant meeting with certain parties who are involved. Just securing this meeting was a huge present. Even if I did sort of pick it out myself. It’s a big enough deal that it will be used for the second-to-last chapter in the book. The chapter reserved for that big climactic scene. Will it be good news? Shocking? A call to action? An attempt to put the kibosh on the project altogether? I guess we’ll find out in April, when the book will be released.

Yes, that deadline is still firm. I’ve already booked the AirBnB. Gotta wonder who all might show up for the release party!

The second gift, I received the day before Thanksgiving. I even used it for the “say one thing you’re thankful for” part of Thursday’s dinner. We didn’t celebrate, really. It was more just my husband and I hunkered over the coffee table with our other-than-home made turkey dinners. I’d worked all day on the book and was not about to prepare a meal. Either way, we did have turkey and I did say I was grateful for the thinly-veiled threat I received the day before.

Yeah. It was bound to happen sooner or later.

So I’ve been trying to interview this person for over six months. They’d originally agreed to talk to me, which I was very excited about. We set up a time and everything. Then, there was an emergency on their end and they had to reschedule. Or, they said they’d reschedule. For another time. After the emergency was passed. But…when that emergency passed, so did this person’s willingness to talk to me.

I’ve never figured out exactly why there was a change of heart. I’m smart enough to consider a couple of reasons, but I won’t include that here. I’ll hold it back for the book. You know what they say about keeping things close to your chest. I figure it was one or two people who warned this person off. And when it’s revealed in the book who contacted me, I’m hoping the irony isn’t lost on the reader.

This person has, for years, contacted dozens of people over this case. Both alone and with a partner. They have inserted themselves in alarming ways into the nucleus of the investigation. Some witnesses and people of interest have been so unsettled by the invasion of privacy perpetrated by these strangers, they will no longer agree to talk to anyone. Some have tried to completely disappear.

Yet somehow, someone’s getting rattled behind the scene. Why would this person contact me now, after ghosting me for months? Why just a week and a half before the big meeting? And why am I the only one to whom the threat was made? It makes you wonder what they’re afraid of. It makes you wonder what they know. And where it came from.

Nah. I think I know. And if I’m right, it’s yet a third gift to me. I feel so…so…seen!

The good news is that I’ve been prepared for a while now. My team and I have anticipated all the potential drama that will accompany the release of this book. Many people will be very, very unhappy. Yes, there may be lawsuits. I can think of five off the top of my head, but who knows? Anything could happen!

It’s odd that the only book about this crime that people don’t want released is the one the victims’ family has endorsed. Folks attempting to impede the completion of this project are really harming them, not me. It sorta makes one wonder, doesn’t it?

As for progress, I’m only half finished. That’s not a good thing. However, the first ten chapters were particularly challenging. It’s funny really, given the fact that they deal the least with the murders. There is a helluva lot of research poured into the book. A lot of history. A lot of biographical information. A lot of context to consider.

The person who texted me their warning did include a clumsy version of an apology that went something like, “Sorry if this comes off as harsh. You seem like a nice person.”

Well? Thanks. I am a nice person―or rather I try to be. But I don’t scare easily. And I won’t back down.

Your move.

Merry Christmas, everyone!