Huge News!
With The Light Between Us almost here… let’s talk Christmas 🎄
In just over a week, The Light Between Us will finally be out in the world – which is both hugely exciting and slightly terrifying in equal measure. This book has been a long time coming, and I can’t wait for you to meet these characters and live in their world for a while.
But while we’re counting down to release day, I wanted to do something a bit special as a warm-up…
So, I’ve released one of my Christmas short stories, A Christmas List of Second Chances, and it’s available now on Kindle and in paperback.
A little festive something while you wait
I love Christmas stories. There’s something about this time of year – the lights, the traditions, the way everything feels a bit heightened – that feels perfect for writing about love, regret, and the possibility of change.
A Christmas List of Second Chances is exactly that kind of story.
It follows Jamie, who’s divorced, co-parenting a teenage son, and very much in that stage of life where Christmas feels more complicated than magical. While digging out the decorations, he finds an old handwritten list – a list of things he once promised himself he’d do but never quite managed.
Instead of shoving it back in the box, Jamie decides to see what happens if, just this once, he actually follows through.
The story is about:
The things we meant to do but never got round to
Old wounds and new beginnings
How Christmas has a habit of nudging us towards the conversations we’ve been avoiding
If you’ve been following my blog, you’ll have some idea of what to expect: contemporary, character-driven, a mix of humour and heart, and a few emotional punches along the way.
How it links to The Light Between Us
While The Light Between Us isn’t a Christmas book and the two stories are not connected, it does explore similar territory:
missed chances
“what if?” moments
and the way a single decision can send your life in a completely different direction
Releasing A Christmas List of Second Chances now felt like the perfect way to ease into that world – a shorter, festive read you can curl up with before diving into my first full novel when it lands.
Think of it as the mince pie before the full Christmas dinner.
Where you can get it
A Christmas List of Second Chances is available now in two formats:
📱 Kindle eBook (including Kindle Unlimited) – perfect for a cosy evening read with a cuppa (or something stronger)
📖 Paperback – for those who prefer a real book in their hands and a spot on the shelf for their Christmas reads
You can find it by searching “A Christmas List of Second Chances Steve McCarthy” on Amazon, or via the link here
If you do pick it up, I’d genuinely love to hear what you think – reviews, messages, or a quick comment all make a huge difference.
Thanks, as always, for reading and for cheering me on.
Steve 🎄✨
