It’s November 20th, and that means I get to wish a happy birthday to my queer-chosen-family-holiday novella romance, “Handmade Holidays”!
At nineteen, Nick is alone for the holidays and facing reality: this is how it will be from now on. Refusing to give up completely, Nick buys a Christmas tree, and then realizes he has no ornaments. A bare tree and an empty apartment aren’t a great start, but a visit from his friend Haruto is just the ticket to get him through this first, worst, Christmas. A box of candy canes and a hastily folded paper crane might not be the best ornaments, but it’s a place to start.
A year later, Nick has realized he’s not the only one with nowhere to go, and he hosts his first “Christmas for the Misfit Toys.” Haruto brings Nick an ornament for Nick’s tree, and a tradition—and a new family—is born.
As years go by, Nick, Haruto, and their friends face love, betrayal, life, and death. Every ornament on Nick’s tree is another year, another story, and another chance at the one thing Nick has wanted since the start: someone who’d share more than the holidays with him.
Of course, Nick might have already missed his shot at the one, and it might be too late.
Still, after fifteen Christmases, Nick is ready to risk it all for the best present yet.
To say this one is near and dear to me would be an understatement. Anyone who has known me even a little bit knows how often I talk about “chosen family” and anyone who’s suffered through my presence during the holidays knows how much of a struggle it can be for queer people. So an opportunity to tell a love story over fifteen years with a queer chosen family centred around the holidays?
I hope you enjoy Nick, Haruto, Pheobe, Fiona, and Matt as much as I loved writing them.
'Nathan Burgoine 