kass

Dear Yulewriter,

Thank you so much for writing me a story. Write something that makes you happy, and it will make me happy.

In general I am a big fan of chosen family, happy endings, people being good at things, people helping each other be better together than they were apart, theology of all kinds, wit and banter, and kindness. I'm happy with anything (any situation, any rating) that feels right to you given the characters at hand. I'm open to AUs or to going deeper into the worldbuilding of any of these canons.

Please, no betrayal or unquenchable grief or people being awful to each other or despair. There's enough of that in RL (especially these last few years.) On Yuletide morning I want something that makes me smile. Thank you kindly.

Most of this note is my standard Dear Yulewriter letter -- these are the things I've been saying year after year, and I've been doing Yuletide since... 2003 I think? but this year I am really struck by the extent to which I want to see these characters get to experience joy. Maybe because the world has been difficult, in a variety of ways, for the last several years in a row? Anyway: this is just to say, thank you for figuring out how to bring these characters some sweetness.

In closing: yay Yuletide! Yay you! Thank you so much!

There's nothing below the cut that wasn't also in my Yuletide sign-up, but I include my requests here for anyone who's curious or maybe wants to write an extra treat.

Kass



Some Desperate Glory, Emily Tesh

This book rocked my socks. I would love to see vignettes from Kyr's life after the book. It would be fun to hear more from the dry and witty and slightly sarcastic Ship that is what remains of the Wisdom. And what happens to the remnants of humanity? How do the rest of them overcome what life on Gaea did to them? How do they heal? Does Kyr learn how to be a friend, and how to have friends? I'd like to think that Lin and Harry survive; what are they like, once they're allowed to just be people and grow old together? Does Mags find a boyfriend? Does Avi ever get over himself? I would just like to see some of them get to be happy. These characters need more joy.

Sisters of the Winter Wood, Rena Rossner

I love this book. I love the way the writing style differs for the two sisters, and matches their personalities. I love the way shapeshifting works in this universe. I especially love how Judaism is woven deep into the fabric of this fairytale. I have a longtime love of Hasidic teachings even though I am the furthest thing from a Hasid, so feel free to dig into that if that sounds like fun. I particularly like Liba the bear girl, and would happily read more about her. Or about their family celebrating other times in the Jewish year. Or... whatever you feel like writing in this canon!

Book of Iron, Sarah Rees Brennan

This book grabbed me and would not let go. I love how it both honors, and subverts, the tropes of its genre. I love Rae, and Eric, and how they are each working within and changing the story of which they are a part. I love how Eric turns out to have a heart of gold and is taking care of people. I love how Rae comes to realize that saving these people is more important than finding her way home right now because these really are people. I love the question of: how much can they change the narrative, and what happens when they do? I really liked Key and I am horrified at where the book ended and I have no idea what happens next! I would happily read more about any of the listed characters. Do Eric and Marius become a thing? Can Rae somehow save Key? Just give people happy endings, please, even if the next book is likely to scramble everything.

After the Forest, Kell Woods

I love the way this book takes the fairytale and makes its world so much bigger and richer. I like the way magic works in this universe, and especially all of the parts about greenwitch magic and its life-affirming properties. And the romance between Greta and Mathias totally worked for me. I would love to see Greta and Mathias get to be happy, when all is said and done. They've been through so much; they deserve happiness.