The Christmas season is a reminder that hope and joy can triumph over the evils going on in the world, and in our own hearts. I say this as someone who writes books about mystery and murder, and who often questions his own motives for writing about such topics. Can the two be reconciled?

I’ve said many times that crime writers are often the nicest people I’ve ever met, and I often wondered why that is. A lot of crime writers have had careers in law enforcement, or social service agencies. These are people who have seen evil close-up and personal, and who have dedicated their lives to keeping the rest of us safe from murderers and predators. For this reason, I believe writers write about crime in order to show how justice can prevail over chaos and lawlessness. The criminal usually gets his or her comeuppance by the end of the novel, and sees the error of their ways. Lawfulness and good wins out at the end.

Christmas time is about giving and about expressing goodwill to the people around you. Writers give of themselves fully when they publish books. Their stories come from deep within in them, and emanate from the heart. In many ways, it’s the greatest gift they can give to others, most they don’t even know. Their stories are parables about doing good and to treat others as they would want to be treated. A lot of the time, these stories are redemption tales. Also messages about the pitfalls of breaking the rules that society has created for us. But we all know that morality comes from deep within us.

I’m grateful to my family and friends during this Christmas season, especially my writer friends, and for being born in such a wonderful country that allows us to express our views. I’m grateful that I have the freedom to write the kinds of stories I want, and that I have an amazing publisher that puts them out into the world. Loving our family and neighbors should be an all consuming priority and we should spread such a message of joy and goodwill throughout the year. The state of the world is in rough place right now, but I’m not without optimism. Hopefully someday, most crimes will be a thing of the past and only in crime fiction will we be able to experience such evil.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Christmas and holiday season with their friends and family. Oh, and my new novel, THE ANCHORMAN’S WIFE, will make a wonderful gift for you or any of your crime reading friends and family.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year!

Best,

Joe