An Encounter Christmas: A Throwback Short Story

Star of Wonder

So fun fact: when Contact was first released, I didn’t plan on writing a Christmas story for the series. But the idea kept floating around in my head—what would the Burnt Oak crew actually be doing during the holidays, right after the chaos of Book 1? We all know how Jack feels about Halloween, what does he think about Christmas?

I ended up writing Star of Wonder, and it has become one of those stories I still think about every December. So I’m re-posting it now for anyone who missed it the first time… or just wants a quick trip back to those early days before everything changed.

It fits in right after Contact, when everyone is still figuring each other out, pretending everything’s normal. I wrote this mini-story because I kept imagining the characters trying to have something resembling a normal Christmas, which—let’s be honest—was doomed from the start. Burnt Oak doesn’t do normal. And neither do these characters.

If you’re new to the series, consider this your soft, slightly chaotic introduction. If you’ve been here since Contact, enjoy the nostalgia…

🎄 Read the Encounter Series Christmas Short Here:

Star of Wonder

Merry Christmas, and may your December be less dramatic than theirs. 🎁✨