The Truth About Elves

Released: October 19, 2021 by Atmosphere Press

Best Novella in the 2023 Next Generation Indie Book Awards!

From the judges of the competition:
“The elves working for Mr. C., up at the pole? Not what you’d expect. They’re once-normal people there as a last resort after suffering tremendous trauma. Some work in shifts, while others never leave. When Curtis is given a shift in the town where he experienced his darkest days, near the anniversary of the event triggering it, he’s upset and angry, but determined to survive it. Much to his surprise, he learns that Mr. C. understands grief and loss far better than Curtis expected, and sending Curtis back near his family has unexpected consequences. This novella is beautiful, surprising, moving, funny, and full of heart.”

Synopsis:

As a bartender in Las Vegas, Curtis seems to have the dream life. He’s single, lives close to the Strip, and only has to worry about when to pick up the next extra shift. No one knows the truth about what happened ten years ago, and no one knows how he spends three months every year: as a part-time elf for Santa Claus.

When Curtis went to the Arctic Circle the first time, he thought he could escape the unthinkable. Now, the anniversary of the worst day of his life is coming up, and he’s been asked to do the unbelievable. If Curtis wasn’t a man of his word, he would turn his back on the whole thing. But Mr. C. took Curtis in when he had nowhere else to go, and now the boss is calling in a favor—the kind that will make Curtis face the memory of the unimaginable.

If you’ve ever wondered whether holiday magic is real, come find out. Embrace the season and the power of forgiveness along with Curtis as he discovers The Truth About Elves.

Purchasing links:

Order an autographed copy from me!

If you live in the U.S. and would like an autographed copy of the book for yourself or a loved one, order directly right now! Use your PayPal account or credit card, and be sure to include your mailing address as well as the name for the inscription so I can get the book to you. Purchase price includes all taxes, fees, and shipping. Thank you for your support!

$15.95

Other options to get the book:

Order on Amazon for the paperback or Kindle version here.

Want to support independent bookstores? Find the book here on Bookshop.org!

Reviews, press, etc:

Reviewer Vic Peterson for Reedsy Discovery calls “the premise incredibly clever. The plot clips along, including surprise twists…”

The Midwest Book Review states that Elves arrives “just in time to assuage the pain of another Covid year in 2021” and declares, “Its story of hope and revelation is the perfect seasonal literary hot chocolate for readers seeking a holiday story with a difference.”

Saathee magazine says Elves is “a charming tale that offers not only a unique view of Santa’s Workshop but also how holiday magic can occur for someone who feels that he doesn’t even deserve it.”

Champaign-Urbana’s premiere online arts and culture magazine SmilePolitely calls the story world of Elves “a heartbreakingly real universe where metaphor functions as a means to a larger, deeper outcome. … Garg’s craft shines.”

Susan over at The Book Bag review blog says, “This is a delightful little story that offered me a little escape for a few hours as I soaked up the wonders of the North Pole…”

Books By Your Bedside says the premise of elves being regular people is “amazing. … That definitely adds a magical sparkle to everyday life.”

Phyllis from Phyllis Jones Pisanelli Reviews, in talking about the book, says “I think Santa does more than we ever knew.”

Shrabastee Chakraborty for Readers’ Favorite calls the book a “magical tale of healing. … I consider myself fortunate to have come across this book.”

Check out the reviews on Amazon and leave your own review there, on Goodreads, or wherever you bought the book! Reviews are crucial to the success and continued careers of authors. Thank you!

The Mahomet Daily wrote a feature article on the book and my background in writing in December 2021.