Prickle Forrest Chronicles
Chrissy Hartmann
December 2025
Dear Prickles,
Well hey there, friends and fellow story lovers!
Before I go any further, let’s just get this out in the open like a pair of muddy boots on a clean porch: this year wasn’t exactly a gentle ride across the prairie. We had our share of bumps, bruises, and curveballs — from losing loved ones to my husband riding the wild unemployment trail, to me nearly becoming a professional bedrest tester after busting up my foot and losing that big, important toe (that’s the hallux, for those keeping score).
Four months in a CAM boot’ll humble even the roughest cowboy — and let me tell ya, that boot ain’t fit for two-stepping.
But through all that messiness, I found myself missing one thing more than anything else that might just make it all better … if that’s at all possible … a real, honest-to-goodness hug. And y’all? Just when I needed it most, my 86-year-old mom loaded up and drove all the way from Florida to deliver one just before the year was about to end. Thanks, Mom!
Now that is the kind of moment that’ll mend a soul — and make you grateful for every imperfect, messy bit of life. Ain’t nothing sweeter than your mama’s arms when you’ve been through the wringer.
And speaking of bright spots…
Almost Forgot to Mention …
This year brought something really worth hooting and hollering about:
The successful launch of my books
The Grub Wrangler and Gruff: Dog Biscuit Almanac
Merry Christmas Whiskey: A Whiskey Salvation Christmas Novella
And guess what?
Merry Christmas Whiskey is still on sale until January 1st — but you can only snag it at its special price through this link right here (
Goodreads is just itching for your reviews, too, so if that book made you smile, swoon, or snort hot chocolate out your nose — go tell the internet about it.
This clean, sweet romance won’t be on sale again until next December, so if you’ve been holding back, now’s the perfect time to grab a copy — and if what you really want is LARGE PRINT, you’re in luck… that’s coming soon too!
I gotta confess: I’m still not sure which of the two new books did better this year. Was it Gruff and those irresistibly delicious dog biscuits for the dog lovers? Or a clean holiday romance for the cowboy-loving hearts?
Either way — yeehaw and thank you!
A Special Shout-Out to the Creston Lions Club
It was a real privilege and honor to participate in the Creston Lions Club Christmas Craft Show this season. Not only was it a joy to support a worthy cause, but it also hit me right in the heart remembering how the Lions Club helped me buy my first talking computer over 29 years ago. If it hadn’t been for their generosity back then, I might never have become an author in the first place. So thank you, Lions Club — from the bottom of this cowboy’s boot-soled heart.
So What’s Next?
As we finally —finally — shut that barn door on this year, I’m glad to say:
• More posts coming your way
• A whole slew of book events to attend
• A brand-new book on the horizon
• A handful of short stories just waiting to jump into your heart
So keep your coffee warm, your porch light on, and your heart ready for all the soft cowboy kisses, messy hearts, and small-town sparkle that’s headed your way in 2026.
Thanks for riding with me.
I hope you all enjoyed this update. Remember, kick off your boots, grab a Whiskey, and settle in for some sweet clean romance.
Until next year, stay prickly my friends,
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PrickleForrestChronicles By Chrissy Hartmann 