my north pole expedition
The Clauses are wonderful people, every bit as warmhearted and generous as you’d imagine. I had the great privilege of passing the majority of last year in their North Pole home, surrounded by their family and friends—elves and Arctic animals among them—and a wholly welcoming and diverse community of Norpoleans that include not only residents from every corner of the globe, but a handful of history’s real-life luminaries. As vacation destinations go, there’s no other place like it in the world.
Believe me when I say I’ve not gone bonkers, buggy, bananas—not even completely off my rocker. (Half, undoubtedly, but not completely.) I’m a novelist. Fiction is my reality. It’s a nebulous distinction but, when it comes to the men with the butterfly nets, I find it’s an important one. (Especially when making claims such as these.)
While some of the North Pole’s magical secrets must remain exactly that, Santa has granted me permission to tell the tale of my extended stay, where, as a not-so-objective observer, I witnessed and chronicled a bureaucratic battle, sly subterfuge, a life-endangering adventure, budding romance, and the personal transformation of a disheartened jingle writer from Philadelphia. Felicity’s journey touched me deeply. Hers is a story that needed to be told, that needed to be laughed through, cried over, gasped at, laughed through some more, and utterly celebrated. It is a story of legendary leaders and everyday heroes, of insurmountable odds and unflinching resolve. It is a story of love—for our families, our communities, and ourselves—and the risks we willingly take to protect them all from destruction. If ever the world needed such a magical holiday escape full of hope, humor, and healing, that time is now.
On a less dramatic note, it’s also the most storytelling fun I’ve ever had, and I hope, for you, the joy, the tears and the fears, the chuckles—all the “feels”—will shine through on every page like millions of flickering diyas and twinkling, bough-strewn lights. Happy Diwali. Merry Christmas. And may you turn the final page positively aglow with a heart full of Happily Ever Antlers.
Oh…and if you could bring along a few good disco tunes, the elves would be eternally grateful.
Scroll down for reviews and all the exciting details
from the publisher:
happily ever antlers
a christmas story
“A vividly imagined world, teeming with magic, merriment, and mayhem.”
In the heart of the North Pole, a white-calf mystery is born to the ancient elder of the Reindeer Council. On the same December eve, on the west side of Philadelphia, jingle writer Felicity Nichols experiences an epiphany that will change her life—and the calf’s—forever.
Suffocating in a marriage well past its best-by date, and disappointed to have missed another Diwali with her dual-heritage family, Felicity is determined to make it home for Christmas, whether her husband, Calvin, cooperates or not. When catastrophe strikes, the two are transported to an impossible realm where—along with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, their staff and family, Amelia Earhart, and a surprising cast of other historic figures—they not only confront their marital troubles, they embark on a Christmastime fantasy adventure unlike any other.
As Felicity finds her place at the North Pole, she strives to reclaim her whole identity and, with the aid of a newfound friend, maybe heal her heart along the way. Little does she know, The Pole is about to fall, and the Reindeer Council has secretly set their sights on an unsuspecting successor to the reigning Santa.
Open your heart and your mind, and come experience the North Pole like you’ve never seen it before. Happily Ever Antlers is a tale of expectations and self discovery, of diverse cultures, found family, and caring communities, of adversity and fear, healing and hope. A novel our divided world needs now more than ever, this story celebrates the unity and harmony of all living things and sparkles with the transcendent magic of a selfless wish on Christmas Eve.
A big-hearted, fun-filled holiday adventure for fans of D. Thrush, Casey McQuiston, Sonya Lalli, and Phillip Pullman.
COMING TO BOOKSTORES AUGUST 31, 2025: NOW AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER!
“Forget Christmas, this is one story you’ll want to read over and over again, no matter what time of year it is.”
“Infused with awe from start to finish.”
“Fitzgerald knows how to pitch the perfect atmosphere for holiday hijinks, and that comes across on every page of this vivid, original North Pole story filled with heart, humor, and wonder. A standout Christmas adventure.”