The cold is descending upon Central Asia, where I am currently deployed, like an icy blanket. Soon it will be seriously cold, with wind chill factors that could make Eskimos shiver. But I have plenty of extreme- cold-weather gear and today I am off duty and am warm and fuzzy with a Cuban cigar and a bottle of red from Moldova that is almost drinkable as I sit in the foyer of our quarters.

For the 7th time in the last eight years I will be deployed away from home for the holidays, and for the second year in a row I will miss the release of a new novel. This year, it’s GOOD JUNK (Cliff St. James #2) that comes out on December 11, 2012, released by St. Martin’s Press.

The advance reviews have been great (Publisher’s Weekly gave me a *starred*, boxed review, a rare honor) and for that I am very blessed. I wish I could do more to promote the book, but sometimes you just have to place things in God’s hands. I hope to do some book store appearances around the US when I get back to the States next year.

Unfortunately, the Internet here is sketchy, and I can’t even access my own Website! (www.edkovacs.com)

Friends from around the world have e-mailed me, saying they can go to my site, so at least I know the site is up and running.

I don’t have much time to write on this contract, but have many stories to tell, reminding me that time—and family—are the most precious things in life.