or HOW YOUNG STEFAN SLAYED A MIGHTY DRAGON WITH A CAKE ON CHRISTMAS EVE
VERUM EPIPHANIA
is a timeless Christmas fantasy for all ages—filled with heart, hope, and the enduring power of faith.
Step into a world of wonder in Verum Epiphania, a richly imagined tale set against a wintry, Victorian-era landscape.
Follow young Stefan as he embarks on a mystical journey filled with ancient secrets, a mysterious castle, and supernatural encounters that blur the line between the heavens and Earth.
Perfect for readers who cherish classic storytelling, this holiday adventure captures the spirit of Christmas, the magic of hope, and the enduring power of faith. Verum Epiphania is a cozy, Christmas story—perfect for fireside listening this holiday season.
Free to enjoy below—scroll down to listen to audiobook or podcast.
All versions are freely available.
VERUM EPIPHANIA
Listen to entire audiobook here, (2:59:18) or to
individual chapters below.
On Christmas Eve, young Stefan is sent on a mysterious errand to the barons’ remote mountaintop castle—armed only with his courage, a cake bearing the words Verum Epiphania, and an unwavering Christmas spirit.
The villagers suffer in the bitter cold, their coal stores plundered by the selfish barons, who hoard it to cool their mountaintop castle. When the Royal Mail coach vanishes—along with the villagers’ Christmas parcels—Stefan is recruited by the village's baker, haberdasher, and lithographer to make an urgent delivery.
But what begins as a simple delivery becomes a magical quest. Along the way, Stefan rescues a trapped auroch, aids a forgotten knight, saves a wounded dove from the barons’ falcons, and defeats a pack of wolves. At the mysterious castle, he faces off against a fearsome mechanical dragon imbued with artificial intelligence,
before completing his spiritual journey with a supernatural sled chase across a passing comet.
In the end, Stefan’s bravery, kindness, and unshakable faith help restore the true spirit of Christmas to both the village below and the castle above.
Prefer to listen on your favorite platform? Discover it here:
VERUM EPIPHANIA
Listen to the serialized podcast.
Follow along on podcast platforms — or enjoy the full podcast series here, free to listen anytime.
PROLOGUE
The Strange Cake
CHAPTER I
The Baker, the Lithographer,
and the Haberdasher
CHAPTER II
Visions of Holiday Splendor
CHAPTER III
The Cake, the Broadsides,
and the Hats
CHAPTER IV
Measures of Faith
CHAPTER V
The Sewing Kit, the Christmas Stollen, and the Baklava
CHAPTER VI
The Herdsman, the Auroch,
and the Horn
CHAPTER VII
The Knight, his Cloak,
and the Panache
CHAPTER VIII
The Minstrel, the Dove,
and the Shepherd's Crook
CHAPTER IX
The Castle
CHAPTER X
An Aimless Amusement
CHAPTER XI
Through the Labyrinth
CHAPTER XII
The Philosopher, the Chemist,
and the Astronomer
CHAPTER XIII
Bodies of Ice
CHAPTER XIV
The Artificial Intelligence
CHAPTER XV
The Dragon
CHAPTER XVI
Into the Wilderness
CHAPTER XVII
Into the Water
CHAPTER XVIII
The Great Winter Knight
CHAPTER XIX
True Wonders, and Mysteries,
and Joy
CHAPTER XX
A Return to Paradise
CHAPTER XXI
The Comet's Tale
CHAPTER XXII
The True Epiphany
EPILOGUE
OF CHRISTMAS
TREES AND CAKES
The curious history of a Christmas baking custom
Where did the tradition of the Verum Epiphania Christmas cake began? And why are cakes and Christmas trees crowned with a star anise? What does it all mean—and who was the boy at the heart of it? Listen to the Verum Epiphania audiobook or podcasts to discover the story behind the legend, where one unforgettable Christmas gave rise to a cake, a tradition, and a reminder of the True Epiphany.
CHRISTMAS CONTESTS:
A YULETIDE CALL TO YOUNG ARTISTS & BAKERS
Bring the story of Verum Epiphania to life in frosting, ink, and color. Enter our contests below and be a part of a storybook Christmas celebration.
Welcome to the First Annual Verum Epiphania Holiday Contest Celebration! Inspired by the magical tale of Verum Epiphania, these contests invite children, teens, families, and bakers of all ages to share their creativity in the spirit of Christmas wonder.
Whether you’re coloring, illustrating, or baking, your entry could win a prize—
and be featured in our online holiday gallery. See full rules before entering.
Contest(s) Timeline
Contests Open: November 1
Entry Deadline: December 1
Finalist Voting: December 3–10
Winners Announced: December 15
Entries will be featured on our website and social media as they’re received—
so don’t wait to share your creation!
Children’s Coloring Contest
For children ages 3–10
Download a free Verum Epiphania coloring page by clicking here, and bring it to life using crayons, markers, colored pencils, or digital tools.
How to Enter:
Submit a photo or scan via email at verumepiphania@gmail.com, through the form below, or post to Instagram or Facebook using #VerumColoringContest
Tag @VerumEpiphania on social platforms
Prizes:
Grand Prize: $25 digital gift card + digital winner's certificate + featured on our website and social sites
3 Runners-Up: Digital winner's certificate + featured on our website and social sites
Young Illustrator Contest
For ages 10–17
Pick your favorite scene from the story and bring it to life in your own style— pencil, ink, paint, digital — anything goes!
How to Enter:
Email your work at verumepiphania@gmail.com, through the form below, or post with #VerumIllustrationContest
Tag @VerumEpiphania on Instagram or Facebook
Prizes:
Grand Prize: $50 digital gift card + digital winner's certificate + featured on our website and social sites
3 Runners-Up: digital winner's certificate + featured on our website and social pages
Verum Epiphania Cake Contest
Open to all ages – individuals, families, or teams
Bake your own version of the magical Verum Epiphania cake—a dark chocolate creation with the name “Verum Epiphania” piped in icing. Add a star anise on top if you'd like!
How to Enter:
Submit a photo via email at verumepiphania@gmail.com, through the form below, or post it with #VerumCakeContest
Tag @VerumEpiphania on Instagram or Facebook
Prizes:
Grand Prize: $50 digital gift card + digital winner's certificate + featured on our website and social sites
3 Honorable Mentions: $10 digital gift card + digital winner's certificate + featured on our website and social pages
How Voting Works
After entries close on December 1, we will select a group of finalists in each contest.
From December 3–10, the public will vote for their favorites using Instagram Stories Polls and Facebook Polls hosted on our official pages.
Finalists will be promoted across our platforms for voting.
Winners will be announced on December 15!
Note: To ensure fairness, likes and shares will not be used to determine winners.
Spread The Warmth
This story was shaped in the hush of a cold winter night. You can warm the storyteller's hands with a cup of coffee: buymeacoffee.com/verumepiphania
The author has never not had a white Christmas. And every year, he still looks for magic in the snow, the stars, and the stories we tell at Christmastime.
