I read my first Trixie Belden mystery story the summer of 1961, and was immediately enchanted by the spunky 13-year-old from Sleepyside-on-the-Hudson, New York and her friends, the Bob Whites of the Glen.

Anyone 13 that summer would have been born in 1948, which, coincidentally, is the year that the first Trixie Belden book was released. I have always liked to think that, IF Trixie were real, she would have been born in 1948, and only a few years older than I!

For several years, I have played with the idea of creating a universe with Trixie being born in 1948, so that all her original adventures would have occurred around 1961-63, EXACTLY when I was reading them. If she had been allowed to age, she would have graduated from high school in 1966, right in the midst of the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights and Woman's Liberation movements, and a decade of rapid social change and turmoil.

How would Trixie and her friends have responded to those chaotic times? Would they have been immune to it all or would they have chosen to “turn on, tune out and drop out”? To find out, I invite you to join me in an entirely new Trixie Belden Universe.

•  Sleigh Ride
• Young submariner Andy Belden is Stateside as the Second World War ends. It is a time of hope, when everyone is singing along with Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters on the radio. Written as a Secret Santa story for Ryl, 2011.
•  A Magi-cal Christmas
• Young parents Helen and Peter Belden select the perfect Christmas gifts for each other. Written as a Secret Santa story for BonnieH, 2009.
•  His First
• A man never forgets his first.... Posted for my tenth Jixaversary, August 15, 2014.
•  If You Only...
• Six-year-old Honey Wheeler has been carefully taught that Santa Claus is only a myth. But when she meets a jolly, bearded man who calls himself Kris Kringle, the lonely little girl starts to wonder if there is truly a Santa who can deliver her heart’s desire. Written as a Secret Santa story for MaryN, 2015.
•  I'll Be Home For Christmas
• It's Christmas 1966, and Trixie is anxiously waiting for all the Bob-Whites to arrive home for Christmas. While waiting, she discovers a pack of letters, each with a large distinctive “V” logo in the upper left hand corner. What are these mysterious letters? Written as a Secret Santa story for Robin, 2008.
•  Waiting For The Train To Come In
• In December, 1967, Trixie is worried about a special young serviceman who is being sent to Vietnam. Her mother, Helen, has a story to tell her. Written as a Secret Santa story for Lorindol, 2010.
•  A Whiter Shade of Pale
• The young adult Bob-Whites face many challenges as they come of age during the turbulent 1960s. Will their friendship survive or will they scatter like butterflies across our nation?
•  As it was in the Beginning
• Mart Belden and Diana Lynch are about to take a dive into the world of adulthood. Written for CWE#9 in honor of a former Jix Author, Amy K, and originally published exclusively in a collection of stories written for this challenge; shared here for the first time here on August 15, 2021, my 17th anniversary as a Jix Author.
•  Oui!
• Brian Belden flies to the City of Love to meet a special friend, in an unusually spontaneous move. Written for the Jixemitri CWE #3 challenge, "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words," and posted for my eighth anniversary as a Jixemitri author.
•  Beatrice with an X
• While Dan has to work in the City over the holidays, the other Bob-Whites gather for their regular Christmas celebration. Written as a Secret Santa gift fic for the lovely Julie (jstar8), and originally posted December 13, 2017.
•  Lost in the Flood
• Trixie and a friend deal with their grief over a young man lost to war. Written for the Jixemitri CWE #3 challenge, "A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words."
•  It Can’t Be
• Two of the Bob-whites re-evaluate their relationship after several years spent following youthful dreams. Red star for language and suggestive activity. Originally posted August 15, 2020, in celebration of my 16th anniversary as a Jixemitri Author.
•  Buon Natale, Napoli!
• Navy Lt. Cmdr. Brian Belden and his family arrive in Naples, Italy for a three-year tour of duty. Italy isn't quite the wonderful, romantic adventure his wife hoped to find, though. Originally posted December 17, 2014, as a Secret Santa giftfic for the lovely BonnieH.
•  The Hands of Time
• Brian’s military service overseas completed, he returns to Sleepyside and his family. But recent events have left him wishing he could rewrite some of his history. Originally posted August 15, 2019, for my 15th anniversary as a Jix Author.
•  A Toast to Innocence
• A dashing and somewhat disillusioned Naval Officer realizes that Thomas Wolfe was wrong: You CAN go—“back home to your family, back home to your childhood, back home to romantic love, back home to a young man's dreams of glory and of fame, back home to exile.” Originally posted December 20, 2012, as a Secret Santa giftfic for the lovely Ryl.
•  Under Cover
• Ten years after the events of A Whiter Shade of Pale, Dan plans a romantic weekend at a cabin in the woods with a sexy brunette. Red star for language and suggestive activity. Originally posted March 13, 2014, in celebration of Jixemitri's 14th annversary.
•  Ohana
• All of the now-adult Bob-Whites and their families have been invited to spend Christmas in Hawai'i to celebrate a milestone birthday of Matthew Wheeler. What could be a more perfect holiday? Red star for language and suggestive activity. Originally posted December 14, 2016, as a Secret Santa giftfic for the lovely Wendy.
•  A Heart to Call Home
• As another Christmas approaches, Dan Mangan fears he is losing himself in his work. He and Trixie face difficult decisions as they look forward to the future. Originally posted December 10, 2019 as a Secret Santa giftfic for the lovely LauraP, this story is rated Jixemitri Yellow Star.
•  Shall Yourselves Find Blessing
• Originally posted December 15, 2013, this was written as a Secret Santa giftfic for the lovely Mal: a non-smushy, non-traditional story about Dan, set in two Decembers twenty-six years apart, one on the Winter Solstice and one on Christmas Day.
•  Morningside Heights
• On a cold February day in 2007, Honey Wheeler receives news that takes her back to the idealism and upheaval of the 1960s.