KAYSVILLE -- Kaysville native Jason Twede's first published novel, "Santa Claus Is Dead" was released Nov. 26 as the first publication of the Utah-based Brushfire Press. The novel follows events in the North Pole after Santa Claus decides to change how Christmas operates, inspired by a letter from 11-year-old Susie Thompson.

However, not everyone in the North Pole is pleased with the impending change, and Santa is soon found dead in the middle of the forest.

While North Pole politics react to the death, a detective is trying to get to the bottom of the murder and clear Susie, who was framed as the killer.

With everything that goes on, the publishers feel the book more than meets the requirements that Twede has set for all books -- a good plot and likeable characters.

Brushfire Press is an independent Utah publisher that focuses on discovering talented but previously unpublished Utah writers.