Blog
Max Allan Collins is the bestselling author of the graphic novel ROAD TO PERDITION, the basis for the hit film starring Tom Hanks, and has won two Shamus Awards for his Nathan Heller mysteries, the latest of which is TARGET LANCER. Here, Max recalls the struggles he endured during the early days of his writing career and the two events occuring in consecutive years on December 24th that changed his life.
Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over 200 books, including her latest holiday novel, THE CHRISTMAS PONY. Here, Melody looks back on the fateful Christmas when she received a collection of Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tales from her mother. Her love for classics like “The Brave Tin Soldier” and “The Little Mermaid” continued to blossom throughout her life. Fittingly, she plans to pass on her favorite Hans Christian Andersen tales to her eight-year-old granddaughter this Christmas.
Lisa Genova is the author of three novels: STILL ALICE, LEFT NEGLECTED and, most recently, LOVE ANTHONY. She and her husband are both book lovers who discovered upon first meeting each other that they were reading the same book: Bill Bryson’s A SHORT HISTORY OF NEARLY EVERYTHING. Since then, they look forward to giving each other books for Christmas --- fiction, nonfiction, books of poetry, travel books, you name it. Lisa has been kind enough to share with us some of these titles, which represent their love of literature and, more importantly, for each other.
Beverly Lewis is the New York Times bestselling author of more than 90 books, including THE BRIDESMAID, the second installment in her Home to Hickory Hollow series. Here, she recalls the Christmas Eve when she and her three children fell in love with Jan Brett’s THE MITTEN as they read it together by the fire.
Mary Sharratt is the author of the critically acclaimed novels SUMMIT AVENUE, THE REAL MINERVA, THE VANISHING POINT and DAUGHTERS OF THE WITCHING HILL. Her latest work of fiction, ILLUMINATIONS: A Novel of Hildegard von Bingen, released in October. In 2002, Mary moved from the sunny San Francisco Bay Area to Lancashire in northern England, where, in December, it was pitch black by 4pm. She explains how reading Susan Cooper’s young adult novel, THE DARK IS RISING, helped her put her own struggle with the midwinter darkness in perspective, seeing it as part of a deeper and eternal Story while illuminating the true meaning of the season.
Historical and contemporary novelist Dan Walsh, whose latest novel is THE REUNION, relates his frantic search for THE ELF ON THE SHELF as a Christmas gift for his wife. Dan was convinced that the storybook would be the perfect present, as his wife’s grandmother used to read it to her as a child. Little did he know how shocked he would be on Christmas morning when she finally unwrapped the book.
Amanda Cabot, the critically acclaimed writer of Christian historical romances and author of the newly released holiday novel CHRISTMAS ROSES, reminisces on the Christmas gift that still resonates with her today. Her holiday favorite, LITTLE WOMEN, was lovingly given to her by her aunt and uncle, who, despite their financial struggles, wanted to make their niece’s dream of having her own copy of the book come true.
Roberta Gately is a nurse, humanitarian aid worker, and the author of two novels: LIPSTICK IN AFGHANISTAN and, most recently, THE BRACELET. Here, she reveals the Christmas gift she would look forward to each year as a child. It wasn’t a new doll, a game, or a nightgown, but the rectangular telltale shape of a book under her Christmas tree.
Carla Buckley didn’t have the typical Christmas most children grow up knowing, as she spent her childhood in Africa and Southeast Asia without a speck of snow around. Soon after unwrapping Laura Ingalls Wilder’s LITTLE HOUSE IN THE BIG WOODS, Carla fell in love with the pioneer world to which it transported her. But it was THE LONGEST WINTER, in the same Little House on the Prairie series, that inspired her debut novel, THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE. Carla's second book, INVISIBLE, is now in stores.
Paula McLain, whose bestselling debut novel THE PARIS WIFE is now available in paperback, remembers GREAT EXPECTATIONS as one of the most memorable Christmas gifts she has ever received. Paula spent most of her childhood in foster care after being abandoned by her parents, so it’s no surprise that she would be drawn to fellow orphan Pip from the Charles Dickens classic.
