Books
Local Delivery Available within 5 miles of Syracuse, New York
Why I Chose Santa's Choice First
Two stories in one book!
Imagine Santa used to deliver all the toys by himself. One day it was too much for him. In "Santa's Choice," he builds a sleigh and asks animals to come forward who would be best to pull his sleigh on Christmas..
​
He can't use the monkey because Santa laughs so hard he'd never get his work done. Then there's the elephant who would cave in the rooves of the houses! He picks the animals with antlers that look like frosted pine cones.
The reindeer are brought in for training in "Reindeer Training". Soon, Santa finds out how hard that is. All of the reindeer are girls! One wants to ride in the sleigh because pulling it is just too much work to pull it. Then there's the one that gets too much fan mail. Santa finally convinces them all to work together and won't let them play their reindeer games. Now they agree to make delivering toys their favorite activity.​
​
Christmas was always a very big event at my house growing up. When I discovered some old boxes and trunks, they were in the crawl spaces of the big Cape Cod I was preparing to sell. The first collection of stories I read were tattered pages and outlines. The theme was Christmas. The charming first idea was one where Santa starts working alone to deliver toys and then gets overwhelmed. Jungle animals "audition" to see which one is best to pull the sleigh! I loved this idea! It offered a way to write very simply and is for small children 3-8 years.
​
Of course, I am not an illustrator. I had in my head that I wanted someone local. It was pandemic time and of course, I met no one! I posted on my Facebook page for recommendations for an illustrator and received three recommendations.
One illustrator I approached had lost his job in the restaurant business.
​
He had an 18-month-old son. He was Mr. Mom! I saw his artist page and was very impressed. We talked about an older fashioned watercolor effect. Justin produced lovely, soft, yet bold images. We had our start. I did not get to make coloring images as additions to the book, (before I published it) as I had wanted. I had another illustrator do fine line drawings of coloring pages I will offer for free on Amazon for my Christmas in July (2022). My former illustrator took a badly needed professional job at a hospital.
The Gift of Sun Lee
Eleven-year-old Sun Lee lives in a hut with her father in Post-World II Two China.
After attending Mission Bible School, she brings many ideas home from the bible and a new love for Baby Jesus (the holy one).
Her father Yun struggles to understand her since his views of religion are different. When Sun lee devises a plan to give Jesus a gift for Christmas, she does this in secret.
Her father insists that they have little for themselves and doesn’t want a discussion about charity.
​
When Sun Lee leaves a portion of her meals on the back steps each night, it disappears. A homeless man suddenly has something to eat, yet Sun Lee believes that the “Holy One “is being fed. At first angry, Yun forgives Sun Lee for sharing their hard-earned meals and has a new respect for her beliefs.
The Blessed
Donkey returns to the manger where he carried Mary to safety many years ago. It is a cold Christmas Eve. Other animals arrive who want to rest in that same place. Donkey argues that he is the only one worthy to stay, but Owl, the animal leader, finds a way to silence him. While Cow and Camel speak of their holy service, Donkey learns a lesson is faith, compassion, and fellowship.
