Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

2C ♦ SATURDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2006 Little Christmas novels seem to be growing Santa size By RON BERTH EL Associated Press Writer NEW YORK - Elizabeth Berg’s first Christmas novella is based on the Nativity story. Kinky Friedman’s first Christmas book, a short fable, features a talking Pig- Berg said she wrote “The Handmaid and the Carpenter’’ (Random House) because she “was always curious about what it must have been like for Mary to come to her fiance and say, ' Uh, Joseph? There’s some thing I have to tell you, something you’ll find hard to believe.’” Friedman had a differ ent reason for writing “The Christmas Pig” (Simon and Schuster): “Money,” he said. “That’s why I wrote it. I wrote it to pay the rent.” If either book, no matter how it was inspired, turns out to be the author’s first of a series of Christmas nov els, it would hardly be _ well, novel. This Christmas, like those of recent years, brings new novellas with themes of the season, some from Christmas first-timers like Berg and Friedman and others from authors who have made it a holiday habit to provide a little Christmas for readers who can’t wait for the day to arrive. Writing a Christmas novel is nothing new to Debbie Macomber. This year’s entry, “Christmas Letters” (Mira), is her 12th. She has written one every year since 1995. “At the time (I wrote my first Christmas novel) it seemed all the Christmas books I read made me want to cry,” she said. “I wanted to give my readers a story to make them laugh and enjoy the season - a way to help them unwind and let go of some of the stress of the holidays.” Dave Barry has been making readers laugh for years through his syndicat ed column and many books. He, too, has entered the Christmas fiction scene with “The Shepherd, the Angel, and Walter the Christmas Miracle Dog” (Putnam). Barry said he wasn’t aware of any growing trend among authors to write Christmas fiction: He wrote his book because Susan Petersen Kennedy, a long time acquaintance and “the big kahuna” - that is, presi dent - of Penguin Group USA told him, “I want you ■Cody Mfzell 18 Bonn: Febnuany 14, 'O(S $3 Son of Samantha & SCeuen Mfzell - 1 Bnyant BniCtcrin H Bonn; August 11, 'O6 §3 Son of Amy ft Darn'd P Hayes List of Christmas fiction (AP) - Among other new Christmas fiction: ■”A Christmas Bell for Anya ” (Shadow Mountain) by Chris and Evie Stewart. The Russian Revolution brings tragedy to a Siberian village just before Christmas in this illustrated short story accompanied by a dual disc CD/DVD featuring Claire Bloom’s narration and performances by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. ■ ’’The Christmas Bus” (Revell) by Melody Carlson. When an innkeeper learns that her children won’t be spending Christmas with her, she invites a mixed bag of strangers to stay for the holiday. ■ ”A Christmas Caroline " (Morrow) by Kyle Smith. In this dickens of a novel, a snooty magazine editor has a Christmas Eve visitor, a ghost who advises her to make amends with those she had wronged on her way up the corporate chimney. ■ ”The Ecco Book of Christmas Stories” (Ecco) edited by Alberto Manguel. Tales by Ann Beattie, Truman Capote, Alice Munro, Vladimir Nabokov and others. ■ ’’The Great Santa Search” (Tarcher/Penguin) by Santa Claus, as told to Jeff Guinn. Santa himself takes readers on a historical tour of Christmas in America, ending with a TV reality show that threatens to destroy what’s left of seasonal spirit. ■ ’’The Innkeeper’s Wife” (Shadow Mountain) by Lynda M. Wilson. A colorfully illustrated short story describes the Nativity through the eyes of Mary’s imagined midwife. ■ ”Slay Bells” (Berkley Prime Crime) by Kate Kingsbuiy. A British cozy in which a children’s Christmas party is somewhat ruined when Father Christmas and one of his helpers are discovered murdered. ■ ”Sugar Plums and Scandal” (Avon). Six “stocking stuffers” of short tales of yuletide mystery and romance by Lori Avocato, Dana Cameron, Mary Daheim and others. ■ ’’Sugar and Spice ” (Zebra). Four holiday novellas, including “The Christmas Stocking” by Fern Michaels and “Twelve Desserts of Christmas” by Joanne Fluke, with a bonus Christmas ornament, to boot. ■ ”A Very Merry Christmas” (Kensington). Romance is on the Christmas wish list in this anthology of three novellas by Lori Foster, Gemma Bruce and Janice Maynard. to write a Christmas book!” He reached back into his childhood for his little novel in which a 13-year-old boy tells how his church’s Christmas pageant is dis rupted by bats in the bel fry and how the unexpected arrival of a dog saves the fir To ad of our friends, ' We would (ike to thank each of you for your Cove and support this past year. We wish each "*•"« of you a very 'Merry Christmas and hope you nave a great r ffew Yearl I Logan Joshua Judd | Bonn: Apart 22, 'O6 Son of Lonfe & K Tennonce Jad6 fl Jtjftjfcfr iiw wwißmlplwwWl, "] Bonn: Juty 17, 'Otf I Son of Casey Lauenden 8 > Bocky Singleton jfi day, amid the innocence of 1960 suburbia. Another first Christmas novel comes from Mary Kay Andrews and features her recurring character, antiques dealer Weezie Foley of Savannah. In “ Blue Christmas” Much Love, THane & Whitney CuCpepper T.S. This is your Christmas Card!!! 1 Bead Austin Dunn j 5 Bonn: Octobeu 15, 'OO jjjj Son of Kana ft Jimmy J Annfka Layla I Smith 4 Bonn: Febnuany 7, 06 B DaughCen of Mfcbelle ft Rodney Smith LOCAL (Harper Collins), a blue Christmas tree pin not only inspires Foley’s prize-win ning Christmas decorations, it fuels a mystery involv ing an old homeless woman whom Foley tries to help. See NOVELS, page 6C VAAAXtXIi ft 1 I •■■■ \ aM . __ jßft . t£-_, I Sauannah Lynn Kew j | Bonn: Apnrt 2<5, 'O6 M DaughCen of Hnooke > H ft Jason Kenn isl EM * ■n H Bonn: Januaay 27, ‘Ofl S Sons of Mr. ft Mns. ■ Cbnis Taggaut Happy birthday w 'pmm i I * I Contributed Nettie Belle McKown LeVar of Perry celebrated her 90th birthday with family and friends at the Elks Lodge In Warner Robins Sept. 23. A native of Grady County, she married Robert J. LeVar. They lived and reared their fam ily in Grady County and later in Thomasville. Their chil dren are Randall LeVar of Hendersonville, N.C., Wendell LeVar of Warner Robins, Lanett L. Quick of Birmingham, Alabama and Van LeVar of Warner Robins. After the death of her husband in 1983, she moved to Warner Robins and now lives at Colonial Gardens of Perry. Thank You for a Wonderful Year! We Wish You a Merry Christmas! Hil ■ % is C - cf/ie Liyfouiy Store V* Jr 926 Carroll St. • Perry, GA 31069 478-224-8888 T-F 9am-spm SAT 10am-2pm 42060 g Son of Launen g 3 l^y y\ I B »yce Nfui”;iin I 1 Bonn: SepC. 28, 'O6 I Son of Lindsey ft D Richie Dnyden HOUSTON DAILY JOURNAL -jfcin A h A \ 4 iiHpp Jg Bonn: August 22, ‘O(S j! Son of Mfnanda & ImL-.. Jefj: StewQHt jj (Ml( 140 I 2 I ■MW,