A Trilogy of Christmas Novellas
In Mr. Dickens Christmas Eve In London, the famed author is thinking of writing a Christmas story, but he has neither a plot nor a main character, though he has his settingLondon. Whenever he finds himself in such a quandary, Mr. Dickens walks about the citys streets, searching for characters and ideas. Inviting a grumpy, begrudging old friend along by the name of Phineas Frost, he heads into the night on Christmas Eve in 1842. This is Dickens favorite time of year. Families come together and are filled with affection! People everywhere are overcome with generosity, friendship and good cheer! And he finds that the city does not let him down. Before long, he has the characters and ideas for A Christmas Carol, though it will be sometime before he can put the story on paper.
The Eighth Choir Celestial and the Birth of the Messiah draws from canonical and noncanonical writings and from speculative Christian theology to spin a warming, affectionate tale of the Nativity of Christ, but from the perspective of the archangel Gabriel. As a member of the eighth choir of celestial beings, his primary responsibility is the deliverance of divine decrees, but he also performs other angelic assignments of extreme importance, including assuring that those things which must happen do indeed occur. The story begins about 15 BCE (Before the Christian Era) when Gabriel visits 5-year-old Mary at the Temple in Jerusalem, and ends with the flight into Egypt. Middle chapters tell the story of Gabriels diligence in watching over Mary from her early childhood to her betrothal, and from the nativity to the flight into Egypt. It also follows Gabriels adventures in assuring the Magi find their way to Bethlehem and are able to outsmart Herod.
A Christmas in Princeton, also published separately, celebrates the very reasons for Christmas and its colorful traditions. Young Tom Cooper is preoccupied with getting money to purchase a used bicycle for sale at a shop on Nassau Street in Princeton, but a twist of fate suddenly puts things in proper perspective. A visit to a little shack! A bicycle accident! An epiphany of sorts! A puppy needing a home! Lessons about Christmas! And, finally, the special magic that Christmas brings. Yet, Tom will never fully understand what has happened to him until many years later.
