All I want for Christmas

There’s a (probably) apocryphal story about a radio programme presenter asking various Ambassadors what they wanted for Christmas. One said world peace, another wished for an end to famine. 

            The British Ambassador said he’d like a pipe and a new pair of slippers.

            Unfortunately, he was the only one who was likely to find what he wanted under the tree on Christmas morning.

            My long-time wish was to be a published writer. It seemed a grandiose rather than a modest wish and therefore unlikely to be granted. But Santa – in the shape of The People’s Friend, Woman’s Weekly, Alfie Dog Fiction (online), Ulverscroft, and various competition anthologies – has, over the last few years, made the wish come true and wrapped it up in tinsel and other sparkly stuff. I owe him a big hug and lots of mince pies.

            If you’re looking for a present for someone who likes a feel-good read may I modestly suggest:

            It has a story of mine called Ae Fond Kiss which was inspired by a flash mob event I went to one Burns Night outside St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh. The annual is widely available: direct from 

D C Thomson, from bookshops and of course from that South American river (but do support your local bookshop if you can).

           Alfie Dog Fiction has brought out a very pretty-looking anthology of Christmas stories first published on their site.

            Mine is called Molly’s Christmas Candle. My character, Rosemary, is in church waiting for the first candle for Advent to be lit by her very special grand-daughter. Available in paperback and on Kindle.

           May all your wishes come true.