Christmas Through a Child's Eyes

by Helen Szymanski

  ARTHUR BOWLER (“At the Five and Dime”), a U.S./Swiss citizen and graduate of Harvard Divinity School, is a writer and speaker in English and German. His work has appeared in several bestselling anthologies and in bestselling books in Switzerland. Look for his book A Prayer and a Swear or visit www.arthurbowler.ch .

  MARCIA E. BROWN (“All that Glitters” and “Wishing for Miracles”) began writing her family stories fifteen years ago to preserve them for her son. Since then, much of her work has appeared in magazines and anthologies. Marcia hopes to publish a book of her own work soon. The birth of a grandson gave new impetus to her writing goals, as she now also writes for children.

  LINDA BRUNO (“Yes, Deborah, There Really is a Santa Claus”) is a writer, speaker, and trainer. She is writing a devotional book based on how our interactions with pets mirror our relationship with God. Linda and husband, Guy, have one grown daughter, five grandchildren, and three “fur” kids. Linda can be reached at lfbruno@cfl.rr.com.

  RANDY JEAN BRUSKRUD (“Disappearing Act”), using her pen name, Randy Jeanne, has published one romantic suspense novel and has sold work to True Romance Magazine.

  RENIE BURGHARDT (“Memories of a Refugee Camp Christ-mas”) is a freelance writer who was born in Hungary. She came to the United States in 1951, and has since been published in over fifty anthologies and many magazines. E-mail her at: renie_burghardt@yahoo.com.

  CARRILLEE COLLINS BURKE (“Miracles”) has been published in many magazines, and is the winner of numerous writing contests. She is the author of one romance/mystery novel. In 2001, she was nominated for the Pushcart Prize by Dana Literary Society. Carrillee resides in Florida with her novelist husband, Ned Burke.

  CONNIE STURM CAMERON (“The School Desks”) has been married to Chuck for twenty-eight years. Together, they have two children, Chase and Chelsea, and a daughter-in-law, Elizabeth. Connie is the author of God's Gentle Nudges, and she has also been featured in dozens of periodicals and anthologies. Contact her at: www.conniecameron.com or conniec@netpluscom.com.

  J. HOGAN CLARK (“Shared Popcorn”), a former employee of the Office of Naval Intelligence, is active in community affairs in Sedalia, Missouri, where he currently lives. In addition, Jack is a freelance writer and songwriter and enjoys spending his free moments on the front porch strumming on an acoustic guitar.

  HELEN C. COLELLA (“Getting it Right”) is a freelance writer from Colorado. Her work includes educational materials (geography and history workbooks), articles, and stories for adults and children. Helen is contributor to nine anthologies and numerous parenting magazines, and currently operates her own business, AssistWrite, where she offers writing and consultation services to independent publishers.

  CHRISTINE E. COLLIER (“Christmas Eve Delivery”) has been published in many children's magazines and is the author of six books: The Writer's Club; Mystery is Our Shadow; Christmas at Cliffhanger Inn; Something Borrowed, Something Blue; Adventure on Apple Orchard Road; and Twelve Months of Mystery. Her most recent book is titled A Holiday Sampler.

  CHARLENE A. DERBY (“A Christmas Aha!”) is a freelance writer who lives in Southern California with her husband and son. It is her belief that blogging is the best way to keep in touch with the “fearsome foursome” and their extended families. Her previously published stories have appeared in several compilation books and in the magazines Reminisce Extra and Focus on the Family.

  LESE DUNTON (“Love for Father”) is the founder and editor of the online publication The New Sun ( www.newsun.com ).

  Lese has worked for Village Voice Newspaper, New York Daily News, CBS Television, Life magazine, and Wall Street Journal in a variety of positions, including editor, producer, writer, and designer.

  SHAUNA SMITH DUTY (“Getting Christmas”) is a freelance copywriter and full-time copy director. Her world revolves around language. She believes that words magically transfer ideas from one mind to another and have the power to make people laugh. Shauna practices the literary arts to spread peace, love, and happiness throughout the world.

  NANCY JO ECKERSON (“Growing Up Cool”) is a freelance writer and Ethical Wills facilitator from Akron, NY. Eckerson, a contributing writer for the Buffalo News, Forever Young Magazine, and numerous other publications, is an editor, and copy-writes for corporate endeavors and Web sites as well. She's older and wiser now, but still cool!

  MARIE (NIKKI) ESS ELSTEIN (“All I Want for Christmas”) is a graduate of the Ohio State University (English and history).

  Currently, she works in administration for the American Motorcyclist Association. Marie feels like the luckiest person in the world to have a happy, healthy extended family that includes her teenage son, her parents, and both grandmothers.

  BARBARA JEANNE FISHER (“Sometimes Less is More” and “Through the Innocence of Childhood”) writes using the words of her heart to touch the hearts of others. The author of several children's books and editor of The Voices of Alcohol and The Voices of Lung Cancer, Barbara is pleased to show her work in various anthologies and magazines. She teaches online writing for Writer's College, and lives in Ohio with her husband and seventeen grandchildren. Look for the sequel to her novel Stolen Moments soon.

  JO E. GRAY (“Santa is Real”) was born the fourth in a family of five children. Her early years were spent on a farm in North Central Texas, where she attended classes in a one-room schoolhouse. She graduated from Midwestern University in Wichita Falls, married, and became the mother of two girls. A retired schoolteacher, Jo currently lives in Arizona with her husband of fifty years and their twelve-year-old dog.

  NELIA J. GREER (“Grandpa Will's Gift”) has lived in Arizona since 1970, and was married to Ralph for fifty-four years. Their marriage produced four children and ten grandchildren. Nelia is a devoted writer for her church, and has been published in a number of periodicals. Her favorite topic is family history. She is a longtime member of The Fountain Hills Christian Writers Group.

  SHIRLEY P. GUMERT (“The Stranger with the Cardboard Suit-case”) is a freelance writer who lives in West Kerr County, Texas. She has had her work published in the Santa Fe (New Mexico) Reporter, several other New Mexico newspapers, the Houston Chronicle's Texas Magazine, The Rocking Chair Reader: Coming home, and Classic Christmas: True Stories of Holiday Cheer and Goodwill.

  MARY L. HARDWICK (“The Tea Set”), who spent her childhood traveling the world as a military brat, found her calling in South Carolina, where she is employed as a day care director. Mary received a degree in Early Childhood Education in 1985 at USC. In addition to writing in various genres, she enjoys reading Western fiction.

  M. DELORIS HENSCHEID (“My Long Brown Stockings”), along with her husband Bernard, has nine children and thirty-one grandchildren. DeLoris graduated from Idaho State University at the age of fifty-four with a degree in Early Childhood Education. Since retirement, she has enjoyed writing about family, and has had a number of stories published in Adams Media Anthologies and in Idaho Magazine.

  ANN HITE (“The Christmas Tree Hunter”) has had her work appear in numerous publications, including The Dead Mule, Fiction Warehouse, The SiNK, A Cup of Comfort®, several additional anthologies, Moonwort Review, Plum Biscuit, and Poor Mojo's Almanac. Ann has a large family, over 1,000 books, a flower garden, and her laptop. Feel free to visit her Web site, The Painted Door, at http://home.bellsouth.net/p/pwp-painteddoor.

  GEORGIA A. HUBLEY (“Mother Nature to the Rescue”) and her husband live in Henderson, Nevada. She has two grown sons. Her work has appeared in various anthologies and magazines, including Plus Magazine, Christian Science Monitor, Birds and Bloom Magazine, Story Circle Journal, Capper's, Good Old Days Magazine, and Senior Wire Syndicate, as well as other national magazines and newspapers. Contact her at GEOHUB@aol.com.

  MARILYN JASKULKE (“The Lonely Christmas Tree”) is a published writer; her work appears in several inspirational anthologies and Christian publications. Originally from Minnesota, Marilyn resides with her husband in Mission Vi
ejo, California. She is the mother of four sons, eleven grandchildren, and the great-grandmother of three. Her hobbies include playing bridge, golfing, and sewing quilts for the mission field.

  JEWELL JOHNSON (“A Million Stars Looked Down”) writes from Arizona, where she lives with her husband, LeRoy. Together, they have six children and eight grandchildren. Jew-ell, a retired registered nurse, currently works as a part-time caregiver and leads a writing group. She keeps involved with children by babysitting her three young grandsons and teaching children in her church. When relaxing, Jewell reads, quilts, and takes walks.

  BARBARA KIFFIN (“Burnt Toast and Tinsel”) is retired after twenty-three years as Public Relations Manager for the Eastern Monmouth Area Chamber of Commerce in Red Bank, New Jersey. She was also editor and lead writer for the Chamber's newsletter, The Leading Edge. Barbara has three glorious offspring and three magnificent granddaughters. She lives alone and is as happy as a clam.

  MIMI GREENWOOD KNIGHT (“In the Nick of Time”) is a freelance writer living in South Louisiana with her husband, David, four kids, four dogs, four cats, and one knuckle-headed bird. Her work has appeared in Parents, American Baby, Working Mother, Campus Life, Christian Parenting Today, In Touch, At-Home Mother, and Today's Christian Woman magazines, and assorted Web sites and anthologies.

  EMMARIE LEHNICK (“Let There be Light”), of Amarillo, Texas, is a retired teacher with a B.S. and M.A. in English/Speech.

  She is a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, and has been published in magazines as well as in Christian Miracles, The Rocking Chair Reader, and three volumes of A Cup of Comfort ®. She and her husband have one daughter, one son, and four grandsons.

  HELEN LUECKE (“The Perfect Gift”) lives in Amarillo, Texas, with her husband Richard. Helen is cofounder of Inspirational Writers Alive! Amarillo Chapter. She writes short stories, articles, and devotionals, and has been published in several anthologies, as well as other inspirational publications.

  VIVIENNE MACKIE (“Time of Delight”) left her small Rhodesia village and ended up in South Africa, then the United States, to pursue careers in psychology and ESL. Her sisters still live in Zimbabwe and South Africa, but even though separated by many miles, they continue to be very close.

  CINDY NAPP A MCCABE (“Memories Will Follow”) has wanted to be a writer since she was seven years old. Fifty-one years later, Cindy has begun to seriously follow her childhood dream. She lives with her loving husband, Rodney, and her seventeen-year-old cat, Pachelbel Canon, and is grateful for close family and friends. Currently, Cindy enjoys writing stories that revolve around the memories of her extended family, whom helped make her childhood wonderful.

  LYNN RUTH MILLER (“An Aunt Sunne Christmas” and “Santa's Messenger”) had stories — “Thoughts While Walking the Dog” and “More Thoughts While Walking the Dog” — published in 2001. Lynn Ruth has also published two novels: Starving Hearts (May 2000) and The Late Bloomer (2005). Her storytelling shows are presented regularly in San Francisco and at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland.

  BRIDGET BALTHROP MORTON (“The Truth about Santa”) freely admits her favorite feast during the holidays is St. Stephen's Day. She adores sitting by the fire, glass of brandy in hand, with nothing to do but admire her tree and the crumpled wrapping paper at her feet.

  KATHLEEN M. MULDOON (“The Baby Jesus Bed”) teaches writing for the Institute of Children's Literature. She has authored sixteen books and numerous magazine articles and stories for children. When not writing, she enjoys playing with her cat, Prissy, and her parakeet, Abraham, at her home in San Antonio, Texas.

  AMY AMMONS MULLIS (“A Different Kind of Carol”) lives in upstate South Carolina with a black Lab and a spoiled Dachshund, instead of a reindeer team. She works as a church secretary, but if she ever grows up, she hopes to live the adventurous life of an elf. Read more of her essays in Letters to My Mother: Tributes to the Women Who Give Us Life — and Love and A Cup of Comfort® for Writers (2007).

  CLAUDIA MCKINNEY MUNDELL (“Giving and Receiving”) grew up in Kansas, but writes from Carthage, Missouri, where she lives with her husband. The mother of two grown sons, Claudia has taught Language Arts in Missouri schools, been active in library work, dabbled at weaving, loves to visit historic places, and enjoys music from the '40s through the '60s.

  MATTHIAS L. NISKA (“An Inexpensive Gift”) holds degrees in Music Education and History from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. His writing interests include character-driven, Christian-oriented fiction, poetry, and personal experience pieces. His poem, “A Writer's Prayer,” will appear in an upcoming issue of The Christian Communicator. He resides in Andover, Minnesota.

  MARILYN OLSEIN (“Dancing with Daddy”) retired from her career in Detroit's automotive industry and is now a freelance writer living in Mobile, Alabama. She is a charter member of the Mobile Writers' Guild and is in the process of completing her second novel.

  LINDA KAULLEN PERKINS (“Christmas Giving”) has had her work appear in Bylines 2007 Writer's Desk Calendar, The Rocking Chair Reader series, A Cup of Comfort® for Weddings, and Classic Christmas by Adams Media. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Missouri Writers' Guild, and a critique group. For more information, check out her Web site: http://hometown.aol.com/squatters5/lindakaullenperkins.html.

  CHERYL K. PIERSON (“The Adventures of Baby Jesus”) lives in Oklahoma City with her husband and two “almost-grown” children. Currently, she is working on her sixth novel and a screenplay adaptation. Cheryl teaches writing workshops in the Oklahoma City metro area.

  CONNIE VIGIL PLATT (“Window Shopping”) has finally realized her lifelong dream of becoming a published author. A number of her short stories have been published both online and in print. Her novel, Pair A Dice, can be found at all major bookstores.

  CAROLINE B. POSER (“Boy to the World!”), the mother of three sons, is a technology marketing manager by day and moonlights as an author and columnist. For more information visit her Web site at: www.CarolinePoser.com .

  DEBRA J. RANKIN (“Finding Santa”) enjoys reading mysteries and nonfiction. When not baking cookies, knitting, or working in her garden, Debra is working on a memoir about her father.

  FRANCES HILL ROBERTS (“A Good Song for Shaving”) is a retired family therapist who recently returned to school to follow her dream of writing. Frances, a grandmother with a passion for the written word, hopes readers enjoy her account of her happiest and most innocent Christmas.

  BOB ROSE (“The Hairbrush”) is a husband, father, and grandfather. He enjoys cooking and rehabbing his eighty-year-old house. Bob has been a carpenter, music teacher, pastor, counselor, and salesman. He has written for numerous magazines, devotionals, and book anthologies. He makes his home in Wyoming.

  JOAN FITTING SCOTT (“So Little, So Much”) is an award-winning freelance writer. She is the author of Skinning the Cat: A Baby Boomer's Guide to the New Retiree Lifestyles. She has written for www.office.com and www.goworldtravel.com , and her work has appeared in Distinctive Lifestyles, Where, Key, The Fort Worth Business Press, The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and Greensboro News and Record, as well as several anthologies. She is a member of the Freelance Writers Network and lives in Fort Worth, Texas.

  AL SERRADELL (“A Musical Miracle”), a Los Angeles native, is a veteran writing instructor in the Oklahoma City area. A professional journalist, Al has worked for newspapers in Oklahoma (Journal Record and Guthrie News Leader) and Colorado (Rocky Mountain News), and co-owns an editorial business, FabKat Editorial Services, www.westwindsmedia.com .

  SHARON SHEPPARD (“Mother Knows Best”) is a wife, mother, grandmother to five boys, and freelance writer, living in Central Minnesota. A former college English instructor, she has also taught English as a Second Language in Riga, Latvia. Her fiction and nonfiction pieces have appeared in scores of magazines and anthologies.

  FAITH SHERRILL (“Belonging to Winter”) was born in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1983. Twenty-two years late
r, she moved to California, where she has worked a number of jobs while writing her first novel, Moon Child.

  LYNNE COOPER SITTON (“Some Gifts Cannot Be Wrapped”) has published stories, verses, and illustrations in anthologies, greeting cards, and on the children's Web site for Focus for Family. Lynne and her husband live in South Florida, where she is president of the American Christian Writers' Association. Besides her sons, Lynne also has two granddaughters who will hear their great-great-grandmother's stories.

  RITA H. STRONG (“The Sweeping Angel”) resides with her husband of sixty years in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Her articles and stories have appeared in national and local publications. Rita directs a “Fun in Writing” class at the Senior Center in the city.

  DONNA SUNDBLAD (“Forty Dollars”) is a freelance writer and author. She lives in rural Georgia with her husband and flock of pets. Donna shares the joy of storytelling with her grandchildren, and her love of writing spreads beyond the pages of her books to workshops, the development and teaching of online writers' classes, and a monthly column for writers. Her books Pumping Your Muse and Wind walker are available in print or ebook format. For more information, visit Donna's Web site at www.theinkslinger.net .

  ANNEMARIEKE TAZELAAR (“The Saint and the Santa”), born in the Netherlands, moved to Michigan after World War II. She has lived her adult life in Washington State as a teacher and business owner, and spends her spare time writing. One of her stories is featured in The Rocking Chair Reader, and several articles appear in the A Cup of Comfort® collection.

  CHERIE TROPED (“A Gift for Veronica”) is the author of three children's books. An award-winning journalist and playwright, Cherie is a contributing writer for The Los Angeles Times and other national and regional publications. A graduate of St. Joseph's College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English, she lives and writes in Los Angeles.

  PATSY THOMAS (“Seeing is Believing”) is currently working on her first full-length project, a historical time-travel romance novel. She loves to travel and read, and has worked in the banking industry for the past twenty-five years. Patsy has two grown sons, and lives with her husband, Joseph, and pug dog, Picabo, in Yukon, Oklahoma.