For fellow readers of vintage science fiction, I happened upon this wonderful blog post showcasing the Christmas covers of Galaxy SF Magazine from 1951-1960.
Here are a few examples from 1956 (L) and 1960 (R):
And two from the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction from January 1962 (L) and January 1969 (R).
We often hear about the mystery of Christmas. In Over the River and Through the Woods, we not only have a mystery, but a detective noir tale set in Santa’s North Pole workshop complete with a hilariously crass elven anti-heroine named Tink.
“I didn’t write Tink; I think Tink wrote herself. Her voice was so loud, strong, funny, and irreverent, I had to put it on a page. She may end up in a full-length novel, because I’m not sure she’s done talking yet.” —Abigail Drake, author of “Tink”
Speaking of mysteries, a peculiar woman on the street catches the attention of the protagonist in Maryalice Meli’s story and we soon learn that appearances can be deceiving…
“When I think of Christmas holiday celebration, I think of Wampum, PA. This little Lawrence County town has the biggest parade of any outside Pittsburgh. My story is set at a Christmas parade though the story itself of an elderly woman outsmarting the angel of death has nothing to do with the parade.” —Maryalice Meli author of “The Christmas Angel”
Finally, Amy Morley reminds us that regardless of whether he’s flesh and blood or merely a myth, Santa Claus is a symbol of hope and virtue worth believing in—at any age.
“This is longer than you wanted. But I had to give the whole story in order for it to make sense.
I wrote “Reminiscing on the Nostalgia of Happier Times” as part of a writing exercise when I took a poetry class with regional poet Bill Boggs back in the fall of 2011. The prompt was to write about a memory, and to practice using imagery. As I sat down to write I remember hearing jingle bells in my memory.
The fall of 2011 was actually a very sad time in my life due to unexpected challenges that turned my life upside down. During these months I had numbed myself from feeling anything just so I could get through it without crying every second, so this was a very difficult assignment for me. I was trying not to remember anything at all as a defense mechanism from feeling additional remorse from what I thought at the time was a life full of regrets. But when I thought about what to write, I kept hearing jingle bells.
Those bells brought me back to a memory from November 1993, when I was 15 years old and I met a “Sidewalk” Santa at the South Street Seaport in New York City. I was a sophomore in high school and my marching band had performed in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade earlier that day. We had to wake up at 2AM so I was sleep deprived, so I am not sure what was real and what I had imagined from this memory.
But from this memory, I heard jingle bells. Santa was walking along the pier and ringing a bell. The bells were haunting, and I was drawn to them, almost hypnotized, and I felt as though they were calling me. I walked up to Santa and out of nowhere I told him that even though I was 15 years old, I still believed in him, and asked him what I had to do to get people to believe in me? I told him that it was impossible for people to believe in a mythical being, but somehow there are enough people in this world who continually believe and therefore keep him alive. Yet I was only 15 years old and I felt as though no one noticed me, no one thought I was important, no one believed that I would ever become someone of worth or recognition, but I knew that I was someone worthy. I knew I had talents and skills, I just didn’t know what they were, and I was afraid to even try to figure it out because I knew it would be useless since I felt discouraged and defeated all of the time. I told him that I just needed someone to believe in me. I asked him if he would believe in me since I still believe in him. He told me, “you keep believing in me and I will keep believing in you. And I promise you that things will change for you in the new year.”
And they did. A million different ways they did.
I wrote this poem when I was 32 years old. It was seventeen years after I met the real Santa Claus. I needed him at age 15 and then again at age 32. He was there for me both times; once in person or as a spirit even perhaps, and once again in my memory. Both times he was the one who believed in me, when I was alone, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Both times his presence in my life changed things so significantly that there’s no other explanation as to how he was able to do this, other than the fact that he was the real Santa Claus.” —Amy Morley
Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center, home of the Mindful Writers Retreat. We thank you for your support!
In A Charlie Brown Christmas, cynicism resulting from the commericalism of the holidays is summed up by Lucy Van Pelt when she says, “Look, Charlie, let’s face it. We all know that Christmas is a big commercial racket. It’s run by a big eastern syndicate, you know.”
Well, I’m not sure about that eastern syndicate, but in Over the River and Through the Woods, James Robinson, Jr. addresses this sentiment—as well as his childhood disappointment in learning the truth about Santa Claus—through his honest yet hopeful essay, “The Day the Magic Died.”
“I guess it’s now that I realize—and expressed in my own twisted little way in this piece—is that Christmas used to be a special time for me. As a child, my senses tingled with excitement when I sensed that Santa was due to make his annual appearance. Even as an adult—at the tender age of 38 or so—my wife and I drove around with our three girls with a New Kid’s On the Block cassette playing the entire season. It was a time of reflection, a time to seize the moment to enjoy the good will, the music, and all of the feelings that go along with the experience.
But when it comes to children, the old mantra that Christmas is for children is simple not the case anymore. Christmas isn’t for kids; Christmas isn’t for adults; Christmas is a percentage increase of the of retail sales. Kids don’t just get a bicycle; they get Best Buy Gift Cards, wireless headphones, iPhones, and a bunch of other meaningless crapola. Christmas is impersonal. Christmas is a fit it in when you get a chance, “I haven’t done my Xmas shopping yet,” “We need to get a gift for your Aunt Pearl,” impersonal mess. Christmas is a lazy online scam, a boon for Amazon, a fiasco.
But my pet peeve has to be the commercials that begin to rear their ugly heads in November and refuse to die until after New Year’s featuring Mercedes Benz’s and Lexus’ wrapped in huge bows—the ultimate gift for the few who can afford it, commercialism run wild. —but I siphon whatever magic I can from the modern-day experience.
If you dread Christmas and breathe a sigh of relief when it’s gone, I can’t blame for your feelings. I can’t chastise you if, for whatever reason, you’ve lost the dream. But if a small spark somehow still burns, despite the madness and lunacy that has overtaken us all, enjoy whatever piece of the magic that remains. After all, people are still a little nicer from mid-November until January. They still smile little more and try a little harder to get together as family units. Take solace in the little things. And have a nice Christmas.” —James Robinson Jr., author of, “The Day the Magic Died”
In the final essay of our anthology, Sherren Elias Pensiero reminisces about rockin’ out with The Beatles on New Year’s Eve…
“I wrote this with the memory of a simpler, happier time… before the earth shook beneath my feet… in my mind.” —Sherren Elias Pensiero, author of “‘Twas A Hard Day’s Night and Another Auld Lang Syne”
Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center, home of the Mindful Writers Retreat. We thank you for your support!
Traditionally, Thanksgiving and Christmas are holidays (hopefully) spent with family, enjoying their company and creating endearing memories. Several of the stories, essays, and poems in Over the River and Through the Woods focus on this theme—but the topics are diverse, ranging from an essay involving actor Alec Guinness to a story about a magic bed; from a contemporary version of the Holy Family to a coming of age tale involving a lost diamond ring.
Read on as authors Ramona DeFelice Long, Michele Zirkle, Lori M. Jones, Jennifer Diamond, Cara Reinard, and Denise Weaver reveal the inspirations behind their contributions to our fantastic winter holiday anthology.
My essay, “The Bridge on the River Obi-Wan,” is based on a real Christmas Eve when my son was 11. My husband often worked holidays, so the merrymaking was usually left to me, and I wasn’t always very merry about it. This day, however, turned into a life lesson that stayed with me for years. Nearly a decade passed before I was able to craft an essay on what *I* learned that day while trying to teach my son. —Ramona DeFelice Long
Growing up, my grandparents bed seemed a magical place of arm-tickling and story-telling and I wanted to capture some of that rapturously sweet dream-time. Dreams are magical, especially when sleeping in this sleigh bed where more than visions of sugarplums dance in Ciara’s head… love lights up the dark and shines hope into her heart. —Michele Zirkle, author of “Magic Sleigh Bed”
When I was thinking about an idea for a Christmas story, I thought, what is Christmas all about? Although I know it’s not the correct answer, Mary and Joseph popped into my head. Obviously their miracle child is who [we] celebrate, but their stories are pretty amazing. So I wanted a story about a modern day Mary and Joseph and what would happen to them if they inadvertently stumbled upon a miracle. —Lori M. Jones, author of “The Gift”
The spark for “Fathers and Daughters“ began with a memory from author Jennifer Diamond’s childhood. It bloomed from a simple story about a misplaced gift into the true tale of how a self-conscious, semi-self-centered thirteen-year-old looked at her family with a new viewpoint. By the end of that one Christmas day, she leaped into young adulthood and learned to appreciate the moments shared between fathers and daughters. —Jennifer Diamond
“Buon Natale,” which means Merry Christmas in Italian, is dedicated to my family. The poem captures our true day of celebration, Christmas Eve, which is marked by a huge meal known as The Feast of Seven Fishes. Both sides of my family have celebrated this bountiful dinner of no less than seven seafood dishes since I was a small child. As an adult, each year, my Aunt Reene and I switch off hosting this special occasion for whoever can attend—our table is never too full, our hearts are open to all—tis the true meaning of Buon Natale. I hope you enjoy my poem and that it brings you holiday cheer. —Cara Reinard
My essay, “Shaping Christmas,” is a reflection of how Christmas has been shaped for me through the particular influences of several women throughout my life. It has led to my awe and joy of the holiday season, focusing on faith, family, friends, and food. I am happy to share a Christmas cookie recipe from my beloved mother-in-law; it’s a family favorite. —Denise Weaver
Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center, home of the Mindful Writers Retreat. We thank you for your support!
Fellow SF writer N.J. Hammer offers an otherworldly tale of hope in her contribution to our winter holiday anthology, Over the River and Through the Woods.
“Because I write Science Fiction/Fantasy, I often wonder how future generations will celebrate the important holidays of our religions. Ending strife and pointing the way to a better future for another society is an excellent way to honor our traditions. This belief was the basis for “Stars of Peace.”” — N.J. Hammer
Perhaps the most bizarre of the three speculative fiction tales in the book is “Solstice.” I’ll let author Eileen Enwright Hodgetts describe it in her own words.
“”Solstice” is one of those stories that comes about by the author (me) staring into space and asking “what would happen if…?” In this case, what would happen if a man’s fingers kept falling off? I thought the idea would be worth exploring for its humor but instead I found I was writing about the death of the steel industry, the treatment of the disabled, and the loss of youthful dreams; all without losing the central theme… There’s a man, and his fingers keep falling off.” —Eileen Enwright Hodgetts
Finally, my own tale “Limited Time Offer” puts a dark twist—a la Twilight Zone/Outer Limits—on the bromidic theme of holiday romance.
“Statistically, December reigns supreme as the most popular month for engagements. Most of you probably know that, but if you don’t believe me, Google it. Seriously, I’ll wait…
However, I’m sure you’ll agree that a few thousand words about a marriage proposal alone would be dull. After all, the best stories serve up a healthy dose of conflict. I could have written about an intractable parent who attempts to prevent the engagement for their own selfish and misguided reasons. I could have gone with the ever-reliable “reappearance of the old flame” trope, forcing one of the would-be spouses to question where his or her heart truly lies. I might even have placed one of our young lovers in mortal jeopardy, prompting the other to undertake a dangerous rescue mission. Actually, that last one is the plot of a fantasy tale I wrote a few years ago.
No, I had something else in mind for Over the River and Through the Woods. Besides, I enjoy challenging myself to explore new territory with each writing project. In “Limited Time Offer,” there is no obstacle preventing my protagonist, Derek, from successfully proposing to the love of his life, Kristy. The problem arises when the world around them begins to disintegrate seconds after he slips the ring on her finger, and we soon learn the hard lesson that life itself is a limited time offer.
As a speculative fiction writer, I mainly work in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and the paranormal. I’m inspired not merely by the unexpected, but by elements strange and bizarre that knock a character’s reality off kilter, tossing them headfirst out of their comfort zone and forcing them to change in order to thrive in a new reality—regardless of how painful that process might be. I believe I achieved that with “Limited Time Offer,” but of course, that is for you, dear reader, to decide.” —Yours Truly
Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center, home of the Mindful Writers Retreat. We thank you for your support!
Our delightful winter holiday anthology, Over the River and Through the Woods was edited by the talented Demi Stevens of Year of the Book Press. Her story also marks her first foray into writing fiction.
“Even though I’ve edited 200+ fiction titles, I’ve only ever written non-fiction before… so I decided to be a masochist and write about characters who live somewhere I’ve only visited, with lives wildly different from mine, who throw parties and actually seem to like being around people, who’ve faced serious health traumas, and excel at the sport of golf. Needless to say I relied on the help of many friends, and a master editor, Ramona DeFelice Long, to save me from the abyss!” —Demi Stevens, anthology editor and author of “Christmas Pearl”
Two more creative stars in our anthology are Kimberly Kurth Gray and Hilary Hauck. Each put their own unique twists on holiday themes, clearly thinking outside the gift box!
“The name, or character rather, of Joyce came to me before the story did. I knew Joyce was a lost soul who had tried to make the best of the bad choices she had made in her life. When the theme for the anthology was decided, I began to wonder how Joyce might be spending her holidays. It was then that I realized she spent her time trying to avoid her mother-in-law. Through that story, I discovered who Joyce was and it’s where I met Beau, Joyce’s true love. From there the story practically wrote itself.” —Kimberly Kurth Gray, author of “Tidings of Comfort and Joyce”
“My story, “Once Upon a Life Well Spent,” was inspired by the first story I ever wrote in primary school. I remember having an incredible feeling of elation and freedom as I took my character, a candle, on an adventurous journey. My writing style has evolved over the years, but that rush of elation when a story comes together or a character comes to life has not.” —Hilary Hauck
Proceeds from the sale of Over the River and Through the Woods benefit the Ligoner Camp and Conference Center, home of the Mindful Writers Retreat. We thank you for your support!