Once Upon a Magical Christmas Eve

This little book was written for all children everywhere, and for the inner child in grown-ups too! The story tells of the very real experience the author had as a small child one bitterly cold and snowy Christmas Eve, when she decided she would like to meet Father Christmas when he arrived at her house on his sleigh to fill her stocking with treats. The story, written and illustrated by the great granddaughters of Arthur Ransome (Swallows and Amazons), narrates an early recollection, a moment of childhood innocence re-visited, and re-creating it with words and pictures seemed the natural way forward. This is the tale of the author's personal experience of her brave, but questionable, decision to see Father Christmas on Christmas Eve and the outcome of her venture. The motivation for this story was to capture the magic of a childhood experience and share it with both children and adults alike. To revisit a time in the writer's life when she truly believed in magic, when the world felt a safe place and the concept of Christmas was breathtakingly exciting. It is hoped, for those who read the story and enjoy the accompanying illustrations, they might find awakened special and individual memories, open of course, to personal interpretation. The target audience is aimed primarily at young children, who believe in the magic of Christmas Eve. However, it is hoped that it might also straddle the large number of adults who hold an interest, and follow all things 'Arthur Ransome', including a well-established fan base in several countries. The special Christmas Eve magic was established many generations ago and preserved beautifully by the author's mother Hazel, the secrets handed down to the author's mother from her grandmother Tabitha, and her great-grandmother Ivy before her. The author has indeed stayed true to family tradition to ensure her own children experienced the exhilaration and delight that Christmas magic can bring.