Every Friday, we here @ Del Rey Spectra will place a 50 page excerpt of a selected title on Suvudu. Whether it be science fiction, epic fantasy, alternate history, horror, urban fantasy, paranormal, the possibilities are endless.
We felt that with it being Christmas eve and all, why not have a festive, holiday-appropriate theme to today’s excerpt. And who else to turn to for some amazing holiday season writing than Spectra legend Connie Willis!
Connie has amazed readers with her thoughtful, imaginative writing throughout her storied career, which includes Miracle and Other Christmas Stories, her holiday themed short story collection. FACT: I had no idea Connie Willis wrote Christmas stories! When the Del Rey Spectra staff were discussing the Christmas eve edition of DRS50PF I wasn’t entirely sure how we were going to handle it, but then Del Rey Spectra editor extraordinaire Anne Groell (she’s Connie’s editor) came to the rescue! Here’s what she had to say about Connie’s Christmas writing:
“Connie Willis loves Christmas. She loves everything about Christmas—except for maybe It’s a Wonderful Life, but you’ll have to read the story to see why. And it is this very love of the season that makes her such a consummate Christmas storyteller. Though they embody everything that is wonderful about the Christmas season, her stories are neither maudlin nor overly-sentimental. Most often, they are a hilarious and yet clear-eyed examination of our very human foibles and failings, and tendencies to fall into crazy excesses at the busiest time of year. Better, they offer real hope that sanity will triumph over insanity every time.
Miracle, which we are delighted to present to you now as a special Christmas treat, is justifiably the most famous of Connie’s Christmas stories, and also my personal favorite. (Though I have several much-loved runners up.) Heavily inspired by screwball romantic comedies and chock full of the true meaning of Christmas, Miracle will make you laugh and smile—and most importantly, will make you remember exactly what it is you love most about Christmas. It always does so for me.”
We here at Del Rey Spectra would like to take a moment to wish each and every one of our readers a splendidly festive holiday season. Merry Christmas!
As always, feel free to give us feedback in the comments. Or let us know on Twitter via a direct message to our esteemed Twitter maven, editor David Pomerico: www.twitter.com/delreyspectra. Or write on the wall of our Facebook page: Like us at www.facebook.com/delreyspectra .
Please enjoy this extensive excerpt of Miracle and Other Christmas stories, available now in paperback and ebook.
