Brave Little Elf’s Christmas Dream
Brave enough to become a Christmas Tree Topper.
My dear, dear Elf. She is indeed little and brave.
When I was growing up, there wasn’t social media, or at least not the kind I knew of. My mom and dad provided for everything they could after the war, but it took time for things like the Internet and a computer to become common. Not that we were yearning for it; my sister and I had fun with our friends while playing pretend and jumping down the crazy number of stairs like Power Rangers. I was good at drawing at the time, so I even made Power Ranger IDs for everyone. Ok? I come from a very innocent time, which to this day I try to carry with me.
So fast forward to my grown-up time, and setting up the tallest Christmas tree inside the low-ceiling apartment. That was the day I bought a Christmas elf to put under the tree. Suddenly, a question popped into my head: Why can’t an Elf become a Christmas Tree topper? You see, I come from a place where angels, Christmas stars, and blown-glass Christmas tree toppers are an essential part of the Christmas decorating tradition.
How fun it would be for a child to see an Elf on the top of the Christmas tree? (Mind you, I didn’t know about the Elf on the Shelf tradition for a long time.) Imagine that. I can remember exactly what I thought in that moment, but I cannot remember what I ate yesterday?!
But then I did forget about it. For a long time.
And then it reappeared, slowly creeping into the corners of my brain, until the entire story formed. But was I ready? To rhyme and tell a children's story? To teach them valuable lessons? I didn’t know, but sure I tried. I wanted a flowing Christmas story that would end with two coloring pages. And I found the right people to do it with.
Brave Little Elf’s Christmas Dream was born with help from a marvelous editor, my Italian friend and illustrator Michelangela, and formatting expert Nathan.
Only I never did give her a proper push into the literary world; scared by what I’ve been through with Tale of the Winter Lands, marketing-wise, I never gave her a chance.
But it is never too late, is it now?
I should be just as brave as she is.
