by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy
Each Christmas Eve, my brother and I would wait on the bottom stair landing so we could gaze at the sky through the north-facing window hoping to catch a glimpse of Santa’s sleigh or Rudolph’s red nose. We never did, but one year, Santa arrived early and walked through the front door instead of coming down the chimney.
My Uncle Bill was Santa Claus, from the tip of his fur-trimmed hat to his polished black boots. He personified the old elf better than anyone else I have ever seen. He became Santa each holiday season as part of his job at the Just-Rite Dairy in my hometown of St. Joseph, Missouri to promote their seasonal line of Christmas-themed ice cream treats. They offered individual Santa faces and green Christmas trees. He appeared at various groceries and supermarkets in the role of Santa to attract interest to the treats.
He also, however, played Santa to his young niece. Uncle Bill had a generous nature year-round. He was a loving uncle who often surprised me, especially in the years before he and my aunt started their own family, with fun gifts. Once it was a big stuffed blue dog, as large as me, who came with his own cardboard house big enough to double as a playhouse. Another time it was a pair of child binoculars. Sometimes it might be ice cream or another sweet treat.
One December, as my parents made their routine Saturday grocery shopping trip, we visited a store far outside our own neighborhood. As my folks perused the meat counter, I glanced up to see Santa Claus approaching. He offered a few ho-ho-ho’s and called me by name. I was delighted but also terrified. What if I hadn’t been good? (I tended to be a mischievous child) and Santa knew? Still, we visited with the big man in the supermarket, and I resolved to behave better, at least for the Christmas season.
It was a cold, crisp Christmas Eve when someone knocked at our front door. My Aunt Janet appeared and explained she had met Santa along the way so brought him along. I rushed to my bed, thinking I should be asleep, but Santa quickly explained his official visit would come later. He just came by to visit so we offered him milk and cookies. I was thrilled. I doubt most children receive a personal home visit from Santa on his busiest night of the year.
I still believe in the magic of Santa, so when I wrote my 2023 Christmas release, The Scarred Santa, I couldn’t resist working Santa into the plot. The novel, however, is quite different than Uncle Bill’s experience. My hero, Rafe Sullivan, is a scarred Marine Corps veteran who has problems adjusting to civilian life. He can’t keep a job for very long. His family is worried so one of his older brothers gets Rafe a gig as the local mall Santa. He buys a top-of-the-line Santa outfit. Rafe, though skeptical, finally agrees to try the job.
He has moments when he hates the gig and times he loves it. Venturing out into the world encourages him to return to church where he meets a pretty woman, Sheena, who manages a book shop at the same mall where he plays Santa. She sees through his scars to view the real Rafe beneath it all. Here’s the blurb to tell the story:
Once handsome Rafe Sullivan is left scarred, injured, and with PTSD from his Marine Corps service in Afghanistan. Returning to civilian life is far from smooth, and the burn scars on his right side are extensive. Although he lives close to family, he lives a solitary life and changes jobs more often than most people change their socks. A temporary job as Santa at the mall is presented, but Rafe first rebels, then relents. His Santa gig affects his PTSD. Then he meets Sheena Dunmore. When she doesn't run from his scars or issues, she intrigues him. An unmasking by some rowdy children is a test of his stamina and spirit. His greatest fear is fire. Will Rafe conquer the fear so he can move forward into the new life he desires?
Last year, I spoke to an area writer’s group and read from the novel. I sold every copy I had brought to the meeting and additional eBooks. They loved my reading, so here’s a brief teaser:
Mike grinned and held out the suit. “It’s a top-of-the-line Santa Claus outfit. This is the best. Look at the velvet jacket and pants, the faux ermine fur trimmings, the leather belt, and the matching boots. Jolly Old St. Nick himself couldn’t dress any better than this.”
Rafe quit believing in Santa at the age of seven. He would rather be in uniform than wear the ridiculous getup. “Then take it to the North Pole.”
Mike ignored his request and beamed. “It’s for you. I got you the best job ever. You’re gonna love it.”
Realization brought horror. Rafe's stomach tied into a knot. “Oh, no, you don’t. I’m not playing Santa Claus, Mike. It’s not happening.”
His brother's smile wilted. “Come on, you love Christmas.”
Rafe balled his fists. “No, correction: I used to love Christmas when I had a face and a life. It’s just another day on the calendar to me.”
The novel can be purchased online in both paperback and eBook formats. Here’s a link:
Although it won’t be released until December 16, my 2024 Christmas release, Homeward Bound Hearts also deals with Santa in a very different way. Jeb Hill, a former saddle bronc champion, wants to convince the new lady in his life that Christmas is worth celebrating. It will be available in both paperback and eBook as well and can be pre-ordered now. Here’s the blurb:
Take one saddle bronc ridin’ cowboy. Jeb Hill, the Hillbilly Hotshot, who just suffered the worst injury of his career and is sidelined permanently. Send him home to be cared for by a widowed nurse, Shelby Thacker, who struggles to pay her bills and support her two children. Add some friendship, then stir in a little attraction. Complicate things with the return of Jeb’s long absent father and throw in the Christmas season. Jeb wants an old-fashioned, heartwarming Christmas but Shelby’s poverty destroyed her holiday spirit long ago. Toss in some faith, a country church, and a rodeo rider ready to play Santa Claus. As their friendship deepens, Shelby and Jeb are uncertain about each other’s hopes and dreams. Everything changes at Christmas, for better or for worse.
I have no idea what next year’s Christmas novel may be, but it’s likely it will involve Santa Claus in some way. I still believe in the magic of the holiday season and Santa. Although our current notion of Santa Claus dates to the famous poem “A Night Before Christmas”, I taught my children about the real St. Nicholas who began a tradition of giving that endured.
Find me on my blog Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy: Rambling and Writing. I’m also on Facebook, Good Reads, and many other places.
Merry Christmas from me – and the legend of Santa Claus.
From an early age, Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy scribbled stories, inspired by the books she read, the family tales she heard, and even the conversations she overheard at the beauty shop where her grandmother had a weekly standing appointment. She was the little girl who sat at the feet of the elders and listened.
As an author, she has published more than sixty novels and novellas written as both Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy and as Patrice Wayne for historical fiction. She is also the author of a new Faery Folk series from Evernight Publishing writing as Liathán O'Murchadha. Her current publishers include The Wild Rose Press, World Castle Publishing, and Evernight Publishing.
She spent her early career in broadcast radio, interviewing everyone from politicians to major league baseball players and writing ad copy. In those radio years she began to write short stories and articles, some of which found publication. In 1994 she married Roy Murphy and they had three children, all now grown-up. Lee Ann spent years in the newspaper field as both a journalist and editor and was widowed in 2019.
In late 2020, she hung up her editor’s hat to return to writing fiction. A native of St. Joseph, Missouri, she lives and works in the rugged, mysterious, and beautiful Missouri Ozarks.
Love your early memories of surprise meetings with Santa, like your own elf on the shelf!
You really capture the magic of Christmas!
What great stories, Lee Ann! I had an Uncle Bill who was a delight, a real character, in the best way. Love how your novel came out of personal experience. We share a background in working for newspapers and I, too, find myself mixing in some fact with my fiction stories. Or, I will at least get inspired by some aspect of a true situation and find it wrapped into my fiction. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for joining us today, Lee Ann. I wish every kid had an Uncle Bill!