Are you a fan of inspirational Christmas books? Do you enjoy good holiday fiction? How about a story whose characters no longer believe in miracles (but who are in for a very unexpected surprise!)? Do you enjoy a story with unsuspected twists just when you think you know...? The Special Guest offers all these, while wrapped in a heartwarming story.
This endearing family read became an instant Christmas bestseller when first published back in 1995. Now re-issued in a distinctive 20th Anniversary Edition by the authors, this heartwarming holiday story still ranks among the best popular holiday classics. For the cynical at heart, it is a tale that just might help you to once again believe…
The story is perhaps best summarized by the former National Director of Angel Tree: "...Much more than just a well-written family story THE SPECIAL GUEST sprinkles the principles of forgiveness with the wonder that is Christmas!"
Introduction: The story opens with the Reid family barely coping with a year-long tragedy when an unexpected guest arrives for the holidays. It is a stranger in need but who also is naggingly familiar... Soon after his arrival, surprising events start to unfold that will climax when the Reids learn the miracle of forgiveness. Finally, Christmas morning brings a mysterious gift that will show the family one can never know what might happen when we are kind to a stranger in need...
The Special Guest is a book befitting the most wonderous time of year. A time when we try to lift our heads from the day-to-day grind to see humanity with spiritual eyes. When we listen to bells and hear the ringing announcement of Hope for the world. When we most want to believe in something beyond our natural senses... like angels... like special guiding stars... like wise men seeking humanity's savior... And really, doesn't the world pine for such Good News?
A word from Lee Allen, the author: "Tweny-plus years ago it was Thanksgiving Day when I first introduced The Special Guest to my two oldest children, who were then in grade school. I had written the story just for them. It was only 20 pages in length then, a holiday read intended to get everyone in the mood for the season with a spiritual theme at its heart...
That day we gathered along with the cousins beside a log fire in the basement at the grandparents in Richmond, Virginia, where I read the story. Afterwards, it went up on the family bookshelf for posterity. Then a couple years later, following some fortuitous prompting from outside events, Donna and I decided to publish the story as a Christmas book. I expanded the storyline into a novella length while Donna, an artist in her own right, added illustrations at each chapter heading. We self-published and distributed the book locally that year ('95). It's popularity (6,500 copies sold) attracted the notice of New York publisher and the next year it went national with a 300,000 gift edition printing. Soon thereafter came a movie deal.
The fanfare was exhilarating. We did a book tour that carried us from New York to Michigan to Alabama to California. As I look back now, what stands out most to me is how people would come up at book signings to share personal experiencs that paralleled the story's theme. I have always believed in an invisible hand that has guided my life -- directing me at special forks in the road, opening doors at opportune times, and yes, even protecting me in tight moments. In writing this story, I wanted my children to believe the same. To have a story to fall back on reminding them to believe in something beyond what just the eye can see...
For you dear reader, I wish a most enjoyable and memorable read. I hope it will leave you to wonder what could happen should you ever have a brush with the supernatural in the person of stranger....
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