Stealing Baby Jesus: A Treasury of Ludicrous Attempts to Rescue Christmas

Inspired by her mother's attempts to create joyful traditions in tough times, and by Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Bernadette Nason has been forever striving to find the perfect Christmas, even though childhood memories haunt her. When she reads that her hometown of Winchester, UK, is vying for the coveted title of "the Most Christmassy Town in Britain," she's gobsmacked. Most Christmassy town? Snort! Not on your nelly! And, suddenly, the ghosts of Christmases past are back, and Nason is reflecting on the consequences of deep-rooted family rituals.

Balancing humor and humanity, nostalgia and glee, with a bit of slapstick thrown in for good measure, Nason embarks on a compelling voyage—from 1960s Britain to strife-torn Libya, indulgent Dubai to present-day "everything's bigger in" Texas—in search of an elusive Christmas she's not sure exists. In this stirring memoir, rich with offbeat adventures, she examines her pessimism, restores a cheerful attitude to the Holidays, and discovers there's more to 25th December than holly, mistletoe, and sherry.

BERNADETTE NASON was born in Winchester, UK, and is an award-winning actor, voice-over artist, and professional storyteller. She worked for many years in London, fifteen months in Libya, and five years in Dubai. She currently resides in Austin, Texas, with her beloved ex-husband and some spoiled cats. www.bernadettenason.com.