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What happens when King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn bump into the Lord of Misrule late on Christmas Eve? Find out in this Tudor-themed retelling of Clement Clarke Moore's classic Christmas poem.
'Twas the Night Before Christmas is far more than a poetry book. It includes more than 30 original Tudor-inspired activities, games, ideas and recipes to bring a twist of Tudor to your modern Christmas! And it's sumptuously illustrated by Kathryn Holeman.
A compendium and Christmas keepsake - you'll use it again and again.
How did you get into Tudor history?
The headless ghost of Anne Boleyn beckoned me with her six-fingered hand. I was immediately enthralled. I first read a grim version of Henry VIII's second wife, Anne Boleyn, in a children's magazine when I was young. It wasn't terribly accurate but it was entertaining and drew me to this life-long obsession with all things Tudor.
Why did you choose to write a Christmas-themed Tudor history activity book?
I have wanted to write a more child-friendly Tudor story with Anne and Henry for years. Christmas is a time of year filled with magic, love and fun. This created a perfect backdrop for a fictional glimpse at the royal couple during a happier time in their lives.
I enjoyed rewriting the poem first. Soon, ideas for bringing twists of Tudor history (not historical re-creations) to a modern Christmas began filling my mind. I adore history and my aim was to create original activities and recipes appreciated by history enthusiasts and by all the guests at a party.
You have taken many photos of your Christmas activities and recipes. Do you have a favourite one?
My heart lies with my Tudor dollhouse and it's been a great way to share history with my children.
My family, however, has told me repeatedly that their favourite is the Peacock Gingerbread Cookies. They love the coordinating tale of how the Tudors ate peacock, cooked but served in their raw skin and blue feathers. Of course, my feather-free cookies have icing which makes them popular.
Who do you think this book is aimed at?
This Tudor activity book was created for all to share their passion for the past with their children, parents, family, and friends in a fun way.
The book can also be enjoyed alone by anyone who loves the Tudors and will be a fun resource for homeschoolers. My hope is that families will enjoy this book together, creating new Christmas memories and traditions.
This book will undoubtedly be a Christmas favourite and be used again and again. What unexpected thing did you discover when writing it?
As long as I've been carrying around history books, there have always been cookbooks beside them. Born with the spirit of an inventor, it had been ages since I simply cooked and baked for fun. I had fun creating modern recipes with Tudor twists.
Can you describe what makes this book special?
The illustrations by Kathryn Holeman are fantastic. Her illustrations have breathed life into my words. I love how her characters capture the fictional essence of Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn, the Lord of Misrule and even Anne's little dog Purkoy! She illustrated a Tudor family tree too, which is a highlight.
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Like it was written by George Santos
Received an Advanced Reader Copy from a friend. I am an avid true crime reader and upon completion I question if the author is credible. The timeline does not add up for his age and the times of his alleged involvement in organized crime. Some of the things in the book he is alleged to have said and done I remember almost word for word from movies I had previously watched. He literally stole a scene from the movie the accountant with Ben Affleck and said that he did it. I did a little research after completing the book and learned that this author was also claiming in 2010 that he was a long time member of the Bloods Gang. That coupled with the above leads me to believe that it is nothing more than fantasy. Do not waste your time or money
Like it was written by George Santos
Received an Advanced Reader Copy from a friend. I am an avid true crime reader and upon completion I question if the author is credible. The timeline does not add up for his age and the times of his alleged involvement in organized crime. Some of the things in the book he is alleged to have said and done I remember almost word for word from movies I had previously watched. He literally stole a scene from the movie the accountant with Ben Affleck and said that he did it. I did a little research after completing the book and learned that this author was also claiming in 2010 that he was a long time member of the Bloods Gang. That coupled with the above leads me to believe that it is nothing more than fantasy. Do not waste your time or money
What a difficult story to tell. I appreciate the honesty and vulnerability. Definitely made me think.
I had hopes for this book but was not expecting what I would read within the pages. If your kink is deplorable grammar, incoherent sentences, and inconsistent messages, then this book is for you. At first, I thought the book I received was not the book I ordered. But as I dived in, it was very confusing. I would not recommend this book to anyone
There are not many reviews on the internet for this book. In researching the many stores selling the book, it was self-published which makes a lot of sense. The online description is written perfectly, so reading the actual book was very difficult. Pages two and three are written clearly as well as the table of contents. Pages 155 and 156 are also written logically.
It appears this book was written, then sent through a program like “Grammarly.” Once completed it seems it was published without being re-read or edited. The first clue was the title narrative that used “Has” instead of “As.” The table of contents is one page off from what it shows on pages four though seven. Many of the “q’s” are written as “[]”
Below are some examples of what was within the pages of this book written verbatim:
“Chains & Discipline/ Domination & entry/ Sadism & Masochism (BDSM) is a wide classification of bed room play.” Page 9
“When bringing up the topic of chains, you are actually asking a person to offer you their depend on, their flexibility, and also possibly their suggestion of security in exchange for sensual/sexual enjoyment, power-play, and also feasible re-evaluation of your very own connection.” Page 39
“Techni[]ue can take a selection of kinds and also be as easy or facility as you pick to (new paragraph) bargain for your details scenario” Page 52
“BDSM stands for chains as well as entry, technique and also supremacy as well as sadism and also masochism.” Page 125
“SHELF means Risk Aware Consensual Kink.” Page 130
“Approval is whatever.” Page 152
“your twist isn’t my twist, yet your twist is OKAY.” Page 153
“You can be a top, base, or button” Page 153
Good service, good book. Just what I was looking for! Thank you!