“ A l o v e l y s t a n d a l o n e t a l e . . . t h i s c h a r m i n g b o o k w i l l b e a
d e l i g h t f o r i n s p i r a t i o n a l r e a d e r s l o o k i n g f o r a f e e l - g o o d
C h r i s t m a s s t o r y . ” P u b l i s h e r s W e e k l y , s t arred review
B e s t f r i e n d s A u d r e y B a r r e t t a n d E v e D a w s o n c a n ’ t
w a i t f o r t h e i r f i r s t C h r i s t m a s i n A m e r i c a . T h e y a r e
t h r i l l e d a b o u t s t a r t i n g n e w t r a d i t i o n s w i t h t h e i r
f i v e - y e a r - o l d s o n s , e v e n da r i n g t o ho p e t h e r e m i g h t
b e fr e s h b e g i n n i n g s ah e a d f o r b o t h o f th e m , t o o . Bu t
w h e n t h e 1 9 5 1 S e a r s C h r i s t m a s W i s h B o o k a r r i v e s
a n d t h e b o y s st a r t o b s e s s i n g o v e r e v e r y t o y i n i t ,
A u d r e y a n d E v e r e a l i z e t h e i r m o s t i m p o r t a n t t a s k i s
t e a c h i n g t h e m th e t r u e me a n i n g of th e h o l i d a y b y
g i v i n g p r e s e n t s , n o t j u s t a s k i n g f o r t h e m . T h e
h e a r t w a r m i n g ta l e t h a t un f o l d s r e m i n d s u s al l th a t
s o m e t i m e s , t h e m o s t m e a n i n g f u l g i f t s a r e t h e o n e s
w e l e a s t e x p e c t a n d o f t e n d o n ’ t d e s e r v e .
L y n n a u s t i n . o r g
T h e W i s h B o o k
C h r i s t m a s
B o o k C l u b K i t
I’m so excited that your book club has chosen The Wish Book Christmas to read
together. Books are so much more fun when we share them and talk about them
with friends, aren’t they? I hope you enjoy this story and that this book club kit is
helpful to you. Most of all, I hope my novella helps you enter the Christmas season
with some refreshing new ideas to try—such as becoming “Smart Kings” like the
boys in the story do and spreading the love of Christ with everyone you meet.
Dear Readers,
Please drop me a note on Facebook, Instagram, or my website to let me know what
your group thinks of the book and how your discussions go. I look forward to hearing
from you.
Merry Christmas!
Lynn
"Recipe" for
a Perfect
Book Club
• T I P S C O U R T E S Y O F L Y N N A U S T I N •
D é c o r:
Whether you’re meeting in person or virtually, wear any
small item to put you in a Christmas state of mind—a
Christmas sweater, gloves, hat, etc. . . . If you’re able to
meet together, put out a small manger scene, a
Christmas tree, a bowl of ornaments, or just decorate
with tinsel—that was a popular choice for tree decor
during the fifties!
M u s i c:
Some tunes from the era’s favorite crooners might also
help you feel festive. Find or create a playlist on
YouTube that includes some of the following:
“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Judy Garland
“I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” by Jimmy Boyd
“I’ll Be Home for Christmas (If Only in My Dreams)” by
Frank Sinatra
“O Holy Night” by Perry Como
“It’s Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas” by Dean Martin
“Silent Night” by Frank Sinatra
“I Wish You a Merry Christmas” by Bing Crosby
Set the stage for your book club discussion by
creating a fun ambiance that ties to the novella.
R e c i p e : S n o w D r o p s
C o u r t e sy o f L y n n Au s t i n
N o t h i n g p u ts yo u i n t h e C h r i s t m a s mo o d l i k e
s h a r i n g a w ar m , d el i c i o u s p l a t e o f c o o k i e s.
T h i s is m y gr a n dm o t he r ’ s re c i pe — o ne of my
f a v o r i te s wh e n I wa s a g i r l .
⅞ cup butter
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon water
2 cups cake flour
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
or pecans
4 tablespoons powdered
sugar
I n g r e d i e n t s :
Cream butter thoroughly, then add vanilla and water. Sift
flour and salt together. Add nuts and mix well. Chill
overnight or until firm enough to shape with fingers.
Form into small, date-shaped pieces. Bake for 10 to 12
minutes at 400 degrees. Roll in powdered sugar while
warm. Makes about 60 cookies.
D i r e c t i o n s :
The Wish Book Christmas
T R I V I A
1. What is the name of Mrs. Herder’s dog?
2. What grade are Harry and Bobby in at school?
3. How do Harry and Bobby know Alan Hamilton?
4. What did the boys have written on the cake for the party at the end of the story?
5. Audrey gets some surprising news about her father near the end of the story. What was his name?
6. When Audrey and Eve learn of the inheritance from Audrey’s father, what do they buy for the boys?
7. What presents did Harry and Bobby pick out for their mothers at the end of the story?
A N S W E R S O N T H E N E X T P A G E
The Wi sh Book Ch ristmas
T R I V I A A N S W E R S
1. Cooper
2. kindergarten
3. He is their Boys ’ Club leader at church .
4. Happy birthday, Jesus
5. Alfred Clarkson
6. toy airplanes
7. Harry bought Eve a heart-shaped locket and Bobby bought Audrey a gold compact with flowers
engraved on the side .
D i s c u s s i o n Q u e s t i o n s
1 . I f E v e c o u l d h a v e o n e w i s h t h i s C h r i s t m a s , i t w o u l d b e a h o m e o f h e r o w n . W h a t p r e v e n t s h e r f r o m
b e l i e v i n g sh e c a n a c c e p t t h e h o m e T o m w a n t s t o g i v e h e r ? H a v e y o u e v e r f e l t y o u o w e d s o m e o n e a d e b t y o u
h a d t o r e p ay o r t h a t y o u d i d n ’ t d e s e r v e h a p p i n e s s f o r s o m e o t h e r r e a s o n ?
2 . De s p i t e g r o w i n g u p i n gr e a t p r i v i l e g e , Au d r e y ha s b e e n li v i n g h u m b l y s i n c e mo v i n g to A m e r i c a . Wh y is
s h e se e m i n g l y re l u c t a n t t o a c c e p t a m o r e e x t r a v a g a n t li f e s t y l e fo r h e r s e l f a n d he r so n ? In wh a t w a y s d o e s
h e r i n d e p e nd e n c e e m b o l d e n h e r ? H o w d o e s i t h o l d h e r b a c k ?
3 . W h a t a r e s o m e s p e c i f i c t h i n g s E v e a n d A u d r e y f e a r t h e i r s o n s w i l l m i s s o u t o n b y n o t h a v i n g f a t h e r s ?
W h a t d o e s Go d p r o m i s e i n P s a l m 6 8 : 5 a n d P s a l m 1 4 6 : 9 ?
4 . H o w d o Ev e an d Au d r ey de t e r m i n e t o te a c h th e i r s o n s th e tr u e me a n i n g of C h r i s t m a s ? Do yo u h a v e an y
t r a d i t i o n s o f s h a r i n g t h e j o y o f C h r i s t m a s w i t h o t h e r s ?
5 . W h e n A u d r e y n o t i c e s t h a t h e r n e i g h b o r h a s t a k e n d o w n t h e g o l d s t a r i n h e r w i n d o w , M r s . H e r d e r t e l l s
A u d r e y ab o u t h o w he r g r i e f fo r h e r s o n M i c h a e l h a d b e c o m e a s h r i n e a n d a l s o a p u n i s h m e n t . Wh a t d o e s
A u d r e y c o m e t o u n d e r s t a n d a b o u t h e r o w n g r i e f a n d t h e f r e e d o m l o v e o f f e r s ?
6 . T o m t e l l s E v e t h a t s h e n e e d s t o s t a r t s e e i n g h e r s e l f a s G o d s e e s h e r : “ a w o m a n w h o i s w o r t h y o f a s e c o n d
c h a n c e . ” T hi n k a b o u t a t i m e y o u w e r e o f f e r e d a s e c o n d c h a n c e . H o w d i d y o u f e e l i n t h a t m o m e n t ? H a v e y o u
b e e n g i v e n o p p o r t u n i t i e s t o e x t e n d s e c o n d o r t h i r d c h a n c e s t o o t h e r s ?
7 . A u d r e y a sk s E v e : “ D o y o u th i n k G o d l o o k s a t o u r w e a l t h a n d s o c i a l cl a s s t o d e c i d e w h o ’ s w o r t h y o f H i s
l o v e ? ” R e a d M a t t h e w 7: 9 - 1 1 . W h a t d o e s J e s u s s a y a b o u t ho w p a r e n t s tr e a t t h e i r ch i l d r e n ? Wh a t ki n d s o f
g i f t s d o e s G o d t h e F a t h e r o f f e r ?
8 . I s S a n t a C l a u s p a r t o f y o u r f a m i l y ’ s Ch r i s t m a s t r a d i t i o n ? W h a t d i d y o u t h i n k o f A u d r e y a n d Ev e ’ s
a t t e m p t s to co m b a t t h e i r s o n s ’ g r e e d y w i s h e s ? H o w w o u l d yo u h a n d l e t h e d e s i r e s o f ch i l d r e n l i k e H a r r y
a n d B o b b y ?
Q u e s t i o n s & A n s w e r s w i t h L y n n A u s t i n
1. Do you have any favorite Christmas memories from
your childhood? How about traditions you started with
your children (or grandchildren) once you and Ken
became parents?
In all of my childhood memories, going to church always
played a central role as we celebrated God’s gift of His
Son. I also loved that both sets of grandparents were part
of our lives, and they would join us for feasting and
celebrating. Finding the perfect gifts for them was almost
as important as choosing the gifts we were wishing for.
I’m so glad that my parents emphasized the joy of giving
as much as the fun of receiving.
When Ken and I became parents, we decided not to
include the myth of Santa Claus in our children’s
Christmas celebrations but to keep the focus on
celebrating Jesus’ birth. We gave presents because God
gave His Son; the evergreen tree represented eternal life;
the lights were reminders that Jesus is the Light of the
World—and so on. We always had a birthday party for
The stable: Isaiah 9:6-7
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph: Luke 2:1-7
The shepherds: Luke 2:8-20
The wise men: Matthew 2:1-12
My sisters and I loved dolls, and we always wanted the
latest one for Christmas—including some of the very
first Barbie and Ken dolls. (I still have my Barbie after all
these years, and my granddaughters play with her.)
When my own kids were small, I remember running
from store to store one year trying to find a specific
Cabbage Patch doll for our daughter. And one of our
sons asked for a Transformers toy at a time when people
were storming the stores to find it. This was before the
Internet, so I had to actually go shopping in overcrowded
stores. But seeing the surprise on our children’s faces
was always worth it.
Jesus, including a cake and candles. And we still read the
Christmas story from Scripture as we set up our manger
scene the same way Eve and Audrey do in the novella.
Here are some of the Scripture passages we use:
2. Do you recall any toys that you were obsessed with
getting as a kid? What about your own kids?
3. What advice would you give to parents of young
children as they are working on establishing holiday
traditions with their young families?
Don’t let holiday stress ruin the season for you or them.
Keep your traditions simple and meaningful rather than
trying to create a perfect “Hallmark” holiday. The original
Christmas included a simple stable and manger and a band
of ordinary shepherds. Most of all, teach them that the birth
of Jesus is central to the holiday.
Continued on the next page
I often think about my characters after typing The End,
and in this case I did wonder what would happen next to
Eve and Audrey and their sons. I’d hinted at the
possibility of love between Eve and Tom, and I’d hoped
that Audrey might find love again as well, so when I sat
down to write this novella, I had fun picking up the story
where it left off.
My next full-length novel, Long Way Home, will be out in
the summer of 2022. It tells the story of a soldier who
returns home from World War II but is unable to leave
behind the horrors he experienced. His longtime friend
tries to help him, and in the process, discovers a
photograph of a pretty nurse who may hold the key.
5. This was your first novella and first Christmas story.
Were any aspects of those two things challenging? Can
readers look forward to more in the future?
I love Christmas movies and stories myself, so I really
enjoyed the challenge of writing one. Since most of my
novels are quite lengthy, I wasn’t sure I could write a
novella, but by setting the timeline for a single month in
December, I was able to keep focused. The biggest
challenge was writing about winter during the hot
summer months! I had to post pictures of snow all
around my desk. (And yes, I would like to try writing one
again someday.)
4. Was it difficult to write this next part of Audrey and
Eve’s story, or did you already have it in your
imagination? Do characters stay with you after you
finish writing a book?
6.) What can readers look forward to next from Lynn
Austin?
Long Way Home
B es t se l li n g a u t h o r L y n n A u st i n r e t u r n s w i t h a n o t he r g r i p p i n g
W or l d W ar I I t a l e o f c o ur a ge an d f a i t h , e v e n wh e n a ll s e e m s l o s t .
• C O M I N G S O O N •
• A V A I L A B L E J U N E 2 0 2 2 •
" A mus t r e a d fo r f a n s of
W WII i n s p i r atio n a l s . ”
P u blis h e r s Week l y ,
s t arre d r e v iew
“ D espe r a t i o n an d f o r g iven e s s
a r e pa r t o f a c l a s s i c
u p stai r s / d o wnst a i r s p lot . . .
[ i n th i s ] t anta l i z i n g
d o mest i c d r ama. ”
F o rewo r d R e view s
A V A I L A B L E I N S T O R E S & O N L I N E N O W
Discover more great fiction from Lynn Austin
Wilhelmina Brewster and
Mike Dolan are two very
different people—one is
trying to figure out how to
live, the other how to die.
Available as an e-book at your favorite e-tailer.
