The Santa List Q & A

November 2nd 2021

Can you introduce us to The Santa List, your brand new children’s book.

It’s the story of Aisling and Joe, a couple of good-hearted - but slightly selfish - children who get in trouble with their super-strict new babysitter in the run-up to Christmas. To their absolute horror, she writes to Santa asking him to put them on the naughty list. They don’t take this lying down and do their best to get their names removed from it. Not only do they fail, but their misadventures – which include teaming up with a local bully and dealing with a sarcastic elf - lead to them losing the nice list. They end up facing a race against time to set things right or they’ll ruin Christmas for everyone.

What was your favourite part about writing the book?

I always loved Christmas when I was growing up, so re-living some of those memories was great fun. I also liked writing about two main characters who are the opposite of what I was like as a child. Sadly, I was a bit of a goody-two-shoes, more through fear of what might happen to me if I got in trouble rather than because I had a strict moral code. Aisling and Joe are risk takers, sometimes foolishly so, but it was enjoyable writing characters who were both impulsive and full of the joys of life.

What inspired you to write this book, and are the characters based on anyone you know?

I don’t know why, but one day I was wondering what a child would do if they were put on the naughty list and the answer I came up with was – steal it! Even though I had no plans to write a Christmas book, I kept thinking about it. In the end, I just had to write the story. The characters aren’t really based on any people I know, although Mr Grindle’s miserable view of Christmas has been stolen borrowed from some of my grumpier friends.

What are your favourite Christmas stories and why?

I love a lot of the Scrooge stories because Dickens is very Christmassy. I’m a big fan of the Muppet movie version and last year I listened to the original Christmas Carol on audio book - read by Hugh Grant – and the humour was even better than I remembered. Some books I associate with Christmas even if they’re not set at that time, like the Sherlock Holmes stories which I used to read in that magical week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day when breakfast was chocolate, lunch was turkey curry and time had lost all meaning.  

What do you want for Christmas this year?

Plenty of books and the free time to read them all. If the fridge was well-stocked and it was only going to last for a couple of days, I wouldn’t complain if we got snowed in either. And if my wife is reading this, then did you know that FIFA 22 is out now?