The Christmas Thingy

The Christmas Thingy
by F. Paul Wilson
Illustrated by Alan M. Clark

About the Book:
Eight-year-old Jessica Atkins wants a monster for Christmas. Not a big, mean monster; more of a friendly little one to play with when she comes home from school, and maybe scare away the mice who live in her big old London house.

But the old housekeeper, Mrs. Murgatroyd, warns her against wishing for a monster in this house. Exactly one hundred years ago the Christmas Thingy visited this very house and stole away with a load of Christmas presents.

As Mrs. Murgatroyd's mum used to say: "Like a rose must bloom and a pig must squeal, a cow must moo and a thingy must steal. It simply must."

Be careful what you wish for, Jessica...

The Christmas Thingy is a heartwarming story for children (and adults!) of all ages -- and a delightful fantasy for every day of the year! When the transforming power of friendship is combined with the magic of the Christmas season, anything can happen. This oversized volume features over two dozen stunning full-color paintings by Alan M. Clark!

F. Paul Wilson was born and raised in New Jersey where he misspent his youth playing with matches, poring over Uncle Scrooge and E.C. comics, reading Lovecraft, Matheson, Bradbury, and Heinlein, listening to Chuck Berry and Alan Freed on the radio, and watching Soupy Sales and Shock Theatre with Zacherley.

He is the author of more than thirty books: six science fiction novels (Healer, Wheels Within Wheels, An Enemy Of The State, Dydeetown World, The Tery, Sims), eight horror thrillers (The Keep, The Tomb, The Touch, Reborn, Reprisal, Nightworld, Black Wind, Sibs), three contemporary thrillers (The Select, Implant, Deep As The Marrow) and a number of collaborations. In 1998 he resurrected his popular antihero, Repairman Jack, and has chronicled his adventures in Legacies, Conspiracies, All The Rage, Hosts, The Haunted Air, Gateways, and Crisscross.

Short stories from his first 20 years as a writer are collected in Soft & Others (1989) and The Barrens & Others (1998). A third collection is in the works. He has edited two anthologies: Freak Show (1992) and Diagnosis: Terminal (1996).

The Keep and The Tomb both appeared on the New York Times Bestsellers List. Wheels Within Wheels won the first Prometheus Award in 1979; The Tomb received the 1984 Porgie Award from The West Coast Review of Books. His novelette “Aftershock” won the 1999 Bram Stoker Award for short fiction. Dydeetown World was on the young adult recommended reading lists of the American Library Association and the New York Public Library, among others. He is listed in the 50th anniversary edition of Who's Who in America.

Published in four states:
• Trade Paperback Edition ($15)
• Trade Hardcover Edition bound in full cloth ($25)
• Slipcased Limited Edition of 350 signed and numbered copies ($50)
• Traycased Lettered Edition of only 26 signed and lettered copies bound in leather with a satin ribbon page marker and an original drawing by Alan M. Clark matted and framed separately ($500)

Editions

Excerpt

Artwork