How do you produce a flying sleigh on Christmas Eve, complete with nine flying reindeer? (Hint - it's not okay to steal Santa's). Sascha has just hours to deliver the impossible, or face the wrath of his not-friend Mary-Alice, who's been dreaming the impossible all year. Can he bring her down to earth? Should he leave her up there? It's all designer scarves, reindeer lattes and shiny objects as Mary-Alice cracks the whip high above Landfill. But when science goes overboard and reality strikes her magical journey, will Sascha and Luca dare stand up to her? And is that even safe, in a sleigh? Sascha Martin's Christmas Eve: It's a Magical Journey, or Else! Early responses to Sascha Martin’s Christmas Eve: “It’s a magical journey, or else!” Jerome Addendum, Landfill and districts champion subtitle-finder. “One of those stories to read again and again, because you weren’t there.” Landfill teacher Aurelius Jack. “Discerning boys and girls of any age, whether from Mosman, Landfill or any other hub of sophistication and culture, will recognise this book for what it really is - an adventure in verse to unite all children, 0-5, 6-8, 9-12, 10-99 and beyond, in the joyous exuberance of shameless, preteen laughter.” A friend of the author. “Mary-Alice Cooper is a role model for all girls.” Mary-Alice Cooper. “That girl should be locked up!” Boadicea Barnum (Mrs Barnum, to those who value their freedom at Recess). “So funny! I wasn’t there either.” Class teacher Tilly (Matilda) Mayhem. “The rhymes delight, and the rhythm is right!” Angus McClangus, rhyming columnist at the Landfill Journal (Please note: the g is hard). “It happened in the holidays, so it’s nothing to do with me, the school or my professional reputation.” Rose-Potpourri Hat, Landfill Public School Principal. “Humorous.” Klaus, over coffee. “A story that unborn kids will adore.” The Education in Utero Foundation (EUF). “I won’t judge the actions or attitudes of my classmates, but I would have liked another 90,000 words.” Agnetha (Aggie) Plumladen, Landfill Readathon Champion and eight-times winner of the Premier’s Compulsive Reading Award. “See me at Recess.” Mrs Barnum. “Oh my god that is so unfair!” Mary-Alice Cooper. “And at lunchtime!” Mrs Barnum. “Oh my …” (Review deleted). John Arthur Nichol hates writing about himself in the third person, so I won't do that.I was born in a hospital named for a king, which now forms part of a hospital named for a prince, and I assume both will be subsumed one day in a hospital named for a robber baron, of whom Sydney's had plenty.67 years later I've worked out what I want to do with my life, and it's something I've been doing all along. I write in verse. I'm not calling it poetry, but I write in verse. I can't help it. Verse happens all day long in my head as my thoughts mould to the flow of half-remembered melodies. English nags me with its rhythms; and if that's not bad enough, I'm compelled to rhyme.So that's who I am and what I do. It's taken a lifetime to recognise it, accept it, and work out what to do about it.I thought for a time that picture books must be the vessel to carry my stories written in verse, so Sascha Martin's Rocket-Ship, Time Machine and Super Ball, respectively, appeared with the beautiful illustrations of Manuela Pentangelo.But the more I wrote ... the more I wrote. The more I wrote, the more I enjoyed it. And the more I understood my needs and my intention.I wasn't writing picture books.I was writing stories that made me smile. I think they make other people smile as well. Not everyone. Just the people who get what I'm doing and who enjoy a smile.They're the ones I'm writing for. And me, of course.So, text is my medium, my stories are in verse that rhymes, my audience is older kids, grown-ups, family, but only the ones who like rhyming smiles. And the format is regular paperback.Just the facts, Ma'am ...1955: Born in Sydney. 65 years of stony sleep ...2020: Retired. New website for my writing. 2022: Epiphany. New website MK II for my writing. Torn between two websites (feeling like a fool). Still writing in verse. Still smiling.