Every year, I do some Christmas art with my originals. Usually, it’s 1 major work I introduce before Christmas, but this year, I decided to do *THREE* This is the final of 3. The theme this year is song related. I chose these song titles that best fit my characters personalities.
Today features Chrissy Deigh, the star of my new book “Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth” representing the song “Give Love on Christmas Day”, originally performed by the Jackson 5 in 1970 for “The Jackson 5 Christmas Album”. A young Michael Jackson sings the vocals. Have a listen.
chose this song for a reason. Not only it represents the heart and soul of Chrissy, who enjoys the magic of Christmas year round, but it’s also the name of the final chapter of the book. Of course, you’ll need to read it to find out WHY.
Other R&B and Soul artists such as SWV, New Edition and my personal favorite Ledisi have covered the song over the years. If Chrissy had a theme song, Ledisi’s version of “Give Love on Christmas Day” would be it.
Every year, I do some Christmas art with my originals. Usually, it’s 1 major work I introduce before Christmas, but this year, I decided to do *THREE* This is the second of 3. The theme this year is song related. I chose these song titles that best fit my characters personalities. If you missed “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth”, check that one out first.
Today, we feature Princess, a friend of Maddie’s big sister Margaret, who really doesn’t star in anything…yet. (She does have a cameo in both “Maddie Mckensize” books however) representing the song “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”.
The song was released in 1944 for the movie “Meet Me in St. Louis”, performed by Judy Garland. Considering the context of the movie, this song in it’s original form is kind of a downer. In 1956, Frank Sinatra performed this song for his album “A Jolly Christmas”. Some lyrics of the song were changed to be more positive and upbeat. For example, the original lyrics “Until then we’ll have to muddle through somehow” was changed to “Hang a shining star upon the highest bough.”
In 2007, the song was ranked as the 3rd most popular performed song by ASCAP in the last 5 years.
Here is the original version from the movie. What a meltdown at the end. 😦
And here is the version made famous by Frank Sinatra.
Every year, I do some Christmas art with my originals. Usually, it’s 1 major work I introduce before Christmas, but this year, I decided to do *THREE* This is the first of 3. The theme this year is song related. I chose these song titles that best fit my characters personalities.
The song she represents, titled “All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth” is a song written by Donald Yetter Gardner in 1944 in Smithtown, NY on Long Island. While teaching a second grade class asking what they wanted for Christmas, Donald noticed that everyone spoke in a lisp due to a missing tooth. Thus the song was born, written in only 30 minutes. This Christmas song is pretty unique, as it only can be sung convincingly by children…and hockey players.
Callie D. Ken G. Karen L. Tonya H. Jennifer P. B. Love A. Reena N. Sabine B. Exavia B. Phoenix V.
The books will be shipped to all winners starting next week. I aim to get them out as soon as possible so you can enjoy it for the holidays. After all, it’s a Christmas book. If you didn’t win the contest, don’t worry! You can still purchase the paperback at amazon.com. The eBook is also available for sale at 99c for a limited time.
Making a book is hard. Doing it independently is even harder. These are the stories I want to share behind making “Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth.”
Rough sketch of Chrissy meeting Tyler for the first time.
When I began writing this story, I had a very light framework of what Chrissy’s world would be. I knew early on we would go back and forth between the real world and the fictional world of the North Pole. Much of Chrissy’s life in the real world is focused on her everyday life in school and at home, mostly dealing with the relationship with her mother and friend Tyler. In the North Pole, Chrissy is highly controlled by her mentor and trainer Mistletoe and the company in general. With Chrissy being 9 years old and very talented magic-wise, “North Pole Incorporated” is hesitant because a similar person that was a little older caused some “issues” several years ago.
A rough sketch of the cover art
I envisioned the North Pole as a small city state, completely independent of the world. The entire city’s economy is dedicated to Christmas and related industries making Christmas possible. NP doesn’t answer to the UN, they answer to a higher authority that’s even more secret than NP. That organization being simply known as “G.I.F.T.”. “Gratitude International Friendship Trust” is the parent company that controls much of the purse strings of NP. By the namesake, you may easily figure out that G.I.F.T. is the company that is responsible for all holiday celebrations big and small. There’s a division for Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, and the list goes on and on. NP is the most important division for G.I.F.T. and is the the most expensive. The costs of doing Christmas is a major issue with North Pole Incorporated, particularly with one key factor it making it all possible – Christmas Magic.
Rough Sketch: Lister Peppermint Paula confronts Noel Carollton, the CEO of “North Pole Incorporated”
In the world of NP, Christmas Magic costs money to produce and acquire. Mistletoe makes Chrissy aware of this early on, but Chrissy’s inexperience in “listing” (checking on kids naughty or nice) makes her use a lot of magic. As the story unfolds, dealing with magic will become a serious issue for Chrissy and will affect her emotionally and physically. Not everyone can handle so much Christmas Magic, even for a girl who has the Christmas spirit year round.
A rough sketch of Chrissy’s Holly Jolly Room.
Chrissy’s real world interactions as I said before are mostly focused on school, home and the town that she lives in. At the start of the book, Chrissy observes her town riding on her bike, looking for Christmas spirit…in July. Chrissy’s elementary school in 4th grade is the most hostile environment outside of the North Pole. The themes of acceptance, bullying and dealing with an indifferent faculty who indirectly enable her adversary Charlotte are dominant in these chapters. Of course, it’s not all mundane and unwelcoming for Chrissy. Her home, particularly Chrissy’s bedroom is her “safe space”, naturally full of Christmas wonder…and a giant Christmas special collection. Her mother, while distant at times, respects her interests in Christmas year round. However, she realizes that Chrissy doesn’t have any friends and from the very start she forces her daughter to begin socializing.
In the real world, Chrissy’s best (and only) friend is a quiet, well-mannered boy named Tyler Dirkelson. The two kids don’t have the same interests, but forge a bond when the bullying gets rough. The relationship is not perfect. Chrissy often at times is a little too enthusiastic about Christmas and Tyler is often a pacifist that avoids conflict as much as possible. The two kids need each other in a turbulent environment and the friendship bond grows stronger as the story goes on. Does he or does he not believe in Santa? That is the question going forward.
Chrissy and Tyler converse during Lunch in this rough sketch.
Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth is a middle-age grade novel designed for ages 9 and up that is now available. Go to www.merrychrissy.com to purchase the book. You can also follow Merry Chrissy on Twitter and Google Plus.
Here we go! North Pole we have LIFTOFF! The 3rd Ronald Hennessy Project and my first ever novel, “Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth” is now available for your reading pleasure! I’ve talked a lot about this book in the past few months, so this time, I want to share a “different” voice that is certainly enthusiastic and eager to share her story. Ladies and gentlemen, here is a SPECIAL MESSAGE from Chrissy Deigh!
“OH My Gingerbread!”
Hi! My name is Chrissy! I like Christmas A LOT. I like it SOOOOOOOOOO much, I have my own personal Christmas Tree decorated…in my ROOM! My music player is filled to the brim with holly jolly music, and I may have the worlds largest collection of Christmas specials on video! My Mom thinks I was born with Christmas Magic and calls me “The Christmas Spirit” and she’s totally right! This Fall, I entered the 4th grade! A lot of kids tease me ENDLESSLY for my merry little spirit. They make fun of my clothes and call me names like “Stupid Christmas Girl,” especially from that rich kid Charlotte! I don’t have many friends except for this quiet boy named Tyler. He’s so awesome and never teases me at all. I do wish he was in the Christmas spirit a little more though.
Not everybody knows about this, but I have a HUGE SECRET that NO ONE knows, not even my best friend, Tyler! I work for the NORTH POLE and I get to check on little kids all over the country to see if they’ve been good or bad for Christmas! I get to use Christmas MAGIC and I can transform into a FAIRY with wings…and I even get my own magic tablet! I need to get used to it though since using too much magic can make the company angry. Not only that, it tends to make me queasy when I transform to normal. Yuck! The only problem is I CAN’T use my magic outside of my job, so that means I can’t turn Charlotte’s face into a green ugly mess! Bummer! Also, pets seem to like me when I’m a fairy…a little too MUCH! I have the dog slobber to prove it!
This Holiday Season read about ME, Chrissy Deigh in my all-new adventure “Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth!” You can follow me on Twitter at @chrissydeigh and follow the writer, a guy named “Ronald Hennessy” at @ronaldhennessy for more updates!
HAVE A VERY, MERRY DAY! : )
***Chrissy Deigh***
So there you have it. The Christmas Spirit herself. If you’re Interested in reading more about Chrissy’s adventures, check it out now! Right now, it’s at an introductory price of only 99 cents! You can download a free preview as well. If you like what you read, please leave a review or contact me online to share your thoughts. Constructive feedback is welcome.
Making a book is hard. Doing it independently is even harder. These are the stories I want to share behind making “Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth.”
Part 4: Meet Mistletoe – A Merry Mentor
Mistletoe, a.k.a “Missy Toel” is an employee…from the North Pole. She used to be a “lister” after taking a new position leading the entire “listing” division of “North Pole Incorporated”. (A lister is a person who travels from home to home to check if kids are Naughty or Nice.) There is open position that she must fill on short notice and this is where she meets Chrissy Deigh for the first time…in her bedroom. At first, Chrissy is reluctant in doing such an odd job, but she changes her mind once she finds out she will meet the real Santa at the end of the season. A born leader, Mistletoe trains what will be the youngest ever lister in North Pole Incorporated history. Little does Chrissy know that Mistletoe has quite a history with the company and is reluctant to reveal anything about her past.
She s a 26-year-old woman who, like Chrissy, is full of the Christmas spirit. It’s important to note that she is much more experienced in dealing with non-believers, so her enthusiasm about Christmastime can be muted at times. She is very career-minded, moving up in the ranks rather quickly than her peers. This will be a major issue of contention with another rival lister.
Not only Mistletoe is tasked to help Chrissy become a lister, she also is handling logistics – a.k.a. to ensure that the whole company doesn’t fall apart…which is showing signs of instability with the executives meddling into their mission of making kids dreams from 1-92 come true. While Mistletoe often has the best intentions for Chrissy and her well being inside and out of the North, she still must follow the many myriad rules that she is asked to adhere to.
Designing Mistletoe
The first ever (rough) sketch of Mistletoe.
The motif of Mistletoe’s design is Winter. Her hair is blue and so is the rest of her outfit in mostly blue hues. She is dressed appropriately for the cold weather she faces inside and outside the world of North Pole Incorporated. It may not be too flashy, but comfortable for her to wear. As a worker who is under high stress, she is known to kick back and drink an Egg Nog to keep her nerves at bay. The rules and regulation that she must follow at work frustrate Mistletoe and Chrissy as well, but she sometimes finds a way to make Chrissy happy at her job.
We hear that Mistletoe knows a lot more about Chrissy than she does! I can’t say much more, but you’ll need to read my book to find out!
Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth is a middle-age grade novel designed for ages 9 and up. It is scheduled to be released on December, 5th 2014. Go to http://www.merrychrissy.com For the latest updates. You can also follow Merry Chrissy on Twitter, Google Plus, Pinterest and more.
Making a book is hard. Doing it independently is even harder. These are the stories I want to share behind making “Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth.”
Part 3: Meet Tyler – a friend ’til the end
Tyler Dirkelson is a 9-year-old boy who suddenly starts a friendship with the Christmas-obsessed Chrissy Deigh. While Chrissy is usually assertive and in control, Tyler is more introverted and reserved. Tyler is kind, knowledgeable and tolerant of Chrissy’s sometimes odd behavior. The two meet after Chrissy is forced to get out of the house and play by the demands of her mother on a warm Summer day. From the beginning, he’s aware that Chrissy is unusual, but never questions or criticizes it. While Tyler is more interested in playing with model trains, the two kids have one thing in common: both are main targets in bullying by Charlotte and her friends. Together, both Chrissy and Tyler need one another while surviving 4th grade.
Compared to the more agile and nimble Chrissy, Tyler is more weak bodied and this will show when he deals with gym class for example. However, does he still believe in Santa Claus? Chrissy is quite unsure.
Designing Tyler
An early sketch of Tyler.
Tyler is the average, dorky kid. To be honest, there is really nothing that stands out other than his hair. I sticked to mostly earthly colors that match his down to earth persona. I bit oversized, but not too much. He has thick black glasses that likely have a strong prescription of some sort. You could probably find a kid that looks just like this somewhere in America. On the outside, it may seem he has a flat personality, but it’s not overwhelming. He is quite intelligent and picks up on things that Chrissy overlooks. He is the voice of reason. It’s very important to note he is not a fighter and the idea of arguing with Charlotte or a dodgeball fight sends chills down his spine. Still, Chrissy sees Tyler as important since they start to develop a friendship.
Could Tyler and Chrissy’s friendship mean…much more? You’ll have to read to find that out!
Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth is a middle-age grade novel designed for ages 9 and up. It is scheduled to be released on December, 5th 2014. Go to http://www.merrychrissy.com For the latest updates. You can also follow Merry Chrissy on Twitter, Google Plus, Pinterest and more.
Making a book is hard. Doing it independently is even harder. These are the stories I want to share behind making “Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth.”
Meet Charlotte – a true rival
Charlotte Marigold is Chrissy’s main antagonist throughout the majority of the book. She is mostly self centered, conceited and always scheming. A classic bully, Charlotte and her 2 other friends Gabriella and Raven talk behind Chrissy’s back, tease and intimidate her. Charlotte is considered the “queen bully” in Chrissy school and many other kids don’t like her as well.
From left to right. Raven, Charlotte and Gabriella. “The trio” of friends that bully Chrissy.
During the process of writing, I knew early on Chrissy would be challenged by another classmate. I originally thought of making just about everyone in class and school hate her, but that was just too much and too cruel. Instead, the teachers, ever so aware of bullying are looking to punish the punished rather than just the punisher. Charlotte early on was developed as I continued writing. She really has no positive qualities whatsoever, but there is a small hint of humanity in her dark heart. Charlotte mainly teases Chrissy for her year-round interests in Christmas and the style of clothing she wears.
Designing Charlotte
Charlotte in all of her purple majesty.
There is a big contrast between the design of the two girls. Chrissy is dressed like she came out of the thrift shop. Charlotte on the other hand, came out of a boutique shop. Charlotte and her parents are much more wealthy than the average kid in her elementary class, so it was important that her wardrobe stood out. Going with a royalty theme, I chose many shades of purples and yellows for her outfit. Coloring her was quite a challenge since she has so many different colors. She also has blush on her face in a certain tone. As a personal touch, it’s kinda fitting that her color scheme just about matches the NBA’s Los Angeles Lakers, a team I really hate as I’m an Orlando Magic fan (Still bitter about the Finals back in 2009!) In case you don’t follow sportsball, they’re a highly successful basketball team that won 15 championships. The team that I root for, the Magic have zero.
Speaking of sports, the two become fierce rivals. They face off in Dodgeball and a costume contest…and other situations that you’ll need to read to find out more!
Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth is a middle-age grade novel designed for ages 9 and up that will be released on December 5th, 2014. Go to www.merrychrissy.com for the latest updates. You can also follow Merry Chrissy on Twitter and Google Plus.
385 Days. Nearly over the course of 13 months. Close to 6 revisions. 86+ illustrations, 63,400 words, 35 chapters, editing, proofreading, proofreading and proofreading. It’s all wrapped up now. I’m proud to say that my first ever novel “Merry Chrissy and the Naughty or Nice Truth” has finished production, 2 weeks before its scheduled release. There were times that I nearly gave up or shelved it in fear of releasing a substandard product. There were times I believed I couldn’t get the artwork done in a week due to being sick or just being plain tired after work. There were times when family members and friends just didn’t “get” what I was doing and appeared not to care. There were times I passed on social outings. I sticked to a schedule and motivated myself to finish the project on time and (sort of) on budget. What was originally a NaNoWriMo project that was complete, but unreadable, turned out to be a much better cohesive and tighter story. Now, that simple ideal which actually began on a boring Super Bowl Sunday back in 2010 is finally becoming a reality.
I’m no J.K. Rowling (yet), but this is my baby. This is my crown jewel. Molded out of daydreaming, imagination and insanity. I completed the nerd marathon. It’s rewarding, but the rewards haven’t come just yet. I have a motto that I follow called “stay humble until the end.” In other words, be modest, don’t be arrogant and most importantly be realistic. I’m not looking for a million sales or looking to spam my twitter feed endlessly about my book, I just want the world to see the fruits of my labor.
In the upcoming days and weeks, I will continue to share my insight in creating this book. It is a personal, yet relatable story, only shaped in the mind of a 9-year old girl obsessed with Christmas. The release date on December 5th is not too far behind and I can’t wait to show the world of “Merry Chrissy”. Feel free to read a preview of the first 3 chapters of the story in PDF or ePub formats. Preorders are available at all major eBook retailers and in Paperback soon.
Ronald Hennessy 