Elise Stephens

Elise Stephens

About

Elise Stephens received the Eugene Van Buren Prize for Fiction from the University of Washington in 2007, where she also received her degree in Creative Writing.  Moonlight and Oranges is her first novel and was a quarter-finalist for the 2011 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

 

She lives in Seattle, Washington with her husband where they both enjoy swing dancing, eating tiramisu, and savoring the flavor of local live theater.   

Santa's Birthday Gift

Santa's Birthday Gift

0.0
0 ratings

Description

<p><span style="color:#000000;line-height:115%;font-family:Arial, 'sans-serif';font-size:10pt;">Santa’s Birthday Gift was written in response to a grandchild’s question, after reading the story of the Nativity.<span>  </span>She asked, “But where’s Santa?”<span>  </span>This story tells the story of the Nativity and then goes on to tell the story about how when Jesus is born, Santa sees the star at the North Pole and travels to see the baby.  Since he is a toymaker, he brings his bag of toys - and offers them to the Christ Child, and then to all the people of the town.  His birthday gift to Jesus is a promise to bring gifts to all good boys and girls each year on the Christ Child's birthday</span></p>

Story Behind The Book

A modern retelling of the Cupid and Psyche love story from Greek myth.

Reviews

From Amazon.com:<br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom:.5em;">6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-right:5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_5_0" title="5.0 out of 5 stars"><span>5.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><strong>Beautiful story</strong>, November 11, 2011</span> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A1KMOOAK3MHRP6/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="#003399">Lainie Mullen</font></span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A1KMOOAK3MHRP6/ref=cm_cr_dp_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview"><font color="#003399">See all my reviews</font></a></div></div> <div style="clear:both;"><font color="#003399"></font></div></div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;" class="tiny"><strong><span class="h3color tiny"><font color="#e47911">This review is from: </font></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-and-Oranges-ebook/dp/B0065U78MC/ref=cm_cr_dp_orig_subj"><font color="#003399">Moonlight and Oranges (Kindle Edition)</font></a></strong> </div>Elise Stephens' Moonlight &amp; Oranges swept me away on a delectable journey of the senses and soul. <br /><br />This can't-put-it-down novel tells the story of the romance and character growth of two adorably imperfect lovers, Kestrin and Lorona. Stephens' story takes a refreshing turn from typical love stories by following the myth of Cupid and Psyche. Kestrin and Lorona know at once they're destined, but differences and shattered trust drive a wedge into their relationship. The ensuing romance and adventures are more exciting than most real-life dramas, but the deeper themes of rebuilding trust and finding purpose are universal, especially in this age of jaded relationships and fleeting thrills.<br /><br />If you like romance, if you love satisfying endings, if you know that real life is not always how it's painted in fiction, you should read this story. You'll relate to it. And you'll enjoy it too. <br /><br /><div style="margin-bottom:.5em;">8 of 8 people found the following review helpful: </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"><span style="margin-right:5px;"><span class="swSprite s_star_4_0" title="4.0 out of 5 stars"><span>4.0 out of 5 stars</span></span> </span><span style="vertical-align:middle;"><strong>Not a perfect work, but an enjoyable one</strong>, November 11, 2011</span> </div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;"> <div> <div style="float:left;">By </div> <div style="float:left;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/A3L0FR3BUUEKN0/ref=cm_cr_dp_pdp"><span style="font-weight:bold;"><font color="#003399">D. Scott Phillips</font></span></a> - <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-reviews/A3L0FR3BUUEKN0/ref=cm_cr_dp_auth_rev?ie=UTF8&amp;sort_by=MostRecentReview"><font color="#003399">See all my reviews</font></a></div></div> <div style="clear:both;"><font color="#003399"></font></div></div> <div style="margin-bottom:.5em;" class="tiny"><strong><span class="h3color tiny"><font color="#e47911">This review is from: </font></span><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-and-Oranges-ebook/dp/B0065U78MC/ref=cm_cr_dp_orig_subj"><font color="#003399">Moonlight and Oranges (Kindle Edition)</font></a></strong> </div>I should not have liked this book. I'm not a fan of romance. I don't read a lot of YA books. I read it because of a friend's referral. And when I learned that it was based on the Greek mythology of Cupid and Psyche, a story that had been masterfully retold by one of my favorite authors, it seemed doomed to a fast perusal followed by a quick dislike. <br /><br />What I found was not a perfect work, but an enjoyable one, filled with wit and humor and characters that are quirky yet believable, and set in a Seattle that is both familiar and mythologized. It is not a regurgitation of an old story but the product of an author passionately exploring themes of love, betrayal, and what it really means to say &quot;I do&quot;. The elements of the Greek myth are clearly present, though the casual reader can enjoy the story without ever knowing of its origin. <br /><br />If you're a Seattle native, you'll discover the local references like delightful Easter eggs, but the story transcends its geography. If you're looking for a Harlequin romance, you'll probably want to search elsewhere, as this is the mature work of an author who deftly handles her prose and descriptions, and she will force you to think about your life and your relationships as she explores the rocky crags of marriage in a tactful way, without a wisp of steam. <br /><br />I would recommend this book to my sisters, my mother, and any of my women friends, though I won't be buying it for my nephew. On the other hand, I believe that any men, who want to learn about the women in their life (especially if he is married or thinking about getting married), could read this and find an enjoyable place to do so.