The Sound of Christmas

‘It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas,’ as Bing Crosby didn’t sing in one of the most iconic secular songs of the festive season.

These days, the two things that excite me most about Christmas are seeing all the fairy lights appearing in the darkness and hearing Christmas music. I’m always relatively late putting up Christmas decorations in my house, rushing to get our tree into the front window minutes before the lights are turned on at The Plain (our village green). But I’m always early with the festive music.

Not for me the modern stuff. I do understand the appeal of such classics as Slade’s “Merry Christmas Everybody”, and I have a soft spot for pop’s best two festive duets – Bing Crosby and David Bowie singing “Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy” and The Pogues’ and Kirsty McColl’s “Fairytale of New York”.

But I prefer traditional Christmas music. I’m bashing out carols on the piano and dusting off the Handel’s “Messiah” CDs as soon as Remembrance Day is over. I love it all, from ushering in Advent with “Hills of the North, Rejoice” (rumoured to our vicar’s favourite), to finally being allowed to sing the “Christmas Day only” verse of “O Come, All Ye Faithful”.

(Do you like my knitted ‘paper’ chains?)

Some of my earliest childhood memories of Christmas involve carol singing.

I vividly recollect at the age of about six being made to sit on the edge of the school hall stage beside a boy called Patrick  to sing “In the Bleak Midwinter” together in front of the whole school. I have no idea why we weren’t allowed to stand. Maybe our teacher thought if we threw ourselves into our singing, we might fall off the stage.

My favourite carol, ready to be played on my grandma’s antique piano

Christmas carols still feature heavily in my festive schedule, whether singing in the church choir, on The Plain, or in the car to brighten a journey on a dark winter’s night. “In the Bleak Midwinter” is still my favourite.

Little wonder then that when I was writing my latest book, Christmas with Sophie Sayers, carols kept popping into my head and onto the page.

But the final tale in this new collection of festive short stories is inspired by a different kind of music that I’ve come to appreciate more recently: church bells. I confess I hadn’t even thought of them as being a musical instrument until the new bells were installed at St Mary’s and I took up ringing. Before then, I’d just thought of them as the source of a loud noise serving a public information purpose, like a tuneful version of the foghorn. (Don’t tell the Tower Captain!)

The many sounds of Christmas will resonate around the village as the year draws to a close. Whatever soundtrack you prefer for your festive celebrations, I wish you the happiest of Christmases and the best of New Years.

Recommended Short Stories for Christmas

When life in the run-up to Christmas can seem so busy and stressful, it can be hard to find time to get stuck into full-length novels. Short stories which may be read and digested at a sitting are the perfect alternative – and I have two collections of stories that will help you destress and fill you with Christmas spirit.

CHRISTMAS WITH SOPHIE SAYERS

Christmas with Sophie Sayers is part of the Tales from Wendlebury Barrow series – gentle, funny tales of village life, set in the same world as my Sophie Sayers Cozy Mysteries, but with not a murder in sight! It’s available in paperback and ebook and makes a great stocking filler or gift-to-self.

Available to order online here from a multitude of stores.

Signed copies of the paperback available on request (UK only) for £6 plus cost of postage – just send me a message via the contact form to place an order.

Noe available in ebook and paperback – the perfect stocking filler!What Readers Say about Christmas with Sophie Sayers

“These are feelgood short stories, where even being snowed in for Christmas seems to be a jolly jape” – book reviewer London Lass

“Ideal for a Christmas stocking filler – these delightful short stories about Sophie Sayers and her boyfriend, bookshop keeper Hector, can’t fail to please!” – Helen Hollick

“A trip to Wendlebury Barrow is always a treat, and at Christmas when the village tree is decorated, the carol singers out in force, and the nativity play in full rehearsal it’s especially appealing. A lovely collection of gentle, charming stories with a festive theme.” – Lucienne Boyce

“This new collection of short stories is sprinkled with gentle festive warmth, banter and humour, and with not a murder in sight. Oh — and you will come away an expert in the art of bell-ringing! A lovely stocking filler. Merry Christmas!” – Karen Inglis

STOCKING FILLERS

Unrelated to any of my novels, and published back in 2014, Stocking Fillers, my collection of 12 short stories on different aspects of Christmas, still sells well at Christmas, particularly in paperback. I guess readers are taking the title as a hint to buy it as a stocking filler present for friends and relations. Both books also make great Secret Santa gifts. Being slim books, they’re priced at just £5.99 for the paperback, so very affordable, whether for others or as a treat-to-self to get you into festive mood!

 Available to order online here from a multitude of stores.

Signed copies of the paperback available on request (UK only) for £6 plus cost of postage – just send me a message via the contact form to place an order.

 

What Readers Sayabout Stocking Fillers

“A delightful celebration of all things Christmas, Stocking Fillers features 12 funny, thoughtful, surprising and heartwarming tales that will get you in the festive spirit. Debbie Young’s writing is thoroughly engaging. If you’re looking to put some of the magic back into Christmas, and rediscover the reason for the season, start by treating yourself to this lovely read.” – Rebecca Lang

“From the opener, The Christmas Letter with its quirky take on male self-absorption, through the too clever by half boy in Do You Believe, each tale delights with unexpected twists and turns. More importantly, Debbi Young writes with such a keen eye on the vagaries of human nature, both good and bad, but never just ordinary. If you get a chance to pick this up for Christmas you’re in for a treat. But remember, a book isn’t just for Christmas, and this one will make you smile all year long.” – David Penny

“I thoroughly enjoyed this collection of 12 (very) short stories – one for each of the twelve days of Christmas. Well written; each story as thoroughly enjoyable as the next. Some witty, some intriguing, all excellent. I’ll definitely pick this up to read again next Christmas.” – book reviewer Dee, via Amazon

“I’m not normally a short stories reader but I adored this little book. So well written, such an interesting mix, and perfect bedtime reading. Put me right in the mood for Christmas. Loved it.” – JD Kabler