New Books: September 20, 2025: Grafton and Scratch Publishers
Contact: pamelamccollwork@gmail.com
Distributed by Baker and Taylor Publisher Services, Ashland, Ohio.
Wondrous Mrs. Claus: A Literary and Pictorial Review of the Christmas Character written by Pamela McColl, 96 pages, full color, hardcover. 8.5 x 9.5, $24.00 SRP. ISBN 9781927979389
“Wondrous Mrs. Claus is the result of a literary sleuthing endeavor that led to my discovery of dozens of works and images related to Mrs. Claus that have been all but forgotten. It was thrilling to find these works in vintage periodicals, newspapers, journals, and books and to be able to share them with readers.” – Pamela McColl
This is the first work to extensively chronicle Mrs. Claus, as presented and published through the years. The book contains unique content for enthusiasts of Christmas culture and storytelling to enjoy. A selection of stories, poems, illustrations, and art works, chosen for their significant contribution to the legacy of Mrs. Claus, appear in Wondrous Mrs. Claus. Mrs. Claus, the wife, and partner to the global superstar Santa Claus arrived on the scene in America in 1849. The character has undergone multiple reinventions over the decades - described as a fairy, an elf, a saint, a spirit, a redhead, brunette and blonde, portrayed as a girl, young woman, a wife, mother, and a grandmother of old. Through all her various incarnations she has evolved as the premier heroine of Christmas literature.
“As a kindred spirit to her benevolent and merry husband, Mrs. Claus embodies living with the essence of Christmas in one’s heart.” – Pamela McColl
“Mrs. Santa Claus and Jessie Brown” published in 1869, was a remarkable find, as where the Mrs. Claus stories, written by authors with opposing views on the merits of the women’s suffrage movement (1870-1920).” – Pamela McColl
James Rees, of Philadelphia, PA., was the first author to mention the character Santa Claus appearing with his wife. Rees’ short story “A Christmas Legend” was published in 1849.
Mrs. Claus was first mentioned by name in the December 1851 issue of the Yale Literary Magazine. “Suddenly, in bounded that jolly, fat and funny old elf, Santa Claus. His array was indescribably fantastic. He seemed to have done his best; and we should think, had Mrs. Santa Claus to help him.”
Mrs. Claus’ debut on stage was in a 1854 production, written and performed by patients at The New York State Lunatic Asylum in Utica, NY, with the script published in the institution’s magazine, The Opal: “A pause was had, and a solemn stillness pervaded the assembly; the ringing of a bell announced the approach of Mrs. Santa Claus and her baby and with great joy they were greeted, and her Ladyship joined in the dance….”
Presentation: Pamela McColl will be touring New England and visiting Old Sturbridge Village for the launch of Wondrous Mrs. Claus on September 20. On November 14, McColl will attend the world premier of Mrs. Claus – produced by the Goodspeed Opera House of East Haddam, CT. She will be presenting and signing books at museums, bookshops, and libraries on her fall book tour to Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Connecticut.
“Mrs. Claus is an effervescent, and endearing character. She is a positive force, and her story both inspires and delights. Mrs. Claus is a vibrant role model for modern times, representing generosity, thoughtfulness, kindness, cooperation and partnership.” – Pamela McColl
New Book: What Would Mrs. Claus Do? Where There Is A Wish There Is A Way, written by Pamela McColl and Lindsay Stewart. Available September 20, 2025. 96 pages, color illustrations and photography, hardcover with dustjacket. 7 x 5.5, $18.95 SRP. ISBN 978192797940.2 (September 20, 2025, E-book 978-1-927979419 $4.99 (September 2026)
In the genre that brought readers What Would Dolly/Grace/Audrey/Frida Do? comes this gem of an inspirational gift book. Using an interview format the pages are full of words of wisdom, direct from Mrs. Claus. Her helpful tips on how to live with the spirit of Christmas in your heart will delight as will learning Mrs. Claus’ “Fa-La-La” Philosophy. Mrs. Claus gently reminds readers that they are never too old for wishing, dreaming, and living a truly marvelous and merry life.
Biography: Pamela McColl is an award-winning author and presenter. After studying art and history, McColl worked for 25 years as a corporate art consultant and art publisher. In the 1990’s she formed a book publishing company devoted to books of social and historical significance.
Twas the Night Before Christmas, edited by Santa Claus for the Benefit of Children of the 21st Century published by McColl in 2012 was the first “smoke-free” edition of the iconic poem. The omission of the image of Santa smoking and the edited out the reference to a pipe and wreath of smoke from the famous work created an international media sensation: Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, The Wall Street Journal, the Associated Press, Vanity Fair, the New York Post, Barbara Walters on The View, with news outlets notably in the UK, Australia, China and India covering the story. The smoke-free publication ranked as a best-selling book on Amazon.com in the category of American poetry in 2012 and won the Global E-book Best Christian Book of 2012, a Mom’s Choice Honor Award, a Gold Medal from the Moonbeam Children's Book Awards, and in 2013 four Benjamin Franklin book awards from the IBPA – Independent Book Publishers Association of America and applauds from public health spokespersons.
McColl’s book, Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem, in celebration of the poem’s bicentennial was released in 2022. The 264-page full color art-history book won a Silver Benjamin Franklin Award for history, and a five-star rating by Indie Readers and was featured on ABC News, PBS, NPR, and in The Epoch Times, The Republican, The Washington Post, Woman’s Day, Women’s World magazines and The Economist. In 2023, McColl, Twas the Night Before Christmas and embarked on a multi-state tour. Highlights of the tour included the acceptance of McColl’s nomination of Clement Clarke Moore into the New York State Library Writer’s Hall of Fame, the receipt of a proclamation from the Major of the City of New York of a commemorative Clement Clarke Moore Day.
Biography: Lindsay Stewart is a second-generation Mrs. Claus with two decades of Christmas performances under her holly-trimmed belt. Stewart is a graduate of Clemson University with a degree in English Literature. Lindsay and her husband Santa Claus Michael, live in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Presentations: “Her engaging manner, historical knowledge, and the detective work she shared that she put into tying all the elements of the book together kept our audience’s rapt attention. They would have listened to her for hours. The book is visually exquisite.” – Geralyn Huba, Museum Director, Skaneateles Historical Society.
Pamela McColl has presented at dozens of museums and libraries including the Redwood Library, RI, The Munson, The Hadden, The America Book Binder Museum, The Fenimore, Columbia University Alumni, The Grolier Club, Lyndhurst Mansion, Sunnyside House Museum, Warren/Irving Libraries, NY, Hearthstone Museum, The Rhode Island Historical Society, RI., Mark Twain House and Museum, Darien Library CT., The Santa Claus Museum – Indianapolis, The Carmel Clay Library Foundation, The Harriet Beecher Stowe Museum – Cincinnati, The Mayflower Society, Plymouth, MA, Santa Claus Museum, Santa Claus, IN., The Oakland Children’s Book Festival, CA., The Toledo Club, OH., The International Society of Real Bearded Santas, Christmas Place, TN, Santa Round-up, TX., Glow Convention, Dallas, Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, Copart Museum, The Tavern, Redwood Library, Odessa Historical Society, DE. Scheduled to speak in 2024 and 2025 in New York, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Washington State. McColl has been the guest on podcasts interested in cultural history and the holidays. Currently working on the construct of Christmas in America by women authors, artists, and activists and on a second book on Mrs. Santa Claus and the development of her character from an historical perspective.
Further Information: twasthenightbook.com. and on the link https://dc.alumni.columbia.edu/pamelamccoll.
Reviews:
Kirkus Review: https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/pamela-mccoll/twas-the-night-art-and-history-classic-christmas-poem/
Indie Reader: https://indiereader.com/book_review/twas-the-night-the-art-and-history-of-the-classic-christmas-poem/
Midwest Book Review: https://twasthenightbook.com/f/midwest-book-review
Grafton and Scratch Publisher holiday titles include:
Twas The Night Before Christmas Bicentennial Edition Hardcover dustjacket.ISBN:9781927979341 Twas The Night Before Christmas Board Book: ISBN 9781927979334 Twas The Night Before Christmas Spanish ISBN 9780987902351 The Boy Who Lived in Pudding Lane (1922 – story of Santa Claus as a young boy) by Sarah Addington, illustrated by Gertrude Kaye. Grafton edition 2014: ISBN 9781927979266
Grafton and Scratch Publishers website: twasthenightbook.com and mrsclausbookclub.com Instagram twasthebook_artandhistory Facebook: Pamela McColl, Twas the Night Before Christmas, Mrs. Claus’ Book Club.
Talks and Interviews:
Twas The Night Before Christmas: Pamela McColl presents on the history of the masterpiece “Twas the Night Before Christmas” and the life and times of Clement Clarke Moore.
Wondrous Mrs. Claus: A festive discussion on the development of the charming Mrs. Claus from the mid 1800s, with her arrival in New England, to present day. A series of early literary works will be read, including James Rees's Christmas Story and Katherine Lee Bate’s Goody Claus on a Sleigh Ride.
Three Champions of Christmas, Washington Irving, Clement Clarke Moore, and Charles Dickens. Seasonal writings by these three giants of Christmas literature along with a discussion on their contributions to the enduring customs and traditions of the holiday season.
The Making of American Christmas: 250 years, the shaping of the holidays, customs and traditions by artists, authors, and activists. An informative talk focusing on individuals who made significant contributions to the development of Christmas in America.
