Reviews from

Santa's Christmas Carol

The beginning...

42 total reviews 
Comment from Ric Myworld
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Well, I don't know how I missed this, but I'm certainly glad I went back and caught up. I promise to watch closer from now on to keep up. LOL. Thanks for sharing.

 Comment Written 01-Apr-2023


reply by the author on 01-Apr-2023
    LOL, well, there are not going to be a whole lot more. I am submitting the Santa story to a couple of magazines for consideration and a couple of contests outside of FanStory, and I will see how it does.

    That was my first story to be ATB and #1 for a month...I do know that you know what that is like. Thanks for reading. Terry.
Comment from John Ciarmello
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Terry, this is sensational! I knew you had a best-selling fictional story inside you somewhere. I absolutely loved this! It was plausible, engaging, and altogether a pleasure to read. Congratulations on the ATB!!! Best, JohnC

 Comment Written 23-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 23-Mar-2023
    John, thank you very much for the kind words and for the six stars. I am delighted you enjoyed the story. Terry.
Comment from Ulla
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Aw Terry, that was a wonderful take on how Father Christmas came to be. I really enjoyed reading this story and it's a great entry for the contest. Your imagination is wonderful. I wish you the best of luck. Ulla:)))

 Comment Written 23-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 23-Mar-2023
    Ulla, thank you. Terry.
Comment from Frank Malley
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Like other wish-fulfilling Christmas stories, "Santa's Christmas Carol" gives a fanciful and heart-warming basis for the questions kids inevitably develop about the Santa Claus Christmas story. Terry Broxson's story is cleverly and thoroughly built to cover the important details of the Christmas fantasy, a story I knew well and believed fervently as a young child. I wished for it to be true, and even as an adult I was thrilled, as was my sophisticated friend Seb Neilsen, by "Miracle on 34th Street."

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 22-Mar-2023
    Frank, thank you for the wonderful and kind review of my Santa story and for the six stars! As a kid, I, too, believed, and I too love "Miracle on 34th street." Terry.
reply by Frank Malley on 22-Mar-2023
    Christmas! What a strange and fantastic holiday.
Comment from Jessica Wheeler
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Terry-
I just had the absolute pleasure of reading your story, which I found to be nothing short of exceptional! I must admit, I found myself believing I was reading a historical account due to your meticulous attention to detail. I had to stop and scroll up to verify it was fantasy fiction! There are many stories of this kind, but yours truly stands out due to the realistic feel and unique spin, written in a way that brings your characters to life. Of the many aspects to adore, I was particularly taken with your opening. You explored connections the children had to the toys, and made it an engaging relatable, experience for boys and girls alike. I intend to read this to my girls tomorrow night, they'll be thrilled to embark on this wonderful adventure you've created- as any child would be!
<3 Jessica

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 22-Mar-2023
    Jessica, Wow, thank you so much for the wonderful review and the six stars. I have had a couple of people tell me they had read it to their grandkids. There will be a follow-up. Thanks. Terry.
Comment from Paul McFarland
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

When I first scanned down through this story, I thought it was a bit long and I would skip it. I'm glad I changed my mind. This is remarkable, Terry. In the beginning, I thought I was reading something that was true. In the end, I was wishing it was true. After I pondered on it for awhile, I thought maybe it was true.

 Comment Written 22-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 22-Mar-2023
    Paul, I really do appreciate and feel honored by your terrific review, and thank you for the six stars! I knew it was long and thought a lot of people would skip it, but the response has been humbling. Thank you. Terry.
Comment from karenina
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

I've read many a fantasy yarn about how Santa may have come to be, Terry, and none of them were as engaging as this one. It's at number one prose for the month for a reason. I love the way you've begun and captured the flavor of the times, and your characters are interesting and capture my imagination. I'm no pro but didn't notice any errors...

Good luck when you submit this for publication! For sheer creativity and cohesive plot weaves, you deserve six stars here...and a big old YES for publication there!

Karenina

 Comment Written 21-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 21-Mar-2023
    Karenina, thank you for the review and the six stars!! I will submit it to a couple of places and see what happens. I am honored by your words. Terry.
reply by karenina on 21-Mar-2023
    Let us know the results! I'd like to have a copy of that...
reply by the author on 21-Mar-2023
    From your lips, and Jay Squires, to God's ear.
reply by karenina on 21-Mar-2023
    I'll drink to that! (Orange and Spice Tea, today...it's quite tasty!) Gotta say, if JAY says it...you're in great shape. That man's definitely a pro! :)
Comment from Pam Lonsdale
Excellent
Not yet exceptional. When the exceptional rating is reached this is highlighted

Well, this flies in the face of Jay's explanation for how Santa came to be, but I like it too:-)

This is a long story for you, and a very long story for someone who has retired from writing. Can't help yourself, can you?

A creative fantasy - I like that you keep the mystery and magic of Santa about children and helping little ones all around the world. Beginning with the introduction of an orphanage, where less fortunate children end up.

Do we take it from the last line that there is more?

You might want to go through it again and look for changes in tense - I felt you went from past to present a few times, which is easy to do in long stories.

A good read, Terry. Good luck in the contest.

Pam

 Comment Written 21-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 21-Mar-2023
    Thank you for the review. I think I got the tenses fixed. But I will look again. Terry.
Comment from Anne Johnston
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Wow, this is a wonderful story for the Fantasy Writing Contest. You have put a lot of effort and concentration into this, I am sure. You had my interest right from the beginning, and I believed you were writing something that was non-fiction. I hope this does well in the contest.

 Comment Written 21-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 21-Mar-2023
    Anne, thank you very much for the kinds words and the six stars. I am delighted you enjoyed the story! Terry.
reply by Anne Johnston on 23-Mar-2023
    You are welcome, Terry
Comment from susand3022
Exceptional
This work has reached the exceptional level

Hi Terry! I love this story!
My only complaint is that your timing feels way off... Santa came along way before the 1850's! I'm thinking you might be off by about 100 years or so.
I love the imagination though... It reminded me of what the Hershey's did. They went one step further though... they actually ran the orphanage as well, so they knew the boys would have the best education to do the job they wanted in the factory. What more could an orphaned boy want back then?

Loved it!
Susan :)

Sorry I haven't been around in the last few weeks, the frigid cold has been killing my hands!

 Comment Written 21-Mar-2023


reply by the author on 21-Mar-2023
    Susan, welcome back, and thank you for the wonderful review and the six stars. I am delighted you liked the story. Terry.