From: Josh and Jamie Waterston
Caerphilly, Virginia
To: Santa Claus
The North Pole
Dear Santa,
This is Rob Langslow writing to you on behalf of my nephews, Joshua Blake Waterston (Josh) and James Langslow Waterston (Jamie). They both assure me that they have been very good this year. Except for the time they dyed Spike purple, and if they’d known how upset Mommy and Daddy would be they wouldn’t have done it, and they’re very sorry. And Spike didn’t mind. So they deserve to be on the “nice” list.
Josh and Jamie would very much like to have electric train sets. They want me to be sure and tell you that they don’t want just one train set, because if they only had one set they would have to share and they always get a lot of time outs when they have to share.
Josh would like to have a shark. Not a stuffed shark, a real one that he could put in the bathtub to eat Jamie when he is bad. If he can’t have a real one, a stuffed one would be okay as long as it is really big and has sharp teeth and can scare Jamie.
Jamie would like to have a Tyrannosaurus Rex to bite Josh if Josh puts his shark in Jamie’s bath, because Tyrannosaurus Rexes are much bigger and meaner than sharks and make bigger bites. And if he can’t have a real Tyrannosaurus Rex he would like a remote control one that makes scary noises and bites.
Josh would like his shark to be remote controlled too, and as big as a dinosaur and with sharper teeth.
Moving on.
Josh would like a ferret. He says you shouldn’t tell Mommy and Daddy about it before you bring it, because they’d only say no, but he’s positive that once they met the ferret they would really like it.
Jamie doesn’t need any pets for himself, but he thinks Mommy and Daddy would really like it if you brought them each a white mouse, or possibly a Russian winter white dwarf hamster. And he could help out by letting them put the cage in his room.
Jamie would like a bicycle. Not a tricycle, but a real big-kid bicycle.
With training wheels for now. Because he’s getting too big for a tricycle. Josh also thinks this is a good idea, and he wants a blue bike. Jamie says that’s not fair, because he asked first and he wants a blue bike. Josh says too bad, and you should bring Jamie a red one. Or Jamie could have a blue bike as long as it was a very different blue.
(Hey, guys—I have an idea. How about if I give you bikes for Christmas, and we could go together and pick them out and make sure they’re different from each other. Sound good?)
Okay. Sorry, Santa. Forget the bike request; we’ll be taking care of that locally.
Jamie and Josh would also like some more toy cars and trucks. Yes, even though they already have dozens. There’s so such thing as too many cars and trucks.
And they would like lots of candy in their stockings, and please remember that Josh likes dark chocolate and Jamie likes milk chocolate and even Mommy won’t eat white chocolate.
Josh and Jamie join me in hoping you and Mrs. Claus and the elves had a very nice year and didn’t have to work too hard. They send love to Rudolph and all the other reindeer.
Signed
Josh
Jamie
(and their uncle Rob)
You can read more about the Langslow family in Duck The Halls, the 16th book in the “Meg Langslow” mystery series, published by Minotaur. The first book in the series is Murder with Peacocks. Books are available at retail and online booksellers.
Donna is giving away one (1) copy of DUCK THE HALLS. Leave a comment to be included in the giveaway. Contest ends October 26; US entries only.
Meet the author
Donna Andrews is the author of sixteen (soon to be seventeen!) books in her Meg Langslow series from Minotaur. After Duck the Halls (October 2013) comes The Good, The Bad, and the Emus (July 2014).
You can reach Donna at her website, on Twitter or on Facebook.
Love these books by Donna Andrews. Can’t wait to read this one. Thanks for offering the giveaway.
Sounds like a good read. Can’t wait to get my hands on one 🙂
I love Christmas story lines, can’t wait to read this one
I enjoy reading Holiday themed books this time of year. Thank you for the chance to win
This is such a great series. Dee
LOVE this cover!!!!! it’s so adorable!!
thank you for the giveaway!!
I do love this series. Thanks for the opportunity!
What a delightful letter! I have not followed this series but this letter has piqued my interest and I will be looking for it!!!!!
That is a classic letter to Santa! Love it.
Six Geese A-Slaying was the first Meg book I read and I had to run out and buy the rest, I’m so excited for another Christmas adventure. Hey Donna, how about a Halloween book next? Keep on writing!
I love the title ! Would love to win, thanks for the chance !
My book, according to Amazon, is on it’s way. I leave for Ireland on Monday morning…want to bet it gets here Monday afternoon?
Fantastic stories from a wonderful author with a great imagination.
What a cute letter and title! Thanks for the chance to win!
Cute letter!
I stumbled on your Meg Langslow series quite by accident, but absolutely LOVE every single book. I’d love to win the book, but either way, I will get it! 🙂
Love your books. They are great for a re-read as well! Love to pick up old friends and renew the friendship!!!
Very cute letter. I have only ben able to read one of Meg’s books so would love to win.
One of my favorite series! Can’t wait to read the next one!
It’s the time of year when I start looking for holiday themed mysteries–so this one will go on my list.
suefarrell.farrell@gmail.com
This letter is adorable what a great way to start my Friday. i love this series, it just gets better and better
Very nice, thanks for the giveaway. Just a note to Josh and Jamie, If you want to stay on the nice list for good try to be better at sharing. Merry Christmas everybody!
I love Donna’s books. They always bring a smile to my face.
So enjoyed the bird series so far. I look forward to reading the latest. Love all the titles!
Me, Me, Me, Meeeeeeeeeeeee Pick me Dru, I love that series.
Jamies and Josh sound like my twin granddaughters, Mylee and Krystina. Sharing doesn’t work too well for them, either.
I love these books! So glad to hear there is another.
Smart of the boys to get the closest family lawyer to write to Santa on their behalf. Or do the twins have him on retainer?
I positively adore this laugh out loud series. Can’t wait to see what’s going on with everyone this Christmas-and tell Santa I’ll take the white chocolate-I love it! Thanks.
I’m still savouring Andrews’ books because I don’t want to run out of birds. The covers are striking and the laughs are inside. Keep them coming. Slipping in a holiday theme should prolong the fun. Count me in. judydee22002@yahoo dot com
It’s so fun getting to know the twins as the begin to grow up! Love the stories….can’t wait to be able to read this one!
I’m glad to see the twins featured and hopefully they will be in the books, too. Is Rob more mature than the twins, do you think? 🙂
It sounds like a great read. kaye.killgore@comcast.net
This sounds like a great series and lots of fun. Have not read anything by Donna yet so will be looking forward to doing so. Would be delighted to win her book of course. Thank you for the opportunity to get to know about this book and the series.
This is one of my favorite series. 🙂 And I love the letter to Santa!
I hadn’t read this series, it sounds great. I love holiday theme books. I better get reading. Thanks for the chance to win.
Love this series and I am looking forward to reading Duck the Halls. It would be great to win a copy.
I’ve read all of the books in the Meg Langslow series and all are very enjoyable. I can’t wait to read this one.
What a nice sensible Mommy. I won’t eat white chocolate either.
I love the series. Meg’s family reminds me of my own in some ways – up in your business and batty as can be…
What a cute cover and title!
wfnren(at)aol(dot)com
I LOVE the letter from the twins 🙂 Sounds like something my boys would write
Love this series! Even went back to “read” the audio books. They’re that good. Most mysteries I read once & I’m done. Not so with this series. Her Turing Hopper series was great too!
Knew I forgot something … Just in case…
Tennisace50(at)yahoo(dot)com
Oh my gosh, I REALLY wanna win this one
Thanks Donna for letting us see the boys’ Christmas list.
I started reading the Meg Langslow series at work (I work in a library) and loved them so much I started my own collection. Thank you for a very entertaining read.
The new book just arrived. Cannot wait to start it. I just love the series. Thank you ,Donna!
contest is closed.