Twas the night before Christmas when all through the lair,
not a creature was stirring but some vampires-- and Jane Slayre.
The vampires sneered, all full of derision,
but Jane staked their black hearts with skillful precision.

She brushed dust from her hands, and went back to the house,
smoothed back her hair, and straightened her blouse;
Rochester waited, in his nightclothes.
Jane went straight into his arms, planted a kiss on his nose.

"My dear, you look frazzled. You should be in bed."

"But I couldn't sleep, darling, without you," he said.

"Well, here I am now. And in bed we should be.
Santa won't come if we stay here near the tree."

"You're right," he agreed, heading off to the stairs.

Jane replied, "One minute, I'll be right there."

She adjusted the stockings and checked on the fire,
put out cookies for Santa, and turned to retire.
When a gloved hand reached out, touching Jane on the arm.
Her instincts were roused. She would come to no harm.

She reached in her pocket, for stakes sharper than her fear.
No vamp dare attack her in the home she held dear!
Turning on her heel, she prepared for her strike,
when she realized it was Santa, and his helper elf Mike.

"Oh, Santa." She laughed. "I'm happy it's you!"
She dropped the stake and whispered under her breath, "Phew."

She offered some cookies, but he turned to get busy.
He and Mike worked so fast that it made Jane feel dizzy.
In a blink, presents were delivered and stockings were filled.
Jane was amazed, and in fact, she was thrilled.

"Presents? Why, thank you!" she said, hands on hips.
He winked at her, then, and put his finger to his lips.

"No thanks required," Elf Mike said, "For you work hard, too."
"We're happy to do it. We celebrate you!"

Jane was so touched. Her eyes? They had teared.
But before she could say more, poof! Santa and Mike disappeared.

She heard them exclaim, though they were out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!"

Twas the night before Christmas when all through the lair,
not a creature was stirring but some vampires-- and Jane Slayre.

The vampires sneered, all full of derision,
but Jane staked their black hearts with skillful precision.

She brushed dust from her hands, and went back to the house,
smoothed back her hair, and straightened her blouse;

Rochester waited, in his nightclothes.
Jane went straight to his arms, planted a kiss on his nose.

"My dear, you look frazzled. You should be in bed."
"But I couldn't sleep, darling, without you," he said.

"Well, here I am now. And in bed we should be.
Santa won't come if we stay here near the tree."

"You're right," he agreed, heading off to the stairs.
Jane replied, "One minute, I'll be right there."

She adjusted the stockings and checked on the fire,
put out cookies for Santa, and turned to retire.

When a gloved hand reached out, touching Jane on the arm.
Her instincts were roused. She would come to no harm.

She reached in her pocket, for stakes sharper than her fear.
No vamp dare attack her in the home she held dear!

Turning on her heel, she prepared for her strike,
when she realized it was Santa, and his helper elf Mike.

"Oh, Santa." She laughed. "I'm happy it's you!"
She dropped the stake and whispered under her breath, "Phew."

She offered some cookies, but he turned to get busy.
He and Mike worked so fast that it made Jane feel dizzy.

In a blink, presents were delivered and stockings were filled.
Jane was amazed, and in fact, she was thrilled.

"Presents? Why, thank you!" she said, hands on hips.
He winked at her, then, and put his finger to his lips.

"No thanks required," Elf Mike said, "For you work hard, too."
"We're happy to do it. We celebrate you!"

Jane was so touched. Her eyes? They had teared.
But before she could say more, poof! Santa and Mike disappeared.

She heard them exclaim, though they were out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!"

Congratulations to my co-author Charles Dickens for scoring the Oprah Book Club pick for Tale of Two Cities and Great Expectations! 

Charles and I have been hard at work putting finishing touches on GRAVE EXPECTATIONS, coming from Gallery Books in May 2011.

Grave Expectations

 This holiday season, I'm grateful for friends, family, and readers. It has been a tough 2010 for me at times, but filled with love and laughter along with the tears, and your support has helped get me through it all. So big cheers, warm hugs, and my very best wishes for you and yours.

Love,

Sherri