Holiday Specials๐ŸŽ„

Now officially supporting Samaritanโ€™s Purse & Operation Christmas Child.

See below for more information

This Holiday Season, Lee and Donna Allen, Author & Illustrator, are supporting Samaritanโ€™s Purse & Operation Christmas Child, supporting this ministry with proceeds from $5 of each book sold. ๐ŸŽ„

Click below for more information

special 30th
anniversary edition

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30TH ANNIVERSARY
coffee table
EDITION

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๐ŸŽง Just Produced: A Highly Immersive Audiobook Experience!

Featuring multiple dynamic voices and original music, this high-production
audio experience brings the story to life like never before.
You wonโ€™t want to miss it.

๐ŸŽ‰ SPECIAL COMBO DEAL! ๐ŸŽ‰

The Special Guest Hardcover + Audiobook

Originally $49.95, now only $37.42 โ€“ Save 25%!

The Sequel

LEGEND OF THE WOODEN STAR

French-flap Paper Back Edition
Reg $19.95

For Anyone WHO HAS EVER
PRAYED FOR A MIRACLE

First published in 1995, The Special Guest, A Christmas Story would go on to be a national bestseller with 500,000 copies in print. Now for its 30th Anniversary, the Allens have published a special "Coffee Table" edition available in hardcover
with embossed dust jacket or fancy French-flap paperback. The Allen's goal with this 30th Anniversary Edition
is to reach a whole new generation of readers.


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The STORY

The holidays have arrived, and Richmond is bustling with activity. For the Reid family, however, this Christmas looms as a painful reminder of the accident that changed their lives forever one year ago.

The story opens on Christmas weekend with teenager Scott Reid working his part-time bag boy job at the local Food-Krops Super Market. That afternoon, Scott notices an elderly man sitting outside in the blustery cold, reading a book for hours.

Concerned, Scott approaches the man to offer help. He soon learns that the out-of-town strangerโ€”who dresses in clothing from the same era as his 1949 vintage Packard automobileโ€”calls himself Zachery. Zachery explains that he was passing through when his car โ€œjust up and quit running.โ€

Not wanting the man to be stranded during the holiday weekend, Scott invites him home for dinner. Once their guest arrives, unexpected events begin to unfold, leaving the Reid family wondering if more than mere chance brought the stranger to their home.

As the weekend progresses, the Reids are challenged to โ€œbuild a bridgeโ€ with the man responsible for hitting their daughter while driving under the influenceโ€”a tragic accident that left 9-year-old Jenny in a coma.

The story reaches its climax on Christmas morning when the Reids discover that their guest has mysteriously left in the middle of the night. It is only then that they uncover the true identity of their special guestโ€”and the miracle he leaves behind.

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meet the author &
artist today

Author

After college and military serviceโ€”where Lee served as an officer in the Airborneโ€”he began his career in business, a vocation he continues to this day. Still, his true passion is writing. He is currently working on producing a full-feature film adaptation of
The Special Guest.

Artist

Meet the Artist. Donna is an award-winning artist and illustrator. Her love is painting childrenโ€™s portraits. In addition to painting, she teaches watercolor to aspiring artists.

Lee & Donna

They are the proud parents of five grown and married children, and now have a growing number of grandchildren โ€” currently six, with the seventh on the way! They often say,
โ€œWhen all is said and done, our greatest legacy will be our children and grandchildren.โ€

This 30th Anniversary Edition of THE SPECIAL GUEST is lovingly dedicated to their grandchildren.

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backstory

Lee originally wrote The Special Guest in 1992 as a Christmas keepsake for his two grade-school children. Later, after he and Donna were newly married, they added Donnaโ€™s illustrations and self-published the book for local distribution in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia. Its popularity quickly grew โ€” selling 6,500 copies locally โ€” which led New Yorkโ€“based Kensington Publishing to republish it for national distribution, printing 500,000 copies. The book became a national bestseller.

The Special Guest has since been called a modern-day classic, often compared to the film It's a Wonderful Life. Lee and Donna are both humbled and grateful to know that thousands of readers have embraced their story. Whether itโ€™s the touching lesson on the power of forgiveness or the mysterious identity of the Reidsโ€™ special guest, the book continues to capture the timeless magic of Christmas.

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samples of illustrations throughout the book

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the special
guest

๐ŸŽ‰ SPECIAL COMBO โ€“ SAVE 25%! ๐ŸŽ‰

Get any combo โ€“ either both Books, or a Book + Audiobook โ€“
and save 25%!

Reg $49.90 โ†’ Now Only $37.42

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25% OFF

testimonials

Lisa M.

A wonderful short story with a very special messageโ€ฆThis is a good book to share with all family members young and old!

Judy J.

This story portrays the true meaning of Christmas. I love it! A story of hope, forgiveness, and joyโ€ฆโ€ฆ.a story everyone should enjoy reading.

Connie D.

Fantastic bookโ€ฆI will read it again! If you donโ€™t read this bookโ€ฆyou are missing out on something special!
Please read!

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