Originally. Lee wrote the story as a Christmas keepsake for his two grade school children. That was 1992. Then Christmas, originally self-published in 1995, Lee and Donna, as husband and wife, released the book, with Donna adding illustrations. Distributed locally in their hometown of Richmond, the book proved to be exceptionally popular.

It would go on to be nationally published in Christmas 1996, with a 300,000 printing and optioned as a CBS “movie of the week”. Over the years, The Special Guest has become a perennial modern-day classic, warming the hearts of thousands of readers with its timeless and touching lesson in the power of forgiveness. All while told in a setting we like to believe is what makes Christmas so magical.