Merry Christmas

Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee

Buon Natale e Felice Anno Nuovo

Feliz Navadad

Christmas greetings to all visitors to www.beattiesbookblog.com/ and all the best for 2008. Rather than send out cards we have made a donation to the Child Cancer Foundation.

Bookman Beattie is heading to New York today for a family Christmas in that great city. It is likely to be white Christmas which will add to the excitement.

I will be posting on my blog from time to time over the holiday season particularly about bookstores visited, books bought and news from the world of books.

One of the Christmas cards I always enjoy receiving each year is the one sent by the family operated Richards Literary Agency here in Auckland, NZ. They always have a great message.

Here is this year's message from them:

From your parents you learn love and laughter and how to put one foot before the other.

But when books are opened you discover you have wings.

May your Chistmas stocking be filled with good books.

And amen to that my friends at Richards Literary Agency.

Their card also incorporated a copy of the 2007 portrait that Barbara Richards painted of her husband, veteran book trade personality Ray Richards, which I am pleased to share with you.

It captures the essence of a man who has spent his entire working life in this industry, with great distinction. He is, for my money, the Father of the NZ book trade.

Merry Christmas Ray.