Lee Allen
AUTHOR

Lee Allen

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MEET LEE & DONNA ALLEN

Author and Illustrator of The Special Guest

What began as a simple Christmas gift for their two young children became an unexpected publishing success—and a family Christmas tradition that continues thirty years later.

In 1992, Lee Allen wrote a twenty-page Christmas story for his children, Justin and Ellie. He never intended to publish it. It was simply a father’s Christmas gift to his family.

But his wife, Donna, who had long dreamed of illustrating children’s books, saw an opportunity to bring the story to life through her artwork.

Together, they created The Special Guest: A Christmas Story.

In 1995, Lee and Donna self-published their book and introduced it to readers through Richmond, Virginia’s popular Ukrop’s supermarket chain. Within five weeks, 6,500 copies had sold.

The book’s success attracted national attention, leading to a publishing agreement with Kensington Publishing in New York. Released nationally for Christmas 1996, The Special Guest became a holiday bestseller, with hundreds of thousands of copies in print.

Hollywood soon came calling, and CBS optioned the story for a television movie.

Now, thirty years later, Lee and Donna have returned to the story that started it all.

Their expanded and beautifully illustrated 30th Anniversary Edition features Donna’s original artwork and is dedicated to their grandchildren.

For Lee and Donna, bringing The Special Guest back to readers is more than a publishing project. It’s an opportunity to share the timeless message of Christmas with another generation of families.

And the story continues with Lee’s new novel, Legend of the Wooden Star, which carries readers into another extraordinary Christmas story.
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