The Story Behind My Favorite Christmas
When I moved back to Los Angeles in 2014, I was starting over. The city felt massive and unfamiliar, and I didn’t know my way around. To get my bearings—and to make ends meet—I decided to drive for Uber and Lyft. It seemed like the perfect way to learn the city while meeting new people. What I didn’t realize at the time was that this decision would lead to something far more meaningful than just navigating LA’s streets.
It was Christmas time, and the city was alive with twinkling lights and festive cheer. But for me, the season felt bittersweet. I was trying to find my footing in a new chapter of life, and the holidays only amplified the sense of uncertainty. To keep my mind active during the long hours of driving, I started asking my passengers a simple question: “What’s your favorite Christmas story?”At first, it was just a way to pass the time. But the answers I received were anything but ordinary. Some passengers shared funny anecdotes about quirky family traditions or chaotic holiday dinners. Others opened up about deeply personal moments—stories of love, loss, and redemption that had shaped their lives.
One story, in particular, stayed with me. A young woman told me about a Christmas when her family had almost nothing. Her mother, a single parent, worked tirelessly to make the holiday special, even though they couldn’t afford gifts or a proper tree. Despite their struggles, they managed to bring a scraggly tree into their home and decorated it with whatever they could find. An estranged family member showed up unexpectedly with a small carved sparrow as a gift. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to bring the family together and remind them of what truly mattered.
That story planted a seed in my mind. It was raw, emotional, and full of the kind of imperfect beauty that makes life meaningful. Over the years, as I continued to collect and write stories, I kept coming back to that one. It became the foundation for My Favorite Christmas, a book I’ve been working on ever since.
Writing this story has been a labor of love. It’s a tale about family, forgiveness, and the quiet magic of the holidays. It’s about finding joy in the smallest moments and realizing that love doesn’t have to be perfect to be powerful. The characters—Sophia, her children, and a long-lost family member—are inspired by the people I met during those long nights driving through LA. Their struggles and triumphs reflect the stories I heard, and their journey is one I hope will resonate with readers.
Now, after years of writing and revising, I’m thrilled to share My Favorite Christmas story with the world. It’s a story full of rich and raw emotions, and I hope it becomes your new favorite Christmas story.
Find it here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G36N5YDW
“My Favorite Christmas is a beautifully written, heartwarming story about family, forgiveness, and the imperfect magic of the holidays. Tom Monson captures raw emotions and timeless themes, creating characters that feel real and relatable. A perfect read for the holiday season, it reminds us that love always shines brightest in difficult times.” L. Miles