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Bicentennial National Tour for the most popular poem of all time – Twas The Night Before Christmas 1823-2023.
December 21, 2023 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Special Presentation before each evening tour.
- Book talk at 5pm, tour at 6pm or Book talk at 6pm with tour at 7pm. Pick your time when booking.
In July 2023, author/historian Pamela McColl launches a six-month promotional tour at the Santa Claus Museum, Santa Claus, Indiana (July 22), The Inn at Christmas Place, Pigeon Forge, Kentucky (July 24) and at the National Book Festival, Washington, DC (August 12). Nationwide events to celebrate the iconic poem Twas The Night Before Christmas as it marks two hundred years in print will run until Christmas Eve 2023.
Events locations include Manhattan (12/4,17-19) , Troy (12/3) , Tarrytown (12/22), Poughkeepsie(12/10) Albany, Constableville, Seneca Falls(12/9), Rochester, Utica, Billingham, Waterford (11/28), Copake (12/6) – New York. Providence (14-16), Lincoln (12/12), Newport (12-16) – RI. Leavenworth, WA. (11/23-24). Owensboro, KY. (11/15) Frederick – MD. Toledo, OH. (12/8) Hartford – CT.(12/11) Chicago, IL. (11/18) Birch Run/Frankenmuth – MI. (11/28) Claymont – DE along with others. Details for these events hosted along with a schedule of nation-wide, state, and local library, museum, festival, and association hosted online events listed at: www.twasthebook.com.
Pamela McColl offers a presentation based on her 2022 Benjamin Moore Silver Award and 5* Indie Review title: Twas The Night – The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem to museums, libraries, bookstores, clubs, and associations.
A commemorative edition of the poem is available through booksellers: Twas The Night Before Christmas, The Keepsake Bicentennial Edition of the Classic Christmas Poem, distributed by Baker and Taylor Publisher Services, Ashland, Ohio.
McColl, who spent over ten years researching the poem’s history and sourcing vintage editions and visual references for her art/history of the poem, refers to the treasured lines as the most often read, recited, reprinted in the entire library of English literature.
“The Poet of Christmas Eve,” New Yorker Clement Clarke Moore (1779-1863) will be inducted into the New York Writers Hall of Fame in December/2023.
Courtesy New York Public Library Digital Collection.
“ It can be said that Moore through this charming poem has spread joy to more children than any other writer over the past two centuries and it is wonderful to see him honored by being inducted into the New York Writers Hall of Fame and we are hoping to have one of his descendants accept the prestige award.” – Pamela McColl
“I accessed art collections and combed through archives across America in compiling the material for my publication on the life and times of Clement Clarke Moore and the poem’s publishing history. Located the only known to exist photograph of Clement Clarke Moore (New York 1779-1863) in the archives of Columbia University and being able to include this image in my book was an immense pleasure.” – McColl
“For the very first time, the poem’s own story is presented. It is a luscious, entertaining tome that took ten years to create. Bravo, author and editor, Pamela McColl! ” David Paul Kirkpatrick, American film producer, executive and writer.
“A delightful and informative exploration of “A Visit From St. Nicholas” for the holiday season.” Kirkus Reviews. “Whether a library is focused on art, history, popular culture, or Christmas, Twas the Night: The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem represents an outstanding work of literature and a compelling read the entire family can enjoy.” Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review.
In 2022, McColl presented at The Mark Twain House and Museum, The Albany Institute, The Berkshire Museum, The Mayflower Society Museum, The Hart Cluett, The Munson, The Fenimore, The Maine Society Historical Society, the Darien Library, The Warren/Irving Libraries and for Hallmark Pictures, and toured bookstores in six states.
In 2012, McColl created a firestorm from Colbert to Barbara Walters over her smoke free edition of the poem: Twas The Night Before Christmas edited by Santa Claus for the Benefit of Children of the 21st. Century. Such was the dustup over the omission of the pipe and wreath of smoke circling St. Nick’s head that the media reported on the edit from India to China before circling back through the New York Post, AP, and NBC Nightly News. Over ten years on McColl stands by her editing as a viable option for children who prefer a smoke-free Santa and defends the smoke-free edition as a legitimate edit relying on the restrictions on the use of cartoon characters in relation to the imagery of smoking under the terms of the USA Master Settlement Agreement of 1998. Free E-book and I-book of the edition on all retail platforms Aug. 12-19, Nov. 15- Dec. 7, 2023. Courtesy of the publisher.
Pamela McColl and Grafton and Scratch Publishers 236-412-3036/604-383-0138
Email: twas4kids@gmail.com. Event requests and RSVP designated email: twas200@gmail.com
Media Relations: maxinejakubke@gmail.com
Website: www.twasthenightbook.com
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Biographical Note |
Pamela McColl studied art and history and went on to do graduate work in the field of cultural history before working as a corporate art consultant for 20 years. From there she launched an art and book publication company in 1997. Twas The Night – The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem is her retirement project, and she plans to travel and speak on the poem history and her own vintage collection of editions of the poem over the next years. She has presented at dozens of museums, libraries, and bookstores, including The Mark Twain House and Museum, The Berkshire Museum, The Mayflower Society, The Albany Institute of History and Art, The Fenimore, The Hart Cluett, Constable Hall Museum, The Maine Historical Society, The Rhode Island Historical Society, The Munson, The Warren Library, The Irving Library, The Darien Library, and she has given interviews on the poem to NPR Watertown, PBS Watertown, ABC News Albany, Woman’s Day Magazine, Women’s World Magazine, and joined podcasts and zoom presentations. Pamela McColl was a participant “witness” in a mock theatrical trial on the authorship debate of the poem held in Troy, New York in 2014. |