Contact: Abigail Davidson, Publicist, WinePress Group, 360-802-9758, abigail@winepressgroup.com

ENUMCLAW, Wash., Dec. 4 /Christian Newswire/ -- Author Jim Chapman offers a Christian counterpoint to "The Night Before Christmas" in his illustrated new book, "The Night After Christmas--A Holiday Paradigm Revisited (WinePress, 2009)."

In 1822 Clement Clarke Moore penned the original poem, also called "A Visit from St. Nicholas." Using the backdrop of this familiar Christmas story, Chapman seeks to address the emptiness of rampant consumerism. He considers "The Night After Christmas" a lighthearted but poignant antidote for the secularization of the holiday.

The late Jim Elliot, missionary to Ecuador, expressed his distaste for the extreme commercialization of Christmas sometime before his martyrdom in 1956: "Seems to me we would have a better attitude toward the whole thing if someone would write a realistic poem on 'The Night After Christmas' to counterbalance the magical effects of the imaginative 'Night Before.'"

Inspired by Elliot's words, Chapman set out to write his own modern version of the story in 1996. He surmises that things have gotten worse since Elliot's death.

"Our culture has transformed this simple birthday celebration of the Christ-child into a frenetic shopping and gift-giving ritual that often obscures the historical origins of the holiday."

Over the years, Chapman has written many other notable poems; however, "The Night After Christmas" remains his signature work. He recites and performs this piece to audiences on a regular basis during the holidays, in hopes of making their Christmas "a little more joyous, a little more sacred, and a whole lot more meaningful."

"Delightfully riveting and insightful...I'm sure every person can relate. What a great reminder of what we so often forget!" -- Gary Smalley, Author/Speaker

A CPA by profession, Chapman is also a writer, poet, and history buff. Most recently he worked as a budget analyst with the State of Arizona, from which he retired in 2009. He and his wife live in Phoenix, Arizona.

For more information, to request a review copy or to schedule an interview, please contact Abigail Davidson by phone at 360-802-9758, by email at abigail@winepressgroup.com, or by fax at 360-802-9992. Jim is available to recite his poem on air, or visit your church or bookstore. To purchase a copy of this book visit www.winepressbooks.com or call 877-421-7323.