While most households are starting to focus on turkey and pumpkin pie, we are putting the finishing touches on the 2017 Advent Calendar. This daily calendar of arts and culture began as a simple idea 7 years ago and continues to grow each Advent season. It now has a second life in book form, too, which came about  after many of you asked us me create a version in physical format.

At first, I couldn’t imagine how the calendar would work as a book, but when enough of you said, “please try, so we can put on a nightstand or send to a friend,” we got to work.

People often compliment the cover of the book. It presents one of the two sculpted angels that grace the façade of Bass Hall—a stunningly beautiful opera and concert hall in downtown Fort Worth. Those angels catch anyone by surprise who turns the corner and sees two 48-ft. tall figures with glittering gold trumpets and stone faces blazing in the Texas sun.

This year, as always, we are recasting some of the permanent entries (tied to fixed dates) and presenting new ones. We are always interested in your ideas for calendar entries. And we encourage you to share the calendar with your friends or invite them to sign up for it here. Also, do tell them about the book form which, for a limited time, is offered as a free download on Kindle Unlimited, too.

If you are on our mailing list, you will get the 2017 Advent Calendar each day. If you are not on our mailing list, please sign up.