The Christmas Heist – A Podcast Audio Rendition – Performed by Landis and Janet Wade – And Janet Interviews Landis
Podcast: Download (Duration: 2:57:55 — 81.6MB)
This episode number 14 is a full audio version of The Christmas Heist, A Courtroom Adventure, with an author interview at the end. The story is read by author Landis Wade and his wife, Janet.
It’s a Christmas courtroom drama with a modern twist, sort of a cross between My Cousin Vinnyand Miracle on 34thStreet. Originally meant as a family Christmas gift, the story became the first book in a trilogy about lawyers who save Christmas.
Defendant Henry Edmonds, a homeless man who believes he works for Santa Claus, is on trial two days before Christmas for stealing a flash drive that holds the key to Christmas. Several people want Edmonds in jail, including a man who says he works for an international toy company. Witness by witness the facts come out but who is to be believed and are there any True Believers? As the courtroom clock ticks down on Christmas Eve, it becomes clear that the fates of the defendant and Christmas are inextricably intertwined. A local newspaper reporter stirs things up by blogging about what he calls the “Trial of the Century” and tweets that the “Court’s Ruling Could Halt Christmas for Thousands.” Can an irascible judge looking toward retirement find it within himself to save Christmas?
Author Landis Wade recently retired as a trial lawyer after 35 years. His courtroom experiences and love of Christmas led him to write this story and the two books that followed. His love of writing and reading him led him to create Charlotte Readers Podcast.
His third book in the trilogy—The Christmas Redemption—won the Holiday category of the 12th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards.The books are available through independent book stores, including Park Road Books, Main Street Books and Foggy Pine Books, and they can be ordered online.