I’m sure you have an opinion. What is the most ominous wintry scene in children’s literature? CricketMuse argues that Edmund’s encounter with the White Witch in the Chronicles of Narnia takes the prize,
—while I argue that Jacob Marley’s visitation of Scrooge has put the fear of miserliness into children for over 170 years. What say you?
These debates happen monthly on CricketMuse’s blog, and this month I’m standing in for my friend and fabulous author, Mike Allegra. He was awarded a Ragdale Fellowship, and is busy scribbling away on a new novel in the wintry suburbs of Chicago. He will return to debate Cricket on a new topic next month.
In the meantime,
please go vote for my argument!!
I’ll pay you all in chocolate. Promise! Just don’t tell Cricket….
Or, if you must, nominate your own ominous wintry scene over at Cricket’s blog…
Jilanne Hoffmann 
Handing out chocolate as bribery kinda sounds like another bribery scene…*kaff* Turkish Delight, anyone?
What are you doing snooping over here? Get back to your own blog….typed only in the most gentle, non-ominous way….
Just checking to make sure you weren’t handing out chocolate—oh, wait…you are!😲
No chocolate for you. You get a lump of coal.
That’s Santa, silly. Nothing ominous about that jolly old elf.
Exactly! So why would that elf with the White Witch be ominous, I ask you?!
And perhaps a visit from Marley’s ghost this evening…..
Only those who don’t vote my way.
Your suggestion reeks of desperation. Ka-ching….
What?!? Throwing out chocolate is not?
I would never dream of throwing out chocolate. It’s far too valuable a commodity. Handing out is another thing…..
You know I love chocolate, and Dickens! So you’ll also know it breaks my heart to admit that I think CricketMuse wins… it’s the snow and ice, you see and the fact that it’s always winter but never Christmas… *shudders* Even Marley’s not that mean!
Oh, say it isn’t so! A traitor in our midst! Cricket has pulled the snowy wool over your eyes! You won’t find Marley sunning himself at the beach! No! He’s doomed to wander aimlessly through snowy cold, dark nights for all eternity! And you can bet that Christmas never comes for him. Sure you don’t want to change your vote? Whatever chocolate Cricket has promised you, I can do better.
Ah—another reasonable and discerning voter. DISCLAIMER: no chocolate was found in the vicinity of this voter’s sound judgement
I don’t know. Feels like something is rotten in Denmark….but that was another book.
You ghosts in the mind…
I’m delighted to report that we are firmly on the same page with this one.
Cricket’s a wonderful person, but she sure has a lot of odd opinions!
Woohoo! Confirmation comes from the Great State of Illinois! Thank you! How’s that Fellowship treating you sir?
Well, there’s a story there…
I am siding with you on this one, you will pleased to hear. Great debate though and well argued by both sides.
Ka-ching! Thank you for voting Ste J! Now, I must go find my tally sheet…….