Celebrating Pride with LGBTQIA-owned small businesses. Shop now.
$0.00 with 100 percent savings
Digital List Price: $0.99

Promotions apply when you purchase

These promotions will be applied to this item:

Some promotions may be combined; others are not eligible to be combined with other offers. For details, please see the Terms & Conditions associated with these promotions.

Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC.
Read with our free app
You've subscribed to ! We will preorder your items within 24 hours of when they become available. When new books are released, we'll charge your default payment method for the lowest price available during the pre-order period.
Update your device or payment method, cancel individual pre-orders or your subscription at
Your Memberships & Subscriptions
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Tony Bertauski
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Christmas Presence: A Prequel to the Claus Universe (A Science Fiction Adventure) Kindle Edition

by Tony Bertauski (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.5 out of 5 stars 265 ratings

An introduction to the Claus Universe, a series of original retellings of holiday legends.

Worst Christmas ever.

Christmas was about traditions. Currently, Zay and her mom had about five traditions, things like gingerbread cookies and tree decorating. Not going to work.

Zay has to stay home. On Christmas. Alone.

Mom said her boss felt real bad about the whole thing so he was sending a nanny. It just keeps getting worse. She's fourteen years old. She doesn't need a nanny. But then the nanny shows up. She's not really a she. Or a he.

More of an it.

The nanny shows her that it's not really magic that makes Christmas special. It's the adventure. And when it's all over, she'll never forget.

The best Christmas ever.

Read more
Previous slide of product details
  1. Reading age
    10 - 18 years
  2. Print length
    21 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Accessibility
    Learn more
  5. Publication date
    October 31, 2019
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
Next slide of product details

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07ZV62B2B
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 31, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 2.3 MB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 21 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 10 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 265 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Tony Bertauski

Tony Bertauski

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

USA Today Bestselling Author.

My writing career began with magazine columns, landscape design textbooks, and a gardening column at the Post and Courier (Charleston, SC). However, I've always fancied fiction.

My grandpa never graduated high school. He retired from a steel mill in the mid-70s. He was uneducated, but he was a voracious reader. I remember going through his bookshelves of paperback sci-fi novels, smelling musty old paper, pulling Piers Anthony and Isaac Asimov off shelf and promising to bring them back. I was fascinated by robots that could think and act like people. What happened when they died?

I'm a cynical reader. I demand the writer sweep me into his/her story and carry me to the end. I'd rather sail a boat than climb a mountain. That's the sort of stuff I want to write, not the assigned reading we got in school. I want to create stories that kept you up late.

Having a story unfold inside your head is an experience different than reading. You connect with characters in a deeper, more meaningful way. You feel them, empathize with them, cheer for them and even mourn. The challenge is to get the reader to experience the same thing, even if it's only a fraction of what the writer feels. Not so easy.

In 2008, I won the South Carolina Fiction Open with Four Letter Words, a short story inspired by my grandfather and Alzheimer's Disease. My first step as a novelist began when I developed a story to encourage my young son to read. This story became The Socket Greeny Saga. Socket tapped into my lifetime fascination with consciousness and identity, but this character does it from a young adult's struggle with his place in the world.

After Socket, I thought I was done with fiction. But then the ideas kept coming, and I kept writing. Most of my work investigates the human condition and the meaning of life, but not in ordinary fashion. About half of my work is Young Adult (Socket Greeny, Claus, Foreverland) because it speaks to that age of indecision and the struggle with identity. But I like to venture into adult fiction (Halfskin, Drayton) so I can cuss. Either way, I like to be entertaining.

And I'm a big fan of plot twists.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
265 global ratings

Review this product

Share your thoughts with other customers
Write a customer review

Customers say

Customers enjoy this sweet Christmas story that serves as a great introduction to the Claus universe. The book features wonderful characters, and one customer notes how it ties in characters from other books in the series. Customers find the story beautiful and heartwarming.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more

Story qualityIntroductionHeartwarmingCharacter development
22 customers mention "Story quality"22 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story quality of the book, describing it as a beautiful heart-warming tale and a sweet addition to the Claus universe, with one customer noting that it doesn't divulge too much information at once.

"...The Claus novels, themselves, are worth reading, also. This was a fun trip back into the wonderment of some of those stories. 'tis the season..." Read more

"...At 28 pages, this story catches you from the first line and doesn't let go...." Read more

"...I enjoyed the short story. I haven't read any of the books yet in the Claus Universe, but I want to read them now." Read more

"...A magical story. Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Page-turner. Tear-jerker. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical...." Read more

7 customers mention "Introduction"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate this book as a great introduction to the Claus series, with one customer specifically praising the execution of the Claus Universe.

"This seems to be an introduction into the Claus Universe. I enjoyed the short story...." Read more

"...That being said I think the concept and execution of the Claus Universe is great." Read more

"This is a great intro into the Claus series. I love how it references all the characters from the books...." Read more

"Love all of the books in the Clause universe. I excitedly wait for each new addition...." Read more

6 customers mention "Heartwarming"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book heartwarming, describing it as beautiful and endearing, with one customer noting it brings a smile to their heart.

"Tony Bertauski has created an endearing place in this short story set in the Claus universe. The Claus novels, themselves, are worth reading, also...." Read more

"This is a beautiful, magical start to the Claus Universe book series...." Read more

"...Haunting. Page-turner. Tear-jerker. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters." Read more

"A fantasy story asking you to just believe! Just beautiful! A dream or real? That's for the reader to decide." Read more

5 customers mention "Character development"5 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, with one mentioning how it ties in characters from other books.

"...Page-turner. Tear-jerker. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters." Read more

"Nice introduction to several characters in the Claus Universe of Christmas stories! If you love the series, make sure to read this!" Read more

"...I love how it references all the characters from the books...." Read more

"...You also get an introduction to some of the wonderful characters in the series." Read more

Great prequel to the series
5 out of 5 stars
Great prequel to the series
This is a beautiful, magical start to the Claus Universe book series. I'd wanted to hold off on starting this series until book 12 released so I could just get the fourth boxed set, but the randomizer decided I need to start it now, so here we are reviewing the prequel short to this series. At 28 pages, this story catches you from the first line and doesn't let go. Zaylene is your typical 14 year old, too old to believe in Santa; that is until Santa's lead reindeer Ronin shows up on her back porch. Now she isn't sure if everything she's gifted to see was just a dream, especially the odd nanny that shows up to keep her company when her mom gets called into work on Christmas Eve. Honestly, if you love the magic of Christmas I implore you to check out this short and the series its connected to. I give this book 5 of 5 Paws.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

  • Sincerelyink
    5.0 out of 5 stars I enjoy this universe
    Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Tony Bertauski has created an endearing place in this short story set in the Claus universe. The Claus novels, themselves, are worth reading, also. This was a fun trip back into the wonderment of some of those stories. 'tis the season...
    Helpful
     Report
  • Cu's Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great prequel to the series
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    This is a beautiful, magical start to the Claus Universe book series. I'd wanted to hold off on starting this series until book 12 released so I could just get the fourth boxed set, but the randomizer decided I need to start it now, so here we are reviewing the prequel short to this series.
    At 28 pages, this story catches you from the first line and doesn't let go. Zaylene is your typical 14 year old, too old to believe in Santa; that is until Santa's lead reindeer Ronin shows up on her back porch. Now she isn't sure if everything she's gifted to see was just a dream, especially the odd nanny that shows up to keep her company when her mom gets called into work on Christmas Eve.
    Honestly, if you love the magic of Christmas I implore you to check out this short and the series its connected to.
    I give this book 5 of 5 Paws.
    Customer image
    Cu's Reviews
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Great prequel to the series

    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2023
    This is a beautiful, magical start to the Claus Universe book series. I'd wanted to hold off on starting this series until book 12 released so I could just get the fourth boxed set, but the randomizer decided I need to start it now, so here we are reviewing the prequel short to this series.
    At 28 pages, this story catches you from the first line and doesn't let go. Zaylene is your typical 14 year old, too old to believe in Santa; that is until Santa's lead reindeer Ronin shows up on her back porch. Now she isn't sure if everything she's gifted to see was just a dream, especially the odd nanny that shows up to keep her company when her mom gets called into work on Christmas Eve.
    Honestly, if you love the magic of Christmas I implore you to check out this short and the series its connected to.
    I give this book 5 of 5 Paws.
    Images in this review
    Customer image
    Helpful
     Report
  • Chad L.
    4.0 out of 5 stars Short, but a good read!
    Reviewed in the United States on December 17, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    This seems to be an introduction into the Claus Universe. I enjoyed the short story. I haven't read any of the books yet in the Claus Universe, but I want to read them now.
    Helpful
     Report
  • mmmurdoog
    5.0 out of 5 stars A great, little Christmas story.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    A great, little Christmas story. Things aren't going like Zay would like on Christmas Eve. But, just maybe, they go as she needs. A charming tale. Unexpected sights and sounds. A magical story.

    Easy-to-read. Entertaining. Great world building. Haunting. Page-turner. Tear-jerker. Twisted. Unpredictable. Whimsical. Wonderful characters.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Lois A Gehman
    5.0 out of 5 stars You’re never too old…..
    Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    I’ve just discovered this author… I loved this story and will be searching out more of his books in the very near future.
    Helpful
     Report
  • Spoke36
    3.0 out of 5 stars An update of the Night Before Christmas - 3.5 stars
    Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Zay is 14 and her single mom has to work on Christmas Eve. A robot is supposed to watch over Zay.

    Christmas Presence is short and a nice update to the traditional story.

    At least in this version, Zay gets to ride in THE sleigh.

    Not deep. Fun.
    One person found this helpful
    Helpful
     Report
  • Debbie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Vividly written
    Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Written as if you were living it! A short Christmas story. And a new author for me to follow .
    Helpful
     Report
  • Ken902
    5.0 out of 5 stars Cute story!
    Reviewed in the United States on November 24, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Nice introduction to several characters in the Claus Universe of Christmas stories! If you love the series, make sure to read this!
    Helpful
     Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • Douglas McNulty
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great series
    Reviewed in Canada on February 2, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    Once I got into it it was fantastic. I've listened to it twice now on long walks and it's great.
    Report
  • Daryl
    5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful xmas miracle
    Reviewed in Australia on December 28, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A very different xmas miracle, but the same result: believing in the magic of xmas again. Also an interesting look into family xmas traditions.
    Report
  • DMA
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great short read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 11, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    It was a shames this was such a short read as it was captivating and unique. I look forward to reading more of the Claus universe
    Report
  • HazelM
    5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful introduction to the Claus universe
    Reviewed in Australia on November 14, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A wonderful introduction to the Claus universe so richly imagined by Tony Bertauski. He totally nails it from the elves to the reindeer to Mr and Mrs Claus. Everything has the unique Bertauski twist
    Report
  • Radar
    5.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable
    Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    A great short story that fits in the Claus universe. I'm glad I read it.
    Report

Report an issue


Does this item contain inappropriate content?
Report
Do you believe that this item violates a copyright?
Report
Does this item contain quality or formatting issues?
Report