One chapter a day · 1 to 25 December

The Coat

A Proper Christmas Present

Brian finally gave his old coat to the man outside his office. He forgot what was in the pocket: a £50 million lottery ticket.

A funny, warm London Christmas story, delivered to your inbox one chapter every morning, like an advent calendar. The first five chapters are free.

Read the first five chapters free Unlock the full story · £2.99

Chapter 1 arrives on 1 December at 7am. Then £2.99 unlocks the rest, if you want to know what happens.

10% of every sale will be donated to Crisis via Work for Good

The Coat: A Proper Christmas Present by M. P. Ginvert. A snowy grey coat on a hanger with a lottery ticket in the pocket, by the Thames at night.

The calendar

Open a door every morning.

Each chapter lands at 7am on its day, and takes about five minutes to read with your first coffee. Tap a door to peek.

Door 1 opens in

--days

--hours

--mins

Door 1: The Bag

Tuesday 1 December. Brian Harper has been promising to take a bag of old clothes to the charity shop for nine days. He's also promised to be home by six to do the tree.

How it works

Like an advent calendar, but a story.

Step 1

Sign up free

Pop in your email address. That's all.

Step 2

Read chapters 1 to 5

One every morning from 1 December, on the house.

Step 3

Unlock the rest for £2.99

Chapters 6 to 25 keep arriving every morning, right up to Christmas Day.

Step 4

Christmas morning

The final chapter lands on Christmas Day itself.

Give it as a present

A gift that arrives every morning.

Send the whole story to someone you love. They get a chapter in their inbox every morning until Christmas Day, with your message on the first one.

£2.99

10% of every sale will be donated to Crisis via Work for Good

Buy the full story below.
Email matt@firstrowgroup.com with their name, their email address and a short message.
Works for anyone with an email address, on any phone or computer.

Gift it

To Mum, love Sophie

"Open one every morning. Don't skip ahead. I know what you're like."

The Coat · chapter 1 of 25

In aid of Crisis

Eddie's story is a real one for thousands of people this Christmas.

Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness. Every Christmas it helps thousands of people with a safe place to stay, hot meals and support to find a way out of homelessness for good.

10% of every sale will be donated to Crisis via Work for Good

That includes the full story, gifts and the paperback.

The story

Fifty million pounds. One condition.

Brian Harper works in advertising, makes perfect Christmas adverts and misses every real Christmas moment at home. His wife Sarah has asked him for nine days to take his old clothes to the charity shop.

Eddie sleeps in the doorway outside Brian's office. He doesn't want your fifty pence. He'd like a tea, two sugars, and a bacon sandwich, since you asked.

When Brian's old coat ends up on Eddie's back with a winning ticket in the pocket, Eddie makes him an offer: all the money, in exchange for the one thing he has never had. A family. Brian's family.

"Someone telling you to put your shoes away. How else do you know they care?"

Eddie, chapter 6

Questions

Good to know

How much does it cost?

Chapters 1 to 5 are free. The rest of the story, all the way to Christmas Day, is £2.99, paid once. No subscription.

When do the chapters arrive?

One at 7am every morning from 1 to 25 December. The last one arrives on Christmas morning.

I've missed the start. Can I still join?

Yes. Sign up any time before Christmas and we'll make sure you catch up on the chapters you've missed.

Is it suitable for the whole family?

Yes. It's a warm, funny Christmas story for adults that you can happily read aloud with older children.

Does any of the money go to charity?

Yes. 10% of every sale will be donated to Crisis via Work for Good. Crisis is the national charity for people experiencing homelessness.

Can I buy it as a book?

The full story will be published as a book after Christmas. Readers who sign up hear first.