Zoom Into Books Author - Grant Maloy Smith is a Billboard Top 10 Country/Roots musician who has performed all over the world from Nashville to London, and even including New York City's famous Carnegie Hall. He was inspired to write a song about possums saving Christmas after appearing on the "Tim White Bluegrass Show" in eastern Tennessee. An avid artist before he turned to music, Grant enjoyed doing the illustrations, and took great care to bring personality and humor to the characters in the book.