Here's my own brand summary of the novel from memory.
(Disclaimer: Statements may not be accurate!)

The Hogfather is a Terry Pratchett novel (number 20 in the discworld series, according to my girlfriends numerically arranged collection) that concerns a holiday known in Ankhmorpork as Hogswatchnight.

On this day, a mythical man known as the Hogfather hops from house to house delivering presents. Children eagerly await his appearance when his sleigh, led by four wild boars, lands on their rooftops. It is said he comes from far away, where his presents and pork-based treats are made by his elven companions. But only those who make the list, that list of names that distinguishes who has been nice and who has been naughty, will the children be getting anything they deserve.

This holiday season, the assassins guild has had a very unusual client buy a writ. Someone has paid a great sum of money to kill the Hogfather himself! They're naturally up for the challenge but they stun the world when the man they place on the writ actually succeeds.

The story goes, that one day Albert (the Hogfather's PE, personal elf) discovers that the Hogfather is missing. Up until this point, no mythical man had ever been assassinated. Mostly because they're mythical and therefore not real or living. But also because Death has a problem collecting his mythical associates. It sort of puts a bad air on things and he would hate to not be invited to their mythical soire's. Which, it should be noted, are also not real. Not one to let his mythical associates down either, Death steps up to take his place. Much to the embarassment of his granddaughter, Susan Sto-Helit.

The tale follows how she discovers a terrible plot construed by a bunch of very angry Auditors and executed by a mad assassin. When holiday cheer is being spread by the Grim Reaper (with, I hope, a cameo appearance by the Death of Rats!) and Unseen University is having to document the sparse creation of unusual gods, is it really important that the tooth fairy seems to be doing the kids a bum deal?

Watch (or read) and find out!

If you have never read Terry Pratchett, I would first like to say I pity you. Truly. Watch the TV adaptation and read one of his books, his humour is uniquely eccentric and mocks reality in a way so subtle as to be obvious. He has been an inspiration of mine since childhood and more recently Neil Gaman's works have reminded me why I enjoyed a similar style of writing. I should mention now, that while Neil Gaman and Terry Pratchett are somewhat different in style - if you like one, you'll like the other.

Hope that helps. Excuse the length of my explanation - its the anticipation that's driving me crazy. I've never heard of a 'nervous writer' but I'll be damned if thats going to stop me being the first.

Yhorian.