Some years this works out better than others:
On the twelfth day of Christmas,
mamculuna sent to me...

Twelve kayaks drumming
Eleven linguistics piping
Ten dreams a-leaping
Nine languages dancing
Eight pirates a-milking
Seven crones a-cooking
Six cats a-writing
Five lo-o-o-oggerhead turtles
Four john sayles
Three julian barnes
Two writing mysteries
...and a buddhism in a travel italy.