The Journey of Joseph Winter — John Anthony

A heartwarming Christmas story in the tradition of the holiday classics It's a Wonderful Life and A Miracle on 34th Street.

Take a personal journey to discover the true magic of Christmas.

Joseph Winter is a good and gentle man, but he carries with him the pain and regret of a childhood mistake.

When a package mysteriously arrives on his doorstep, he is invited on a path to redemption.

Traveling far from his cozy little home in St. Paul, Minnesota, into the snowy landscapes of the Arctic, his touching Christmas journey takes him in search of the one man who may be able to help him find peace -- Santa Claus.

An inspirational family Christmas tale in the style of the classic Christmas stories shared by families every holiday season, The Journey of Joseph Winter: A Christmas Fairy Tale is the inspiring story of a man in search of Santa Claus, his childhood, and ultimately -- himself.

EXCERPT

Tom added another log to the fire as the family took their places scattered about the living room, the children jockeying for position on a soft blanket he had laid down for them. Geraldine sat in her wingback chair next to the fireplace, the small leather journal resting in her lap. Eager faces looked in her direction.

She took a breath and slowly released it. The fluttering in her stomach quickened.

“When I was a little girl,” she began, “my parents brought home a tiny bundle of blankets one night. Inside was my new brother, Joseph William Winter.” She looked up at everyone. They were all staring back at her, leaning forward in their seats.

“We called him Joey,” she said warmly. “And from the moment I first saw him, I loved him with all my heart. I wanted to protect him. I wanted to teach him things.”

“He grew up to be a newspaper reporter, right here in Saint Paul,” she said. “Then one day, back before you little ones were born -- in November of 1947, to be exact -- an unexpected package arrived on his doorstep. It was a small box, and in it was this journal.” She held it up for everyone to see. “And he was invited on a journey.”

“What's a journey, Gramma?” Rachel sat up on the blanket, looking at Geraldine.

“It's like a trip,” Adam said to his little sister.

“That's right, honey. It's a trip. Or more like” -- Geraldine grinned -- “an adventure.”

Adam's eyes grew and he sat up on the blanket. The little girls looked at each other with wide eyes and smiles.

“And this journey?” She opened the journal to the first page and looked up at their eager faces, smiling before she began to read out loud. “It was an invitation to go in search of Santa Claus.”