Coming Soon: The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t

My first Christmas picture book is coming, and I am as excited as…well…a kid at Christmas!

The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t was inspired by my memories of the ice storm of 2013. The story has slowly been taking shape since then and I am thrilled that it has found a home with Beaming Books. Editor Naomi Krueger caught my vision from the start and illustrator Ana Eguaras captured the beauty of both darkness and light, with a swirl of mystery.

The story begins as Aidan counts the doors on his Advent calendar. Only three sleeps till Christmas and he can hardly wait. Then an ice storm hits and knocks out heat and power; all his family’s Christmas plans are ruined. One disappointment piles on another: Grandma and Grandpa cannot travel, the Christmas pageant is cancelled, there are no Christmas lights, and it’s impossible to cook a turkey dinner. Just as Aidan is losing all his sparkle, his dad takes him out to bring coffee and doughnuts to people stuck inside, and to witness other acts of care and hospitality that are happening in their neighbourhood.

On Christmas Eve, as his mom tells the story by candlelight, Aidan realizes that the first Christmas was full of disappointment and unexpected community too. In the circle of light, he feels connected to the story from long ago, to his grandparents far away, and to his neighbours and family nearby. God is here in the midst of it all. Suddenly Christmas feels special again.

The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t is a story for anyone who has ever felt let down because Christmas was not what we hoped or expected it to be. The book is a subtle invitation to ponder how sometimes, when things are taken away, we come closer to the heart of the holy mystery that still draws us into its warmth.

The Christmas That Almost Wasn’t will be published on September 30, 2025 but is available now for preorder. I have also written a Discussion and Activity Guide, which is available now as a free digital download from Beaming Books.