{"product_id":"pretty-paper-9780735211544","title":"Pretty Paper","description":"\u003cb\u003eA perfect Christmas gift for music lovers, \u003ci\u003ePretty Paper \u003c\/i\u003eis Willie Nelson's inspiring Christmas fable, based on his holiday classic \"Pretty Paper.\"\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e More than fifty years ago, Willie Nelson's beloved Christmas song \"Pretty Paper\" first hit the airwaves. And for all these years, Willie has wondered about the real-life Texas street vendor, selling wrappings and ribbons, who inspired his song. Who was this poor soul? What did his painful trials say about our loves, our hopes, our dreams in this holiday season--and in the rest of our lives? \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIt's the early sixties and Willie Nelson is down and out, barely eking out a living as a singer-songwriter. The week before Christmas, he spots a legless man on a cart, selling wares in front of Leonard's Department Store in Fort Worth, Texas. The humble figure, by the name of Vernon Clay, piques Willie's curiosity, but Vernon is stubbornly private and--despite Willie's charming queries--has no interest in telling his story. Willie is tenacious, though, and he eventually learns that Vernon is a fellow musician, a fine guitarist and singer. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWhen Vernon disappears, he leaves behind only a diary, which tells an epic tale of life-altering tragedies, broken hearts, and crooked record men, not to mention backroad honky-tonks, down-home cooking, and country songwriting genius. Deeply moved and spurred on by Vernon's pages, Willie aims to give the man one last shot at redemption and a chance to embody the holiday spirit.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Blue Rider Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 10\/25\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780735211544\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 304\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.95lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 7.60h x 5.40w x 1.20d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal Prepub Alert\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/01\/2016 pg. 67\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/15\/2016 pg. 77\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e 10\/15\/2016 pg. 18\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 06\/01\/2016\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Willie Nelson, David Ritz","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43084109152437,"sku":"9780735211544","price":19.55,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_588d0301-1745-4c74-bb85-f2a1d6509c39.jpg?v=1692110589","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/pretty-paper-9780735211544","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}