When the Snow Refused to Fall

by Irene M. Redpath

This is a Christmas story of sorts, although it doesn't take place entirely at that time of year. It concerns young Tom, who loves Christmas and everything that goes with it, and his mother, who has reservations. Tom makes a seasonal wish and conveys it to Father Christmas. Then he changes his mind. The adults in his world only make things more complicated.

The story begins one December, in the run-up towards Christmas, when the weather is cold but there is no snow. Young Tom loves snow, and all he really wants for Christmas is to see it fall from the sky to be admired and loved and played with and turned into snowmen and . . . well, whatever else you can imagine a six-year-old might want to do with a good deep snowfall.

But - it stays up there in the sky. So Tom, ever resourceful, takes his Christmas wish to Father Christmas.

It isn't long, however, before he realises that there are other wishes he might have asked for - perhaps better ones, less selfish ones. Will he be able to change his mind? Will Father Christmas agree to edit his list? What will happen in the end?

If you'd like to know, take a look at the free preview chapters available from my own webpages or from lulu.com.

Please note: In spite of Tom's part in the story, this is a book for adults. Christmas holds sorrows as well as joys for many people, including Tom's lone mother. But sometimes, just sometimes, things do work out happily, after all.

181 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2011

About the author

I have several books in print, but they're a mixed bunch!

I have some on family history, one on the history of a church and community in the Scottish Borders, and some fiction and poetry. So I don't seem to fit into any particular genre - I write what takes my fancy and / or comes into my head at the time.

Six are now available at Amazon, in Kindle format, or at Lulu.com in paperback or e-editions:

St James the Less, Penicuik 1882 - 1982 (non-fiction)

"St James the Less" is a history, very local, but very thoroughly researched, with lots of pictures old and new. There's a good amount of social history in there, I think, along with the ecclesiastical content.

Wild Honey (2009) (fiction - about people but not a romance, I'm told. No HEA!)

"Wild Honey" may be my favourite, if I'm allowed to have a favourite, and I still read it and am still surprised by it. One particular section makes the hair on the back of my neck prickle every time I reach it! This one was written in two halves, over twenty years apart.

A Day to Go Gently (2010) (fiction - a woman's memories of her life, from childhood on a farm through love and marriage to old age.)

"A Day to Go Gently", by contrast, was written quite quickly a couple of years ago, simply because every time I put down my keyboard, the next bit would begin to write itself into my head. It's not a perfect book, but I'm not ashamed of it. And I think it displays the heroine's own character in its imperfections.

All are quite short, portable and I hope are good to read. The next three have all been offered as Goodreads Giveaways, and attracted favourable reviews.

"Flowers for Alys" (2010) is a story set further back into the past, in a time when life was simpler and more deadly. It's now available from Amazon for the Kindle, but can be found at Lulu as a paperback or an e-Book, like the others.

"When the Snow Refused to Fall" was published in 2011, and tells a story filled with the magic and the beauty of Christmas, but with a darker undertone. It's a tale for grown-ups, although young Tom, aged six, takes a major part.

My latest book is "In the Image of Ravenna" (2012). This one tells a more complex tale, or rather it tells two at once, with the stories each taking a place and then stepping back to let the other take its turn. It involves history, painting and drawing, research and more. Things which are important in my own life, really.

More details of the above can be found here at Goodreads. For my other books, look me up at lulu or amazon, or my own website.

Thanks for putting up with me, and reading this far! ;-)

Reviews

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from a Goodreads competition.

This book was quite an easy read, mainly due to the easy flow of the story. Telling of a widowed mother and her young son around christmas time, the beautiful use of strong imagery and simple narration achieved quite a natural, personal element to this story.

The story can be a bit contrived at times, almost unrealistic in places, but the believability of the characters and the way they are developed is one of the saving graces of this book. The powerful relationship between mother and child is a highlight.

This book also successfully avoids the saccharine cliches often associated with 'Christmas tales'. Christmas is an essential piece of this story without dominating the complex emotions within.

This book is perfect for a lazy afternoon, wiling away the hours with an emotive, ultimately positive story of family, christmas and second chances.

[Sixties]

What a wonderful story this was.
One that transported us back to the days of childhood wide-eyed innocence at Christmas time, a time for hoping against hope that Father Christmas would listen to our wishes not only for ourselves, but, in this little boy's world, for his widowed mother as well.
All this set against the complexities of emotions coursing through a woman trying her best to provide the 'best possible Christmas' for her son, whilst at the same time trying to deal with the demons and horrors of her past, and the added complication (albeit, a welcome one) of starting a new life and romance for herself.
Compelling reading.

[Suegarratt]

I was lucky enough to win this in a Goodreads giveaway .

I really enjoyed this simple but heartwarming story immensely .
It concerns : Tom , a yountg boy who has no father and a Christmas wish of Father Christmas which he makes, and focuses on what happens afterwards.
Irene uses wonderful descriptions of the weather , the elements and Christmas, and the emotions of the characters involved and I liked the characterisations whom I liked and found believable.
I couldn't put it down and it kept me engrossed, so that I read it over a couple of hours.
I have now (in the best tradition of reading!) passed it on to a good friend for her to enjoy as well

[Jed · Rating 4 out of 5]

This enjoyable book was a Giveaway through the Goodreads scheme. I found it very easy to read, finishing it in around 2 hours, but this didn't detract from the simple but engaging story about a young widow and her young son. Because of the nature of the genre, the outcome was fairly obvious early in the story, the only question being how it would come about. However, this should not stop anyone from reading this book .....if you want to while away a couple of hours, this heartwarming story will do this for you.

[Ice Bear · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gem of a book seems almost a mash up of Miracle on 34th Street meets parts of my life. A touching tale set in the backdrop of Edinburgh and surrounding countryside with english accents (if I was posh I would use the word prose).

A few twists and turns of a meandering brook variety. A whisper of a snowflake to bring warmth out of the inner winters most of us carry around with us.

[Lisa Lucas]

Won in goodreads giveaway, review coming soon