A Cowboy Christmas An American Tale

by Tom Van Dyke

"A GREAT RIDE!” —TRUE WEST Magazine

A Masterpiece. A compelling unforgettable journey. Mystical. Insightful. Uplifting. Heartfelt. A creative narrative with joyful language captivating your imagination, inviting us to embrace the Magic that dwells within the human spirit.

A MYSTICAL TALE when dreams were chased with reckless abandon, when life was raw and unforgiving, when the adventures of WB, a young boy with a spark for life and a wild sense of freedom encounters the Spirit of the West sparking a magical connection that will forever shape his destiny as he fearlessly ventures into a frontier of untamed majesty, bigger and more beautiful than any dream, inviting us to embrace the magic that dwells within the human spirit.

IT'S GOOD AND IT MOVES! Tom Van Dyke tells a rousing tale of a young man learning how to cowboy and finding the girl of his dreams. I've written a good 40 western stories but learned a lot from Tom’s book. —ELMORE LEONARD, Novelist

INSPIRING! A Cowboy Christmas An American Tale reveals the true American West but goes even further. A man and woman who refuse to let a soaring relationship disappear is a sign of life on earth at its best. —MICHAEL BLAKE, Author of Dances With Wolves

An American tale rich in history and vivid word pictures is told in a cowboy’s flavorful soup of words with wit, grit, and humor in an inspiring adventure of discovery, strength, character and romance. A Cowboy Christmas An American Tale has galloped into the hearts and minds of readers of all ages in an adventure that sweeps across the American Southwest —1873. Masterfully crafted, the story explores the lore of the western frontier when it was imagined to be as big and far away as the moon.

“I’m a narrative painter, so as I read this book, the words drew pictures in my mind. These images are vivid and the story feels real. A Cowboy Christmas An American Tale, is a welcome addition to my library.” —HOWARD TERPNING, Western Artist

Genres: Christmas, Fiction

200 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2009

About the author

TOM VAN DYKE lives with his wife on their ranch in the foothills of Tonto National Forest, Arizona. Tom is a nationally recognized film producer/director and award-winning screenwriter. One of his motion pictures was considered for nomination of an Academy Award®.

Tom created and wrote the American Bicentennial television public service announcements, Stand Up and Be Counted, featuring John Denver, the most widely viewed national and international PSAs in the history of television.

His creative expression of writing and film production is shared with his creation of fine art. Tom’s sculptures, paintings and photography have been exhibited or are in the permanent collections of the NY Museum of Modern Art, the Carnegie Art Institute, the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, the Detroit Institute of Arts, the Henry Ford Museum, the Cranbrook Academy of Art, and the Butler Institute of American Art.

Reviews

[Staci · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story of a cowboy's search, in so many different ways. This has literally become one of my favorite books. This is such a poetic piece and an incredible work of art.

[Savannah Prescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful and nostalgic read!

[Éowyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dusty trails, cacti against brilliant western skies, sparkling streams, mysterious cowboys, coming of age, true love, and soft as a sunrise, but absolutely heart-stirring allegory underpinning one of the most vivid portrayals of the true gritty and breathtaking beauty of the West that I've ever read, this has everything to love; oh, and a mule, the heroine rides a mule, I can say no more.

[Julie Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful read on the adventures of a young man learning to live in the Wild West. WB worked the gold mines, became a cowboy and never stopped looking for his Ginny. The other part of the story is Ginny looking for WB and it is just as remarkable. A quick read and a wonderful vision of the old west.

[Diane Sondy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short, easy read. Sweet, love story. Would recommend.

[Darlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

An endearing little book (114 pages). The bedtime tales of "WB" to his children of his search beginning in 1873 for adventure and fortune in the American West. From the back of the book: "...an inspiring adventure of strength, character and discovery, that delivers a heartfelt hug for the holidays and every day, a perfect time to open our hearts and share the gifts of life." 2009. Page Branch Publishing, Phoenix, Arizona.

[Haley Kinser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a pretty good read! It moved fast and I was hoping for more character reflection, but such a nice story. I love the American south west and this was a fun read.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t usually go for cowboy books but this was a charming quick read. Interesting stories and characters, very cute to read.

[Bridgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started reading this book thinking it was rushing through the plot, and in some ways it did. There were few details, zero world building and a simple plot line.
However, it was cute. Although I started out very critical of the book, if you look at it for what it is, a hometown author sharing his passion with the world in short story format then it will fill your heart up.

I picked this book up at an Arizona antique store and have a signed author. I would not say it was on my TBR shelf but it was sitting on my bookcase so on a whim I decided it was time. It is a quick read, easy to digest and made me smile.

[Joshua Hunt · Rating 5 out of 5]

My wife was wandering in a Barnes and Noble and Tom was there giving away autographed books. She knows how much I love cowboy stories so she got me a copy!

Easily the most romanticized version of the Old West I’ve ever seen, and I enjoyed every page of it. It seems difficult to find any media out there that isn’t trying to be a gritty, realistic side of the Wild West, so this book was an optimistic breath of fresh air in a world full of morbid realism.

Bandit chases, bear encounters, Native American ambushes, gold mines, saloon brawls, driving herds in a desert monsoon, harmonicas, bucking broncos, the Spirit of the West, and young love.

How can you not be romantic about the West?

[Chriser123 Dittman · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up in Phoenix, this is a local author. Van Dyke is a screenwriter who got the idea to write about being a cowboy while sitting around the campfire with his sons. He calls this a mystical historical novel. It was a nice change.

[John Arnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a good read. Short, but I love the details while describing every landscape on the story. You could really immerse yourself with the words, an imagination seems so real everytime you read it.

[Taylor Northrop · Rating 5 out of 5]

Picturesque as it could be, exciting and heartwarming. Beautifully written.

[Dawn Kravagna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t normally read Westerns but this novel was a gift. The author writes well with believable descriptions and nice phrasing at times. Rang true and felt authentic. Nice gift book.

[Lilliana Vidinha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got this signed by Tom Van Dyke a few years ago, but no I've finally say down and read it. Really interesting, definitely making this a yearly read near xmas

[Tom Dyke · Rating 5 out of 5]

INSPIRING! A Cowboy Christmas An American Tale reveals the true American West but goes even further. A man and woman who refuse to let a soaring relationship disappear is a sign of life on earth at its best. —MICHAEL BLAKE, Author of Dances With Wolves

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A sweet little read.