| For Alastair Macdonald there would be no burning | | | | less productive. The unsolicited manuscript may |
| bush like the one Moses saw and there would be | | | | never be reviewed at all or even returned if it is |
| no blinding light such as the Apostle Paul | | | | not wanted. A simple acknowledgment from a |
| experienced on the road to Damascus. All there | | | | traditional publisher can take from three months |
| would be is a "gentle nudge" between times and | | | | to a year. Few publishers are interested in a book |
| the knowledge that each barely perceptible nudge | | | | with a religious theme especially one with such a |
| would lead him on a twenty five year course to | | | | well known and often repeated theme such as |
| write a single book that although very small would | | | | the birth of Christ. |
| fill a huge chasm in the world. Every child and | | | | Even while making a few submissions Alastair was |
| many adults will now have a bridge to cross from | | | | undaunted and began a quest to find an illustrator |
| the ordinary events of the world to the | | | | for the book. This too would become a |
| extraordinary event that changed it forever. | | | | protracted effort but the giver of Alastair's |
| British subject Alastair Macdonald resides on the | | | | nudges was nudging someone else a world away |
| glamorous and romantic Island of Bermuda. In | | | | to help with The First Christmas. Macdonald |
| 1985 he went looking for a simple rendition of the | | | | ignored the fact that most publishers like to |
| Bible's Christmas story to read to his two small | | | | choose their own illustrators and the end product |
| children. Like most children Alastair's kids were | | | | is that we can be glad that he did. |
| fully enamored with all the extravagance of | | | | Alastair's daughter, an accomplished artist, tried to |
| Christmas. Santa Claus, the gifts, the decorations | | | | help her dad with some illustrations in the style of |
| and the ever present sounds of Christmas carols | | | | the thirteenth century Italian mural artist Giotto. |
| and hymns in the background kept his children | | | | Feeling that the renderings of the characters |
| bedazzled. But he wanted a book that would | | | | looked too cartoonish left Alastair nearly in |
| touch his children's hearts with the very heart of | | | | despair. With nothing left to lose he put the word |
| the Christmas story. | | | | "nativity" into an internet search engine and |
| Upon arriving back home Alastair felt disappointed | | | | clicked. Over a half million images and days of |
| and spoke with his wife about it and the surprise | | | | searching and then one single artist caught |
| he felt at discovering the appalling lack of material | | | | Alastair's eye. |
| that would tell the real story of Christmas. In the | | | | The art of Egyptian born Adel Nassief leaped |
| midst of the despair came the nudge. The gentle | | | | from the screen into Alastair's vision for The First |
| God given push would send him down a path that | | | | Christmas and he knew he had found the right |
| over the next several decades would lead to the | | | | illustrator. Nassief, a Coptic Christian from |
| birth of "The First Christmas" and a poem that | | | | Alexandria Egypt made his living painting and |
| would take its place along side classics like "The | | | | creating Coptic murals for Orthodox churches |
| Night Before Christmas." | | | | around the world. Much of his work is done in |
| In fact with "The Night Before Christmas" as his | | | | bright tempura paint and gold leaf. With |
| model he started out to find a way to tell the | | | | communications limited to only emails Alastair and |
| story. He wanted to engage classic poetic timing | | | | Adel came to an agreement. He would produce |
| but apply some of the rhyming fun of Dr. Seuss. | | | | some twenty pictures in the traditional manner |
| Accomplishing such a combination without | | | | with tempura and gold leaf on wooden boards. |
| sacrificing any of the dignity and seriousness of | | | | Communicating only by emails and photos Alastair |
| the birth of Christ would be no easy task. In the | | | | had never actually seen Adel's original work until |
| end he chose what is known as "anapestic | | | | Adel had deliver some pictures to a Coptic Church |
| tetrameter" for the rhythm in the poem. That | | | | in Dallas Texas. Since the writer has an apartment |
| rare fact takes nothing away from the simple | | | | in Dallas they arranged for the originals to be |
| flow of the narrative which will intrigue both child | | | | included in a container bound for the Dallas church. |
| and adult. | | | | Alastair said he was "blown away" when he first |
| Who would be the narrator of the story, this was | | | | set eyes on the original art pieces. Adel had |
| the first challenge. Should it be Mary or Joseph, | | | | "outdone himself and every expectation Alastair |
| the obvious choices? With another gentle nudge | | | | ever had of him! |
| Alastair decided on a narrator not so close to the | | | | Now with both the pictures and the poem he |
| story and one who would appeal to every child in | | | | made a mock book and began distributing it to |
| the world, the donkey. The very donkey that | | | | various publishers. The responses improved but |
| helped Joseph in his daily carpentry work and | | | | still no one wanted a seasonal book. Back to |
| finally carried Mary on her long journey to | | | | square one. |
| Bethlehem to give birth to the most powerful yet | | | | In 2007 Alastair approached Welcome Books, a |
| most humble human being to ever grace the | | | | publisher of picture books but mostly for adults. |
| planet earth. With a solid Old Testament name like | | | | Not having heard from them he had a chance to |
| Zeke from the Hebrew (Yechezqel) meaning "God | | | | visit their publishing house while returning from |
| strengthens" or better known by its English | | | | holiday and staying overnight in a New York hotel |
| equivalent, "Ezekiel," the story would now begin. | | | | right near Welcome's office. After meeting with |
| Having never written poetry before Alastair | | | | Lena Tabori the principle of Welcome Books and a |
| labored in vain for a few years and never moved | | | | general perusal by a ninety year old artist who |
| beyond the first verse. But the nudging of God | | | | was present at the meeting the wheels were in |
| persisted and each year he would pull out the | | | | motion. In a short time another meeting was |
| poem and endeavor to write a few more lines. It | | | | scheduled in which plans were finalized and the |
| became somewhat of a joke in the Macdonald | | | | rest is history. |
| household and each year his children would again | | | | From simple nudges to the convergence of |
| remark "Dad's writing his poem again." | | | | author, poetry, Coptic artist, experienced publisher |
| Using rhyming dictionaries would prove lumbering | | | | and 25 years of being persistent, something has |
| and inhibiting until Alastair found an online rhyming | | | | been born. It is the birth of something that is |
| dictionary. Inspiration is kinetic and the instant | | | | about the birth of someone. The birth of Jesus |
| comparisons an online dictionary provided would | | | | Christ has changed our world irreversibly and now |
| also make the difference. Now the research could | | | | the birth of Alastair Macdonald's "The First |
| keep up with the nudges and the narrative would | | | | Christmas" will be a part in that change going |
| emerge. The story began to blossom and in a | | | | onward until the end of time. Until the end of time |
| matter of only weeks started to bust out into a | | | | the "good news" will always be broadcast and |
| full fledged poem. | | | | now Alastair Macdonald and Zeke will always have |
| All through the many edits and revisions another | | | | a part in the telling of the wonderful news first |
| portent was looming, who would publish the poem. | | | | proclaimed by angels. |
| Getting poetry published has more setbacks than | | | | And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, |
| anyone could imagine. To begin most publishers | | | | behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, |
| won't take a work from an author who is not | | | | which shall be to all people. For unto you is born |
| already published nor has an agent. Over the | | | | this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is |
| transom (randomly submitted) works are like | | | | Christ the Lord. |
| casting your bread upon the waters only much | | | | |