Forget Kris Kringle, Sinterklaas, and St. Nick—you’re about to learn the real story. In the 1870s, on a quiet farm in rural Hopeville, Connecticut, the Clauses arrived to work for Max Pepin. Christmas has never been the same since.
Experience the warm, human heart of Christmas in The First Ride: The Real Story of Santa Claus, a quiet and tender tale rooted in the 19th-century pastoral life of Max Pepin’s Connecticut farm. Based on Max’s own diary, this story unfolds when a mysterious new farmhand named Nicolas Claus arrives, forever changing the rhythms of farm life: reindeer grazing in snowy fields, unexpected chimney entrances, and the mystery of gifts arriving at dawn.
Told through the eyes of Max’s grandson, the book weaves a believable origin story for Santa Claus—one not of magic alone, but of family, generosity, and humble beginnings. Readers come to see Saint Nick as a real person, deeply human, his life rooted in work, care, and community. This is a story that gently lifts the familiar Santa myth out of the realm of fantasy and gives it grounding in history, while still honoring the wonder that makes Christmas memorable.
On Goodreads, readers praise the way it “breathes new life into the old myths surrounding everybody’s favorite saint.” One Amazon review calls it “the perfect stocking stuffer” — a short, meaningful read that’s easy to share with family or tuck into a holiday gift.
The First Ride feels rich with meaning. It’s ideal for bedtime readings, small gatherings by the fire, or keeping close as a seasonal keepsake. More than just a Christmas story, it’s a remembrance of belonging, of roots, and of the simple, human magic that makes the season shine. Invite this timeless little gem into your holiday traditions—and rediscover why the story of Santa Claus still matters. Available now in paperback, kindle, and audiobook formats at Amazon!