A Good and Perfect Gift

Originally published as first-prize winning story in the Sunday VIVA section of Santa Fe's principal newspaper THE NEW MEXICAN, its popular reception quickly brought proposals for publication as a book. When Father Albert Nevins, editor of Our Sunday Visitor, Inc, visited me in Santa Fe, I was very pleased with his suggestions regarding layout and printing, and agreed to sign a contract with his firm. Fr Nevins wanted illustrations which would honestly and sensitively depict the locale of a mountain village in northern New Mexico, where the story took place. Though a painter and sculptor, I did not feel secure as an illustrator, and presented the manuscript to friend Jeannie Pear, whose work I knew well and believed would best serve the text. Jeannie's drawings, black and white, proved to be an invaluable and integral part of the storybook.

Following its 1978 publication, A Good and Perfect Gift gained good reviews, was widely distributed via mail orders from Our Sunday Visitor, sold well in bookstores, was acquired by schools and libraries. Though Fr Nevins had promoted it as a childrens' book, it appealed to adults as well. I received letters from teachers, theologians and psychologists who were using the book for behavioral seminars, including one from a woman prison chaplain who was distributing it to inmates.

The book was in print for about a decade. Since being out-of-print, demands for copies has never ceased.

---

The Book which became a Film

In 1987, nine years after the publication of A Good and Perfect Gift , I was contacted by two film companies expressing interest in making a movie from the book. The first was a German television company, which offered a generous contract, but wanted to film the story in Panama, where they already had a crew on location for another film. I couldn't see the story, so deeply rooted in northern New Mexico, filmed anywhere but in the mountains near Santa Fe, and turned down the offer. The second came from Franciscan Communications, Los Angeles. After a visit to the West Coast and meetings with producer Karl Holtsnider, I felt Franciscan Communications was my best chance to have the book adapted as I'd like it to be. Karl agreed to film in New Mexico with myself as on-site consultant, and honored my request that Tony Frangakis, whose prize-winning films I knew, be the director. We were off on a grand adventure.

Shooting took place in the village of Truchas, high in the Sangre de Cristo mountains in March 1988. We auditioned local people for principal roles, chose 7-year old Danielle Herrera to play the child, woodcutter Richard Romero to be the mysterious bandito who enters her life on Christmas day. Only one professional actress, the very talented Alma Martinez, was in the cast, she acting the pivotal role of the mother. The local priest and parishoners happily rounded out other characters. The weather cooperated, an unusually early warm spring suddenly turning cold, bringing snow to brighten our scenes of traditional regional Christmas customs. The professional crew from Hollywood -- cameramen, sound technicians, set decorators -- did a great job, amazing me with the visual truth they brought to my words on paper.

Every Good and Perfect Gift is from above,
Coming down from the Father

---

The film A Good and Perfect Gift has been shown on local public-access television stations, was broadcast world wide by EWTN-TV over three Christmas seasons, and is available in video cassette. Though pressured to bring out a second edition of the book, I've desisted, knowing I'd not have time for promotional and distribution procedures. For all those still requesting copies of the book, I continue to hope a publisher will bring out the second edition.

---

Return to My Work - Books

Return to Home Page Casa Baci

---

YOU CAN ORDER THESE AND ALL MY BOOKS AT

© 1997 drewbaci@santafe-newmexico.com