| Pretty Paper | |
| Author: | Willie Nelson, David Ritz |
| Country: | United States |
| Language: | English |
| Subject: | Novel |
| Publisher: | Blue Rider Press |
| Release Date: | October 25, 2016 |
| Media Type: | Print (Hardcover, Paperback) |
| Pages: | 304 pages (hardcover) |
| Isbn: | 978-0-7352-1154-4 |
Pretty Paper is a Christmas novel co-written by Willie Nelson and David Ritz. The book presents a fictional account about the life of the street vendor who inspired the song of the same name.
In 1963, Nelson wrote the song "Pretty Paper", inspired by a street vendor he often saw in Fort Worth, Texas during the Christmas season that sold pencils on the door of a department store. The song was later made famous by Roy Orbison, while Nelson recorded his own version in 1979.[1]
Published on October 25, 2016, by Blue Rider Press, the book was co-authored by David Ritz. In the fictional account, Nelson decides to learn more about the man, who he learns to be a fellow musician. The man by the name of Vernon Clay initially resists his inquires, eventually later showing Nelson his proficiency on the guitar and singing.[2]