A Half-Century of Love: Traverse City Author Publishes 50 Years of Christmas Love Letters to His Late Wife

Traverse City, Michigan Nov 25, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - For fifty consecutive years, James "Jim" McCormick sat down each Christmas to write a love letter to his wife, Marilyn. What began in 1968 as a newlywed's gesture became a lifelong traditionchronicling their journey through parenthood, partnership, faith, and the tender challenges of growing old together.

Those fifty handwritten letters, carefully preserved by Marilyn throughout their marriage, now form the heart of McCormick's new memoir, Story of a Marriage: 50 Years of Christmas Love Letters.

After Marilyn's passing, McCormick rediscovered the collection she had saved. Reading through decades of his own words, he found an intimate record of their shared lifethe ordinary moments, quiet struggles, and enduring affection that sustained them. He calls the letters his "poor man's Taj Mahal," a tribute built not in marble but in ink and memory.

Story of a Marriage offers readers an authentic portrait of commitment across five decades. Written for his children and grandchildren, the memoir transcends one family's story to explore universal themes: the sustaining power of small rituals, the resilience required by long marriage, and the beauty found in everyday devotion.

With the holiday season approaching, McCormick's Christmas tradition provides a timely reminder of what endures when we take time to honor the people we love.

Review copies, author interviews, high-resolution images, and excerpts are available upon request. You can also visit his website at https://jimmccormick-author.com/