Tree Singer

If you know me, you know I love books. I always have a book I'm working my way through, and sometimes I have up to three going at once! There is something absolutely magical about books and I will advocate for people to read them as long as I live. 

Recently, I had the bookworm's chance of a lifetime. A colleague and friend of mine also happens to be a fantastic author. She posted on social media looking for beta readers for her new book Tree Singer. Basically, a beta reader is someone who gets to read the book before it comes out then looks for grammar mistakes and gives feedback. I felt like I had won the book lottery!  

I instantly fell in love with Tree Singer because it transported me into a magical world that is completely detached from the pandemic and violence laden world we are currently living in. It gave me a chance to take a break from planet earth and to step into a world filled with harmony and connection. I am an outdoors type of girl, so the magical world and story centered around trees and connecting to them was right up my alley. The author's ability to describe the spiritual connection between the main character and trees is so beautifully curated that I myself could almost feel the connection. The story is of a young girl named Mayten living in a fantastical place where she is training to become a tree singer, someone who is able to communicate with trees, when she is sent on a whirlwind journey to save her world and everyone in it. I found myself on the edge of my seat as the thrilling and mysterious plot unfolds with Mayten racing to restore the delicate balance of life as she knows it. I desperately want a sequel and I won't stop petitioning for it. I am fully invested in Mayten's life and well-being; have you ever read a book and felt the same? 

Since I couldn't convince Jacci to start a sequel the moment she released Tree Singer, I got the next best thing, a Q&A! Let's dive in: 

What inspired you to write this story?

Thanks for asking Heather,

One of my favorite spiritual practices is silence and solitude. Before the pandemic, I’d go to a retreat center in Auburn once a month for 24 hours of silence. I do a lot of my writing there. On one visit I had a view of the incredible redwood and oak trees from my window. Sitting and contemplating the trees I thought about how connected we are to the earth and I began to envision a girl who could help trees grow by singing to them. It was a whimsical thought but blossomed into the book Tree Singer.

 How long did this book take to write? 

The book itself took probably six to nine months to write but re-writing is the hardest part of writing. It was my first fantasy and worldbuilding was new to me. I tweaked the book for several years and then when my editor got it there was another years’ worth of editing. It’s the longest I’ve ever spent on a book, but I think it’s a better book for it.

What are you hoping readers get out of reading Tree Singer? Is there a particular message you were hoping to spread, or an emotion you were hoping to invoke? 

I have many hopes for this book. I hope it’s a good story, an exciting read, and also a realization that we are currently in danger of killing the earth. Almost half of the earth’s trees are gone and they provide oxygen and remove pollution from our air. Planting trees is vital to rebalancing our ecosystem and although this book is not about planting trees, it is about how the whole earth is connected and if one part is suffering, the whole thing is suffering. It’s also about finding, developing, and sharing our gifts and working together to make the world a better place. I especially feel this for girls and women, the world needs our voices, and our leadership, in order to become a kinder, more loving place. 

Are there any real-life people, places, or experiences in the book?

A hidden story inside Tree Singer is from an ancient book, The Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Avila. She talks about how we grow spiritually through predictable stages of faith development. In my book, the protagonist Mayten, experiences these levels of spiritual growth through her relationship with the trees and the Great Singer, though it’s so obscure a reference no one will probably notice.

The old growth redwoods in California, Oregon, and Washington are my favorite places to visit. I always feel like I’m in a holy place among trees that are thousands of years old and have lived through so much history, pain, and joy. Hiking with my husband among these trees and noticing the forest around them is where a large part of the descriptions in the book came from. But, since it’s a fantasy, the setting is imaginary.

After reading Jacci's responses I just sat there, in silence, my head swirling as I made so many more connections in the book. Tree Singer became more than an addition to my collection, it became a treasure. Books are more than stories; they are little pieces of an author's soul. Jacci's interview gives you just a glimpse into the wonderful person that she truly is and lends to understanding of why she is one of Amazon's best-selling authors. 

Thank you to Jacci for writing this meaningful story. Now it's your turn readers, hop on over to Amazon and purchase the Tree Singer for yourself or a loved one! As for me, I'm turning off this computer and picking up Tree Singer to read again with new eyes after Jacci's interview! 

You can use the link below to check out Tree Singer-

Tree Singer - Kindle edition by Turner, Jacci. Children Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.