by Mary McCoy
First published 2016
Mary McCoy opens her collection by examining how trees shape both our physical world and our inner lives. She weaves together traditional folk tales with contemporary personal narratives, showing how different cultures have understood trees as more than botanical specimens. The stories reveal trees as witnesses to human experience, holders of memory, and bridges between the seen and unseen worlds. McCoy includes visual elements throughout, scanning actual leaves, seedpods, and flowers while adding delicate ink illustrations. Each tale explores a different relationship between humans and trees, from childhood memories of climbing ancient oaks to legends of sacred groves. The tension emerges between our modern disconnect from nature and the deep roots trees have always held in human consciousness. McCoy's writing moves between the practical and the mystical, grounding spiritual insights in concrete details about bark, branches, and seasonal changes. The book closes by affirming that trees remain essential companions in our search for meaning and connection.
Genres: nature, literary-fiction, folklore, short-story-collection
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, magical-realism
66 pages · Paperback · Blurb