“Tree Fairies and Their Short Stories” is now available! #childrensbook #ASMSG #WritingCommunity #middlegrade #mustread #indieauthors

“Tree Fairies and Their Short Stories” is here! Last week I shared the cover and blurb. Today I’ll talk a little about it, share some Finn Facts, and offer an excerpt.

I originally wrote Tree Fairies as a poem, which I included in the story. It was inspired over 25 years ago by one of my husband’s acoustic song that reminded me of fairies flying. Then, a story grew from that poem, and it sat for years.

A couple of years ago, I wrote the two fairy stories and finally decided to make it into a collection, but still, it sat.

When I was in-between stories and needed something for my group to critique after I published Dolphin’s Cave last December, I pulled this story out. Once I was drawn back into the tree fairy world, I stayed there. It took many years to get here, but  I’m happy to finally share their story.

FUN FINN FACTS

1. We have fairy houses in our forest, just in case.
2. Yes, I’ve hugged a redwood tree.

TREE FAIRIES EXCERPT

A Walk through the Forest

I awoke suddenly in a dark tent lit only by moonlight. It was quiet—not even a crackle or pop came from the campfire. Mom and Dad were zipped up in their sleeping bags on my right side. Their gentle breathing soothed me as I turned over toward Colette to go back to sleep. Her sleeping bag was open, with no Colette inside. Alarmed, I sat up, grabbed my flashlight, and double-checked the tent, especially the area near Mom and Dad. She was gone.

I unzipped the tent door and stepped out into the cold night with a shiver. I immediately spotted a light in the forest near the outhouse. I guess she forgot that Dad set up the porta-potty in the tent for night use.

“Colette went to the outhouse alone. I’m going to check on her.”

My parents didn’t reply.

I tapped Dad’s shoulder to wake him up, but he didn’t stir. I figured I could handle my little sister. I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my coat and flashlight before I rezipped the tent door and headed into the darkness.

Branches littered the forest floor, and tiny pine cones crunched underfoot. A light bobbed in the distance. Colette had a good lead on me, and now she wasn’t headed in the direction of the outhouse. I paused, wondering if I should go back and get Dad, but if I did that, I might lose her. I quickened my pace.

“Colette!”

No response. Was she lost? I shone the light toward her, quickly gaining ground.

“Colette! Wait!”

She didn’t answer. Was this some sort of game? Right when I got to her, my flashlight died.

“I just changed the batteries,” I mumbled, shaking it.

Sighing loudly, I shoved the flashlight in my pocket and followed Colette’s narrow beam of light. Tripping over branches now only lit by the moon’s glow, I finally caught up to her.

“Colette! Where are you going?”

She didn’t respond and kept walking.

“Stop!”

Amazon Purchase Link

Smashwords Purchase Link

Available in print too!

I will continue to post links here for the continuing Tree Fairy Blog Tour. It is spread out over June.  There will be no posts in the third week of June because I’ll be on vacation. The final post will be on June 25th.

Embrace your inner child by reading a good book! D. L. Finn