A consequence of getting older is current experiences inevitably get threaded to memories as Maybelline Emmons learns when she embarks on what she thinks will be a simple road trip to find an old friend that happens to be an old tree. Recently widowed, she doesn't have many friends left. She gets way more than she bargained for. The easiest way out is just turn around and go back to her comfortable townhouse in Santa Barbara, sip her Pinot, and watch her hummingbirds. This was always enough before except it does seem kind of providential and she is a nice person and what should the check amount be? (Has she lost her mind?) Suddenly she has a 30-something 'son' (with a girlfriend who gets in her face about justice). Maybelline doesn't know why they put all the ugly strip malls and box stores in the poorest part of town. She never even thought about it and why would she? What, the sheriff, again? A man named, what? Tank? And what is Tamara and Terrence's connection with the tree really about? This poignant, passionate, yet hilarious story revolves around efforts to save an old-growth tree but things go off the rails in such a compelling way, it's sure to keep you on the edge of your branch (likely laughing, so don't fall off). Per Virginia Arthur's two previous novels, Treed will curl the tendrils of your heart, blow your leaves off, and maybe, just maybe, motivate you to save something in your own backyard.

A consequence of getting older is current experiences inevitably get threaded to memories as Maybelline Emmons learns when she embarks on what she thinks will be a simple road trip to find an old friend that happens to be an old tree. Recently widowed, she doesn't have many friends left. She gets way more than she bargained for. The easiest way out is just turn around and go back to her comfortable townhouse in Santa Barbara, sip her Pinot and watch her hummingbirds. This was always enough before except it does seem kind of providential and she is a nice person and what should the check amount be? (Has she lost her mind?) Suddenly she has a 30-something son (with a girlfriend who gets in her face about justice). Maybelline doesn't know why they put all the ugly strip malls and box stores in the poorest part of town. She never even thought about it and why would she? What, the sheriff, again? A man named, what? Tank? And what is Tamara and Terrence's connection with the tree really about? This poignant, passionate, yet hilarious story revolves around efforts to save an old-growth tree but things go off the rails in such a compelling way, it's sure to keep you on the edge of your branch (likely laughing, so don't fall off). Per Virginia Arthur's two previous novels, Treed will curl the tendrils of your heart, blow your leaves off, and maybe, just maybe, motivate you to save something in your own backyard.

Virginia Arthur has been a field biologist for over 20 years. She holds a M.S. and B.S. Work and/or her insatiable curiosity has taken her all over the United States and to some areas in Europe. She is addicted to exploring untouched landforms (native flora and fauna mostly intact). She is also a passionate advocate for America's public lands system, the like of which exists no where else in the world. She worries Americans either don't know about this immense and impressive system of public lands that belongs to them, or if they do, they take it for granted. She integrates all this into her novels and sprinkles a bit of wackiness on top, so buy your favorite beer, kick off your shoes, sink those toes into the nearest (clean) river, and get reading. Have fun.