Book Tour and Giveaway: And the Trees Talked Back by Frederick J Burns

 

Book Details:

Book Title:  And the Trees Talked Back by Frederick J. Burns
Category:  Children's Fiction (ages 3 to 7), 48 pages
Genre:  Children's Book
Publisher:  Frederick J. Burns
Release date:   Nov 4, 2023
Content Rating:  G.  Suitable for everyone.

Book Description:

Meet Amanda, an extraordinary child with a unique gift — she can talk to trees.

Living in a quaint village with a mystical forest, Amanda's life takes an enchanting turn when she seeks out her inquisitive cat, Daisy. As the sun sets and the moonlight casts its glow, the duo embark on a thrilling night-time adventure.

As Amanda encounters ancient trees, she uncovers a world she never knew existed, where wisdom and acceptance coexist with fear and hatred. Amidst the rustling leaves and haunting shadows, she confronts the duality of nature, discovering the true meaning of good and evil. Her bonds with nature deepen and she learns to navigate the world where choices shape destinies.

​And The Trees Talked Back is a heartwarming tale of wonder, friendship, and self-discover that will captivate readers of all ages.

Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N
add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Burns, always an artist on the inside, breaks through his trial attorney exterior at age 63, to write and illustrate his first children’s book, AND THE TREES TALKED BACK. Three years in the making, Burns strives to convey a world where commonalities are more important than differences, where empathy is more important than distain and where making friends is more important than creating enemies. With no formal art training, Burns enjoys working in and learning new mediums and styles. His art has won awards in juried competitions, been displayed on billboards, in government offices, the D’Amour Museum of Fine Art, and now graces the cover of Dave Brinnel's second CD, ALONE. His detailed illustrations of trees using pen and ink with washes of watercolor have been compared to the fantastical illustrations of Arthur Rackham and Maurice Sendak. Burns lives in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts with his wife, Heather and two dogs, where he is developing ideas for his next book.
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connect with author: website ~ instagram ~ goodreads

Guest Post: 

My writing schedule is not consistent at all. I might write for fifteen minutes at a time just to jot down a phrase or idea or write for five hours straight to work and rework a scene. I might write in the early evening or wake up at 2 a.m. to write. I might write on several consecutive days and then skip one or more days to do some illustrations.

Writing and illustrating this book was done in my spare time after my full-time job working as an assistant district attorney in court, which is a high pressure and stressful, though fulfilling job. I did not set deadlines for completion of writing a scene or drawing an illustration. The writing and illustrating were for my relaxation and enjoyment.

I can’t say I had any kind of rituals that I adhered to when writing. I didn’t write at the same time or in the same place. Sometimes I wrote on my phone and sometimes I would use my tablet. I don’t snack while writing, nor do I wear a favorite shirt or hat. Before my kitty passed away, she would often, but not always sit sin my lap and watch me type.

Sometimes, I might take a break from writing to play guitar on my front porch if the weather was nice. I would visit with my neighbors and perhaps also with their dogs out for a walk. Then I would return to writing with new ideas. This type of schedule extended the time it took to complete the book to three years, but for me, the entire process was enjoyable.

Enter the Giveaway:

AND THE TREES TALKED BACK by Frederick J. Burns Book Tour Giveaway

My Review: 

And the Trees Talked Back is a cute little book from the new to me author, Frederick J Burns. It was a delight to read and meeting Amanda. I loved this magical tale as she goes into a new world to her as she tries to find her beloved kitty, Daisy. I loved the lessons she learns from the start to finish. A wonderful that teaches good vs evil.

I loved the illustrations all throughout And the Trees Talked Back. They truly show how talented 

Frederick J Burns is. I was amazed that not only does he provide a wonderful story, he was able to beautifully illustrate it. The pictures are a perfect addition to the story. They follow the book and match the written text. I thought they were great for helping the youngest of readers to continue to stay engaged in what is going on. 

Five plus stars is what And the Trees Talked Back deserves. I would love to see it placed on the shelves in public libraries, as well as, shelves in elementary classrooms. I highly recommend it for readers who are between the ages of three and eight. I would love to see more of these type books from Frederick J Burns in the near future to be released. 

I received a hard cover copy of Frederick J Burns’ And the Trees Talked Back from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.