Under the Sitka Tree is a Canadian, historical book of fiction.
It is set in the 1950’s, in an isolated, coastal town called Ospero Falls, BC.
The tight-knit community is a place where doors remain unlocked,
and people help one another. It is a place that sees children fill their Radio
Flyers with home-baked goodies, to sell after church and raise funds- for
whatever is needed within their town.
Due to the influx of various individuals, the mountain has
been carved and where there were trees, now there is a settlement of people,
who flock to its new beginnings.
Within the close-knit community, resides two, separate
families. Jack, Sophia and Christian O’Connelly, along with Victoria and
Skylar Falls, all move into the small town.
Due to trust being broken, each of them carries secrets. Within
the ties of community, they seek out their true identities, in order to find
healing.
Ospero Falls has deep roots within its citizens, where during
Sunday services- no one falls asleep in hearing the Good word. It is where
individuals visit, at the homes of those operating the small businesses, which
keeps one another alive and thriving. The various cultures living among the
mountains see people gather together, to divide up cabbage rolls, baked salmon
au gratin and rice balls.
Engaging in conversations over the latest catch of the day
and discussing local chatter, is to offset the conflicts, scattered across the
nations.
It is here that a father ‘s close bond with his son is found
rooted within the forest. While the nurturing love of mothers, help one
another, throughout the difficulties each encounters.
Within the slumber of the forest, awaits a Sitka spruce, waiting
for its discovery. Among the towering mass, contained inside, is the pillar of
the tree - the heartwood. After tragedy strikes Ospero Falls, the Sitka is
found by a young boy. His pursuit leads him to make use of the tree, for a
bigger purpose, which changes everything within the townspeople.
For every aspect of light that shines within Ospero Falls, there
are elements of darkness. Shadows where domestic abuse lingers and racism
threatens, to over spill from another nearby town. Among the various maladies,
there are reminders that death- although distant- is in truth, closer to those
whose lungs breathe in, the brackish sea.
In spite of their vulnerabilities and after exposure to a
hidden, deadly secret, a little girl finds herself sharing her worries- in the
most magical of places- Mother Nature. Her connections to the woodlands run
deep; a place for her to trust, discover and play in a place she feels free.
When she finds herself among the sprawling canopy of the Sitka, it fosters a
protective energy. One that helps offset something, which is cloaked in
something sinister.
Love, loss and the awakenings of those who reside in the small,
yet thriving community have a connection to mother nature, the fragility of
life and the value of friendship.
Under the Sitka tree, is about finding the balance
of light, within the darkness. Weaved inside the storyline, are the roots
of those, who are all interconnected.
A love story, which reminds us of our own fears and weaknesses.
Under the Sitka Tree, is
infused with history that reveals how we embrace one another, in times of conflict. Within a flicker
of light uncovered in an old lantern- each character's personal transformations
burn brighter…as they seek something… with a greater purpose.
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