An #EnterTheFantastic Book Spotlight with Notes + Extract | featuring “Tree Magic” (Tree Magic series, Book One) by Harriet Springbett

Posted Monday, 14 September, 2020 by jorielov , , , 7 Comments

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Hallo, Hallo dear hearts!

I have had a firm attachment to the natural world ever since I was a young girl – growing up with a fascination and wonderment about nature, wildlife and especially of trees! This is why when I first saw this blog tour being announced, I was super giddy about participating on the tour because any writer who can celebrate and champion the natural world in a pro-positive way is an author I would love to feature on Jorie Loves A Story!

I could immediately connect with the premise with this novel which is why I am trying to seek out a copy of this in print through my local library – there is something quite magical about how trees are the guardians within the natural habitats we visit whilst hiking or walking in natural landscapes; they know things and they remember everything. This is partially why it is soul-crushing whenever there are huge wildfire seasons like the ones that are affecting the Western United States right now and/or the fires in Australia at the turning of the New Year. Nature grieves for the losses those fires bring to those habitats but I oft felt the trees especially are full of the grief of what could not be protected and what fell at their feet due to how the forests have not been able to withstand fire as they had in the past. I still remember hearing about the old growth forests of the Redwoods recently and of how achingly hard it was to see them aflame.

I have regularly spoken about the natural world on Jorie Loves A Story – from the stories I am reading to the context of the stories which seek to bring an ecological mindset and heart for conservation onto my blog because I believe strongly those stories are necessary for today’s world. Not just due to the climatic changes we’re all experiencing but to help re-connect readers with the knowledge about the natural ecosystems they might overlook and not be as familiar with as I have become myself. Knowledge is the first step towards change and to remain connected to the connectivity of how the natural world and our world intersect is one step closer to finding better balance in how to keep Earth a healthier place.

Today, I am wicked thankful I can bring you a short extract from “Tree Magic” whilst I am also supporting the author again in October with an interview when “Tree Slayer” the sequel to this lovely novel goes on tour. I look forward to conversing with you then about the series whilst today serves a preview of how the series begins! If you love fantastical stories featuring Magical Realism plots and the curious connections between nature and humans, I think this might be a good fit for you as a reader as I feel it is for myself.

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An #EnterTheFantastic Book Spotlight with Notes + Extract | featuring “Tree Magic” (Tree Magic series, Book One) by Harriet SpringbettTree Magic
by Harriet Springbett
Source: Chapter Sampler

Thirteen-year-old Rainbow discovers she can communicate with trees.

But that’s just the beginning. Her magic hands can shape trees at her will, but her gift is dangerous and has fatal consequences. An accident that leaves Rainbow unconscious leads her mother to make a confession that will change Rainbow’s life forever. Are her abilities a gift or a curse? Can Rainbow really trust her mother? From England to France, through secrets, fears and parallel worlds, Rainbow’s journey to understand her powers takes her beyond everything she’s ever known.

To find the truth, she must also find herself.

Genres: Magical Realism, YA Fantasy, Young Adult Fiction



Places to find the book:

Borrow from a Public Library

Add to LibraryThing

ISBN: 978-1-911293-63-7

ASIN: B087MCBT53

Also by this author: Tree Slayer, Tree Magic

Also in this series: Tree Slayer


Published by Impress Books

on 11th August, 2020

Format: Chapter Sampler | Online

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Published by:  Impress Books (@ImpressBooks1)

Available Formats: Trade Paperback* and Ebook

NOTE: Although this title was released into print, I am having trouble sourcing where it is currently available to be purchased as it is listed as being out of stock. However, I am going to try to source this through my local library’s ILL services – perhaps through inter-library loan I can fetch a copy? This is being newly released digitally and the pub date reflected is for the ebook.

Further Enquiries: I was thankful the author updated me on the new ISBN for the print edition of this novel – I’ve updated the listing for this post to reflect the ISBN for the August 2020 print edition of “Tree Magic” – however, the only bookstore online I can find this listed on is Book Depository. Thereby it is still a bit harder for me to source and I am going to try to get this either by way of the older edition via ILL at my local library or hopefully through a new purchase request through one of my regional libraries. I shall keep my readers updated on my progress. The link for LibraryThing has been updated to reflect the new ISBN however I left WorldCat’s link to route to the older edition in case other readers like me need to seek the book through inter-library loans.

Converse via: #YALit, #Trees and #Magic, #MagicalRealism, #YAFantasy
as well as #LoveBooksTours & #TreeMagic

About Harriet Springbett

Harriet Springbett

Harriet Springbett’s childhood on a small farm in West Dorset gave her an early exposure to nature, which continues to inspire her writing.

She qualified as an engineer but, during a Raleigh International expedition in Chile, she realised she preferred words to numbers. She abandoned her profession, moved to France, studied French and then worked as a project manager, feature writer, translator and TEFL teacher. She now lives in Poitou-Charentes with her French partner and their teenage children.

Since her first literary success, aged 10, her short stories and poetry have been published in literary journals and placed in writing competitions, including a shortlisting in the 2017 Bath Short Story Award.

Harriet leads writing workshops, has judged the Segora international short story competition.

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Enjoy reading this Extract from the beginning of “Tree Magic”:

Rainbow thought she’d died in the accident. She had to be dead because she could see Amrita Devi, and Amrita came from a Bishnoi legend.

Amrita was hugging a silver maple tree on the edge of a wood. A heaven full of trees seemed fitting to Rainbow, though lightning had split this particular maple and one of its two branches was almost dead. It needed some good hugging.

The Bishnoi girl was exactly as Rainbow had imagined: small and sprite-like with long black hair, and wearing a colourful sari in pinks and reds. Rainbow’s mum had told her the legend nine years ago, when Rainbow was four. According to the fable, Amrita had tried to save an ancient tree from woodcutters.

Amrita lifted her head from the trunk and beckoned to her. Rainbow crept through the silence to the silver maple and mirrored Amrita, lacing her arms around its trunk and hugging it. Then she closed her eyes and let herself be drawn into the tree’s reassuring comfort. It was as if she, Amrita and the maple were one, holding and healing each other. This was definitely heaven.

She opened her eyes to tell Amrita how great it all felt. But Amrita raised a finger to her lips and pointed towards a figure that had just arrived. It was another Rainbow.

This Rainbow looked angry. She kicked through decaying leaves, her hands shoved deep into her jean pockets. When she heard Amrita’s low call, she stopped and stared at them both. Her face was shock-white and her lips frozen blue.

Amrita stretched a hand towards her, inviting her to join them at the silver maple. But this strange Rainbow refused to come closer. Amrita pleaded, her voice an ethereal shimmer. “Xylem and phloem, xylem and phloem,” she said. “You’re not cambium. You shouldn’t have divided. Come! Be healed!”

The strange Rainbow ignored Amrita’s peculiar entreaty. She turned her back and stamped away.

Rainbow realised she’d been holding her breath. She let it out in a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to share Amrita and heaven with this imposter. She tried to catch Amrita’s eye and smile at her, but Amrita was no longer as solid as before. The whole of heaven rippled, like a bubble in a breeze. The colours weakened. Each separate entity blurred into a red-gold fuzz of whirling leaves. Then the bubble burst.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

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What struck my interest first and foremost was the plot and the journey of Rainbow’s character; however, combine those first impressions with the new cover art for “Tree Magic” – wherein each leaf has an icon I believe relating to both the story and to Rainbow herself is quite iconic! The imagery reminded me so much of the Tree of Life – how the lifeblood and energy is connected to the tree and the chi moves out from the branches. At the same time, seeing there are two girls on the cover, I first thought there were two lead characters who were female but after reading the sampler and featuring this extract, I think the more telling image is how Rainbow is divided on a soul level. This is one of my favourite cover designs for the year because the art pulls your eye into the dimensions of the story you are most curious to begin reading and that’s wicked brilliant!

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This extract happens at the very start of the novel as it mirrors what I had been reading on a chapter sampler to gain a bit of traction into how the story was laid out and how it would begin. I also found a lovely review by a book blogger I’ve been following off/on over the past years as she discussed some of the key components which I felt were the best bits of why I wanted to read the story myself – her review solidified my inklings of curiosity about the novel and how I hope now to find a copy I can read myself.

In this extract, what is most interesting is that it seems like to me Rainbow is going on a journey of introspective revelation – as if she is splintered in half in this realm, it would seem to me she is splintered in her realm as well. It is almost as if this mirror of insight is telling her that something is keenly wrong and she needs to find a path towards self-healing. I look forward to seeing how the author takes us on this journey and I am wicked thankful I could tempt my readers with this small extract into how the story begins to unfold.

Fun Stuff for Your Blog via pureimaginationblog.com

This book blitz is courtesy of:

Tree Magic promo badge provided by Love Books Tours and is used with permission.

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 I look forward to reading your thoughts & commentary!
Be sure to leave notes, takeaways and commentary to let me know if this has been a story on your bookish radar and/or if it is one you’re going to be adding to your own TBR! I’d love to hear your thoughts about this kind of story and others you might have already read on similar themes.

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NOTE: Similar to blog tours wherein I feature book reviews, book spotlights (with or without extracts), book announcements (or Cover Reveals) – I may elect to feature an author, editor, narrator, publisher or other creative person connected to the book, audiobook, Indie film project or otherwise creative publishing medium being featured wherein the supplemental content on my blog is never compensated monetarily nor am I ever obligated to feature this kind of content. I provide (98.5%) of all questions and guest topics regularly featured on Jorie Loves A Story. I receive direct responses back to those enquiries by publicists, literary agents, authors, blog tour companies, etc of whom I am working with to bring these supplemental features and showcases to my blog. I am naturally curious about the ‘behind-the-scenes’ of stories and the writers who pen them: I have a heap of joy bringing this content to my readers. Whenever there is a conflict of connection I do disclose those connections per post and disclose the connection as it applies.

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{SOURCES: Book cover for “Tree Magic”, book synopsis, author biography and photograph as well as the extract and the tour badge were all provided by Love Books Tours and are used with permission. Post dividers and My Thoughts badge by Fun Stuff for Your Blog via Pure Imagination. Tweets were embedded due to codes provided by Twitter. Blog graphics created by Jorie via Canva: Stories in the Spotlight banner and the Comment Box Banner.}

Copyright © Jorie Loves A Story, 2020.

I’m a social reader | I tweet my reading life

About jorielov

I am self-educated through local libraries and alternative education opportunities. I am a writer by trade and I cured a ten-year writer’s block by the discovery of Nanowrimo in November 2008. The event changed my life by re-establishing my muse and solidifying my path. Five years later whilst exploring the bookish blogosphere I decided to become a book blogger. I am a champion of wordsmiths who evoke a visceral experience in narrative. I write comprehensive book showcases electing to get into the heart of my reading observations. I dance through genres seeking literary enlightenment and enchantment. Starting in Autumn 2013 I became a blog book tour hostess featuring books and authors. I joined The Classics Club in January 2014 to seek out appreciators of the timeless works of literature whose breadth of scope and voice resonate with us all.

"I write my heart out and own my writing after it has spilt out of the pen." - self quote (Jorie of Jorie Loves A Story)

read more >> | Visit my Story Vault of Book Reviews | Policies & Review Requests | Contact Jorie

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Posted Monday, 14 September, 2020 by jorielov in Blog Tour Host, Book Spotlight, Coming-Of Age, Indie Author, Love Books Tours, Magical Realism, Young Adult Fiction




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7 responses to “An #EnterTheFantastic Book Spotlight with Notes + Extract | featuring “Tree Magic” (Tree Magic series, Book One) by Harriet Springbett

  1. Hi Jorie. It’s the publisher here.

    What wonderful words, thank you so much. I’m sorry the paperback hasn’t been available in the US yet. You probably could purchase an import online somewhere with the right ISBN, but next on our list is to get it set up for print-on-demand for the US which should make it cheaper than import as well as make it faster. We’d love to get a full distribution option for the US, but it’s probably a bit further down the road for us.

    I’d be happy to send you a complimentary ebook in the meantime if you’d like.

    Very best wishes, Jeff

    • Good morning, Mr Collyer,

      I appreciate the follow-up about my enquiry about the stateside availability of Tree Magic! This is good news for us all – as I truly agree with you about the benefits of POD and how this helps make books affordable for readers to add books into their personal libraries. I look forward to the news about the distrubution to the states, as although I had submitted a purchase request yesterday to my regional library, if they are unable to acquire a copy, I know know the reason. If the distribution improves, I will re-submit the request at that time whilst noting the POD availablity and costs as well. I definitely understand about delays in release per countries – as that is one of the benefits of being a book blogger, you get to understand the wider world of publishing and how everything works at point of publicity, marketing and distribution.

      I’ll have to decline your kind offer for the ebook due to my chronic migraines. I only read books in print or listen to them in audiobook; this is why I was encouraged recently when NetGalley started offering audiobooks for review as it was the first time I could join their site and be able to read in a format which works best for me as a reader.

      I am truly a patient reader – I don’t mind awaiting the print copies down the road.

      Bless you for following up with me about this and have a wonderful week.

  2. I loved reading your ‘extrapolations’ – it’s really unusual to hear this kind of thing, so that made it really special. About sourcing Tree Magic, thanks for updating your post. The paperback and ebook are of course available on the Amazon websites but perhaps you don’t like to buy via them? Also, it’s been selected for the Bookseller Association’s Christmas catalogue, so hopefully it’ll soon be easier to buy. Have a great evening, Jorie.

    • Hallo, Hallo Ms Springbett,

      Ooh, I think we all have our reasons for trying to purchase from more Indies as much as possible rather than other sources, however, I long since made my peace with other stores online. Plus, I regularly listen to audiobooks and there are only a handful of sources for those right now which include Audible. No, it wasn’t that at all – you’re referring to the UK Amazon store, however, stateside (in the United States) it isn’t as easy to acquire the book irregardless of the ISBN. In fact, I ran a search for the new ISBN on our Amazon store and its not even listed. They are still using the old ISBN for the former edition of “Tree Magic” which is currently out of stock. However after updating my post and now, I’ve submitted a purchase request via my regional library as I already tried to request “Tree Magic” via interlibrary loan; unfortunately the only copies in circulation are in Sweden and as we cannot fetch a book overseas for our libraries, I knew it would come down to a purchase request. I’d have loved ask my local library to purchase a copy but as said, they put a hold on all future requests for most of this year. I spent 2019 actively requesting Indie Publishers and Self Published authors releases and had hoped to continue this 2020 but am unable to do so.

      No, the truth is – even if the book was readily available for me stateside, it would be a bit before I could purchase my own copy to read. I have a humble book budget every year and I cannot purchase every book I want to read as soon as I find it. I do eventually collect the books I desire to purchase; it just takes awhile. Instead I route my readings through public libraries – thus, helping other patrons find new publishers and authors they might not have found otherwise and helping my own reading life by requesting new books to be added to my local libraries. Its a win win really – however, the reason you thought I was not purchasing the book isn’t the reason why I haven’t ordered it. I do think Impress Books needs to know the stateside book sites are not cataloguing the new ISBN and are still relating the older version which is at this time unavailable to purchase as I believe it went out of print or has now been replaced by this newer edition.

      I love hosting blog tours like this one to find new stories to read and it was a pleasure of joy hosting you today as I love reading these kinds of stories. Whilst listening to one of your interviews online – I realised you would love reading The Kinship of Clover!! I look forward to the interview I’ll be hosting for you on the “Tree Slayer” blog tour and thank you for responding so quickly to all my notes and messages.

  3. Thanks for this fab review, Jorie. I suspect you’re having problems sourcing the book because you’ve got the ISBN number for the first edition of the paperback, which is out of stock. The new ISBN is 978-1-911293-63-7.
    Sorry it’s so confusing.

    • Hallo, Hallo Ms Springbett,

      Ooh, I hadn’t given this a proper review yet – just a few extrapolations based on reading a partial chapter sampler provided online. I’ll have my fuller thoughts for when I can source a print copy via my local library (unable to purchase a copy for myself at this time). Thank you for contacting me through Twitter and my blog – as mentioned via Twitter, I was quite frustrated with the sites I was checking for the ISBNs – as I do scout diligently before I post on my blog, but sometimes, I can only source the info I am provided. I went to 2x purchases sites as well as WorldCat. I’ve updated the post to reflect the ISBN you’ve given me and I look forward to seeing if my library can fetch this title for me. I’d have them purchase it but they’ve closed off their requests for most of this year (uniquely enough) but I have two regional libraries I can ask as well. I know one day I’ll bring this home myself (the series) but for now, I’m going to lean on my public libraries. I cannot wait to dive into the plot further and see what is there to be found! I love these kinds of stories you see and it is part of why I love co-hosting @WyrdAndWonder every May! (its a month-long Fantasy celebration – you can find us on Twitter).

      Ooh don’t worry. Sometimes stories are hard to track down but I still love reading them all the same! I am not easily deterred.

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