Beneath the Swaying Willow

Tensions are running high throughout the United States in 1970 as the anti-war movement heats up and a second wave of feminism washes over the nation. Nora Thompson and Russ Ayers, a young couple with a bright future ahead of them, find themselves suddenly torn apart when he is drafted and deployed to Vietnam. Nora grows anxious when months pass by with no word from Russ who is doing his best to serve his country and survive the hell of war. Feeling alone and trapped by her overbearing mother's demands, the closed-minded thinkers in her small New England hometown, and society's expectations of her, Nora begins to question who she is and what she wants out of life. Fate soon fills the unwanted wedge between them with new experiences, forever changing who they are and the trajectory of their lives. Scars are concealed. Secrets are kept. When things spiral out of control Nora must draw upon her inner strength to stand up for what she believes in and fight injustice. It is only then that she is able to find her true self and that a secret she has been keeping is unveiled. Beneath the Swaying Willow is a riveting account of love, sacrifice and human struggle that shines a light on the destructive, ugly side of humanity, while also showing how the courage of just one person can be the catalyst for positive change to occur. This novel was inspired by the author's father's struggle with PTSD after serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam War era, her mother's steadfast love and devotion to him during the darkest of times and by a turbulent time in United States history.