Date Published: 05-23-2025
Publisher: Holy Cow! Press
In this memoir, Stephanie Mirocha weaves a blend of botany, philosophy, personal reflections, and healing through nature from grief after the loss of her father. Trees provide the backdrop of friendly support she clings to as she revives her father's educational Tree Trek. She "speaks for the trees," bringing enthusiasm to the treks she leads. Each chapter focuses on the science of a different tree, connecting the reader with the beauty of nature, and the vitality that comes from listening to the guiding wisdom of one's inner voice.
Interview with Stephanie Mirocha
Author of CAIN’S Tree Trek
Do you have a routine or something you do to get you in the mood to write?
Having a regular time set aside for writing can be very helpful. Currently, my method is to wait for the creative ideas to come; then I stop what I’m doing and go with the flow, taking that time to write them down. That works quite well for me.
Do you have a special song, drink, or food you enjoy while you are writing?
Maybe a cup of hot water, which is something I like.
How do you know what to write?
My ideas that I mentioned just now that I write about arise and feel right as something to be part of a literary work. Even if I don’t know how or why they fit in, I know they will do so at some point, if not now then later. I trust in my creative intuition. Some things remain unfinished and I think this is just the way it is in creative writing.
What does a typical writing day look like for you?
I don’t exactly have a typical writing day.
Do you do anything special to celebrate after writing “the end”?
When I finished my memoir, Tree Trek, I knew that the last line I wrote was THE last line and was thus filled with exhilaration! It felt like the right place to stop. In a way, it’s a sort of celebration int itself to physically get up from the desk and simply leave the work area, feeling that shift in perspective, knowing you will now be approaching the work from the point of view of a finished manuscript draft.
How long does it take you to write a book?
Every book is different. It took 2 months of nonstop, inspired writing for Tree Trek, and 2 years after that to reach the bookstores. Other writings arrive and evolve at their own pace, depending on the work.
What is the most difficult part of writing a book?
Making sure it flows well and makes sense in that flow to the reader. The book is for the reader that I’m speaking to. That is the point. I want to make sure the structure, place, time and flow of events is clear and understandable. This isn’t always easy. Sometimes an author must take the time to go back and rewrite a scene or change the order of things for clarity.
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