Under the Birch Tree

A birch tree grows tall and arabesque in the front yard of Nancy Chadwick’s childhood home. Over time the tree becomes her buddy and first learned connection, synonymous with home— and one spring morning, she makes a discovery under its boughs that foreshadows the many disconnections within her family, relationships, jobs, and home that are to come. Through the chapters in her life, Chadwick’s search for home carries her through with unflinching honesty, but in the end, it is a story of survival and triumph over adversity. She does not wallow in selfpity but remains tenacious as she examines her life. An exploration of what it means to belong, Under the Birch Tree is a success story of finding home.

Author: Nancy Chadwick

Publication Date: June 19, 2018

Description

“Under the Birch Treeis the story of one woman’s search for home, connection, and belonging. Courageously navigating turbulent challenges and life transitions, Chadwick eventually discovers what she was looking for all along—the inner rootedness of the birch trees that have been her lifelong companions.”
—Patricia Pearce, author of Beyond Jesus: A Spiritual Odyssey

“A story of finding strength in the midst of silence and secrets, and the joy of using that strength to create a life of meaning, self-worth, and faith. Nancy Chadwick’s memoir is rich with the details of a sustaining inner vision of home.”
—Nancy G. Shapiro, author of The Book of Calm: Clarity, Clarity, Compassion, and Choice in a Turbulent World

“Under the Birch Tree is a thoughtful recount of a sojourn from emotionally humble beginnings and subsequent yearning for outside validation to liberation—shedding of emotional baggage. Chadwick finds her way, her place, and ultimately her home, with serendipitous and uplifting encounters with birch trees along the way.”
—Laurie Buchanan, PhD, author of Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth

About the Author

Nancy Chadwick got her first job at Leo Burnett advertising agency in Chicago. After ten years there, she couldn’t get to where she wanted to be so she turned to the banking industry. Then, after another ten years, she realized she wasn’t a banker—so she quit and started to write, finding inspiration from her years in Chicago and San Francisco. Her essay “I Called You a Memoir” appears in The Magic of Memoir, an anthology published by She Writes Press. She and her husband enjoy traveling, cooking fine dinners, and chasing their beagles in circles.