Diamonds In the Trees
By Ray Lee
Synopsis:
His home had been a high refuge deep in the mountains and a good distance from any community. He lived there for so long it was no longer a consideration to keep track of the time, only his desire to return to his own place and friends.
The only friends he chose to keep near were those of the animal kingdom and there were many, but the most prominent and favored was a very large crow he called Gilda and a three legged skunk he had aptly named Stinker.
He and his friends preferred to stay secluded, he only visited the community below to keep up on current events and even then, he kept quite to himself.
Their way of life and contentment would be forever altered by the wreck of a small aircraft carrying precious cargo from one side of the country to the other. One of the occupants, a young girl who would come to be known as Winnie would join their troop and make irrevocable changes in their world.
Magic, indelible friendships, evil confrontations and wonders of the years of the fifties era would spring to life in the old mans world.
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About the author:
In 1999 Ray Lee began his writing career at age 49 and his first work was entitled “Diamonds In the Trees.”
Like many men his age, life beckoned him down several paths. But the seeds planted by a novel he read as a freshman in high school, quietly took root and grew into his desire to bring joy to everyone he could. His success rate hasn’t been too bad so far.
At the beginning of “Diamonds In the Trees,” he had ideas as to where he wanted to take the story, but as we who write have discovered, the story breathes a life of it’s own and we’re just a conduit. As a writer I can tell you Ray has gone on a wonderful journey of adventure, excitement and love of a fine tale when he went along for this ride.
Also as with so many creative individuals, academics didn't necessarily come easy. A good teacher doesn’t just teach. He or she must “sell” the student on their chosen subject. A good teacher is also a good salesman. Somewhere along the line Ray was shortchanged and left to learn some tough lessons of life on his own.
This resulted in a section of his life as a U.S. Marine in 1966 and a stint in Viet Nam. His deep sense of honor and commitment helped keep at least one other husband, or father from another family home to bring joy to them. And I personally want to thank him for his duty.
Upon returning to the states, Ray traveled the country working and learning more of life’s lessons. His résumé consists of such employments as a Diamond Driller for the mineral industry to construction work.
From there he ventured into lumberjack with a small “gyppo” logging outfit. Other works in gas stations and on military bases as a civil employee have enhanced his insight and made his stories far richer as a result.
Taking work at a mine in eastern Montana, Ray settled into a small town with his wife and two daughters. The inspiration for “Diamonds In the Trees,” came from his wife during a return trip from a larger community.
As they crested the top of a mountain pass on a beautiful spring day, her comment about how the power line insulators sparkled through the forest and made her think of diamonds in the trees.
With that inspiration and two daughters to guide, Ray sat down to recode “Diamonds In the Trees.”
Reflecting back on a life of experience, a vivid imagination and two daughters to guide, Ray was in for an exhilarating experience. His love of telling stories in depth, allowed “Diamonds In the Trees” to oh so softly creep from the recesses of his mind. Thanks to his efforts he can now share them with you!
So as the bumper sticker says “get in… sit down… shut up… and hang on!” Put it another way, “pick up this story, fasten your seatbelts, and come along for an exciting ride!”