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When we look at trees, passing by as we walk down the street, or as we park our car, we don’t give much thought as to where they come from.

Like humans, trees didn’t start out on pavement or in pots. They came from forests, mountains and valleys. We are all native to the wild forests and fields.

The Legend of Zelkova: Elementum
Zelkova the parking lot tree, or street tree, is native to Japan, Korea, eastern China and Taiwan. Its scientific name is Zelkova serrata (Japanese zelkova, Japanese elm 欅 (ケヤキ) keyaki /槻 (ツキ) tsuki; Chinese: 榉树/櫸樹 jǔshù; Korean: 느티나무 neutinamu)

According to the Korean Forest Service, in 1989 the largest number of trees over 500 years old were specimens of Zelkova serrata.

Today Zelkova is rare in the wild, especially of the two westernmost species in the Eurasian group, Z. sicula (which is known to only exist in two small populations) and Z. abelicea. This is causing a call for conservation action.

Zelkova’s first cultivation outside of Asia was by Philipp Franz von Siebold, who took it to the Netherlands in 1830. And the tree has only recently been dubbed the “parking lot tree” and “street tree.”

To identify Zelkova serrata, it is a medium-sized tree that usually grows around 98 feet tall. It has a short trunk that divides into many upright and erect spreading stems that form a broad, rounded-topped tree head. The leaves are green to dark green throughout spring and summer, changing to yellow, orange and red in autumn.

It develops flowers in spring with leaves. The buds are oval with many arranged, dark brown scales.

I chose Zelkova for my main character in – The Legend of Zelkova, because of its rarity in the wild, and is not well known among the populous. Another reason is because of where it comes from, its history and the name itself.

So I ask you, the next time you pass a tree, think of the forest it once grew. Lush among its fellow plants. With rich soil, ample sun and fresh water. Don’t we all wish for the same?

Come meet me and get a signed copy of Legend of Zelkova.
My next signings are at Barnes and Noble in Oceanside, CA on October 17th – 7pm and Mysterious Galaxy Books in San Diego, CA on October 19th at 12pm.

Had a great time at the Danbury Library and Oceanside Library book signings.

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Sixteen

Zelkova rushed through the thick shrubs that surrounded her. She knew better than to go this deep into her uncle’s territory. Litore was off limits and had been for quite some times. Every time she asked her father about it, he turned stern. Not wanting to talk about it. Even her brother Pyrus, knew very little. And that is one reason she went into this area.

There had been rumors. A monster shaped like a tree was supposed to be roaming the border. Keeping all outsiders at bay. Some told stories of cages made of twigs, hanging from tree limbs, holding trespassers hostage. She had yet to see one.

Carya warned her not to go. Telling her that it was too dangerous to travel alone. But Zelkova wasn’t one to shy away from danger. She didn’t believe in monsters and wanted to prove to her people there was no such thing.

Moving faster she felt the ground shift underneath her. Before she knew it, Zelkova hit the ground hard. Despite getting the wind knocked out of her, she was soon to her feet. Looking around, she saw nothing but trees which sent a chill through her. Could one of the trees be from the stories? But those were just stories, right?

Hearing a sound coming from behind her, Zelkova turned to see a tall figure. It was was twice her size. Despite this creature taking a human man’s form. It was far from it. Where flesh should be, there was stone in its place. She started backing up slowly. But found herself against a tree.

The morning sun started to peek through, casting light on the features of the figure in front of her. It did closely resemble a human. Their eyes where what gave them away, no shine to them. Only white colored stone with black stone iris.

“Zelkova. What should I do to you? Finding you all alone out here?” His voice was so deep she almost felt it echo through her.

Muscle memory had her hand on her sword before her mind knew it. But once she realized it, Zelkova knew metal against stone would be no good. It would waste a perfectly good sword. At seeing this, all he did was laugh. Which made her grip her sword all the more.

“If you think you can defeat me with that little thing. Then, you’ve learned nothing at all. But, try it. Let’s see how far you can get.” He took a battle stance. His hands in a defensive position. “Shall we?”

Zelkova who at this point in time was only sixteen, unsheathed her blade and lunged towards the stone man. Knowing full well, it was a mistake. But if it was one thing Zelkova had mastered, in her short yet long life, of a whole sixteen years was own your mistakes, no matter how big or small.

To be continued…

There is a time and place for anger. It can be used to start a movement or a motivation to change something in life. However, it shouldn’t be used continuously and can harm those who over use it.

Anger can be a dangerous emotion. It’s true that anger breeds more anger. It can consume all other emotions if left unchecked and even one’s entire personality, clouding perception.

One thing that emotion doesn’t like is being angry alone. Which is one reason why so many social media feeds are filled with angry comments. It can become a state of mind that continuously needs to be fed with more situations or media to keep the anger going. So, one seeks out these things and can ignore the good things in the world or in their life.

Some who are reading this may feel anger in them now and you are entitled to feel that way. But why is anger building inside of you? Knowing why you are angry can direct it towards creating a solution rather than spreading it around or holding it in. Try to quell the emotion when you realize you may have no reason to be angry. The world can do without any extra.

So my take, is there is a time and place. Don’t rush to be angry. And let the emotion go. Anger will only grow inside you and fill you with pain. Making you see the world and all that’s in it as bad. Hate and anger tend to go hand and hand. Please be careful with using this emotion. Using it sparingly, and don’t let it consume you. I try to practice this daily. Because we all grow throughout our lives.

Side note: Showing passion, can sometimes come across as anger, depending on a person’s personality. But there is a clear difference. I hope if there is anyone out there that suffers from abuse, please reach out for help. Know, that YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

S.L. Vaden

When I’m writing in different genres I think of them in two different universes.

In my fantasy books, I’m building new worlds where there are no limits, labels or restrictions holding the characters down. My fantasy novels tend to have hidden meanings within them that intertwine with the other books in the series, connecting them in more ways than you may think reading it the first time.

In my fantasy novels I also don’t put in sex scenes, and restrict kissing scenes and cussing. I do this because, in my fantasy world there are more to the characters’ journey than sex and anger. I don’t want my readers to be pulled from the main story or distracted from spotting the hidden meanings. There are times and places for those things but I don’t make it a constant or a major role in the story.

My fantasy novels are there to bring people into new worlds, to let them explore and find new freedoms. In this day and time where sex and anger is plastered everywhere on social media and tv. It can be nice to see something different and new.

Now, for my romance. If I don’t show these things in my fantasy then why do I show it in my romance? I do this to help the reader understand the characters more. To become the characters themselves and see where they may be coming from. In my romance novels. I take from the world we live in and put it into the story I’m writing. To help the reader better connect. 

In summary:
Fantasy is for readers to explore. To want to become the characters they read. To see them as heroes and to make the world they live in now, a better one.

Romance is for the readers to connect and see themselves as the characters they read. And hopefully learn from the characters mistakes, growth and journey. 

In both the world of fantasy and romance I hope my readers are able to walk away from the story wanting more but also feeling as if they will always carry a little piece of my story with them. That in some small way, it might have helped their day. 

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I’ve always been a day dreamer, ever since I was young. I would think of stories and worlds beyond the one I found myself in. I was homeschooled and felt isolated at times, so day dreaming was a way to combat my loneliness.

When I dreamt up stories, I was never in them. I was just a watcher as the events unfolded in my head. I wrote my first short story when I was around 13 and progressively started writing longer stories. I would ask my dad to lead an extension cord from the house to a spot under the trees to type on my electric type writer. Yep before computers.

Growing up where I did and with the parents I had I was always trying to be respectful of nature. Learning that everything has a place in the world, and if we must cut a tree to help warm our house or kill an animal to eat we must respect that they had a life and are giving up theirs for us and to be thankful of that.

Because of living in a rural area I was able to roam my parents woods freely along with my trusted companion, a beagle. I remember there was this one spot where I would set and think leaning against a tree, feeding my dog crackers while I ate mine.
I knew at a young age that not everyone had such freedom. I saw the hardship others endured and wanted to help.

When I was just out of high school I married someone who I thought was like me. Kind and goal driven. But within two years of the marriage I found that he was only goal driven for himself and not willing to help me reach mine. As his anger grew I found that the anger and abuse was not what I wanted for my life. So in the end after four years my parents help me get out of a harmful relationship. Which I am forever grateful for.

After a while of living on my own and trying to find myself again. I met my now wonderful husband who is pure kindness and would give the shirt off his back if he saw someone else needed it more. As our relationship grew I found myself more and more.
I stopped shying away from defending others from bullies just as I did when I was a child. I would no longer set idle when others were hurting someone with their fist or words. If I could intervene I would.

After losing my job I found my dream job in California and my husband was so supportive that he willingly moved across the country with me to help me pursue my dream carrier. After the first two months I knew that I finally found my place. I felt comfortable to be myself and with that comfort I started my book.

I knew in my book my characters would have to show the world around me, which is not all white. The world has tons of color and life and diversity and that little things can triumph over big challenges.

Among that I wanted to show my love of nature and that without it we would not have a place to call home. That we must respect all living things, no matter how small.