Yes, I Gave My Heroine the Tree House I’ve Always Wanted
By Jeff Salter
I get story ideas all the time. This particular one came while I was strapped onto a spinal decompression table in a chiropractic office. Those sessions lasted about 18 minutes and you couldn’t move or do anything the entire time. I happened to look out the window and saw a tall tree. Then I thought, “Hey, my heroine works in a chiro office and lives in a tree house!” Once I had that premise, it was fairly easy to figure out how and where Rusty Battle would fit in — and the obstacles he’d face.
It was fun designing Keri Winter’s tree house… because I’ve spent decades building one in my head (having been inspired by the one in the movie, Swiss Family Robinson).
“Stuck on Cloud Eight”
Now that Keri lives in her own tree house…it’s No Men Allowed. Romantic comedy that’s high in the sky. Novel, only $3.99 in digital formats; paperback also available (varied pricing). TouchPoint Press, 2015.
BLURB
Since Keri Winter’s tomboy childhood dream had been to one day possess her own tree house, it does not bother her one bit to be known as Tarzana after she actually builds her home in a tree.
With a steady job she enjoys, Keri invests most of her late mother’s insurance policy into the design and construction of the only inhabitable tree house in Greene County. The house is a marvel, both in its construction and everyday operation, and attracts significant attention. So does its only occupant.
But most of the young men in town hold no interest for her at all. In fact, she seems pretty unapproachable – literally and figuratively – with her head up in the clouds. It would take a mighty tall man to reach Keri’s level and attract her romantic interest.
And even if the right man could reach her, would Keri trust him?
Rusty Battle figures he’s got the right stuff, but in order to prove it, he has to get Keri’s attention.
They’re about to learn proximity can sometimes make the heart grow fonder…or it just might drive Keri crazy.
It’s difficult enough to get to know someone on even ground. Can she start over at a higher level?
Question:
Have you ever wanted to live in a tree house? What basic design would you want?
[ JLS # 268 ]
Angela Schroeder
Patricia Kiyono
Elaine Cantrell
Jeff Salter
Joselyn
Tonette Joyce
Four Foxes, One Hound 
Jeff, you crazy guy, love this book’s concept.
I can’t say I’ve ever wanted to live in a treehouse. I’d always wanted one, though, as a kid. But instead of building a treehouse to get away from the neighborhood boys (or invite them in, depends on the age) I made booby traps for them in the woods. Ah….good times…good times….
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Jenn, you bad girl, you. Trapping the boys in the woods. Hmm. now THERE’s a cool story! Ha.
Actually the practicality of LIVING in a tree house, year-round is problematic… especially during winter. But I overlooked that for my character, Keri Winter.
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It would be a fun concept. But I gotta say, the boys didn’t find it as funny as I did when they fell into a hole or got whacked in the face by my trip lines. 🙂 Yup…bad girl…
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I used to build traps around the tree I always climbed up I’d go up there to read and didn’t want to be bothered.
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I always wanted to do that, but all we had around our house were PINE trees. No branches to climb on.
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Isn’t it awesome how ideas come to us sometimes? I suppose I’d like to have a treehouse as a getaway/writing retreat – in the summertime, of course – but I’m too accustomed to modern conveniences (running water, plumbing, electricity, and internet) to want to live in one all the time. I’ll have to read this one to find out how your heroine manages it.
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Oh, Keri has running water, power, and HVAC. However, her lowest level is a screened porch which gives her lots of fresh air. In colder weather, she has a layer over the screened areas.
You see, Keri studied as an architect, so she was able to anticipate all of the challenges… including how to keep OUT intruders and would-be suitors.
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Acquaintances of mine build a get-away for their older kids basically in a tree,(part on a support). It was wonderful.
I must get t this one of yours, Jeff!
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One year I was in cub scouts and our den-mother moved to the country where she had a huge tree with an elevated, screened-in tree house that went around the entire tree. Very cool, but not terribly practical since it was — as I recall — a pretty good distance from the main house.
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I’ve wanted to live in a tree house, I never thought much about the design. I never had a tree house when I was younger and always wanted one.
I read this book and really enjoyed it.
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thanks, Angie, for getting my book and for the compliment.
Yeah, once I decided to put my character in a tree house, I had to think a lot about what type construction. I knew the standard “box” house — used by most kids in backyards — would not be sufficient for someone with an architect’s degree. So my thoughts turned to the Swiss Family Robinson.
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A tree house would be cool, but I’m with Patty on the modern conveniences.
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