THE LONE PINE is set in the true event of the 2011 tsunami in Japan, a commercial upmarket fiction at 93K words, a coming-of-age, multi-generational family saga that embodies the struggles of the human experience and the mystical muse of awakening.
At the heart of “The Lone Pine” stand three remarkable women of the Matsuoka family, each wrestling with their own burdens of loss and heartache, mirroring the intricate dance of the human experience.
Drawn from my personal encounters with upheaval and renewal, this narrative is a testament to our sometimes fallible but indomitable spirit, a spirit that empowers us to rise time and time again.
Michiko, an eleven-year-old biracial girl, is swept up in the chaos of the 2011 earthquake and subsequent tsunami while visiting her grandparents in Japan.
As the devastating wave reshapes their world, Michiko’s grandmother Azumi, and her mother Shizuko must not only face the destruction of their home but also confront the painful tensions within their family. Against the backdrop of a transforming landscape, they start a new life in America, navigating cultural differences, hidden family secrets, and the rigid patriarchal expectations of Michiko’s grandfather, Akio.
“The Lone Pine” will resonate with readers seeking stories that blend emotional depth with a rich tapestry of cultural and historical context. The Matsuoka women strive to forge a new sense of belonging amidst the ruins of their past. Michiko becomes the catalyst in breaking a multi-generational miasma of abuse and survival. In a single, transformative moment, driven by the unfathomable power of water as both creator and destroyer, the family is irrevocably reshaped, for better and for worse.