Trees Don't Bite… But They Do Love to Giggle

By Martina Kilian

Trees that giggle and sneeze? Surely that can’t be!

As 10-year-old Hazel embarks on a family road trip from Inishbofin Island to Belfast for her Halloween break, she anticipates a journey filled with ordinary sights and long hours. But as the world outside turns into a blur of cars and scenery, Hazel’s attention is unexpectedly captivated by the wilderness along the road.

Suddenly, the mundane transforms into the extraordinary when she witnesses trees doing the unthinkable! While most would steer clear of such bewildering sights, Hazel’s curiosity and courage propel her into a hidden world.

Join Hazel on this enchanted journey as she unravels the whimsical mysteries of nature and discovers that the ordinary can sometimes be truly magical.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jan 5, 2024
• ISBN: 9781035819133

Martina Kilian

Martina Kilian was born and reared in Bavaria, Germany but fell in love with Ireland during her first visit in 1981, settling in County Sligo for good in 1993. A florist by trade and a small-hold farmer by passion, she also holds a BA Honours degree in outdoor education. She started her business ‘Nature Inspires’ in 2016, offering workshops and nature experiences for all age groups promoting sustainability and wellbeing. During her spare time, she loves to immerse herself in nature, hiking, cycling, paddling or just dawdling along.

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About the Author

Martina Kilian was born and reared in Bavaria, Germany but fell in love with Ireland during her first visit in 1981, settling in County Sligo for good in 1993.

A florist by trade and a small-hold farmer by passion, she also holds a BA Honours degree in outdoor education.

She started her business ‘Nature Inspires’ in 2016, offering workshops and nature experiences for all age groups promoting sustainability and wellbeing.

During her spare time, she loves to immerse herself in nature, hiking, cycling, paddling or just dawdling along.

Dedication

This long overdue story is dedicated to and in memory of my Mum, Sophie, and my dad, Josef. Both loved nature but in particular the forests around our home.

This story is also for my sons, Seamus and Patrick. May it encourage them and future generations to love and respect nature and trees!

Copyright Information ©

Martina Kilian 2024

The right of Martina Kilian to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781035819126 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781035819133 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.co.uk

First Published 2024

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd®

1 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5AA

Acknowledgement

Deepest gratitude goes to my friend, Michèle Dockrey, who spent a lot of time and energy polishing the story, for her encouragement to persevere with the revisions and to offer it for publication.

Chapter 1

One morning, during breakfast, Mum announced that the whole family would go on a short holiday to Belfast. They were all going to visit Mum’s friend, Anne-Marie.

Little Conor splashed his spoon excitedly in his bowl of cereal, scattering most of them over and around his highchair.

Hazel’s mind drifted to thinking about Belfast. She kept loading hazelnut spread on her toast until Dad asked her if she was alright…

Mum, where is Belfast?

Belfast is in the northern part of the island. It will be a long journey, Mum replied with a sigh.

Young Hazel kept wondering ‘why’ and more importantly, Who will look after Giddy and Snoops?

Giddy and Snoops were Hazel’s two favourite animals on the farm.

Giddy was a small, multi-coloured goat kid and Snoops was Hazel’s black and white pet rabbit.

Come on, get ready, Miss Nosy! Dad shouted from the hall. I’ll get the quad started and I will drop you at the school gate.

Hazel jumped up grabbed her bag, her helmet and hopped on the back of the small motorcycle. Holding on to her Dad, she was still wondering about this holiday and how everything at home could possibly be organised…

They reached the last hill before the school and then Dad stopped right in front of the gate. He let Hazel hop off, gave her a ‘high five’ and went on his way. He had to go a bit further to check the sheep and goats on the other side of the island.

It was still early and there were only a few children in the school grounds. The school yard was puckered with puddles and too slippery to run around in. Hazel decided to sit on the wall and to stare across the bay. She had been to the mainland before. She had been to Clifden and Westport and even to Galway once. She got the idea that Belfast must be even further away and that the trip could well turn out to be some sort of big adventure…

Suddenly, it was time to go to her classroom.

Her teacher, Miss Pickles, asked all the children what they were planning to do during the Halloween break.

‘Trick or Treating’ was a ‘must’ and Hazel realised she would be missing all the