PersonaliTrees

For Immediate Release

Contact: Gail Torr  -  gail@findhornpress.com

PersonaliTrees not only impacts audiences of all ages with a captivating collection of images and inspirational words, it pulls readers from the frenetic pace of everyday life into a welcome calmness - like walking into the hush and majesty of a forest. 

On yet another level, PersonaliTrees fosters a mindful appreciation of the relationship between nature and the human condition. It endeavors to help us see — and feel more a part of — our world than we did before.

Enjoyed for pure fun or treasured as a spiritual reference guide of personality traits that make our human existence meaningful, readers will never again look at trees the same way.

Released by Scotland's Findhorn Press in March 2010, the book represents an eight-year labor of love for author Joan Klostermann-Ketels. Surviving breast cancer during the process heightened the spiritual element of the book, she says. PersonaliTrees is dedicated to her eldest sister, who succumbed to the disease a year before the book was completed.

“PersonaliTrees is really about the ever-present silent spirit that wraps around you when you walk among the trees,” Joan Klostermann-Ketels said. “Trees are sentient beings, and each tree in this book stopped me in my tracks. They took my breath away. They have stories to share. All we have to do is be present.”

A grandmother twice in the past two and a half years, Joan Klostermann-Ketels says she is excited about how PersonaliTrees can bring families and children together. She said, “As a society we tend to speed through our everyday lives. This is a great book to slow down and share with children and grandchildren. It brings imagination and mysticism back to being outdoors.”

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What others are saying about PersonaliTrees:

“…This is such a simple idea—as the best creative brainstorms usually appear to be! Look at a tree. Envision its personality. Imagine a story, a song or—in the pages of this picture book—a poem. Pretty soon, the woods spring to life! … Perhaps you can tell right away why you need this book, if this idea intrigues you. Sit with people you love—or simply sit down alone with a cup of tea—and immerse yourself in these 50 photos, 50 captions and 50 bits of poetry. Soon you’ll be out in the woods yourself! This can become a family favorite year after year. – David Crumm, Read the Spirit.com

“Contemplation is very much what PersonaliTrees is all about....Joan Klostermann-Ketels has taken a truly unique approach in PersonaliTrees....sometimes it is good to just relax and let thoughts engulf you....Occasionally I seek solace in simplicity and found it in this delightful book.” – Simon Barrett, Blogger News Network

“I suspect anyone reading this book will look at trees in their personal world in a whole new light when they have finished. This is the kind of book my late mother, an avid gardener and writer, would have loved....a wonderful book for nature lovers, as a gift for people who need a spiritual boost and for libraries who value having books with a spiritual component in their collection.” – John R. Clark, TCM Reviews.com

“…Jung suggested that trees, when seen in dreams and imaginings, were friendly creations, ready to place us back in touch with the best part of ourselves. Joan reminds us of this in the gentlest, most persuasive way. You will be moved by this gentle, quiet book...." – Dr. Allan Hunter, Author, "The Six Archetypes of Love"

“The author, Joan Klostermann-Ketels, is not a tree professional but an expert on the human spirit and knows a lot about human expression. I have a new-found admiration for her interpretation of the anthropomorphic tree....She offers the ultimate alternate perception of her tree subjects."  – Steve Nix, About.com, Forestry

“I think it’s just fascinating. It’s a photo album, really, of … trees. But it’s more than that. It’s an exercise in creativity, a thoughtful appreciation of nature … I was a doubter, but really, you should check it out … Now I find myself walking down my block, studying many of the trees as I pass by. It really is a way to stretch those creative muscles ― and appreciate nature along the way. You may never look at a tree the same way again.” – Diane Majeski, Author, "Death on Deadline," on blogspot.com

“…a wonderful book to have on hand to remind us that we are part of a greater natural world than we sometimes acknowledge. There's real inspiration here for when we need it…for those times when we need to slow down and reflect on the nature of our life events." – Cat Bennett, Author, “The Confident Creative”

This photographic essay is both enchanting and intriguing, while simultaneously leaving one asking for more…. PersonaliTrees is a relaxing and exploratory text, which could easily be transformed into a work for youngsters, encouraging their creative recapturing of the spirit of the trees...." – Lois Henderson, BookPleasures.com

“Joan Klostermann-Ketels has set forth a gentle, thought-provoking work that is a little nostalgic, a little sad and yet, in many ways, quite uplifting....if a reader will do themselves a favor and take the time to spend some time with this little book, they will be greatly rewarded.” – John H. Manhold, FascinatingAuthors.com