The Signal Tree

I wrote The Signal Tree to capture the wonder of a childhood lived outdoors, long before cell phones, when adventure waited in every creek bend and ridge line. My land in the Ozark hills—where real signal trees still stand, and traces of Native American history linger in the ridgelines and hollows—inspired me to share that sense of mystery, freedom, and connection with the natural world. This story grew from my desire to pass along the magic of those wide‑open days and invite readers into a place where the past still whispers through the trees.

Seventeen-year-old Wick Shepperd would give anything for cell service—but when he stumbles on a Cherokee signal tree, he tumbles into the 1800s, where wolves, flintlocks, and squirrel disasters weren’t covered in honors English. With his father vanished in time, his sister missing, and a biotech mogul scheming to seize their land,Wick must master time-jumping, keep his ancestors—and himself—alive, and learn that some history lessons demand more than straight A’s. The Signal Tree is a laugh-out- loud, heart-tugging adventure about finding your roots, preserving history, and surviving a wild new chapter.