The Magical Beach Tree is a heartwarming Christmas story about a young girl named Hildi who, with her brother and dog, transforms a discarded evergreen tree into a symbol of kindness, creativity, and community spirit. What do you think makes Hildi’s decision to give the discarded tree a new purpose so meaningful?

Most people would have walked right past that tree. Someone had decided it wasn’t needed anymore. Hildi sees it differently. She looks at something forgotten and imagines what it could become. That’s what makes her choice meaningful: it’s a small act, but it comes from kindness and imagination, not from anything she was asked to do. And because she acts, others feel invited to join in. One child’s decision becomes something the whole community shares.

How does the story reflect your own beliefs about generosity and community?

I believe the most meaningful generosity is often the quietest. In the real story, no one organized anything. Neighbors simply added their own treasures from the beach, and painted-rock “presents” appeared beneath the branches. To this day, no one knows who left them. People just wanted to be part of something good. That’s the kind of community I love, and it’s what I hoped to capture in the book. You don’t need to buy something to make something magical. Sometimes the best gifts are what we find, make, and share together.

In a world that can sometimes feel divided, what do you hope The Magical Beach Tree inspires families and communities to do?

I hope it inspires people to notice what’s right in front of them, whether that’s a forgotten tree, a beautiful shoreline, or a neighbor they haven’t met yet, and to add something of their own. The beach tree brought together people who didn’t know each other at all: families, visitors, strangers with cameras, someone painting rocks in secret. No one had to agree on anything except that it was worth celebrating. If one small tree can do that, I hope families feel encouraged to start something small in their own communities and see who joins in.

Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Amazon