Chainsaws and Cherry Burls

Chainsaws and Cherry Burls is the second nonfiction essay collection by Maine author, Jennifer Neves. In her essays, Neves explores the connection between her inner world and the 42 acre farmstead occupied by her large and wildly entertaining family. This collection is a both a window into the chaotic business of raising children and a celebration of how a family can grow and thrive while appreciating the beauty and complexity of the natural world. In Chainsaws and Cherry Burls, Neves pushes her own grief and worry into the light—an offering of vulnerability that uplifts and inspires. Despite the often deeply personal nature of her essays, the tone of this collection oscillates between contemplative and nostalgic to outright comedy. Neves’s essay, ‘Battleground’ was named a finalist in the Tulip Tree Review’s 2022 Humor Writing Contest.