The False Treeing Hound: A Short Story About Found Family and a Road Trip Out West

by G. Edward Martin

Daniel, a lost young man, abandons everything as he sets off on a road-trip across the American West. After his car breaks down in Wyoming, he meets an unexpected friend and mentor who takes him in for one night and ultimately changes the course of Daniel's life.

Short story
6,000 words
Literary fiction, introspective fiction, contemporary fiction

32 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 3, 2023

About the author

Hello! My name is G. Edward Martin.

I am a six-time award-winning USA indie author and illustrator based out of Nashville, TN. I write in the genre of Philosophical Fiction, which I often describe as using the art of storytelling to explore difficult questions related to morality, reality, and our pursuit of meaning.

Beneath this umbrella, I have written stories in a variety of genres including literary fiction, religious fiction, historical fiction, comedy, contemporary, fantasy, science fiction, supernatural mystery, allegory, dystopian satire, short stories, and Native American Fiction.

I have written and published three full-size books (two novels and one short story collection), six novellas/novelettes, and one dozen short stories. Additionally, I have much, much more on the way.

My most popular titles include:

• Truth and Evil: A Religious Historical Fiction Novelette Set During World War II

• The Blueberry Daughter: A Fictional Ojibwe Legend

• The Mighty Esox: A Supernatural Mystery Novel

• 13 Acorns: Modern Short Stories for Thoughtful Adults

• The Nobody Who Fought a Dragon: A Dark Comedy Novelette

• The False Treeing Hound: A Feel-Good Short Story

• The Flower from the Garbage: A Philosophical & Literary Fiction Novel

As a philosopher, I regard your time as sacred; thus, as an author, my commitment is to give the very best of myself to every story. When you read one of my stories, I want you to connect with the stories, look at life your life in new ways, learn new things, laugh, reconnect, and see yourself deeply in every character.

My hope and belief is that every story of mine will arrive in your life with serendipitous timing and synchronistic relevance to your unique life in the unique season in which you stumbled upon them. In other words, I have faith that you will find my stories, or they will find you, exactly when they are supposed to.

Although there is an endless amount of skill an author can cultivate in the art of writing, at the foundation of my dream, I am wholeheartedly committed to only ever writing stories that are worth being told. My mission is that every reader who chooses one of my stories always closes the last page feeling hopeful, slightly wiser or more thoughtful, and looking at life with rejuvenated eyesight.

I want to see people thrive and fall back in love with this miraculous existence that we are so blessed to be a part of, and writing is my life’s calling for how I can do my part to contribute to this end.

Additionally, I love to connect with every reader, and I would be delighted to hear from you. My email address is EdwardMartinBooks@gmail. com. If you would like to learn more about all my stories or new books coming soon, check out my website: EdwardMartinBooks. com

Additionally, I am pledging 10% of all my book royalties to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Someday, I will expand this list to help support other amazing organizations, but for now the St. Jude's team is doing incredible work and I cannot think of a worthier cause.

Thank you for being a reader!

G. Edward Martin

Reviews

[Joanne N. Dorsett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great Read!

This story is worth reading! I enjoyed it & at 80 years young, I also learned some things that I hadn't ever thought about! Thanks G. Edward Martin for sharing this true story with us! 👍😊🙋

[Dede loves books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful storytelling. Great pallet cleanser. Love a heart warming short story!

[Casually Brook · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can one broken car change the entire course of your life?

If you like:
Cute love stories
Real life stories
Road trips
Dogs.

I love the analogies between life, human nature, and dogs. This is a nice story about how one moment can change the entire trajectory of your life.

A cute wholesome little story about life.

The narrator was clear and energetic

[Anne Berluna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the reading of this as it reminded me of someone that helped me tremendously at a certain break point in my life. Sometimes its the unplanned and random conversations that help a person out the most. A good read for anyone really.

[Lynn Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story may be short but it's packed full of deep questions that will leave you thinking. Life might take you on a wild ride but maybe those unexpected journeys are exactly what you need in order to move forward and grow as a person. Wonderful read and enjoyable audiobook!

[Patricia Richards · Rating 5 out of 5]

inspiring and hope-filled

Narrated in the first person, it’s like having coffee with a friend you haven’t seen for a long time, yet remain close to.

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well, this was a cute short story. About how life it can be acted upon in multiple different ways too. Soon too late or just right