Beneath the Swaying Willow

by Amily D'Nas, Arlene Adelkopf

Tensions are running high throughout the United States in 1970 as the anti-war movement heats up and a second wave of feminism washes over the nation.
Nora Thompson and Russ Ayers, a young couple with a bright future ahead of them, find themselves suddenly torn apart when he is drafted and deployed to Vietnam. Nora grows anxious when months pass with no word from Russ who is doing his best to serve his country and survive the hell of war.
Feeling alone and trapped by her overbearing mother's demands, the closed-minded thinkers in her small New England hometown and society's expectations of her, Nora begins to question who she is and what she wants out of life. Fate soon fills the unwanted wedge between Russ and Nora with new experiences, forever changing who they are and the trajectory of their lives.
Scars are concealed. Secrets are kept. When things spiral out of control Nora must draw upon her inner strength to stand up for what she believes in and fight injustice. It is only then that she is able to find her true self and that a secret she has been keeping is unveiled.
Beneath the Swaying Willow is a riveting account of love, sacrifice and human struggle that shines a light on the destructive, ugly side of humanity, while also showing how the courage of just one person can be the catalyst for positive change to occur.
This novel was inspired by the author's father's struggle with PTSD after serving in the United States Army during the Vietnam era, her mother's steadfast love and devotion to him during his darkest days and by a turbulent time in United States history.

Genres: Historical Fiction

256 pages, Paperback

Published July 23, 2024

About the author

Amily D'Nas was born and raised in Southern New England and now calls South Florida home.
She earned her MBA from the University of Massachusetts and is a member of the Authors Guild, the Chicago Writers Association, and the Women's Fiction Writers Association (WFWA).
Her debut novel, Beneath the Swaying Willow, was inspired by true events that transpired during the Vietnam War era.
Beneath the Swaying Willow was the 2nd place winner of The Bookfest Fall 2024 literary contest in the Women's Historical Fiction category, a 2024 American Writing Awards Finalist for Best Debut Fiction and received a positive review from Bill McCloud from the Vietnam Veterans of America's magazine the, VVA Veteran.

Reviews

[Bernie Lamkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

UNDER THE SWAYING WILLOW is a historical fiction that explains some of the atrocities of war that exasperated PTSD in many of our returning service personnel . While dealing with the often overlooked or misunderstood disability, D'Nas has us look at Russ and his family and friends to see how they are all affected. Although there is no happy ending, I feel this story helped me and can help others to understand the importance of PTSD and the need for better mental health care for all .Bernie Lamkin

[Patricia A Moniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished Beneath the Swaying Willow. Excellent book. The end was very sad but very moving. It really makes you think how people can be so narrow minded and cruel. Not a lot of books make me cry. This one did.

[Kim Faria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I usually decide within a few chapters if I connect with the characters enough to want to continue. This book grabbed me right away. The characters were very relatable, and real. I know a few people who have served in Vietnam and reading the experiences and treatment of Russ was heartbreaking. His relationship with Nora, and Nora’s relationships with her friends was very believable.
Tackling PTSD, suicide, and the treatment of our Vietnam vets upon their return…. and handling it with such care on her pages, the author really captured the events and emotions of the time.

[Donna Rustigian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This debut novel is a page turner. The author does a great job introducing the reader to the critical characters. She draws you in to the point where you develop feelings for the characters. I found myself rooting for Russ & Nora and despising Viviane. The turn of events in Russ’s life were so relatable and visceral. I don’t want to give anything away. But, all I can tell is buy this book and make it your summer read.

[Kathy Buchko · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW, this was an awesome debut novel by a local South Florida author whom I hope to meet to discuss her book! Inspired by true events about her father's struggle with PTSD after serving in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and the sacrifices suffered by her mother's love and devotion to him, Amily D'Nas has written a passionate story of a painful time in our nation's history, and her attention to detail and character development prove she's got the literary prowess of the likes of Kristin Hannah and Jodi Picoult.

The 'love triangle' between Nora, Russ and Brant was a sad but not uncommon result of the war, when men are away from their wives and girlfriends for sometimes years at a time. The story also touched on the almost non-existent acknowledgement of the Vietnam vets as they returned to the states. There were no "Welcome Home" parades, they were called "baby killers", denied jobs and even denied access to veteran's benefits because they were told Vietnam was not a 'real war.'

Only one scene had me doubting reality: Nora seemed to enjoy losing her virginity at night on the beach on a blanket in the sand. I can't speak for other women, but I certainly wouldn't feel romantic with sand on certain naked body parts..........

All in all, I was quite impressed with this novel, and appreciate the author telling this difficult story that I will encourage all Americans to read.

[Christine Rizza · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found Amily D’nas’ debut novel “Beneath the Swaying Willow” emotional, entertaining, enlightening, and important.

The story wove relatable characters through their intertwined lives in a small New England town and highlighted in a believable story all their humanness and imperfections.


It was a love story that brought you into the main character, Nora’s life through all its twists and turns. Her sacrifices, her relationships with friends and family, and her loyalty to a man that needed her.

Amily did not shy away from the difficult subject of PTSD and suicide, making you feel the gut-wrenching circumstances and feelings the characters were dealing with, in a way that brought tears to my eyes at the end. Very riveting, I didn't want to put it down! She was able to convey what war veterans go through in their struggles to return to life after war, what is waiting for them on their return home, and how that may differ from what they left, in a way the reader felt an understanding to the character Russ. She told a story of how life continues, but never in the same way, and how nobody ever really knows what is in someone else's head.

With the subject of suicide, she was able to convey the hopelessness someone feels before they take their own life.

Thank you, `Amily D’Nas for bringing this story to life and boldly addressing the too often stigmatized subject of mental health in all its rawness.


Christine Rizza
Training and Outreach Director
Samaritans Southcoast Suicide Prevention

[Paul R]

The attention to details relevant to era, be it setting or issues of the time, is highly commendable. The author adeptly balances humor, deep emotions and the complexity of life. Especially if you grew up in the late 60’s, early 70’s, you may have a recollection of the events and prevalent attitudes within the story occurring within your community. Even if you did not, if you have ever known someone who has struggled with mental health issues or difficult relationships, you will surely be able to identify with the main characters. Minor characters are well developed, help drive the plot and are very likely to remind you of someone you know. If you are a fan of the writing craft, literary devices are well executed throughout the story. I frequently found myself trying to predict events, only to find that it did not end as I expected. A highly commendable inaugural offering for a promising new author.

[Gretchen D'ambrosio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend “Beneath the Swaying Willow”. This book not only instantly grabbed my attention, but I also became immediately invested in the characters lives and I couldn’t wait to read on to find out what would happen next. For me, my investment in the book was two fold. First, I was caught up with the relationship between the main characters and secondly, and maybe even more importantly, I was stunned by the treatment of our Vietnam Veterans on their return to the US. This book really gave me a better insight into what these men and their families have had to suffer through.

[Sarah Leah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amily D’Nas in her award winning first novel: Beneath the Swaying Willow, touches hearts and minds in her accurate portrayal of the rawness of unfiltered PTSD in a returning Vietnam Veteran. She describes the heartbreak of returning to a hostile home town when young men and women return after serving honorably, only to be met with an uncaring and a downright dismissive population. Being told and shown that you and your service doesn’t matter, leaves vulnerable veterans believing they do not belong and feeling defeated, “what’s the use.”
After WWII, our soldiers had time to process together on the long boat ride home, but with our Vietnam Veterans, they were in combat until hours before their flight home and while the plane was full, they did not know each other and were basically alone with their thoughts and feelings. They all developed their coping mechanisms in order to survive and do their job to the best of their abilities, often with the worst of conditions. There was no debriefing or any mental/emotional resources provided to them and so they suffered even more.
D’Nas does an excellent job of providing the details of one such veteran and demonstrates very clearly, that without acknowledgement and acceptance of the PTSD response, it is impossible to heal it. The principle is that ‘what we cannot feel we cannot heal’. Almost all Vietnam veterans learned to cope using substances of some type which complicates the healing process. They find their memories, thoughts and feelings overwhelming and use some substance or behavior to cope. All of those are counterproductive but necessary from their point of view. Helping them give up what they have relied on, is not possible unless they have a therapist they can trust to stay with them through the absolute worst of their experiences. Not easy to do or to find. My book to be released March 6, 2025 describes how these veterans and other people with PTSD can be helped.

Sarah L. Blum, Author of Warrior Nurse: PTSD and Healing and a previously published book from 2013, called Women Under Fire: Abuse in the Military about the culture of abuse toward women in our military. www.womenunderfire.net

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting, heartfelt journey through love, loss, and resilience during the Vietnam War era.

Beneath the Swaying Willow is an unforgettable work of historical fiction that captures the raw emotion and social transformation of America in the 1970s. Amily D’Nas and Arlene Adelkopf have crafted a story that feels both deeply intimate and profoundly universal a love story shadowed by war, grief, and the awakening of a woman’s independence in a rapidly changing world.

Nora and Russ’s story unfolds with such emotional precision that readers can’t help but feel their longing, fear, and courage. As Russ faces the brutal realities of Vietnam, Nora battles her own internal war at home one against loneliness, societal pressure, and the limits placed upon women of her time. The authors do a remarkable job of showing how war doesn’t just happen overseas; it echoes in every home, heart, and generation left behind.

What makes this novel stand apart is its authenticity. Inspired by true family experiences particularly the author’s father’s struggle with PTSD and her mother’s steadfast devotion the book offers rare emotional depth and historical realism. The prose is cinematic yet tender, moving fluidly between the chaos of battle and the quiet, aching resilience of a woman determined to find her voice.

Beneath the Swaying Willow is not only a love story, but a meditation on identity, justice, and healing. It belongs on the shelf of anyone who appreciates the emotional scope of novels like The Things They Carried, Home Front, or The Nightingale. It’s a stunning tribute to the power of hope and a reminder that courage isn’t only found on the battlefield.

[Erik DARosa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In her debut novel, D’Nas paints a beautiful yet tragic portrait of the struggles faced by American GI’s, and their loved ones, upon returning home from the Vietnam War. Told through the love story of Russ and Nora, and the family and friends by whom they are surrounded, this novel will take you right back to that fractious time in American History when young men were drafted away from their families, sent to a jungle half-way around the world and returned home one or two tours later as mere shells of their former selves. To a time when external chants of “peace and love” were quickly replaced by internal screams, night terrors and hallucinations due to the horrors these soldiers witnessed. Russ and Nora’s story gives readers a detailed look at the dangers of misdiagnosed mental illness, the shame and stigma that often surrounds it and the never-ending battle fought by both the injured and the caregivers who love them.

[Lucille Guarino · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the dense jungle of Vietnam, young American lives were sacrificed in an ongoing senseless, unwinnable war, but tragedy didn't stop at the thousands of lives it took. Beneath the Swaying Willow is an all-too-true accounting of the long-lasting effects it had on those who made it back home, being met with hostility and a lack of support, and trying to assimilate during a time when PTSD was not a recognized diagnosis. The story is so true to its history and the experiences of the characters, that Nora and Russ could have been real people living through that time. The seventies are particularly depicted in this story and author D'Nas put me right there. This is a story so heartbreaking and realistic in its outcome, that it warrants reading not only for its sympathetic characters but for its hard-learned-lesson. This is historical fiction with a valuable message .

[Heather Dodge Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The juicy plot of this novel, set in the 1970s era, gives us a main character, Nora, in a difficult position, torn between love and duty. It addresses serious issues, including the nation’s poor treatment of soldiers returning from Vietnam, veterans’ PTSD, addiction, domestic violence, and suicide, but it isn’t a dark book; the struggles are balanced with moments of love and connection. The author has clearly done her research to include period details to help bring setting alive.

Nora matures and grows and struggles to do the right thing, and the reader travels along with her, hoping for the best for all the characters. The final scene, while not a conventional happily-ever-after, is a satisfying close to the journey.

[Jay Moniz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath the Swaying Willow is an excellent book as the author took her experiences with a sensitive subject to create a great read which was very thoughtful and written straight from the heart. The article is set in Massachusetts, in the fictional town of Swanset. People familiar with SE New England will love the home town feel. She uses some great (and often humorous) descriptions of the area to set the stage.

Best of all, the story gets the reader to understand the plight of veterans and the mental impact of combat they sometimes face. If you are a veteran, know a veteran, or just as important, may know someone who has dealt with mental health struggles or suicide it is a touching read.

Great book and highly recommended.

[Elizabeth Hyde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath the Swaying Willow by Amily D'Nas
Before I knew it, I had finished the book. The chapters flowed as I followed the story of this young couple living in the challenging time of the Vietnam war. I was rooting for Nora and Russ, and their love for each other, to get them through. My heart ached as they endured their struggles, some together and some alone in secret. Although this story is based in the early 1970's, it could very well be happening today. PTSD, the court of public opinion, family expectations, and personal hopes and dreams continue to be the stressors we live under today. I close my eyes, and I can see the small farmhouse down the dirt driveway by the willow tree.
Beautiful read that will find you cheering for love to beat the odds.
Thank you Amily.

[Jaime · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beneath the Swaying Willow by Amily D’Nas is compelling historical fiction that stays with you long after you finish the last page. A love story under the tragic shadow of the personal impact of war on soldiers and those who love them, this stunning debut reveals the complexities that surface at the intersection of love, war, and family. From the start, Nora is a sympathetic protagonist, yet when she finds herself entangled in a love triangle, there is no clear path forward. D’Nas skillfully portrays the emotional toll of war and the impact of antiwar sentiments of the 1970s on soldiers returning home. Beneath the Swaying Willow will leave you breathless and wanting more from D’Nas.

[Joelle Babula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amily D’Nas beautifully captures the heartbreak and devastation Vietnam veterans faced upon coming home after serving their country honorably. With her compelling and authentic prose, D’Nas sweeps the reader along in this love story that outlines the horrors of war, the far-reaching consequences of PTSD and the importance of courage and bravery in a world where heroes are not always supported and, in fact, are often dismissed. It’s a must-read for fans of compelling war stories and for anyone who has ever been in love. This is an outstanding debut novel and I look forward to reading more from D’Nas.

[Kay Smith-Blum · Rating 5 out of 5]

Our streets still house too many disrespected veterans, victims of the misunderstood Vietnam War. Beneath the Swaying Willows helps us to understand why. Through the eyes of three typical American young adults, D’nas lays out the gut-wrenching consequences of not just war, but the all too relatable results of misunderstandings between family and friends. By showing us the boys who served their country only to come back home to no support, we discover the ways a life can be sadly pushed toward tragedy. This very human tale is a caution to us all. Thank you to the author for telling it.

[Sharon Adinolfi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once I started reading this book I couldn’t put it down. Through a backdrop of a young, hopeful romance the author depicts the shameful way America and the world treated our Vietnam vets, the tragedy of not honoring the men and women who served their country and the effect on their families and loved ones when they came home broken and lost. She also shows us that despite the ugliness and heartbreak Iove perseveres and life goes on. I see you, I hear you, I love you.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Vietnam Veteran myself I was curious to see how the author would handle a story about a veteran with PTSD! I was actually impressed what she wrote. I felt she knew what she was talking about. I liked how the story flowed, the character description and also the scene design. All in all I found it very interesting and an enjoyable read.

[Sandy Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful and much-needed story portraying the clash of small town Americana with the disruption of societal norms of the 1970's and the painful, long-lasting affect of war on soldiers. The story's main character portrays how important it is to acknowledge and treat PTSD aided by the support of family, medical professionals, and society.

[Beth Dent]

I now have a better understanding of the Vietnam war and the emotional impact on those who fought and those who supported the soldiers
The vivid writing ran the gamut of humorous to horrific.
I could picture the characters , the hair color, hear the tone in the voices , their connection and discontent in the world at this time in history through the writers brilliant use of adjectives.

[Frances · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Story

This book was fantastic! I enjoyed the romance storyline intertwined with the experiences of the Vietnam War from a soldiers perspective. I thought the book was an easy read but also appreciated how it shed light on our military combat heroes and their reintegration back home. I highly recommend this book as it was hard to put down.

[Mike Wenger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great perspective on the aftermath of war. Interesting point of view of PTSD and the problems our soldiers and their loved ones faced when returning from an unpopular war. Well written and researched. Highly recommend.

[michelle mello · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed,the debut novel “Beneath the Swaying Willow “. Amily D’Nas captures the real truth about the real struggles of American soldiers returning from the Vietnam War.The story is entertaining,informative and emotional. I highly recommended it!

[Harry Rolfs · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book immensely!I couldn't put it down !!! The characters were very real and it is so very important that the subject of PTSD, suicide and the treatment of our veterans were addressed with such care, love and compassion. I HIGHLY recommend this outstanding novel.

[Stacy Phillips · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written. From page 1, I couldn't put it down. The story is a very real and tragic depiction of the issues our soldiers, and their families, faced when they returned from the war. It contains love, humor, compassion, ugliness, and death. It was a great read and I highly recommend it.

[CHRISTINE E · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing debut novel! I was hooked immediately and enthralled in the characters and storyline. This really brings to the forefront what a lot Vietnam Veterans have gone through. I highly recommend reading this!

[Barbara Maggiacomo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. The author’s perspective of the trauma of war and the resulting life difficulties are clearly shown in her writing.
Well done.
Easy and well worth the read.

[Tracey Rebello Cordeiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The author did a wonderful job writing from the perspective of each of the complex characters, especially Russ.