An author’s first work is a big deal. It’s their introduction to the world, but it’s also a deeply personal creative endeavor that lays bare their inner musings—how they see the world, connect to it, and hope to change it. Why Did God Make the Tree?: A Patrick Denny Novel is Tammy Gregg’s debut. It’s a winding novel that delves into complex subjects through a dark, thought-provoking narrative lens.

Into the Dark With Dr. Denny

The story centers on Dr. Patrick Denny, a psychiatrist and successful novelist. After writing a bestseller, he returns to his practice, determined to be fully present for his patients. But he finds himself struggling to truly meet them where they are. As he works through this, he encounters patients with complicated, terrifying, and sometimes nightmarish histories that force him to dig deep and immerse himself in their pasts to overcome imposter syndrome and find clarity.

Down a Winding Road

His journey isn’t a single path, but many, and some of those paths are nearly impassable. They make the reader want to close the book and put it aside until their mind can process the horrors within. Gregg’s use of imagery is powerful—she paints pictures so vivid, they’re difficult to forget. She doesn’t hold back; she dives straight into the darkness and pulls the reader along with her.