Author: D.L Finn, Author

From Finn’s Forest #24 #writingcommunity #nature #authorlife

It’s been a while since I’ve done a From Finn’s Forest post—last April. While the rest of the country has gotten hit with that huge icy storm, we are warm and dry. Neither extremes are good. I’m hoping for rain to return here and more normal weather across not only the states but globally. Right now, Mother Nature seems out of sorts.

Last weekend, hubby and I took a walk that we normally take in April at the river. It was a beautiful day there, and I even saw a couple of people dipping their feet in the icy, dangerous waters. That is a river you don’t want to swim in until June or later. I stayed away from the river’s water edge but enjoyed the views above it.

On my favorite walking trail that I have shared here before, I was surprised to see not only some budding plants but a few flowers blooming. The bigger surprise was the couple of little yellow butterflies.  Definitely not the time of year for that. At home, my daffodils are blooming a couple of months early, and my apple tree has some buds. I worry for them if winter visits. We aren’t out of the snow months through spring, but so far it has been a warm winter.

The walk was very healing for my weary soul. Hopefully, it will offer some inspiration to my dormant muse.

Here are some pictures from our pretend spring day.

This leaf floated around for a while. It reminded me of a boat fairies might use to cross the water.
I usually look for hearts in nature. Here’s one.
I’ve been taking pictures of what used to be a clear smiley face on this lichen. The smile and eyes are harder to see, but the new mustache is taking form.
The little creek above the river, we usually stop and hydrate 🙂

Embrace that inner child by reading a good book or enjoying the nature around you. D. L. Finn (Denise)

 

#NewRelease! “Silverhills’ Rescue” by #SandraCox #writingcommunity #whattoread #mustread

I’m thrilled to have Sandra Cox here today to share her latest book, “Silverhills’ Rescue!” It’s an amazing addition to the Silverhills stories, and my review is included.

Blurb

A marker is called in.

Brandon comes home from a trail drive to find his wife on her way to Mexico to help the mission folk that took her in. Putting herself in danger. Crossing perilous terrain, where not only the weather kills, but Comancheros and bandoleros as well. He climbs back into the saddle and heads out after her. Both of them now embarked on separate journeys that involves killers, flooded arroyos and narrow divides where one misstep means a plunge to certain death. And, if that’s not enough to challenge them, at journey’s end they’ll face the most dangerous situation of all.“This book contains plenty of grit and gunfire, but no graphic violence or explicit scenes.”

Excerpt

July, 1874

The sun hit a blood-red horizon and shot upward in a crown of tangerine brilliance, hurting the eyes, lighting the trail from the top of the canyon to the ranch house like a beacon thrown across the sea.

The early July morning a warm one.

Dust rose as a horse trotted up. Jonas, a young cowhand, reined in his sorrel gelding beside the woman who stood on the veranda. “Rider coming.”

“Is it Brandon?” Hand over her eyes, Alexandria O’Malley Wade strained to make out the narrow trail at the top of the foothill that her husband and their men would come galloping over when they returned from the trail drive. Her tan split-skirt rustled as she leaned against the smooth white-painted railing, trying to get a better view.

Jonas pushed up in his stirrups. Worn leather boots peeping from canvas chaps. “Can’t tell.”

The speck at the top of the canyon grew as it came tumbling down the trail. Her heart thumped and her breath lodged in her throat. Her fingers tingled, her excitement rose.

The speck shifted into a rider.

Anticipation heightened.

Then shriveled. It wasn’t her husband.

The horse was a pinto not the big roan Brandon rode. And even from this distance, she’d know her husband with every fiber of her being.

She heaved a deep breath and waited.

As the rider trotted closer, she slid her hand to the worn wooden handle of her 4.75-inch barrel, single-action, six-cylinder Peacemaker.

Jonas did the same.

She frowned. The pinto looked familiar, but it wasn’t one of theirs.  And instead of a cowboy hat and chaps, the rider wore a sombrero along with a brightly-colored poncho.

Spying her, he yanked the sombrero off his head and waved it.

She recognized the rider and the horse at the same time. Her breath caught then whished out on a mile-wide smile.

“It’s okay, Jonas. I know him.”

Now sure there was no trouble brewing, he nodded, raised his hand to the approaching rider, and putting heels to his horse’s ribs, galloped off.

“Manuel.” She jumped off the porch and ran toward the boy who’d went in search of Brandon when she’d holed up at the mission awaiting the birth of the twins.

He leaped off his horse and grabbed her in a bearhug.

The term boy no longer applied. He was muscled and lean. A man.  A young man, but still a man.

“What are you doing here? Is your family well? Sisters Sarah and Marie? Father Jon?” The questions tumbled over each other.

The smile on his face fell away.

Something was wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Stomach knotting, she took a step back and waited, dread seeping through her pores.

My Five-Star Review
I have loved the Silverhills series and was excited to see a new story. All the familiar characters are back. When someone from the past arrives seeking help, Alexandra is ready to jump in and assist. Brandon is still away tending cattle, but there are many to watch their twins. She sets out with Manuel and a hand, Charlie, to help the people at the mission who helped her. It’s a long journey, and it doesn’t always go smoothly. I love these characters, and especially Alex. She is strong, kind, stubborn, and willing to put her life on the line for those she cares for. The setting is so beautifully described that it makes me feel like I’m riding along with them. The pace is fast as they go from one situation to another. There was more than once when I thought: Oh no, how will they survive this? Plus, there was a lovesick horse and a desperate puma in the mix. This well-written western was hard to put down, and I can highly recommend it.

Amazon Purchase Link

Author Bio

Sandra, who writes as both S. Cox and Sandra Cox, is an animal lover and avid gardener. She spent a number of years in the Midwest chasing down good Southern BBQ. By the time she moved to North Carolina where Southern BBQ is practically a staple, she’d become a vegetarian.

She and her husband are ruled by four cats and a dog. An award-winning author, her stories consist of all things Western and more.

Sandra can be found at http://www.sandracoxwriter.com

OR http://www.cowboytrivia.blogspot.com

OR https://sandracox.blogspot.com

OR https://www.pinterest.com/scoxauthor/

OR https://www.bsky.app @scoxauthor

OR Amazon.com: Sandra Cox: books, biography, latest update

January Book Reviews! #sandracox#YvetteCalleiro #ColleenChesebro #RobbieCheadle #mustread #writingcommunity

Here are the books I read and reviewed in December that are four stars or higher. Plus, included are the 76 books read in 2025!

Silverhills’ Rescue

By Sandra Cox

I have loved the Silverhills series and was excited to see a new edition. All the familiar characters are back. When someone from the past arrives looking for help, Alexandra is ready to jump in and help. Brandon is still away tending cattle, but there are many to watch their twins. She sets out with Manuel and a hand, Charlie, to help the people at the mission who helped her. It’s a long journey, and it doesn’t always go smoothly. I love these characters, and especially Alex. She is strong, kind, stubborn, and willing to put her life on the line for those she cares for. The setting is so beautifully described that it makes me feel like I’m riding along with them. The pace is fast as they go from one situation to another. There was more than once when I thought: Oh no, how will they survive this? Plus, there was a lovesick horse and a desperate puma in the mix. This well-written western was hard to put down, and I can highly recommend it.

The One Redeemed (Chronicles of the Diasodz)

By Yvette M Calleiro

I have read and loved the entire Diasodz series and was thrilled to find out there would be a new addition to it. I was immediately drawn into Drake’s journey in the afterlife, which reminded me of the many chances in life that I might not have taken, although not to the same level as Drake did. “The One Redeemed” made it easy to empathize with a cruel and heartless character in the past and root for his soul’s current success. Redemption, love, and taking responsibility were the intended outcomes, but first Drake had to work through jealousy, power, lies, ruthlessness, and vengeance. Although this is a solo path for Drake to walk, he has a guide, and the Goddess was there for him, along with his past. I love the surprise twist at the end and the choices made. This is a unique story that is not only well-written and engaging but also has a beautiful spiritual message woven into it.  It is not necessary to have read the rest of the series, as the reflections recap how Drake got to the point he did, but having read the series, it was great to revisit the Diasodz world. I can highly recommend this entertaining and thought-provoking tale!

Sunflower Tanka: A 2025 Anthology of Tanka, Tanka Prose, & Experimental Tanka

By editors & poets: Colleen M. Chesebro, Robbie Cheadle, and other contributors

This is the second edition of the Sunflower Tanka, and this year’s theme was dreams. Normally, I would list all the poets, but this year there were an amazing fifty-four, and too many to include. I am a fan of symbolic poetry and the tanka format. A favorite is tanka prose, but in reading this, I fell in love with the garland tanka and will be giving it a try. I enjoyed meeting each poet, some I knew, others were new to me. They were from all around the world and really added to the depth and perspective of this collection. There is no way I could narrow it down to just a couple of my favorites or outstanding examples; everything I read was good. I loved the different takes on dreams that wove through my emotions as I read. There were many I’d have to stop and reread to appreciate the beautiful images created. This could easily be one of my favorite collections, showcasing so many poetic voices. I highly recommend this to anyone who loves poetry!

Note: I took a small break from reading in December, and then I decided to reread a couple of books. One was my usual holiday read, “A Christmas Carol,” and the other was “The Stand.” Both are very worthy of another read!

2025 Books Read:

        

 

Embrace your inner child by reading a good book! D. L Finn (Denise)

#CreativePerspectiveChallenge Twelve Results! #writingcommunity #flashfiction #poetry

Welcome to the final post of the year for the Creative Perspective Challenge Twelve! Here are the results for this image.

This poem from Sue Wickstead will definitely get you in the holiday mood!

Santa’s calling

Come,
Come little elves
Help me pack the presents
Upon the shelves

Magic,
See the magical glow,
As white flakes are falling
Let it snow.

Stars,
Twinkling like fairy lights,
To show the way,
On our special flight.

Santa
Is calling, his sleigh is full,
The reindeer have come
And begin to pull.

Up,
Up and far away
On through the starry night
Goes Santa in his special sleigh.

Stockings,
Filled with gifts galore,
Children laughing
Opening them on the floor

Ho, Ho, Ho!
What a special sound
Off on his mission
To bring happiness all around.

Merry Christmas.

This beautiful poem is from Priscilla Bettis

BEFORE THE GIFTS

Among the trees,

knee-deep in snow,

a man stood, alone.

 

In the sky above

millions of candles

in the night’s hope, burned,

 

And snuggled in bed,

little sugar-plum children

in warm homes, dreamed,

 

And the only tears

were of joy in a manger’s

long-ago promise, unending.

 

The man prayed the gifts

in his bottomless bag reflected

the greatest Gift of all, Love,

 

Then he buttoned

his red coat against the cold

and whistled for his sleigh.

Here’s my take:

Christmas Morning

He threw up his arms in gratitude. The night had gone perfectly. Every house visited, every wish fulfilled. It was the best way to end his term, not like the one before him, who refused to leave. Nicholas smiled broadly; he couldn’t wait. Once he passed on the magic, he’d be free to go back to the stars. There in the quiet of space, she’d be waiting for him.

elves & toys left behind

everything familiar, gone

new journeys begin

 

NOTE: I have loved sharing this with you this year. Not sure if I will continue it in the new year, but this challenge has nudged some dormant creativity. I’ve been blown away by the talent that participated! I will be on break the rest of the year. May everyone have a blessed and peaceful holiday.  Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Happy New Year!—Denise xo

Books That Changed Me 2025 Winter Edition! #mustread #writingcommunity #whattoread

Welcome to the final edition of Books that Changed Me 2025 Winter! I have loved sharing some of the very best books over the last seven years, but I won’t be doing this in the new year. I’m sure I’ll find another way to highlight books and will continue posting my reviews. Past books will still be available on my website if you ever need a book to read.

Here are my final books, and as many great books have recently been released, this could have easily been a much longer list. I am including their cover and blurb since you’ve already seen my review. Thank you for following along all these years.

Beyond the Fetters

By Balroop Singh

BLURB

Some babies are born with invisible fetters. They may strut about in their homes with wishes of flying high, but their wings never grow, and if they do, they are clipped by the diktats of traditions. Such stories remain within the hearts of girls, as their lips are sealed by cultural compulsions.

Earthy is one such girl, but her determination to break free could never be vanquished. She yearns to grow up again, to feel the sunshine that filters through the arms of her parents, to soak in the showers of harmony, to giggle with abandon and swirl with her dreams, but the sudden, untimely demise of her father rips her whole world apart, and the little joys of childhood vanish. From emotional deluge to resilience and detachment, she treads the paths of her life, struggling to rise above the average.

Dolly’s freedom takes her away from her family, and her choices boomerang. Imperceptible fetters follow her in the garb of love that she chooses. Should we pay attention to Grandma’s wise words – “we are tied to our destiny?” ‘Beyond the Fetters’ explores the possibilities of girls looking beyond their so-called destiny.

The Weight of Snow and Regret

By Elizabeth Gauffreau

BLURB

For over 100 years, no one wanted to be sent to the Sheldon Poor Farm. By 1968, no one wanted to leave.

Amid the social turmoil of 1968, the last poor farm in Vermont is slated for closure. By the end of the year, the twelve destitute residents remaining will be dispatched to whatever institutions will take them, their personal stories lost forever.

Hazel Morgan and her husband Paul have been matron and manager at the Sheldon Poor Farm for the past 20 years. Unlike her husband, Hazel refuses to believe the impending closure will happen. She believes that if she just cares deeply enough and works hard enough, the Sheldon Poor Farm will continue to be a safe haven for those in need, herself and Paul included.

On a frigid January afternoon, the overseer of the poor and the town constable from a nearby town deliver a stranger to the poor farm for an emergency stay. She refuses to tell them her name, where she came from, or what her story is. It soon becomes apparent to Hazel that whatever the woman’s story is, she is deeply ashamed of it.

Hazel fights to keep the stranger with them until she is strong enough to face, then resume, her life–while Hazel must face the tragedies of her own past that still haunt her.

Told with compassion and humor, The Weight of Snow & Regret tells the poignant story of what it means to care for others in a rapidly changing world.

Edge of Twilight: Legends of Madeira

By Joan Hall

BLURB

Death comes to those who seek the treasure…

Two hours before her wedding, Blaire Edwards walks away from everything—comfortable home, lucrative job, accomplished fiancé—rather than bending to her mother’s pre-laid plans for her life. In a sad but serendipitous turn of events,Blaire inherits a 25,000-acre ranch from her maternal grandfather, a man she never met because she was told he died years earlier. Within days, she moves to Madeira, New Mexico, to claim her birthright despite knowing nothing about ranching or country living.

Employees quickly warm to her. Not only does she intend to keep operations as they are, but she’s nothing like her mom. Many remember Roslyn, and few have a favorable impression.

Blaire soon realizes her mother lied about a lot of things, but family secrets aren’t the only mysteries. A rash of rustling costs the ranch several head of cattle, unexplained lights linked to a legend about treasure appear on her property at twilight, someone nearly kills her dog, and one of the wranglers is murdered.

Then comes the most shocking news of all.

Amanda in Ireland: The Body in the Bog

By Darlene Foster

BLURB

Twelve-year-old Amanda Jane Ross is invited to be a bridesmaid for her cousin’s wedding in Ireland! She falls in love with the Emerald Isle the moment she lands in Dublin. The warm, friendly Irish people immediately make her feel at home. Towering castles, ancient graveyards, and the stunning green countryside are filled with fascinating legends, enthralling folktales, and alarming secrets.

Things take a dark turn when disaster strikes. Amanda wonders if there will be a wedding at all. As she joins the search for a missing horse, she stumbles upon a world of screaming banshees, bloody battles, and dangerous peat bogs. The closer she gets to the truth, the more dangerous things become. Will she become another body in the bog?

NOTE:

  • These books were chosen, and the post was made a couple of weeks ago, which makes Joan’s book here even more special.
  • Tomorrow is the last post of the year. Don’t miss all the amazing results for the challenge!

Embrace your inner child by reading a good book this holiday season! Happy Holidays—Denise

Staci Troilo’s Fifth Annual Cookie Exchange #authorbaking #cookies #christmasbaking #writingcommunity

Hi! Welcome to Staci Troilo’s Fifth Annual Cookie Exchange! I’m thrilled to participate again. This year, I will be doing a gluten-free Thumb Cookie.

Here’s the site I found the recipe at: LINK

Gluten-Free Almond Thumb Cookies

Ingredients

  • 1 cup finely ground almond flour, packed (I used Trader Joe’s blanched finely ground almond flour)
  • 3 Tablespoons ghee, softened butter, or vegan butter (Earth Balance suggested for vegan, I’m using butter)
  • 3 Tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 3 Tablespoons jam, homemade or store-bought ( I used mango jam, I thought it was peach. I didn’t have my glasses on, but it’s a good choice too!)

Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F.
    • Line a baking sheet: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or use an un-greased baking stone. (I used Parchment paper.)
    • Mix dough: Mix almond flour, softened butter, maple syrup, vanilla, and salt in a small bowl until a cohesive dough forms. It will seem a little dry at first, but just keep mixing. (I mixed by hand.)
  • Scoop and roll dough: Use a tablespoon to measure out dough and roll each into a ball. Place the ball of dough on your prepared baking sheet and use your thumb or finger to create a thumbprint in the middle of each cookie. Add 1/2-1 teaspoon of jam to the indentation. (I used the whole teaspoon. It was fun making the thumbprint.)

  • Bake cookies: Bake the cookies for 10-12 minutes, until they start to turn golden brown on the bottom. (I have to cook mine longer because I live over 3500 feet in elevation.)
  • Cool and enjoy: Remove the cookies from the oven and cool them on the pan for 10 minutes. Transfer them to a rack to cool completely before serving. (I only got eleven cookies instead of the twelve. I think I was more generous in my tablespoon scoop.)
  • To store: Store cookies in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 1 week or in an airtight container in the freezer (layered with parchment paper) for up to 3 months.

This got two huge thumbs up from my daughter and husband, who can’t eat gluten due to Celiac, but I have a feeling this will be a hit with the whole family! I will be doubling this next time.

Don’t miss out on all the other yummy cookie recipes! Here’s the link: Cookie Exchange

New Release “The One Redeemed!” #preorder #yvettecalleiro #mustread writingcommunity

I’m thrilled to have Yvette Calleiro here today to share in her good news of the very soon-to-be-released book, “The One Redeemed.” I have loved the entire Diasodz Series, and I’m so excited that the journey continues with Drake.

Diasodz World

Welcome to the world of the Diasodz! Some of you may already be immersed in their world, but for those of you who are new to it, I wanted to share a little bit about it with you. I created this world almost fifteen years ago. It’s still hard to wrap my head around that. Diasodz are special beings who were created by the Goddess to live among humans. Their purpose was to heal and protect humans from evil in the world. Because they aged more slowly than humans, they needed a place to go where they could live a generation or two before coming back to Earth to reassimilate into society.

That is how Caelagios came to be! A lot of research went into creating the species and the world. You will learn about the characters at the next stop on this blog tour. When I was searching for a name for their world, I leaned on Latin and Greek root words. Caelestis is a Latin root word that means heavenly, and hagios is a Greek root word that means sacred, holy, and heavenly. So, I created a heavenly sanctuary for them – Caelagios.

Caelagios has much in common with Earth since Earth is their first home. The environment on Caelagios is more vibrant in color, and the animals are unique to its planet. Though they resemble some animals from Earth, their characteristics are a bit different. For example, a fox would have reflective fur so it blends into its surroundings easily. Birds have multi-colored feathers, and butterflies have iridescent wings. Swans are larger than those on Earth, and some are even golden in color.

Houses appear to be modest from the outside. Once inside, the house expands to include multiple floors and wings. Diasodz use portals to get from one place to the other. There are private portals within the home with restrictions on who can use them and public portals in main areas available to everyone.

Most importantly, in Caelagios, Diasodz can use their Goddess-given magic in most places. Their powers are restricted in the High Council’s courtroom and in the Elders’ presence. Using their powers freely allows them to perfect their skills without worrying about humans discovering them.

As beautiful and free as Caelagios is, it was never meant to be a permanent home for Diasodz. When they began treating it as such, their powers began to fade. And that led to the beginning of the series – the Diasodz had to fulfill the prophecy that claimed their powers could be restored if they could find the savior who could heal them all.

Thank you for joining me in learning a bit about the Diasodz’s world.

Blurb

Drake had been an agent for chaos, a tyrant who focused only on his desires, even when they hurt those he claimed to love the most. Would dying to protect his daughter redeem him? Or would he spend an eternity reliving his biggest regrets?

Electrifying pain coursed through Drake’s veins as he sacrificed his life to save his daughter. When he becomes conscious again, reality sets in. He is dead. While he is overcome with grief, his mortal enemy, Goddess, offers him a path to redemption. In order to find his way back to his children, he must first revisit his past and atone for his choices. The journey will be brutal, and his outcome is not guaranteed.

Failure is not an option for Drake. He will do anything to get back to his children to make amends for his actions, even if it means sacrificing himself all over again.

Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5HZX97B/

To follow along The One Redeemed Tour, please visit the author’s blog. Thanks for supporting Yvette M Calleiro and her work!

Author Bio:

Yvette M. Calleiro is the author of the Chronicles of the Diasodz fantasy series, HYPE, and a couple of short stories. As a heavily addicted reader of both young adult and adult novels, she spends most of her time pseudo-living in paranormal worlds with her fictional friends (and boyfriends).

When she’s living among real people, Yvette M. Calleiro is a middle school Reading and Language Arts teacher. She’s been sharing her love of literature with her students for over twenty years. Besides writing about the various characters that whisper (and sometimes scream) in her head, she enjoys traveling, watching movies, spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoying the beauty of the ocean.

Although an avid traveler, Yvette lives in Miami, Florida, with her incredible son who has embraced her love for paranormal and adventurous stories. She also shares her space with an assortment of crazy saltwater animals in her 300-gallon tank.

Amazon Links:

Hype – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09L7BFNXG

The One Discovered (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 1) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I4L2Q40

The One Enlightened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 2) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00R0QI51I

The One Betrayed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 3) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0191O1892

The One Revealed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 4) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NBKJHIO

The One Awakened (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 5) – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0781WT73J

The One Redeemed (Chronicles of the Diasodz, Book 6) – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0G5HZX97B/

The One Chosen – A Diasodz Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0986Q6P1D

Breathless – A Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08BLVDHQX

Karma Doesn’t Kill – https://www.amazon.com/Karma-Doesnt-Kill-Yvette-Calleiro-ebook/dp/

A Christmas Homecoming – https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Homecoming-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B0DQK23BT8

Escaping the Woods: A Short Story – https://www.amazon.com/Escaping-Woods-Short-Yvette-Calleiro-ebook/dp/B0B558WVKX

 

Amazon Author Page – https://www.amazon.com/Yvette-M-Calleiro/e/B00I4RJMUU

 

Social Media Links:

Author Blog: http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/YvetteMCalleiro

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yvettemcalleiro

Bluesky – https://bsky.app/profile/yvettemcalleiro.bsky.social

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7800735.Yvette_M_Calleiro

Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/ycalleiro

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvette-calleiro-7303846/

 

#CreativePerspectiveChallenge Twelve #writingcommunity #flashfiction #Poetry

Here is the final Creative Perspective Challenge. I’ve enjoyed sharing this with you this year. I’m not sure if I’ll be doing it in 2026. I’m going to take some time off and decide. I’m grateful for all those who followed along and especially to those who participated.

All you have to do is write a poem or flash fiction story and post it on your website. Leave your link in the comments for the post, and I’ll post it with mine next week. If you don’t have a website and want to join in, send it to me, and I’ll post it with the results. More information here. Please read the note at the end.

Here’s the image:

Magical-Christmas-Background-by-wildpixel-from-Getty-Images.jpg

I look forward to seeing the different perspectives! The results will be posted on December 16th. Then, I’ll be going on my break. Happy creating.

NOTE:

  • Watch for two not-to-miss posts this week. The first one is on December 10th with some exciting news from Yvette Calleiro. The second post on December 11th,  Staci Trolio Cookie Exchange. See what cookies I made and the others on the tour 🙂
  • We had some very sad news in our writing community this last weekend with the sudden loss of Joan Hall. She was a good friend to many, including myself, and just released an amazing book, “The Edge of Twilight.” We can keep her close to us with her words and send prayers to her family. I will think of her every time I look at a full moon.

Blog Tour Winners & Host Thank You! #JohnHowell #SandraCox #MiriamHurdle #JanSikes #LaurenScott #DarleneFoster #DWallacePeach #RobbieCheadle #NoelleGranger #ColleenChesebro #writingcommunity #authors #mustread #authorblogtours

Before I announce the winners, I want to give one more special thanks to all my hosts!  I appreciate you 🙂 I decided to add the book I featured here during the tour to my indie shelf, which has my Christmas town right now. I put the books amongst the gifts under the tree for their photo shoot. Books make great presents!

Thank you, John, Sandra, Miriam, Jan, Lauren, Darlene, Diana, Robbie, Noelle, and Colleen 🙂

Here are the Blog Tour Winners:

$5 Amazon Gift Card: From Lauren Scott’s Post: Priscilla Bettis

$10 Amazon Gift Card: From John Howell’s Post: Sandra Cox

$15 Amazon Gift Card: From D. Wallace Peach’s Post: Terri Webster Schrandt

Today is hubby’s birthday, so I closed the comments. Will be back with Creative Perspective Challenge tomorrow. Plus, I have two other blog posts you won’t want to miss this week!

Miracles & Ghosts Blog Tour Day Ten #ColleenMChesebro #writingcommunity #newrelease

Today is the last day of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour!  I’m thrilled to share the final stop with Colleen M. Chesebro. She is not only a fantastic poet but a very active and supportive mentor to many learning about symbolic poetry. I have always been interested in haikus, and through her blog, I learned what they were and many other types, including tankas and a favorite of mine, haibuns. She has several poetry collections that, if you love poetry and haven’t read them,  you should! Here’s a favorite of mine and my five-star review:

My five-star review:

I read and loved “Fairies, Myths, & Magic Book 1” and was eager to read the second book. This dips into a darker side of fairies and magic but also offers the coming light. Told through beautiful poetry and short stories with the addition of the history of the feminine lore of different cultures. I could learn as I was entertained. Although I love my forest, I have a healthy appreciation of it and the magic it holds. This collection brought to life our past and present, leaving the promise of the future or its consequences. A perfect read for a cold fall or winter night that inspired me to bring a few new traditions into our house.

BLOG POST STOP TEN