#TankaTuesday Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 322, Spirit Animal Poetry #tanka #owls #poems

Here is Colleen Chesbro’s Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge #322. This week we took a quiz to find our spirit animal and then write a poem about it. Mine was the owl: Link 

Take the challenge here to find out what spirit animal you are: Link

effortless soaring

above the silent forest

almost touching stars

guided by instinct and sounds

the owl hunts in the darkness

From… Finn’s Forest #1! #poetry #photos #writingcommunity #nature #forest #readersoftwitter #authorblog

Hi!

Today is my first From Finn’s Forest where I’ll be sharing my love of animals, nature, and a bit of magic I find in this forest or even the ocean as I explore the world around me. The posts will vary between poetry, photos, stories, updates, or some interesting facts. This will come on weeks when there isn’t any book reviews. I’m limiting book review posts by putting more into one post.

I have shared that my husband created a trail for me to walk on that we call the Magical Trail. This last winter it took a hard hit with all the unusual storms. So, I thought that would be a good place to start. We are already heavy into clean up, have fixed the part of the front deck that collapsed, and are focusing on clearing around the house first.

Here are some photos from the storms and when I was first able to get back on the trail. After the pictures is a poem from my upcoming book.

sun and snow on front deck
This is a shot from the front door and the part of the deck that had no problem with all that snow.
bird in snow
Some visiting birds that I offered food.
bears in snow
A mama and baby bear got up early from their winter nap. They not only got into our garbage but cleaned up the bird food.
feather by snow
I saw this at the beginning of the Magical Trail one day. The white feathers reminded me of angel wings.
fallen cedar
This cedar came down right in the middle of the trail. It is scheduled to be cleaned up soon.
tree top down
I watched when the top of a cedar snapped off during a storm. It is laying on a couple of other trees. It reminded me of Dominos when it happened. Not sure how we are going to clean up this mess.
burn pile
We spent a day burning the branches and debris from the tree that fell in the driveway and the large oak branches that broke near the house. I ended up with a burn that looked like a human bite. Didn’t hurt much though but strange looking.
spring arrived. dogwood and bleeding heart flowers.
Spring finally arrived in May. Here are some dogwood blooms, and bleeding hearts, along with the lilac that I got last year for Mother’s Day.
red flower
This camellia bloomed late this year, in May, but very glad to see it!
river rocks
Here is the latest batch from the rock tumbler. We picked these up at the Yuba River. There is mostly quartz, lava, jasper, and, granite, and epidote. Another batch of river rocks is tumbling right now. I use a rock app on my phone to identify them.

I will be sharing photos as we get everything all cleaned up! Here is a poem that is a reminder that magic is never too far away no matter what life or nature throws at us.

BY THE RIVER

The raging river

Releases in a final thrust

Over the jagged cliff

Into the peaceful pool

Where its journey begins.

In the silent reflection…

On a warm winter morning…

Over the river’s roar…

I heard the fairy’s sweet song

That awakened my magic.

 

Note:

  • I had a fabulous time on my vacation. It was busier than normal, but fun packed. Under the warm tropical waters, I was able to write three haikus on an underwater tablet while snorkling. I also went to a coffee plantation, beautiful gardens, explored caves, saw wild bottle nosed dolphins, sea turtles, and flocks of parrots. There are some pictures on Facebook and Instagram from the trip. My writing reset button was pushed 🙂
  • Next week is June’s Book reviews.

Embrace your inner child. D. L. Finn

May Book Reviews, updates, and blog tour winners! @Virgilante Sandra_Cox @Dwallacepeach @CherylOreglia @bakeandwrite @GodsAngel1 @SmithaVishwana4 @JMastrangeloArt @YvetteMCalleiro @Dwallacepeach @bubbalee04

I know this is a day late but I decided to wait until the blog tour was over. Thank you too all the hosts who kindly opened up their blogs and made this such a big success. Huge hugs to all!

Blog Tour winners follow the reviews.

Now on to the reviews:

Once Upon a Time in the Swamp

By C.S. Boyack

“Once Upon a Time in the Swamp” starts with a peaceful moment as Mari is hunting for a meal for her family. What she comes home to is heartbreaking and a loss so bad that her life is never the same. At first, it seems the story is being told in the past, but as details are added, it becomes clear that something has happened—a civil war that ended modern society. When Mari attempts to get help from local authorities, she is brushed aside. So, she sets out to hunt down the men who did this to her family. Some of my favorite characters were the ox, Dirt and the puppy, Worthless, and Mari’s interactions with them. Although set in the grim aftermath of a war, there were people still willing to help her. These were the places I hoped she’d find some peace and give up her vengeance. But Mari’s strength and determination became inspiring when she refused to give up on getting her family some justice. The settings were highly detailed, down to making soap and learning to shoot and fight, which immersed me in this world and made me wonder if I could do what she was doing. This was a hard story to put down, and I honestly wasn’t sure how this would all turn out, but I was happy with the conclusion. A well-written post-apocalyptic world that gives us a glimpse of what could be if we stay on our current path. Despite that, there is some hope weaved into it as there’s still good left too. I can easily recommend this story.

Love, Lattes and Angel  (Mutants #3)

By Sandra Cox

“Love, Lattes and Angel” continues where the second book left off. Piper is with her grandfather, boyfriend, Tyler, Amy, Joel, and Angel—who is Piper and Joel’s biological daughter. The group believes they are safe but soon finds out they have been located again by a man who is determined to recapture the product of his lab experiment, Angel. She is a dolphin hybrid like Piper and Joel and is prized. The group splits up to escape, and Piper, Joel, and Angel take a strange trip through the Bermuda Triangle. They end up on an island where the religion of Vodou is practiced. I enjoyed the love triangle between Piper, Tyler, and Joel, and I’m glad this story clarifies who ends up with whom. I envy them as they swim so carefree in the ocean, especially Angel. My favorite part is the pet Angel ends up with, and the island they have found refuge on. An excellent conclusion to the Mutant Series that kept me up late toward the end as I wanted to see how it all played out. I can easily recommend it to YA readers and those who are young at heart.

Poetry Treasures 3: Passions

By Kaye Lynne BoothRobbie Cheadle, Patty Fletcher, D. Wallace Peach, Yvette Prior, Penny Wilson, Colleen M. Chesebro, Abbie Taylor, Yvette Calliero, Smitha Vishwanath, Chris Hall, Willow Willers, and Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer.

“Poetry Treasures 3: Passions” is a beautiful collection of poetry and poets. I started highlighting my favorites to include here but decided against it. Each poet brought their flavor to this poetry mixture, and they were all good in different ways. I was familiar with about half of the authors and was happily introduced to the others. The poets were given their own month, except December, and a brief history of their works. There were two guest poets included at the end. I liked how they all interpreted passion in expected and unusual ways. An excellent opportunity to enjoy good poetry penned by authors I already enjoy, plus find new ones to follow. This is a collection to be read more than once and one I can easily recommend.

Grow Damn It!: The Feeding and Nurturing of Life

By Cheryl Lynn Oreglia

“Grow Damn It!” is an insightful and often humorous collection of essays that blend into an amazing memoir. It was like I was sitting with an old friend having a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, and Ms. Oreglia was sharing life stories with some lessons weaved into them. Subjects varied, some light and some not, like the drive to the hospital after her son was in a car accident. There was an adventure on a tandem bike, which intrigued me as I have always wanted to try it. I laughed at the silly comment they got over and over when they rode. Clear Lake, where they bought a second home, was beautifully captured. I spent a lot of time there as a child, and the essays made me re-live my memories. I appreciated the love of family plus an enduring marriage. The raw honesty was welcomed because things aren’t perfect all the time, but love is always there. We all need to learn life lessons and live life to the fullest. This book captures living and reminds us that each day is a gift to enjoy and, on those certain days… survive. A book I felt on many levels. I highly recommend this collection. I know I will read it again and add it to my bookshelf.

Sunwielder

By D. Wallace Peach

“Sunwielder” is a fantasy that not only offers a second chance but twenty-seven of them. Gryff is a farmer who loves his family. Everything changes for Gryff when his farm is attacked, and he loses his family and is dying. Here he is offered a medallion to change his path. This part of the story reminds me of “Groundhog Day,” where Gryff relives certain moments trying to get it right. Although he gets his family back, his life goes in a direction he couldn’t have foreseen. Because of a lord’s unreasonable hatred, Gryff gets pulled into a war. I love this part of the book where Gryff grows and learns as his path shifts and changes. His loyalty to those he loves as he tries to correct wrongs had me rooting for him to find happiness. The details weaved into the story brought Gryff’s world to life, whether on the farm or battlefield. It is a wonderful fantasy that not only explores new possibilities when things are bleak but friendship, family, and love—a fantasy I can easily recommend.

I only post my 4 & 5-star reviews here! If I don’t like the book, I won’t finish it. It wouldn’t be fair to leave a review for an unfinished story, and life is too short not to enjoy my reading journey!

UPDATES:

  • Huge congrats to the Blog Tour Winners! I threw all the hosts name in a hat and picked three. From there I had my daughter, Danielle, pick a number from the amount of people who commented on that post. That’s how the winners were chosen 🙂
  • D. Wallace Peach won the $20 Amazon Gift Card on Craig’s post! Valerie Jael won the $10 Amazon Gift Card on Sandra’s post, and Vera Day won on Beem’s post. Thank you for all the support and comments, it was a lot of fun.
  • Newsletter went out today! If you are subscribed check your email 🙂
  • I will be gone next week on vacation. Book reviews will be back on June 5th and Finn’s Forest will debut June 19th.

Embrace your inner child by reading a good book. Aloha! D. L. Finn

In the Tree’s Shadow – “Man on the Pier” @BalroopShado #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #paranormal #shortstories #newrelease

Hi,

Today I’m visiting with Balroop Singh for the final tour stop to talk about the short story “Man on a Pier” here.

Below includes my review of Balroop’s latest book, “Hues of Hope,” and the tour schedule. There is a chance to win an Amazon gift card too! Winner will be announced tomorrow in the book review post.

Balroop Singh, an educator, a poet and an author always had a passion for writing. She would jot down her reflections on a piece of paper and forget about them till each drawer of her home started overflowing with poetic reminders, popping out at will! The world of her imagination has a queer connection with realism. She could envision the images of her own poetry while teaching the poems. Her dreams saw the light of the day when she published her first poetry book: ‘Sublime Shadows Of Life.’ She has always lived through her heart. She is a great nature lover; she loves to watch birds flying home. The sunsets allure her with their varied hues that they lend to the sky. She can spend endless hours listening to the rustling of leaves and the sound of waterfalls. She lives in California. You can visit her blog at http://balroop2013.wordpress.com

“Hues of Hope” is a beautiful collection of poems that examines the hope in life. There are so many wonderful poems that it is hard to pick favorites, but I always connect the most with nature poems. Although all the poetry brought vivid images to me as I read them, here are some examples of the words that moved me. In the poem HOW FRAGILE IS LIFE! I could easily relate since I live where fire danger is very serious: “When you watch helplessly/Mother Nature wreaking havoc/Holding your heart in smithereens/You think of those who couldn’t make it/Reduced to bones and ashes within seconds.” MAGIC captured my heart: “I’ve never believed in magic/Yet I look for it everywhere/In the sunshine that lights/Crevices within me.” A TOUCH offers pure hope: “Her magical, dewy carpet/Carries calm whispers/Her Lilting leaves remind me/Of songs that we sang together.” If you enjoy poetry, as I do, you don’t want to miss this collection. I can easily recommend it!

Here is the tour schedule.

A link will be added to the list as each stop becomes available. There will be a post with the link and author information included here for each stop.

Three winners will be randomly picked from the tour comments for a $20, $10, or $5 Amazon Gift Card on May 16th!

Since it’s a short story collection, each stop will be different.

In the Tree’s Shadow Pre-order Tour:

Tuesday, April 4thRobbie Cheadle “Book Video.”

Wednesday, April 12th Sally Cronin “Pre-order Book Promotion.” 

In the Tree’s Shadow Release Tour:

Monday, April 17thGwen Plano, “Stranded.” 

Tuesday, April 18th Joan Hall, “The Dolphin.”

Wednesday, April 19thJohn Howell, “Lyrical Dragon.” 

Thursday, April 20th Staci Troilo, “It’s Only a Dream.”

Friday, April 21stCraig Boyack, “In the Shadows.”

Monday, April 24thHarmony Kent, “The Boy.” 

Tuesday, April 25th Jan Sikes, “End of the Road.” 

Wednesday, April 26thStephen Geez, “The Day the Ground Moved.”

Thursday, April 27thBeem Weeks, “A Day at the Lake.”

Friday, April 28th Sandra Cox, “In That Moment.” 

Monday, May 1st Jacquie Biggar, “The Bench.”

Tuesday, May 2nd D. Wallace Peach, “Effervescent Potion.”

Wednesday, May 3rdMae Clair, “When the Lights go Out.”

Thursday, May 4th Jacqui Murray, “Faith.”

Friday, May 5th Yvette M. Calleiro, The Bike.”

Monday, May 8th Miriam Hurdle, “Playdate.”

Tuesday, May 9th Marcia Meara, “Alone.”

Wednesday, May 10th Annette Rochelle Aben, “Deadline.”

Thursday, May 11thKaren Ingalls, “The Bonsai.”

Friday, May 12th“Last Ride of the Night.”

Monday, May 15thBalroop Singh, “Man on the Pier.”

 

In the Tree’s Shadow Blog Tour- That Last Ride of the Night. #writingcommunity #bookrelease #readersoftwitter #shortstory

Hi,

I wanted to let you know that it was decided not to have a blog post today due to unforeseen circumstances. The final stop is on Monday, and then I’ll announce the three Blog Tour Winners on Tuesday.

I thought you might be curious as to what was in the post. Here’s the background information, excerpt, Fun Finn Facts, and I’ve also included my host book review and tour schedule:

“Last Ride of the Night” was written for the much missed and loved Susanne Burke’s ‘Fiction in a Flash Challenge.’

The image was of a Ferris wheel. I love going to our local county fair every year if I can. I enjoy the exhibits, food, and a few rides. The Ferris wheel is not one of the rides I like since the height and constant stops terrify me.

But it got me thinking, what if being way up at the top became a good thing? If it was the safest place to be. Pete and Lacey find themselves in that situation, stopped at the top, unable to believe what they see.

EXCERPT:

The monsters remained in the shadows, waiting. My husband and I sat at the top of the Ferris wheel. I would have enjoyed the view any other time, but not with death lurking below us. Pete wrapped his arm protectively around my shoulders as the last hopeless scream faded away. It was the older man who operated the ride, the same man who had winked at us and said we had the wheel all to ourselves because it was almost closing time. We didn’t even know the name of the hero who had stopped the ride right before—

No, I couldn’t think about that.

I tried to dial 9-1-1, but there was no signal. I couldn’t text or email. There was no way to communicate or get information.

“We’re safe up here, Lacy.”

“What if they climb up?”

“These creatures can barely walk. They’re like zombies.”

I nodded, watching the monsters approach a building where a family had taken shelter. I’d seen that beautiful family in line when we got our favorite chocolate swirl ice cream in a cup. The two young boys had been so excited about their first monster truck show. I hoped the actual monsters didn’t find them now.

FUN FINN FACTS:

  1. I have three kids, two girls, and one boy.
  2. My husband and I flew on a water plane over the Alaskan Fjords. I was thrilled when we landed in the water and could stand outside the plane. I have secretly always wanted to be a bush pilot.

Angie and Mandy are ordinary teenagers until a horrible tragedy tears their lives apart. It’s heartbreaking, and I wondered if the family would survive what’s happened. They don’t. Mandy takes the blame and is sent to live with her aunt and uncle. Here she becomes Lisa and finds some understanding. Angie, who doesn’t step up and do the right thing, can’t live with her guilt. She runs away, only to find life hard and survival harder. It’s at a funeral that the two girls meet again as adults. This is when pain and anger collide with a touch of love and forgiveness. Right or wrong, each character deals with the pain and loss in their own way. The past was gone and mishandled, but these broken people had the present moment. That’s when hope came into the story and brought back something that seemed impossible. I was taken on a journey through all my emotions. “Sisters” was a hard story to put down, and I highly recommend it.

Here is the tour schedule.

A link will be added to the list as each stop becomes available. There will be a post with the link and author information included here for each stop.

Three winners will be randomly picked from the tour comments for a $20, $10, or $5 Amazon Gift Card on May 16th!

Since it’s a short story collection, each stop will be different.

In the Tree’s Shadow Pre-order Tour:

Tuesday, April 4thRobbie Cheadle “Book Video.”

Wednesday, April 12th Sally Cronin “Pre-order Book Promotion.”

In the Tree’s Shadow Release Tour:

Monday, April 17thGwen Plano, “Stranded.

Tuesday, April 18th Joan Hall, “The Dolphin.”

Wednesday, April 19thJohn Howell, “Lyrical Dragon.”

Thursday, April 20th Staci Troilo, “It’s Only a Dream.”

Friday, April 21stCraig Boyack, “In the Shadows.”

Monday, April 24thHarmony Kent, “The Boy.”

Tuesday, April 25th Jan Sikes, “End of the Road.”

Wednesday, April 26thStephen Geez, “The Day the Ground Moved.”

Thursday, April 27thBeem Weeks, “A Day at the Lake.”

Friday, April 28th Sandra Cox, “In That Moment.”

Monday, May 1st Jacquie Biggar, “The Bench.”

Tuesday, May 2nd D. Wallace Peach, “Effervescent Potion.”

Wednesday, May 3rdMae Clair, “When the Lights go Out.”

Thursday, May 4th Jacqui Murray, “Faith.”

Friday, May 5th Yvette M. Calleiro, The Bike.”

Monday, May 8th Miriam Hurdle, “Playdate.”

Tuesday, May 9th Marcia Meara, “Alone.”

Wednesday, May 10th Annette Rochelle Aben, “Deadline.”

Thursday, May 11thKaren Ingalls, “The Bonsai.”

Friday, May 12th“Last Ride of the Night.”

Monday, May 15thBalroop Singh, “Man on the Pier.”

In the Tree’s Shadow – “The Bonsai”@KIngallsAuthor #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #paranormal #shortstories #newrelease

Hi,

Today I’m visiting with Karen Ingalls to talk about the short story “The Bonsai” here.

Below includes my review of Karen’s book, “Outshine,” and the tour schedule. There is a chance to win an Amazon gift card too! I will add stops as they become available.

Karen Ingalls is the author of five books of which two are award-winning. She has published non-fiction, biographical novel, historical novel, biography, and short stories. She is a retired Registered Nurse with a Master’s Degree in Human Development.

Her most recent book, Learning About Autism: One Mother’s Journey of Discovery and Love tells the story of Carol Tucker and her adopted son, Justin. She is a recognized special education teacher, leader in the state of Florida, developer of curriculum and teaching methods, and co-founder and director of the first charter school for autism in Florida. Justin is a miracle who has astounded doctors and social workers with his achievements. He rose above his cerebral palsy, autism, and given up as hopeless.

Ms. Ingalls’s non-fiction book, Outshine: An Ovarian Cancer Memoir, won first place at the 2012 Indie Excellence Book Awards in the category of women’s health. It was a top finalist for the Independent Publisher Book Award of 2012 in the two categories of health and self-help. The book offers hope and inspiration to women and their families.

She wrote a series of twelve short stories in When I Rise: Tales, Truths, and Symbolic Trees.

Davida: Model & Mistress is about the love affair between her great-grandparents Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Davida. There are little-known facts about Davida except for her role as a model for many of the sculptor’s famous works. It won the Pinnacle Book Achievement Award and the Apple Award for 2016.

Novy’s Son, The Selfish Genius, is about Murray Clark, who sought love and acceptance from his father, who was the bastard child of the famous sculptor, Augustus Saint-Gaudens. After reading Iron John by Robert Bly, Ms. Ingalls recognized what was missing in her father’s life.

She is a blogger, public speaker, author of many articles, and advocate for gynecologic cancer awareness and fundraiser for research. In her spare time, she loves to read and play golf. All proceeds from the book sales go to gynecolotgic cancer research.

“Outshine” is the journey Ms. Ingalls took when she learned she had ovarian cancer. This is a subject I’d usually avoid because the word cancer scares me, and I’ve seen what it can do to loved ones, but I was surprised how inspired I became as I read it. The author is a nurse who educated herself with all the facts once she learned her diagnosis. She dug deep into her faith and found ways to nourish her soul throughout the process. I loved all the quotes and the positive way she approached a very scary situation for anyone. She got the help back she had provided in her career two-fold. We were with her during her surgery, chemotherapy, when she lost her hair and her daily walks and prayers. I loved how she talked about sending a card and really meaning the message and how much it meant to her at this time. I was impressed how she learned to let her ego go when she lost her hair, how she embraced each day as a gift, and her husband’s unconditional love for her. These are good lessons for us in life whether we are fighting an illness or not. I ended reading this feeling more hopeful and inspired. This is a book for anyone dealing with cancer or any illness, but it is also for anyone who wants and needs to be encouraged. I highly recommend Ms. Ingalls’ book!

OUTSHINE NEW 2023 EDITION LINK

Here is the tour schedule.

A link will be added to the list as each stop becomes available. There will be a post with the link and author information included here for each stop.

Three winners will be randomly picked from the tour comments for a $20, $10, or $5 Amazon Gift Card on May 16th!

Since it’s a short story collection, each stop will be different.

In the Tree’s Shadow Pre-order Tour:

Tuesday, April 4thRobbie Cheadle “Book Video.”

Wednesday, April 12th Sally Cronin “Pre-order Book Promotion.” 

In the Tree’s Shadow Release Tour:

Monday, April 17thGwen Plano, “Stranded.” 

Tuesday, April 18th Joan Hall, “The Dolphin.”

Wednesday, April 19thJohn Howell, “Lyrical Dragon.” 

Thursday, April 20th Staci Troilo, “It’s Only a Dream.”

Friday, April 21stCraig Boyack, “In the Shadows.”

Monday, April 24thHarmony Kent, “The Boy.” 

Tuesday, April 25th Jan Sikes, “End of the Road.” 

Wednesday, April 26thStephen Geez, “The Day the Ground Moved.”

Thursday, April 27thBeem Weeks, “A Day at the Lake.”

Friday, April 28th Sandra Cox, “In That Moment.” 

Monday, May 1st Jacquie Biggar, “The Bench.”

Tuesday, May 2nd D. Wallace Peach, “Effervescent Potion.”

Wednesday, May 3rdMae Clair, “When the Lights go Out.”

Thursday, May 4th Jacqui Murray, “Faith.”

Friday, May 5th Yvette M. Calleiro, The Bike.”

Monday, May 8th Miriam Hurdle, “Playdate.”

Tuesday, May 9th Marcia Meara, “Alone.”

Wednesday, May 10th Annette Rochelle Aben, “Deadline.”

Thursday, May 11thKaren Ingalls, “The Bonsai.”

Friday, May 12th Judith Barrow, “Last Ride of the Night.”

Monday, May 15thBalroop Singh, “Man on the Pier.”

In the Tree’s Shadow – “Deadline” @YouAreTheExpert #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #paranormal #shortstories #newrelease

Hi,

Today I’m visiting with Annette Rochelle Aben to talk about the short story “Deadline” here.

Below includes my review of Annette’s latest book, “Tell Me a Story,” and the tour schedule. There is a chance to win an Amazon gift card too! I will add stops as they become available.

Words are like threads that when woven together with passion and purpose can create a tapestry in which you long to wander. That passion was ignited in me when I was a small child and continues to burn bright even today. I was encouraged by educators who challenged me to try and by career paths that demanded I become a proficient wordsmith. I would like to think I have done them proud. Over the years, I have won awards, been nominated for an EMMY for television writing, and penned a #1 Best Selling book of poetry. My collection of books available here on Amazon include self-help, inspirational, and of course poetry. I have been invited to participate in anthologies and collections, several of which are here as well. Welcome to my world of words. Should you find something in which to lose yourself, I shall raise my glass in a toast to your happiness. Thank you for your kind attention.

“Tell me a Story” is an impressive collection of stories that vary from light-hearted to serious subjects. I am always amazed when so much can be packed into 99 words, and Ms. Aben did it well. Each story held my interest, but here are a few that captured my heart: Bedfellow, Daybreak, Eloise, I Wish I May, Knowledge is Power, and Promises Kept. Like the poetry I enjoy from this author, this can be read more than once. A well-written group of tales that has something for everyone that I can easily recommend.

Here is the tour schedule.

A link will be added to the list as each stop becomes available. There will be a post with the link and author information included here for each stop.

Three winners will be randomly picked from the tour comments for a $20, $10, or $5 Amazon Gift Card on May 16th!

Since it’s a short story collection, each stop will be different.

In the Tree’s Shadow Pre-order Tour:

Tuesday, April 4thRobbie Cheadle “Book Video.”

Wednesday, April 12th Sally Cronin “Pre-order Book Promotion.” 

In the Tree’s Shadow Release Tour:

Monday, April 17thGwen Plano, “Stranded.” 

Tuesday, April 18th Joan Hall, “The Dolphin.”

Wednesday, April 19thJohn Howell, “Lyrical Dragon.” 

Thursday, April 20th Staci Troilo, “It’s Only a Dream.”

Friday, April 21stCraig Boyack, “In the Shadows.”

Monday, April 24thHarmony Kent, “The Boy.” 

Tuesday, April 25th Jan Sikes, “End of the Road.” 

Wednesday, April 26thStephen Geez, “The Day the Ground Moved.”

Thursday, April 27thBeem Weeks, “A Day at the Lake.”

Friday, April 28th Sandra Cox, “In That Moment.” 

Monday, May 1st Jacquie Biggar, “The Bench.”

Tuesday, May 2nd D. Wallace Peach, “Effervescent Potion.”

Wednesday, May 3rdMae Clair, “When the Lights go Out.”

Thursday, May 4th Jacqui Murray, “Faith.”

Friday, May 5th Yvette M. Calleiro, The Bike.”

Monday, May 8th Miriam Hurdle, “Playdate.”

Tuesday, May 9th Marcia Meara, “Alone.”

Wednesday, May 10th Annette Rochelle Aben, “Deadline.”

Thursday, May 11thKaren Ingalls, “The Bonsai.”

Friday, May 12th Judith Barrow, “Last Ride of the Night.”

Monday, May 15thBalroop Singh, “Man on the Pier.”

 

 

In the Tree’s Shadow – “Alone” @MarciaMeara #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #paranormal #shortstories #newrelease

Hi,

Today I’m visiting with Marcia Meara to talk about the short story “Alone” here.

Below includes my review of Marcia’s book, “A Boy Named Rabbit,” and the tour schedule. There is a chance to win an Amazon gift card too! I will add stops as they become available.

Marcia Meara lives in central Florida, just north of Orlando, with her husband of over thirty years and four big cats.

When not writing or blogging, she spends her time gardening, and enjoying the surprising amount of wildlife that manages to make a home in her suburban yard. She enjoys nature. Really, really enjoys it. All of it! Well, almost all of it, anyway. From birds, to furry critters, to her very favorites, snakes. The exception would be spiders, which she truly loathes, convinced that anything with eight hairy legs is surely up to no good. She does not, however, kill spiders anymore, since she knows they have their place in the world. Besides, her husband now handles her Arachnid Catch and Release Program, and she’s good with that.

Spiders aside, the one thing Marcia would like to tell each of her readers is that it’s never too late to make your dreams come true. If, at the age of 69, she could write and publish a book (and thus fulfill 64 years of longing to do that very thing), you can make your own dreams a reality, too. Go for it! What have you got to lose?

 

CONTACT MARCIA HERE:

The Write Stuff: http://marciamearawrites.com/

Twitter: @marciameara

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/marciameara/

BIBLIOGRAPHY OF MARCIA’S BOOKS:

Wake-Robin Ridge

A Boy Named Rabbit: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 2

Harbinger: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 3

The Light: Wake-Robin Ridge Book 4

Swamp Ghosts: A Riverbend Novel

Finding Hunter: Riverbend Book 2

That Darkest Place: Riverbend Book 3

The Emissary: A Riverbend Spinoff Novella

The Emissary 2: To Love Somebody

The Emissary 3: Love Hurts

The Emissary Trilogy: A Riverbend Spinoff Collection

Summer Magic: Poems of Life & Love

I read the first Wake-Robin Ridge book and had been looking forward to continuing with the series. It was good to see Mac and Sarah back, but the new character, Rabbit, stole my heart. I fell in love with his innocence and wisdom. If I could have reached into the book and hugged him, I would have. The world, through his eyes, is a place I want to live. He was raised away from the world, in the woods, by his grandparents. He believed people were evil, but on his grandmother’s deathbed, she let him know there are good people too. She sent him on a quest to find one of those good people. His growth inspired me as much as it inspired those he encountered. There were some heart-wrenching parts along with some endearing ones, and I deeply felt each one. I highly recommend this book and look forward to continuing the journey with Rabbit.

Here is the tour schedule.

A link will be added to the list as each stop becomes available. There will be a post with the link and author information included here for each stop.

Three winners will be randomly picked from the tour comments for a $20, $10, or $5 Amazon Gift Card on May 16th!

Since it’s a short story collection, each stop will be different.

In the Tree’s Shadow Pre-order Tour:

Tuesday, April 4thRobbie Cheadle “Book Video.”

Wednesday, April 12th Sally Cronin “Pre-order Book Promotion.” 

In the Tree’s Shadow Release Tour:

Monday, April 17thGwen Plano, “Stranded.” 

Tuesday, April 18th Joan Hall, “The Dolphin.”

Wednesday, April 19thJohn Howell, “Lyrical Dragon.” 

Thursday, April 20th Staci Troilo, “It’s Only a Dream.”

Friday, April 21stCraig Boyack, “In the Shadows.”

Monday, April 24thHarmony Kent, “The Boy.” 

Tuesday, April 25th Jan Sikes, “End of the Road.” 

Wednesday, April 26thStephen Geez, “The Day the Ground Moved.”

Thursday, April 27thBeem Weeks, “A Day at the Lake.”

Friday, April 28th Sandra Cox, “In That Moment.” 

Monday, May 1st Jacquie Biggar, “The Bench.”

Tuesday, May 2nd D. Wallace Peach, “Effervescent Potion.”

Wednesday, May 3rdMae Clair, “When the Lights go Out.”

Thursday, May 4th Jacqui Murray, “Faith.”

Friday, May 5th Yvette M. Calleiro, The Bike.”

Monday, May 8th Miriam Hurdle, “Playdate.”

Tuesday, May 9th Marcia Meara, “Alone.”

Wednesday, May 10th Annette Rochelle Aben, “Deadline.”

Thursday, May 11thKaren Ingalls, “The Bonsai.”

Friday, May 12th Judith Barrow, “Last Ride of the Night.”

Monday, May 15thBalroop Singh, “Man on the Pier.”

Continue reading “In the Tree’s Shadow – “Alone” @MarciaMeara #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #paranormal #shortstories #newrelease”

In the Tree’s Shadow – “Playdate” @mhurdle112 #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #paranormal #shortstories #newrelease


Hi,

Today I’m visiting with Miriam Hurdle to talk about the short story “Playdate” here.

Below includes my review of Miriam’s latest book, “The Winding Road,” and the tour schedule. There is a chance to win an Amazon gift card too! I will add stops as they become available.

Miriam Hurdle is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). She published four children’s books at twenty-six years old. Her poetry collection received the Solo “Medalist Winner” for the New Apple Summer eBook Award and achieved bestseller status on Amazon.

Miriam writes poetry, short stories, memoir, and children’s books. She earned a Doctor of Education from the University of La Verne in California. After two years of rehabilitation counseling, fifteen years of public-school teaching and ten years in school district administration, she retired and enjoys life with her husband in southern California, and the visits to her daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughters in Oregon. When not writing, she engages in blogging, gardening, photography, and traveling.

Learn more about Miriam at:

https://theshowersofblessings.com

https://www.goodreads.com/author/edit/17252131.Miriam_Hurdle

“The Winding Road” is a heartfelt memoir that takes the reader through a cancer diagnosis to the outcome. I felt like I was experiencing this journey with Ms. Hurdle, as she not only talks about how she is feeling, but how she had to deal with insurance, appointments, and the physical toll of the treatments. Once Ms. Hurdle learned how rare and deadly the cancer was, a decision was made to try experimental treatments for six months. I’m not sure I could have handled what she endured. Being so ill during the treatments with no guarantees would be hard, but a strong will to live shined through and balanced that out. This was a painful insight into the reality of cancer, mixed with her belief that life is precious, that left me inspired and full of hope. A read that not only shows us the darker side of life when illness strikes, but how the love and support of family and friends can help carry some of that heavy burden. A highly recommended story that can inspire anyone going through not only illness but other challenges.

Here is the tour schedule.

A link will be added to the list as each stop becomes available. There will be a post with the link and author information included here for each stop.

Three winners will be randomly picked from the tour comments for a $20, $10, or $5 Amazon Gift Card on May 16th!

Since it’s a short story collection, each stop will be different.

In the Tree’s Shadow Pre-order Tour:

Tuesday, April 4thRobbie Cheadle “Book Video.”

Wednesday, April 12th Sally Cronin “Pre-order Book Promotion.” 

In the Tree’s Shadow Release Tour:

Monday, April 17thGwen Plano, “Stranded.” 

Tuesday, April 18th Joan Hall, “The Dolphin.”

Wednesday, April 19thJohn Howell, “Lyrical Dragon.” 

Thursday, April 20th Staci Troilo, “It’s Only a Dream.”

Friday, April 21stCraig Boyack, “In the Shadows.”

Monday, April 24thHarmony Kent, “The Boy.” 

Tuesday, April 25th Jan Sikes, “End of the Road.” 

Wednesday, April 26thStephen Geez, “The Day the Ground Moved.”

Thursday, April 27thBeem Weeks, “A Day at the Lake.”

Friday, April 28th Sandra Cox, “In That Moment.” 

Monday, May 1st Jacquie Biggar, “The Bench.”

Tuesday, May 2nd D. Wallace Peach, “Effervescent Potion.”

Wednesday, May 3rdMae Clair, “When the Lights go Out.”

Thursday, May 4th Jacqui Murray, “Faith.”

Friday, May 5th Yvette M. Calleiro, “The Bike.”

Monday, May 8th Miriam Hurdle, “Playdate.”

Tuesday, May 9th Marcia Meara, “Alone.”

Wednesday, May 10th Annette Rochelle Aben, “Deadline.”

Thursday, May 11thKaren Ingalls, “The Bonsai.”

Friday, May 12th Judith Barrow, “Last Ride of the Night.”

Monday, May 15thBalroop Singh, “Man on the Pier.”

 

In the Tree’s Shadow – “The Bike” @YvetteMCalleiro #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #newrelease #paranormal #shortstories

Hi,

Today I’m visiting with Yvette M. Calleiro to discuss the short story “The Bike” here.

Below includes my review of Yvette’s latest book, “HYPE,” and the tour schedule. There is a chance to win an Amazon gift card too! I will add stops as they become available.

Yvette M. Calleiro is the author of the Chronicles of the Diasodz fantasy series, HYPE, and two 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, she 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.

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.

“HYPE” is a YA story centered on Cici’s life at home and school. She is a popular co-captain of the cheering squad, and her boyfriend is the quarterback on the football team. Everything is perfect in her world, except her dislike of her co-captain, Nicole. But everything changes when her mother remarries, and she gets not only a stepdad but a new stepsister that everyone avoids at school. Cici’s POV is direct and takes the reader into her world. She can be shallow but has her world figured out until she doesn’t. Halfway through the story, there is a betrayal and horrible event that is painful to read, and my heart went out to Cici. Although Cici is a strong character that I was rooting for, I loved her stepsister Gaby/Grub’s complexity. How Cici’s relationships grow and change is skillfully reflected in what is happening in her life. This is a good read for not only YA readers but adults too. I highly recommend it.

Here is the tour schedule.

A link will be added to the list as each stop becomes available. There will be a post with the link and author information included here for each stop.

Three winners will be randomly picked from the tour comments for a $20, $10, or $5 Amazon Gift Card on May 16th!

Since it’s a short story collection, each stop will be different.

In the Tree’s Shadow Pre-order Tour:

Tuesday, April 4thRobbie Cheadle “Book Video.”

Wednesday, April 12th Sally Cronin “Pre-order Book Promotion.” 

In the Tree’s Shadow Release Tour:

Monday, April 17thGwen Plano, “Stranded.” 

Tuesday, April 18th Joan Hall, “The Dolphin.”

Wednesday, April 19thJohn Howell, “Lyrical Dragon.” 

Thursday, April 20th Staci Troilo, “It’s Only a Dream.”

Friday, April 21stCraig Boyack, “In the Shadows.”

Monday, April 24thHarmony Kent, “The Boy.” 

Tuesday, April 25th Jan Sikes, “End of the Road.” 

Wednesday, April 26thStephen Geez, “The Day the Ground Moved.”

Thursday, April 27thBeem Weeks, “A Day at the Lake.”

Friday, April 28th Sandra Cox, “In That Moment.” 

Monday, May 1st Jacquie Biggar, “The Bench.”

Tuesday, May 2nd D. Wallace Peach, “Effervescent Potion.”

Wednesday, May 3rdMae Clair, “When the Lights go Out.”

Thursday, May 4th Jacqui Murray, “Faith.”

Friday, May 5th Yvette M. Calleiro, “The Bike.”

Monday, May 8th Miriam Hurdle, “Playdate.”

Tuesday, May 9th Marcia Meara, “Alone.”

Wednesday, May 10th Annette Rochelle Aben, “Deadline.”

Thursday, May 11thKaren Ingalls, “The Bonsai.”

Friday, May 12th Judith Barrow, “Last Ride of the Night.”

Monday, May 15thBalroop Singh, “Man on the Pier.”