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Miracles and Ghosts: The Christmas Eve Walk #excerpt #preorder #christmasstories #secondchances #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #holidayreading

Hi!

Today I’m sharing the second story The Christmas Eve Walk and an excerpt from Miracles and Ghosts. Linda’s still reeling after her boyfriend broke up with her instead of the expected proposal. Her ex unexpectedly texts and asks if he can pick up his snow boots—because he’s going on vacation with his new girlfriend. To find some perspective, Linda takes her dog, Bubs for a walk in the forest. As the first snowflakes blanket the forest she hears a young boy calling out. He needs her help with some kittens he just found. This leads to a vet visit and an unexpected discovery.

Excerpt

The Christmas Eve Walk

The house was deep-cleaned, the decorations were up, and presents had been mailed to her sister. Linda Jones glanced out the window at the neighborhood’s festive glow. There was magic in the air tonight—that was what her mother used to tell her and her sister. If she had a wish, what would it be? The man of her dreams? He definitely hadn’t been Curt.

“Well, can’t hurt. I wish for my soulmate to find me under the Christmas Eve star I can’t see.” Linda grinned, proud of how well the holiday season was going, especially after the unexpected breakup. A familiar bolt of anger coursed through her like a bad burger. After all, she had expected him to propose, not end it.

“Nope. Not going there,” Linda informed her current best friend and furry companion, Bubbles. The shepherd mix had belonged to her sister until she moved out of the country to start over after her husband moved on from her. Must be a sibling thing, Linda thought. So she had inherited the poorly named dog, who she now called Bubs.

A beep came from her phone. A text from Curt.

I hate to bother you, Linda, but I believe I left snow boots at your house. On my way to Tahoe and hoping you are home so I can swing by and pick them up.

Without thinking, she responded.

I’ll be here.

She stomped off, Bubs following close behind. “Can you believe him? Some wish that was, and now he’s on the trip we were supposed to take. They’ve only been officially dating for six weeks, Bubs. We were together for two years. I had to earn my vacation with him, and that woman gets to go right away. Maybe she’s paying for it, because he sure never wanted to part with his money.”

Bubs sighed and sank onto his bed.

Linda quickly located the black size 10 men’s boots in her coat closet, glad to get them out of her house. Curt wore them the first year they were together when they went to cut a Christmas tree. The tree that she paid for had ended up at his house.

Blurb

Miracles and Ghosts: A Christmas Collection’s eight tales bring light in the darkest of circumstances. In the novelette, A Perfect Ghostly Christmas, Julie has survived the foster care system and finally comes home. She now owns her grandparents’ house and has received an offer that appears too good to be true. On top of that, the family she felt had abandoned her during her difficult times has reentered her life. But it’s the otherworldly experiences that lead her to something her grandparents left behind. This discovery changes everything and opens a door to danger. The seven short stories explore fractured families, a widower’s loneliness, a mall shooting, financial struggles, strained relationships, woodland kittens, and a woman haunted by a red truck. Whether it’s a ghost, an angel, or Santa, some unseen force is there to provide help when needed. A reminder in the busy holiday season or anytime we are never alone, and miracles are possible.

PREORDER:

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

 

 

Blog Tour Schedule for Miracles and Ghosts

Sandra Cox: November 1st A Perfect Ghostly Christmas

Liz Gauffreau:  November 5th Miracle in ER

John Howell: November 6th A Man and His Cat

Colleen Chesebro: November 7th At the Mall & video

Jacqui Murray: November 12th The Red Truck

Jan Sikes: November 13th Christmas Reunion

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

 

Miracles and Ghosts: Words Hurt #excerpt #preorder #christmasstories #family #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #holidayreading

Hi 🙂

I’m doing a short tour for the Miracles and Ghosts release and have included the stops at the bottom of this post.

During the tour, I will discuss six of the stories and release a new book trailer, but that left two stories not covered. So I’m going to do that here.

Today I will be covering Words Hurt and an excerpt.

Sally is estranged from her family after some hurtful words were said during the Thanksgiving dinner. She’s also lost her boyfriend through that. This leaves her and Ellie her bichon frise alone Christmas Eve. Her plans for a quiet holiday though are interrupted with bad news.

Excerpt

Words Hurt 

Sally MacNei decorated the white-lit faux tree with blue ornaments while listening to her favorite Christmas album. She found comfort in savoring her hot chocolate topped with marshmallows from a Santa face mug decorated with sparkles. Nevertheless, no matter how festive she made it, the holiday season was destined to be anything but normal. Not after what had happened at her sister’s Thanksgiving table.

She sighed, finished her beverage, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand like her niece, Maggie, did. Maggie was the only person she missed, but she’d make it up to her if they let her.

“I sent Maggie the gifts, anyway. Plus, I’m sure that family we adopted this year will enjoy the little extra gifts we sent them, right, Ellie?”

The little dog peeked from behind the Christmas tree. She blinked her gentle brown eyes and settled in for a nap like a fluffy snowflake. “Glad you agree. Don’t knock anything off the tree,” she cautioned the impeccably groomed bichon frise with the fake diamond collar.

Sally placed the blue snowflake gift bag full of new squeaky toys for Ellie under the tree. That bag wouldn’t make it until morning. Her coworkers had given her gifts, but the absence of the presents she had bought for her family made the tree feel incomplete.

Although it wasn’t her fault, she’d make the best of it. Being alone had its benefits, like eating whatever she wanted. She was looking forward to the organic Christmas feast for two she’d pick up later. It came with a turkey breast, mashed potatoes, and gravy. She’d skipped the green beans and gone with double stuffing and real wheat rolls. The dessert was her favorite apple pie instead of traditional pumpkin. She planned on lots of leftovers.

“It will be fun, Ellie.”

The dog’s ears perked, but she didn’t open her eyes.

“After dinner we can watch all the sappy holiday movies we want. Perfect day, if you ask me.”

She pushed down the thought that “sad” might be a more accurate description.

Blurb

Miracles and Ghosts: A Christmas Collection’s eight tales bring light in the darkest of circumstances. In the novelette, A Perfect Ghostly Christmas, Julie has survived the foster care system and finally comes home. She now owns her grandparents’ house and has received an offer that appears too good to be true. On top of that, the family she felt had abandoned her during her difficult times has reentered her life. But it’s the otherworldly experiences that lead her to something her grandparents left behind. This discovery changes everything and opens a door to danger. The seven short stories explore fractured families, a widower’s loneliness, a mall shooting, financial struggles, strained relationships, woodland kittens, and a woman haunted by a red truck. Whether it’s a ghost, an angel, or Santa, some unseen force is there to provide help when needed. A reminder in the busy holiday season or anytime we are never alone, and miracles are possible.

PREORDER:

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

 

Blog Tour Schedule for Miracles and Ghosts

Sandra Cox: November 1st A Perfect Ghostly Christmas

Liz Gauffreau:  November 5th Miracle in ER

John Howell: November 6th A Man and His Cat

Colleen Chesebro: November 7th At the Mall & video

Jacqui Murray: November 12th The Red Truck

Jan Sikes: November 13th Christmas Reunion

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

Stop by and say hi! @TPolen6 #writingcommunity #badmoonrising #authorguest #halloween

Hi!

Today, I’m thrilled to be visiting Teri Polen for her always exciting Bad Moon Rising! I’d love it if you would stop by and say hello.

https://teripolen.com/2024/10/07/badmoonrising-sounds-in-the-silence-by-d-l-finn-paranormal-ghosts-mystery/comment-page-1/#comments

Books That Changed Me: 2024 Fall Edition! @Sandra_Cox @RobertaEaton17 @YvetteMCalleiro #writingcommunity #mustreadbook #whattoread

Happy belated Fall! (—or Spring!)

It’s back my favorite time of year! The leaves are changing into yellows and reds while the nights are getting cooler. Summer is still trying to hang on but Fall is pushing its way in. I’ve been baking pumpkin and banana bread and thinking about an apple cobbler. My Halloween decorations are up and I’m ready for this season’s walk in the woods.

Another fun autumn thing to do is read a good book. You’ve seen these books reviewed on my blog, but they deserve another look. I’ve included their blurb and link. Happy fall reading.

The Last Pilgrim 

BLURB
This book captures and celebrates the grit and struggle of the Pilgrim women who stepped off the Mayflower in the winter of 1620 to an unknown world – one filled with hardship, danger and death. The Plymouth Colony would not have survived without them.
Mary Allerton Cushman was the last surviving passenger of the Mayflower, dying at age 88 in 1699.
Mary’s life is set against the real background of that time. The Last Pilgrim begins from her father’s point of view – she was, after all, only four when she descended into the cramped and dank living space below deck on the Mayflower – but gradually assumes Mary’s voice, as the colony achieves a foothold in the New England’s rocky soil.
What was a woman’s life like in the Plymouth Colony? The Last Pilgrim will tell you.

Mateo’s Woman 

BLURB
Delilah is dead.
With her demise, everyone should be safe, but something insidious is happening to Mateo’s town and to the woman he loves. People are dying and Blair is changing, taking on mannerisms that are clearly not her own. Becoming a danger to herself and others. He has no idea what is happening to the town’s people but he has an inkling of what is happening to Blair and what he’s thinking just isn’t possible. But whether it’s possible or not, he has to pry Blair from the evil that’s sunk its fangs into her. Now it’s a race against time to save the woman he loves and get to the bottom of who is killing Grizzly’s citizenry. And if that’s not enough of a challenge for the shapeshifting sheriff, his future mother-in-law has come for a visit.
BLURB
A collection of short paranormal and dark stories.
Includes the award-winning short story, The Bite.A group of boys participate in a reality television challenge; to the death.What does it mean to be a Canary Girl? One young woman is about to find out.Where is the bride? A beautiful young woman goes missing during a game of hide and seek on her wedding day.Some stories will make you cry, some will make you gasp, and some will leave you believing in vigilante justice. All will end with a grave.

And a powerful short story:
BLURB
JT pulled the short end of the stick when he was given his life’s journey. With a convicted felon as a dad and a drunk as a mom, there weren’t many positive influences in his life. When his mom’s boyfriend began sharing his marijuana with JT, his father fought for custody and won.
Life on his dad’s farm was simpler. JT started turning his life around until one tragic event sent him spiraling again. All choices have consequences. For JT, those choices left him staring down the barrel of a gun. Could JT rise above his circumstances, or would karma have its way with him?
Embrace your inner fall child, read a good book! D. L. Finn

New Release! “Simple Pleasures” By Elizabeth Gauffreau #writingcommunity #readingcommunity #poetrycommunity #newrelease #whattoread #poetry #haiku

I’m thrilled to have Elizabeth Gauffreau here to day to talk about her latest release, “Simple Pleasures!” Here’s my five-star review: LINK

Simple Pleasures Blog Tour

Thank you, Denise, for hosting me on my blog tour for Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right! For today’s stop, I’ll be taking your readers to Smugglers Notch, which is between Jeffersonville and Stowe Vermont. (In this context, “notch” refers to a pass between two or more mountains.)

 Smuggler’s Notch originally got its name during the War of 1812 when it was used to smuggle goods to and from Montreal, Quebec after President Thomas Jefferson placed an embargo on trading with Great Britain and Canada.

There were plenty of large boulders and caves to provide smugglers with ways to evade detection. (Source: Vermont Historical Society)

In the 1850s, the Underground Railroad used the pass to smuggle runaway slaves into Canada. And, of course, Smuggler’s Notch was used to bring liquor across the border into the United States during Prohibition. (Source: Vermont Historical Society)

So, Smugglers’ Notch has earned its name! Today, a narrow, winding road with hairpin turns and jutting boulders makes vehicle passage a tricky proposition in places. Needless to say, the road closes in winter.

And you do not want to attempt to bring a tractor-trailer rig through there.

(Photo Credit: Vermont State Police)

It’s always a thrill to drive between two mountains. (A lot of sun glare that day!)

CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO LINK

It’s good to get up close and personal with the forest–

 

–and take a hike. Once again, a kindly stranger takes our photograph!

 

 The bird’s eye view:

CLICK HERE FOR THE VIDEO  (Central Vermont Aerial Photography)

 

‘Tis the gift to be simple, ’tis the gift to be free

‘Tis the gift to come down where I ought to be . . . .

                      ~ Shaker song attributed to Joseph Brackett

The simple pleasures of our favorite places in nature are gifts of the spirit to be shared with others. In this collection of 53 haiku, each paired with a photograph, poet Liz Gauffreau invites readers to come with her to some of her favorite places in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Some places are long-time favorites going back years; others have become favorites by virtue of inspiring poetry.

 

Author Biography

Elizabeth Gauffreau writes fiction and poetry with a strong connection to family and place. Her work has been widely published in literary magazines, as well as several themed anthologies. Her short story “Henrietta’s Saving Grace” was awarded the 2022 Ben Nyberg  prize for fiction by Choeofpleirn Press.

She has published a novel, Telling Sonny, and a collection of photopoetry, Grief Songs: Poems of Love & Remembrance. She is currently working on a novel, The Weight of Snow and Regret, based on the closing of the last poor farm in Vermont in 1968.

Liz’s professional background is in nontraditional higher education, including academic advising, classroom and online teaching, curriculum development, and program administration. She received the Granite State College Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018. Liz lives in Nottingham, New Hampshire with her husband. Find her online at https://lizgauffreau.com.

Book2Read Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/SimplePleasures

Print & Fixed EPUB for tablets and Kindle Fire

BookFunnel PDF Purchase Link: https://buy.bookfunnel.com/gef1ili6qd

For any device.

September Book Reviews! @sgc58 @NoFacilities #whattoread #bookreviews #writingcommunity #readinglist

Here are the books I read in August that were four stars and higher. Click on the book titles for the Amazon link.

Size Always Matters: Don’t be part of a statistic, start losing weight today

By Sally Cronin

“Size Always Matters” is a book that reveals how and why to lose weight. Ms. Cronin, in her forties, realized she needed to lose 150 pounds to improve her health and live longer. She not only researched a healthy diet and applied it to her daily routine, but also helped others. I’ve constantly battled with the diet yo-yo, losing weight only to gain it back. I would think, I’ll get to it later, but my body is letting me know that now is that later. The book refreshed my knowledge, especially regarding Candida, but it also provided new insights. I love how Ms. Cronin covered the whole person, including our psychological reasons for overeating and our physical ones, too. This book isn’t only for weight loss, but also for overall health. I have used food and my diet to control health issues, and Ms. Cronin expertly explains the fundamentals of proper nutrition and necessary vitamins. Not only is there great information, but a way to find your ideal weight and delicious-sounding recipes. This book inspired me to cut out the food that has crept into my diet that doesn’t belong there and get rid of the extra pounds I’m carrying around. An excellent resource for weight loss and a healthy lifestyle. I highly recommend this!


Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right
by Elizabeth Gauffreau

“Simple Pleasures” is a beautiful gathering of 53 haikus and gorgeous photographs accompanying them. It’s incredible how much meaning can be packed into just a few words. I felt like I was walking along with the author and exploring where she lives and travels. Since the poems were all good, it made it hard to pick just these two haikus to share: stream water eddies/swirling whirlpools, sun-warmed rock/our feet touch the bottom and the pond in winter/windswept snow, crystalline sky/fridge air, silence. Ms. Gauffreau offers a nature that I so enjoy exploring. It was a soothing read that will be reread more than once. I can highly recommend this collection!

Bridge to Nowhere: A Rascal Todd Mystery

By Dan Antion

Rascal is a young journalist settling into her new job and boss. A building burns and she tries to prove it was arson. This leads to an eventual murder and a mystery for Rascal to solve and report. I enjoyed her enthusiasm for finding the truth. She is a strong character with an entertaining cat, Bonkers, who is focused on being fed. There are crossover characters from The Dreamer’s Alliance Series, which I also enjoyed reading. This book has a strong and vivid setting for Rascal to navigate, and although it isn’t necessary to have read the past stories to understand this one, I did like knowing the history. An exciting start to what promises to be a fun series!

NOTE: Still on my break, so haven’t been around much. As soon as I get my Christmas collection to the editor mid-month, I’ll be back. Although I will be on a writing break until the end of the year. xo

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

From Finn’s Forest #19! #writingcommunity #vacations #forest #birthdays #cats #ravens

Hi! Last installment From Finn’s Forest I had returned from vacation too and had pretty pictures of the ocean and redwoods. This time, it’s just a staycation for us so picture more local.

We reorganized my hubby’s band room after decluttering and getting rid of some things. Much better. We headed to a local casino with no luck. I had a good time testing out the 4D slot machine, though. Fun just to walk around in air conditioning. Then, we visited the mall and continued walking. I was surprised to see Black Friday sales, and I picked up a couple of items. We managed to catch the new movie, Twisters too. Surprised I enjoyed it, wasn’t expecting that. Never made it to the lake to swim or our local Hot Summer Nights. It was too hot for either.

Little fox dropped by for a snack! Those are our blue lights, look pretty on trees.

The rest of the time we had to do more clearing to try to hang on to our Home Insurance. Despite the heat, I did well. So, fingers crossed that works out.

My daughters and I were outside watching the grands have a water balloon fight. No one stayed outside long in that heat though.

Next, I had my birthday celebration. I am the age of the year I was born 😉 I thought that might be lucky, but it didn’t pan out at the Casino… lol. Received a long call from my out-of-state son while my daughters, son-in-law, and grandkids were present. They BBQ’d and I enjoyed a delicious blueberry cobbler. One gift I got early was a portable air conditioner primarily for the kitchen. We’ve never needed central air conditioning in the past, but this summer has been brutal so far. I gave in and got a portable air! Cooking is tolerable now.

tiger cat
Chester came out with us but headed inside later too. He’s going to be sixteen next week!

I’m happy to be back and sitting at my computer! My newsletter should be in your email if subscribed. It includes a sneak peek at my latest cover along with the book of the month and a birthday poem I wrote years ago.

Our ravens stopped by for a bite. They watch me so it’s hard to get a picture, this one had to be through a screen.

I’m too far behind to catch up, but know I’ve missed everyone. Also, I felt overwhelming gratitude upon returning to some fantastic posts and reviews! Thank you xo

Embrace your inner child by rereading an old favorite! D. L. Finn

 

 

July Book Reviews! @teagangeneviene #writingcommunity #mustread #readersoftwitter #bookreviews #readersoffacebook

Here are the books I read in June that were four stars and higher. Click on the book titles for an Amazon link.

The Rabbit Hole: A Short Story

By Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

“The Rabbit Hole” is a fresh adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland.” Liddie is in a strange place but finds guidance through her friends, Catty, and Loco Hatley. A special tea helps her clear her head as they go out into this reality. I was a big fan of not only Liddie but Catty and Loco too. Although a fast read, it doesn’t feel incomplete. It’s a fantastic take on a classic with a modern twist. I can easily recommend this well-written story!

Lunar Gazing Haiku

By Dawn Pisturino

“Lunar Gazing Haiku” is a collection of 62 haiku poems that cover subjects including season, moon gazing, supernatural, and emotions. While I enjoyed all the poems, there are a couple that stood out to me, such as: “Passion burns, hurts, scars/The tender flesh of my heart/Feeling life again.”—Passion, “leaves rustle in the trees/withered gold-brown-red treasures/blowing far away.”—Leaves, “Words sprinkle across/The paper like fairy dust/Shining with magic.”—Words, and “Monsters lurk in dark/Corners where nightmares come true/Frightened children scream.”—Monsters. This chapbook is meant for endless reading. If you’re a fan of poetry, I can easily recommend this to you.

The Last Pilgrim

By Noelle A. Granger

“The Last Pilgrim” is an amazingly detailed and well-written story focused on Mary Allerton Cushman’s life. Four-year-old Mary and her family were on the Mayflower, wanting to start a new life with the freedom to practice their religion. They squeezed together below deck with many other families, enduring limited food, water, and no hygiene. The boat faced various obstacles, such as sickness and scurvy, but upon reaching land and finding a suitable place, the survivors had to hastily construct a shelter for the cold winter. They were a hardy group who not only pulled together to accomplish their survival, but I found it captivating how they pieced together a group of people with a dream of a better life into a functioning society. What caught my attention was the strong women with limited voice or rights. They were equal in the colony’s success as the men and, at times, surpassed them. Some medical treatments and punishments given to lawbreakers made me cringe. Mary’s daily life and the surrounding people were as fascinating as the politics and religion. Although a long read, I didn’t even notice because I was so drawn in. I can highly recommend this historical fiction!

“Telling Sonny” is a heartfelt story set in the 1920s. Faby is a bored small-town girl who catches the eye of a vaudeville performer, Slim White. They enjoy each other’s company for the week the show performs there. Despite things going too far on the last night, Faby moves on as he promises to stay in touch. He doesn’t, and she finds herself in trouble. Although Faby finds him, and he does the right thing. Now, Faby is married to a stranger and they are currently traveling together. The attention to detail pulled me deep into this drama. Faby is relatable, and I was rooting for her. Even though the book starts with an older Faby having to relay unwelcome news, the story goes back and relives her life up to that point. I couldn’t stop hoping she would find happiness on her journey, but it quickly became clear that Faby was just along for the ride as she explored new places. An exceptionally written coming-of-age, historical fiction, that I wholeheartedly recommend.
Congrats to my Blog Tour Winners: $10 Amazon Gift Card goes to Jan on day 3 (John W Howell’s Fiction Favorites) and $5 Amazon Gift Card goes to Debra on day 4 (Jacqui Murray’s Word Dreams)!
Thank you to all who stopped by and offered your support on the tour 🙂
Read a good book and embrace your inner child, D. L. Finn

Sounds in the Silence Blog Tour Day 4! @WordDreams #NewRelease #writingcommunity #mystery #ghost #historicalfiction

Hi!

Today is Day 4 of the Sounds in the Silence Tour! I’m visiting with Jacqui Murray and would love it if you’d stop by and say hello. At the end of this post is a note. BLOG TOUR POST

But before you go, have you read any of Jacqui Murray’s prehistoric fiction? It’s outstanding along with her other work. I am working my way through her catalog and have not only been entertained but learned about our past. Her attention to detail is amazing. I’m including her Amazon Author Bio along with a link to her page. AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Jacqui Murray has been teaching K-18 technology for 30 years. She is the editor/author of over a hundred tech ed resources including a K-12 technology curriculum, K-8 keyboard curriculum, K-8 Digital Citizenship curriculum. She is an adjunct professor in tech ed, Master Teacher, webmaster for four blogs, an Amazon Vine Voice, CSTA presentation reviewer, and a contributor to NEA Today. You can find her resources at Structured Learning. Read Jacqui’s tech thrillers, To Hunt a Sub and Twenty-four Days here on Amazon Kindle. Also, read her new series, Man vs. Nature, starting with Born in a Treacherous Time–also on Kindle.

NOTE: I didn’t mention this in my posts but I will be choosing two random comments and gifting two lucky winners a $10 or $5 Amazon Gift Card.

From Finn’s Forest #18! #vacation #forest #redwoods #ocean #sierramountains #gardenflowers #writingcommunity

Hi!

Back from a relaxing vacation, except for the day Hubby and I helped our oldest daughter move 🙂

We celebrated our 41st Anniversary by visiting the redwoods and ocean. Another day we headed up to Reno and enjoyed seeing the beautiful sights along the way. Here are some pictures.

We started at Big Basin where there was a huge fire four years ago. It is in the recovery process. It was hard to see that much destruction, but at the same time to see how redwoods come back from fires was inspiring.

The redwoods are the only trees that are making a comeback from the massive fire.

We went to another grove of redwoods not affected by the fires.

Sun through the redwoods

Then we headed to the beach. Planes could read it was our 41st anniversary!

 

Jelly fish. There were lots of them!

Perfect sunset!

Trip to Reno. This at at the summit of Sierra Nevada Mountains.

Sierra Nevada Mountains

Star gazing.

This is a shot of the half moon through the trees. The blue lights are from a light projector.

Rose from garden

Watch for a special edition post, Thursday, and my newsletter comes out. Next week is the release of Sounds in the Silence and a blog tour. I will be posting links here.

Embrace your inner child by visiting nature or reading a good book! D. L. Finn