Tag: Nature

#NewRelease! Gratitude & No Fairy Tale Just Her Poetry Book Three. #writingcommunity #poetry

I’m happy to announce I have a new poetry book available! I didn’t do my usual preorder this time and had no date set, just went with when it was ready.

This new collection is a blend of old and new. With my No Fairy Tale: The Reality of a Girl who wasn’t a Princess and her Poetry memoir no longer available, my poetry wasn’t either.  These poems cover many years and became part two of Gratitude & No Fairy Tale. I updated two poems to make the message clearer and pulled a few that were more suited for the memoir. The rest are untouched and as they were. It wasn’t easy not updating the words to my current thinking but it was more honest to leave it as it was.

Part one is my newer poetry that I use now in my store and have included in calendars I gift at Christmas. I hope to put together a book with the color photos soon, but the black and white print is available now and more reasonably priced!

Blurb:

Explore D. L. Finn’s poetic journey, from her newest to earliest works. Part One immerses you in a combination of her photography and symbolic poems. Peaceful winter days, forests, and sunsets illuminate her search for the magic of life. Part Two retraces her journey from her first poems. Her life is revealed through free verse poems and photographs that were featured in her memoir, No Fairy Tale. She discovers gratitude on her path to happiness. Join her as she explores her reality through emotions and nature in this special collection.

Excerpt from Part One

I included the poem under the picture so it would be easier to read.

in between the storms

a beautiful day emerged

my time to rejoice

 

 

beautiful moment

scampers softly through my soul

a gift from heaven

AMAZON PURCHASE LINK US

AMAZON PURCHASE LINK UK

I am also pulling my books from Kindle Unlimited and going back to other markets through D2D. My older books are still migrating there from Smashwords. So this is a process. I am trying D2D for print but in the past have gone through Ingram. Always more to learn as a writer, isn’t there?

May Book Reviews! #BFRandall #ElizabethGauffreau #RobbieCheadle #jacquimurray #stacitroilo #TeaganRiordainGeneviene #sarahpenner #writingcommunity #bookreviews #whattoread

Welcome to my May book reviews! These are four and five-star reads from April.

Three Gates to Hell: Hell’s Detours Can Lead to Heavenly Destinations

By B. F. Randall

“Three Gates to Hell” was a hard book to put down. It is a Christian suspense story set in the Bay Area, which caught my attention as I was born and raised there. Bobby is a prison chaplain in San Quentin who has received a request that he didn’t like. The story flashes back in his time in Vietnam to his career in the Oakland Police Department, and his family life. The little details made it feel like it was a real story being told, not fiction. Bobby is a devoted family man and a hardened cop with a heart. The gritty story weaves his progression to faith, creating a character I rooted for. A well-written faith-based novel I can highly recommend!

Poetry Treasures 5: Small Pleasures

By DL Mullan, Barbara Harris Leonhard, Jude Kirya Itakali, Ivor Steven, Robbie Cheadle, Michelle Ayon Navajas, Gwen M. Plano, Elizabeth Gauffreau, David Bogomolny, Dawn Pasturino, Maggie Watson, Colleen M. Chesebro

I have enjoyed the Poetry Treasures collections and was eager to read this one. As always, I found a gifted group of international poets. I appreciate how it is set up with the author’s background and then the poetry. There’s symbolic and free-verse poetry with various topics and beautiful images to accompany them. I encountered both familiar and new poets, and each one of them pulled me with their words. A perfect book for a quiet afternoon or to wind down before you go to sleep. I can highly recommend this to any poetry lovers.

Burning Butterflies: Poetry About Southern African Flora and Fauna

By Robbie Cheadle

This book, “Burning Butterflies”, offers insight into Southern Africa with stunning art, photos, and poetry. The paintings are stunning, and the personal pictures allowed me to immerse myself in a place I’ve never been. The words, though, not only entertained but educated me about animals I’ve only seen in the zoo. Plus, Ms. Cheadle followed up poems with additional details which I appreciated. I don’t want to pick a favorite poem because I felt like they worked together to tell a story. Worry is expressed for survival for some and how others survive. Plus, there’s a focus on the environment and what grows and blooms there. I can highly recommend this fantastic collection for those who not only care about our planet but love poetry, art, and nature.

Badlands (Savage Land #2)

By Jacqui Murray

The story continues as the different groups escape the volcano’s devastation. Yu’ung leaves her tribe in the hands of B’o as she accompanies the Old One to the mountain clan along with their proto-wolf. This allows the story to be told through more than one point of view and tribes as Yu’ung runs into issues that set them back. Despite the destruction of their environment, there persists a lack of trust among different tribes and species, but it also creates an opportunity for individuals who typically wouldn’t cooperate to do so. Having read the other series and the first book, I was eager to see what happened next. This story didn’t disappoint and had some twists and heart-stopping moments. The growth of Yu’ung into a strong leader is great to watch, and I have a soft spot for the wolves. Character integration feels seamless, yet identifying trustworthy individuals remains difficult. The details though are what draw me in and I feel like I understand as best I can the life our ancestors led. I can’t wait for the third book to see how the journey goes. I can highly recommend this, and it can be read as a standalone, but I’ve enjoyed reading it from the beginning and getting to know the characters better.

Weeping Boughs Don’t Break

By Staci Troilo

“Weeping Boughs Don’t Break” is a family drama that focuses on a woman’s journey to independence, despite everything seeming against her. Claudia’s unexpected divorce is five years behind her. After suffering years of mental abuse and her husband’s cheating, she still lives in the house that carries all those memories, and all the debt. When her now-married ex-husband collapses, she gets a call from her children. They need her. So, as a good mother and a person who puts everyone in front of her, she goes to support them. But instead of giving that support, she finds out she’s responsible for making medical decisions for her ex. His current wife leaves unwilling to care for a sick man. Although Claudia reluctantly agrees to help because of her in-laws and kids, it takes a toll on her and reopens old wounds. The details of her Italian family and their faith added a special level to an already compelling situation. Plus, during all of this, she meets a kind, handsome man who befriends her, just when she needed it. A well-written Christian drama that I found hard to put down and can easily recommend!

The Conjurer’s Wife

By Sarah Penner

A young woman named Olivia is the wife of a famous magician in 1820s Venice. Suffering from amnesia after an accident, she helps her husband on stage, although she has no idea how he does his tricks. The husband appears to use her as a prop, but she is slowly rebelling. When one of their acts produces a fox, she immediately takes charge of it. Her care for the little fox leads her to search places she hasn’t been before. It’s here she discovers a secret. My theories regarding her fate were almost correct, but the truth still surprised me. A short story with an engaging historical setting and fantasy for those who like a bit of mystery, and a twist.

The Alchemist and the Woman in Trousers: a Cornelis Drebbel Adventure

By Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

“The Alchemist and the Woman in Trousers” was my introduction to Ms. Geneviene a few years ago on her blog, part of a weekly series. So, it was fun to revisit the story and read it in a couple of sittings. Felicity is a Victorian woman who refuses to wear the painful corsets with her gowns, but is more comfortable in her trousers. She travels with an alchemist, Cornelius, who isn’t exactly alive. Felicity comes across a young girl, Copper, who needs their help as an orphanage is coming to collect her, with her father missing. Plus, it isn’t only the orphanage that’s interested, including some unusual chimpanzees. Because of the circumstances, Felicity and Cornelius are left with only one option: keep Copper safe. Their search for Copper’s father drives the plot, featuring harmonic tuners, a purple world, villains, and an unusual green fairy. Steampunk and fantasy elements spring to life through vivid settings. An imaginative story that not only kept me entertained but also invested me in Copper, Felicity, and Cornelius’s outcome. I can easily recommend it to those who love an enjoyable steampunk fantasy.

Next week is the Creative Perspective Challenge, which is a week late due to my vacation. Will update soon on that!

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

From Finn’s Forest #20! #writingcommunity #blogtour #winners #thankyou #acorns #nature #writing

Hi!

Been a while since I’ve done a From Finn’s Forest post. Putting two books out this year kept me busy, along with some needed me-time.

Locally, we’ve been getting abundant and large acorns from the oak trees. Many locals believe that this means we will get a bad winter—or a lot of snow. I decided to do some research on the topic and found out it was called masting. Here are some reasons why it happens.

The trees respond to the weather, insect infestation, or when there are lots of seed eaters, an extra boost gives more chances for new trees. Also, it may be normal for oaks to produce larger and more acorns every 3-5 years or masting. It depends on the trees and their age too.

I do know our squirrels, mice, deer, birds, opossums, and raccoons won’t go hungry this season!

While a boost to most wildlife they can be poisonous to cows, horses, and dogs because of the tannins. Can humans eat them? Yes, if the tannins are leached out in water. How to do this? They can be soaked in water overnight. It is recommended to change the water more than once. Next, heat them in a 400-degree oven for 30 minutes. This helps remove shells and dehydrate.

They are also fun to use in craft projects or offer to zoos or wildlife. And of course, you can always grow another oak tree from one too.

We will see what the winter brings and if the Farmer’s Almanac is right about a bad winter following this event.

The more we understand what is going on around us, the more depth we can add to our writing. I can think of several scenarios focusing on acorns to write about.

WINNERS FROM THE BLOG TOUR! 

Day 2 Liz Gauffreau ‘s Blog: Pete Springer

Day 1 Sandra Cox Blog: Lauren Scott
Congrats to the winners and a HUGE thanks to those who followed along or hosted. I love how we are always there for each other in our writing community.
Embrace that inner child by reading a good book or going outside and enjoying nature! D. L. Finn (Denise)

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.

May Book Reviews! @PatFurstenberg @SueColetta1 @JoyYorkAuthor @DIY_Author @frank_prem merrildsmith.com @bakeandwrite @MarciaMeara @PatFurstenberg #mustread #readinglist #bookreviews #writingcommunity

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

Dreamland cover

Dreamland: Banat, Crisana, Maramures, Transylvania, 100-WORD STORIES, Folklore and History

By Patricia Furstenberg

“Dreamland” is a collection of hundred-word stories set in Western Romania, which includes Banat, Crișana, Maramureș, Transylvania, and more. There are 117 stories that are based on legends and seeped in history. Many stories are followed by a glance into the history behind that passage. I enjoyed how it offered vivid images of the areas, along with the history and people behind it. Some of the book was whimsical, other parts more dire, but it showed the progression of civilization and survival. It’s a unique way to be entertained and educated at the same time. There are lots of photos included that add a visual of the area being written about. This is a fantastic way to learn how the past shaped the future of Romania. I can easily recommend this well-written book!

Poetry Treasures 4: In Touch with Nature

By Kaye Lynne Booth, Frank Prem, Colleen M Chesebro, Robbie Cheadle, Andrew McDowell, Patricia Furstenberg, Marcia Meara, Emily Gmitter, Selma Martin, Merril D Smith, and D. L. Finn

A fantastic collection of poetry with a favorite theme of mine, nature. I am familiar with and a fan of many of the authors, but the ones I wasn’t, I am a fan now. All the poets have a different style, but each set produced beautiful imagery and flow. I was going to mark favorites or choose stunning lines, but it was impossible. I liked all of them. This is a shorter review than normal because I offer my praise to all my fellow poets in this anthology. It was an honor to be included with them. If you love poetry and nature, this is a collection you do not want to miss!

The Moonshine Murders: The Jailer’s Daughter Mysteries

By Joy York

Christi and Lily have joined forces again to solve a murder and mystery focused on Lily’s father, who suffered a gunshot wound. They get help from Troy and Jake as the pursuit leads to moonshine and a mysterious university study. I love the setting in the seventies, along with the musical references. It brought back many memories and added great layers to the story. The friendship between Christi and Lily is heartwarming and humorous. They have each other’s backs no matter what mess they or Lily are in. A sweet romance develops for Christi and Jake, while Lily and Troy appear to clash. There are many twists and dangerous situations they find themselves in that make this a page-turner. Who to trust becomes very important. A YA mystery for the young at heart that I can easily recommend.

Savage Mayhem (The Mayhem Series Book 9)

By Sue Coletta

“Savage Mayhem” tidies up the Alaska story in an exciting beginning, but soon it’s time for Mayhem and Shawnee to go to their next mission, Yellowstone. I was excited about the setting because Yellowstone is on the top of my list of places I want to visit. The vivid descriptions made me feel like I was there with them. Although even in this place of beauty, the Killzme hunt continues. This time the target is the buffalo—Shawnee and Mayhem. There is the history and importance of the buffalo weaved into the story, and feelings that need to be dealt with. Poe and Shawnee’s relationship is still strained, but she protects the bird even with the animosity between them. It’s always fun to see Mayhem and Shawnee playing husband and wife. This time they are planning their fake wedding at the lodge to provide themselves a cover while trying to stop their enemy. The past comes into play though and needs to be dealt with as they try to save the buffalo herd, themselves, and their working relationship. I have been rooting for Shawnee and Mayhem to take the next step, along with a pair of birds who have found each other, too. This is a story of growth, bravery, insight, and brutal justice. I fall in love with the characters more with each book. I look forward to the next journey and can highly recommend this book and series.

Embrace your inner child by opening the pages into amazing worlds! D. L. Finn

Books that Changed Me—2023 Winter Edition! @AskATechTeacher @JoanHallWrites @bakeandwrite @sgc58

Hi!
Welcome to my last post of the year. Books that Changed Me is a list of some of the very best books I’ve read. Each season, I pick three or four books that have either changed me or stayed with me after I finished reading them—not easy since I read a lot of good books. A variety of genres have made the list including poetry and children’s books. I started doing this back in 2018 and if you are interested in seeing all my picks, click here: LINK

In no particular order, here are my winter recommendations with their blurb and link and universal link to Amazon. You’ve already seen my reviews in the past.

Wouldn’t any of these make a great present?


Twenty-Four Days Rowe-Delamagente #2
By J. Murray

Blurb
In the latest Rowe-Delamagente thriller, the two unlikely partners have less than a month to stop a North Korean missile strike after hijackers steal nuclear warhead-armed submarines. If they don’t, the USS Bunker Hill, on a peaceful mission to observe a North Korean missile launch, will be in grave danger. Piece by piece, Rowe and Delamagente uncover a bizarre nexus between a man Rowe thought dead, a North Korean communications satellite America believes is weaponized, an ideologue that cares only about revenge, and the USS Bunker Hill (a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser) tasked with supervising the satellite launch. As the deadline looms, they call on the unusual skills of a quirky AI named Otto with the unique ability to track anything with a digital trail.


Menagerie
By Joan Hall

Blurb
King’s. The Tower of London. Glass. What do these have in common?
Each is a famous menagerie.
While this Menagerie doesn’t focus on exotic animals, it does contain a collection of stories that explore various trials people face and how their reactions shape their worlds.
Survivors of a haunted bridge. Women who wait while their husbands fight a war. Former partners reuniting to solve a cold-case murder.
These are just three of the thirteen stories in this compendium, encompassing past and present, natural and supernatural, legend and reality. The genres and timelines are varied, but there’s a little something for everyone who enjoys reading about simpler times and small-town life.


Tales from the Irish Garden
By Sally Cronin

Blurb
The queen of Magia and her court have fled their sun filled Spanish homeland and the palace beneath the magnolia tree.
Arriving on the backs of geese and swans, they seek sanctuary in the magic garden of The Storyteller who welcomes them to the Emerald Island, a place where rain is almost a daily feature.
Grateful for their safe haven and the generosity of their host, the queen and her courtiers embrace their new surroundings with delight.
As the seasons change throughout the year, they come into contact with many of the human and animal inhabitants of the garden and the surrounding forest, all of whom have a story to tell.
This is a magical fairy story infused with fantasy and romance, as well as opportunities for mischief in the company of goblins, witches and Lerpersians.


Neema the Misfit Giraffe
By Robbie Cheadle and Micheal Cheadle

Blurb
Neema is different from her fellow giraffes. Their lack of understanding make her feel unwelcome. Neema sets off on a journey to find a new friends.
Includes illustrations, photographs, and links to video footage of giraffes, as well as fun giraffe facts.

NOTE: I will be taking a end of the year break until January 8th. There will be one special post on January 2nd, but the rest of the week I have grandma duty.
Check your email if you are subcribed to my monthly newsletter! It went out early too.

Not only embrace your inner child by reading a good book, but give the gift of reading this year. I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! D. L. Finn 🙂

24 Seasons #Syllabic #Poetry #Challenge, No. 7 #poetrycommunity #tanka #nature

Before the rain arrived, I took a walk downtown. Now the colors are visiting our house too.

Here is Colleen Chesebro’s 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge #7. I used In the Sky words from the season list for my tanka poem 5/7/5/7/7:  autumn wind and ice or icy.

Beautiful fall colors in our town 🙂 Nevada City, CA

icy autumn wind
ahead of winter’s visit
stripes the tree’s glow
carelessly tosses those leaves
where gleeful children frolic

New Release! “Fusion: Poems of Life” by @BalroopShado #poetry #poems #nature #life #poetrycommunity #writingcommunity #newrelease

Welcome! I’m so happy to welcome Balroop Singh here today to share her latest poetry collection: Fusion: Poems of Life!” I included my review 🙂

Blurb

Fusion is the elixir of life. We seek it in every aspect of the cosmos. The magic of fusion manifests itself in the colors of dawn and dusk, in the melodies of nature, in the singing of birds, in the miniscule moments of joy, inspiring us to live in harmony with each other despite the edges that threaten to swallow us.

The poems in this collection are an amalgamation of harmonies and edges that bind us firmly. We have to wade into murky waters to measure the depth. We have to risk the heights to know our worth. Slippery snow makes us learn how to create footholds. Some songs of life dilute in the hourglass of time to erase the shadows – dark or light, all the colors play an equal role to create a fusion.

Excerpt

This poem “talks about the journey of life in metaphors.”

Colors of Life…

They’re blue and lilac
With cuddles and caresses
Rocking like our cradle
Life sounds sublime initially.

Yellow and green mingle
To greet the first steps
Butterflies look charming,
Fairies step in to offer magic.

Pink and red flutter our hearts
Passion reigns supreme
Adventure holds our dreams,
Love gets a new connotation.

Darker shades set in
Black and gray dominate
Shadows hover to scare,
Ego refuses to bend.

Ashen and gray may jolt us
But life keeps its smile
If we let the clouds pass
And revel in starry delight.
© Balroop Singh

UNIVERSAL AMAZON LINK

My Review

“Fusion: Poems of Life” takes the reader on a vivid journey through nature and life’s emotional aspects. I enjoyed the entire collection, but the nature-based poems really captivated me because I am so comfortable there. It was very hard to pick from the beautiful imagery, but here are a few of the many I highlighted. “The dream of my life was/To fly with the clouds/Drape their colors,/Adapt their shapes…”—Dreams, “Snow clad mountaintops/Kiss capricious clouds./Emerald lake watches,/As rosy hues of dawn smile…”—Ambrosial Love, “Stormy sea swallow/Stories of eons/Some shores speak…”—Changes, “Hold the first rays of sun/Softly in your hands or/Soak them gently in your eyes…”—Magic Moments, “The shimmer of violets allures me/A flower fairy sits smiling/Sprinkling her magic dust…”—Flower Fairy, and “The moment she wears her scarlet gown/She gets a call to cast her spell/Edgy enchantress grabs her crystal…”—The Scarlet Gown. A collection I read in one sitting, but one I will also revisit. I can highly recommend this to all poetry lovers.

Author Bio

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

Embrace your inner child by reading some beautiful poetry! D. L. Finn

Books That Changed Me: 2023 Summer Edition! @SueColetta1 @Ivyloganauthor @JacqBiggar @bakeandwrite #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #whattoread #summerreadinglist

Welcome to the 2023 Summer Edition of  Books That Changed Me. Summer is a time for backyard BBQs, swimming, vacations, ice cream, and reading. Today I’m sharing four of my top reads that would be excellent for summer reading by the pool, lake, or cozy by the nice air conditioning or fan in my case. You’ve already seen my reviews for these books, so here’s their blurb with a link if you want to add a good read to your summer reading list.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Restless Mayhem (The Mayhem Series Book 6) 

By Sue Coletta

Amidst a rising tide of poachers, three unlikely eco-warriors take a stand to save endangered Eastern Gray Wolves—even if it means the slow slaughter of their captors.

Deep in the woods of Jackson, New Hampshire, an ancient evil lurks. Armed poachers patrol a secret enclosure, holding captive a pack of majestic Eastern Gray Wolves. But three unlikely eco-warriors are determined to free the wolves, embarking on a dangerous mission to end their torture. With courage and conviction, Shawnee, Mayhem, and Jacy Lee march onward, even if it means risking their own lives to take down the poachers and restore freedom to the wolves. It’s a battle between justice and injustice, and the eco-warriors are determined to win—no matter the cost.

But what if something even more evil lurks in those woods? What if Shawnee’s not ready to answer the cry for help?

Metamorphosis The Breach Chronicles #2

By Ivy Logan

“When you loved someone more than anything in the world, you showed them who you were, even knowing there was a possibility they would hate you for it, even if it broke your heart. But you did it anyway because you loved them and the need to save them was greater than your need for self-preservation.”

Amidst the luminescence and incandescent beauty of the rare pink diamonds of Peradora, South America, lives Amelia, a teen oblivious to her supernatural bloodline. It would appear that she has the perfect life.

Until it turns out, her entire life is a lie
Forced to confront secrets from her past

Amelia has to distinguish between the truth and lies in her brutal fight against the Peradorian dictator, her own uncle.

Her metamorphosis becomes the clarion call of a revolution
Matters of the heart complicate her life further

Will she ever get over her first love Adrian whose adventurous spirit made her feel alive? Is Noah, the handsome bodyguard she just can’t seem to ignore, a foe, a friend or much more than that?

Both Noah and Adrian are hiding secrets of their own
Will their secrets destroy Amelia?

As she takes on the fight of her life, Amelia will soon learn that some secrets are best buried in the past, and some truths can set you free.

And in the end
She is the girl with no face
Will she find herself again?

Metamorphosis is a dark and fractured fairy tale and fantasy about a love story born from the roots of hate.Based on the theme of star-crossed lovers, it alludes to Rapunzel, Snow White and Beauty and The Beast, combining flavors of all these timeless fairy tale classics and setting them against the harsh reality of real life – blood diamonds and rebellion. Add to the mix a heroine inspired by Jane Austen and Louisa May Alcott and you have a young girl, pretty much a prisoner in a golden cage, but determined to find herself- save herself and others.
So, why is she referred to as …
‘The Girl With No Face?’

Letting Go- The Defiant Sisters Book 1

By Jacquie Biggar

A coming-of-age novel about the pain of misconceptions and learning from them.

When life gives you lemons…

Izzy

Mom is barely in the grave and the prodigal child is here to pick the bones clean.

I don’t want her here. My sister’s defection is a wound that won’t heal, and her return simply rubs at the scabs covering my heart.

I’ve managed just fine without her. She can go back to her fancy college and forget about us- that’s what she does best anyway.

If only I didn’t need her help. Or miss her so much.

Renee

The day my dad committed suicide I ran. I’ve been running ever since.

Going home is supposed to be the answer. Instead, it makes me question every thoughtless decision I’ve made.

My sister hates me. My little brother barely knows me. And Simon… is engaged.

None of it matters- or so I tell myself. I’m here to make amends and face a past haunted by regret.

As long as I can convince myself to stay.

Letting Go is a new adult romance dealing with tragedy, restitution, and love in all its aspects. The story relates to sensitive topics that may be triggering for some readers.

Lion Scream: Syllabic Poetry About Southern African Wildlife

By Robbie Cheadle

Do you rely on Earth for your survival?

Lion Scream is a graphic collection of poetry and prose. The book portrays the author’s experiences with South African wildlife and the growing impact of the Sixth Mass Extinction and Climate Change on the natural environment.

Lion Scream
There is no jungle
Only acres of smooth stumps
There is no jungle
No habitat, no food source
Hopeless lion screams tonight

“In this reflective collection of syllabic poetry, poet Roberta Cheadle weaves words, emotions, and images as she recounts her soul-stirring journey around South Africa in 2022. She highlights the plight of the animals in the face of the Sixth Mass Extinction, during a visit to Ukutula Lodge & Game Reserve. Lion Roar is a poetic and photographic roadmap to the heart & soul of South Africa with highlights about the increasing impact of global warming on humanity and the greater planet. A must read!”
—Colleen M. Chesebro, Author of Word Craft: Prose & Poetry, The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry

#TankaTuesday Weekly #Challenge #263, Taste the Rainbow—Green! @ColleenChesebro #writing community #poetrycommunity #poetryChallenge

Here is Colleen Chesebro’s Tanka Tuesday Weekly Challenge #263.  It’s Taste the Rainbow week and the color is, green. Bonus points if you can write it without saying the color green.

I had a lot of ideas when I thought of green. I ended up with a haibun which is a combination of prose paragraph and a haiku. I’ll be out there dancing until the rains return and fill our lakes and wells:)

LOOK UP

The weather-beaten soil is devoid of life during another dry winter. Even the mushrooms gave up and retreated into the earth while the weeds withered into themselves. The mighty cedars and pines push their roots deeper in search of the life-giving liquid. Hose water provides what the season couldn’t, a lifeline for the thirsty potted plants. A rain dance in the forest becomes a prayer that there will still be the verdant lushness of spring where life burst forth from winter’s silence and offers the world hope.

heavy clouds gather

rain…mother nature’s nectar

bless our wilderness