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A New Day . . .

4/25/2023

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Hello blog friends,

I've another poem for you. This week Colleen Chesebro invites participants to write a tanka poem (5-7-5-7-7 syllables). My poem focuses on time - that which we carry with us and that which is celebrated. I hope you like it.
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Have a wonderful week, dear friends, hopefully with plenty of reasons to celebrate! 
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Celebrate the moments . . .

4/24/2023

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Hello blog friends,

It's another beautiful day in the Prescott, AZ area, and I'm prompted to share a story. Below are photos of the local pronghorn (sometimes referred to as antelopes) and Watson Lake. Almost every day I see both. If ever I feel overwhelmed by life's challenges, I go outside and hike. The splendor of the area never fails to calm whatever might be worrying me. 
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Photos of pronghorn and Watson Lake from Canva
Prescott is known for its outdoor enthusiasts - and artists. Photographers abound, as do painters, and writers. Since Sunday was World Book Day, the Prescott Area Arts and Humanities Council invited its authors to share their work at the Thumb Butte Book Festival. I happily participated.

It's exciting to be among people who love what they do. I met many writers, came home with new books to read, and invitations to join local forums. It was a long but very heartwarming day.
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Most of us have sheltered since Covid reared its ugly head. It still haunts but less rigorously. This event was the first I've attended since the drama began. It was wonderful to be with fellow writers and share experiences. But, there was one encounter that remains unforgettable.

A group of four children wove in and out of the displays. I had chocolates on my table. They'd pause and stare, and I'd tell them to take as much as they wanted. The eldest child picked up Letting Go Into Perfect Love and studied it. I looked for parents but saw none. Later the children returned. Again, they stared at the chocolate, and I encouraged them to take as much as they wanted. Again, the eldest focused on Letting Go. Finally, I asked her how old she was.

"Thirteen," the young girl replied. I told her that her mother might like that book. "I don't have a mother!" She snapped. I explained that the book covered difficult topics. She straightened and said, "You have noooo idea what my life has been." And looking into her red-rimmed eyes, I offered the book as a gift, to her surprise and gratitude.

This child reminded me of a comment by writer Simon Van Booy. "Actually, years mean nothing. It's what's inside them." 

I hope "what's inside" your life brings you joy. Let's celebrate the moments and help others do the same. Certainly, you are a source of joy for me.❤️
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Announcing: The Well Read Fish

4/19/2023

 
Hello blog friends, I've some wonderful news to share.

Five writers - Vera Day, Mae Clair, Joan Hall, Staci Troilo, and I - have partnered to provide reviews of contemporary Christian fiction every Wednesday. Vera conceived of this project, invited fellow writers, and created a website​ for the reviews. Today is the launch!

I invite you to visit The Well Read Fish and if our effort interests you, please follow. 

From cozy mystery and fantasy to suspense and thriller, we review books that spark our interest. Maybe you've a favorite you'd like to suggest for review? We'd love to hear from you.    
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Under The Night Sky . . .

4/18/2023

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Hello blog friends,

Today poet Colleen Chesbro celebrates her 65th birthday with an invitation. She asks that we create a poem of 65 syllables or 65 words. All participants must also name their new construct. 

I've created a poem of fifteen lines and 65 syllables (1-2-3-4-5-6-7-9-7-6-5-4-3-2-1). It's similar to a Double Inverted Nonet, so I'm calling it an Adjusted Nonet. 😊 
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Happy Birthday, Colleen. I hope it is special in all ways. ❤️
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D. L. Finn Celebrates a #NewRelease

4/16/2023

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​Hello, blog friends!

I'm excited to announce the publication of D.L. Finn's latest book: In The Tree's Shadow. My pre-order arrives today, and I can't wait to dive into the stories!

Most of you know Denise through her wonderful blog and her multi-genre books. She's a writer who believes there's magic in nature and helps all of us experience the same. Recently she shared that she collects rocks, teacups, coffee mugs, wind chimes, books, and record albums. It seems that her world is a storybook re-creation.

Welcome, Denise, and congratulations on In The Tree's Shadow! 

​
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Thank you for having me visit today, Gwen, and kicking off the In The Tree’s Shadow tour.

Today, I’m sharing the longest story in my collection, “Stranded.” I’m a huge fan of the old TV show Twilight Zone. I never miss a marathon and hope to find one I haven’t seen. Last time there were a few, including one I always loved about the people who live in a retirement community but have grown weary of life. When a person suggests they play like children again, they all get on board except one man who said it would make them sick.
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The group playing kick the can is given a new and youthful lease on life. That was my mindset going into this story, to offer a kick the can for my retired couple on vacation. My children’s book “An Unusual Island” had another story waiting to be told, giving this couple their adventure. 

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EXCERPT:

Shipwrecked on a tropical island, I’ve never been more full of joy. This feeling has been a rarity lately. You see, I did everything that was expected of me in life. I got married, raised kids, worked hard, cared for my parents until they died, and paid the bills on time. I lived the so-called American dream and couldn’t complain, but something was missing. When my husband and I retired, we finally had extra time to do everything we wanted.

It hurt that the kids and grandkids were always too busy to include us in their distant lives, but we found things to do. We gardened, watched movies, visited national parks, and even saw a whale breach off the Pacific Coast. All those things we never had time for when raising our kids were now checked off our list. Yes, we were lucky we had a full life and were still healthy, but each day became the same. It was like we were sitting around waiting to die as comfortably as possible. Let’s say I wasn’t in a positive place.

One afternoon we watched an old Twilight Zone episode where older people got a second chance at life by playing kick-the-can. I asked Rob, “What is our kick-the-can?”

I got the expected and usually appreciated response. “You will always be my kick-the-can, Gigi.”

But the question got me wondering when my gaze settled on a picture of us smiling against a Hawaiian sunset. It was where we honeymooned, and we went back thirty years later for our second honeymoon. We even talked about moving there but decided we’d be too far from our family—a twelve-hour flight instead of a six-hour one. We’d seen all the islands, but there was one thing we always joked about doing. Rent a boat and experience the islands from a new perspective.

For the first time in a while, there was that spark inside. Something new.
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​BLURB:
A collection of short stories where dreams and nightmares coexist. 
Nestled inside these pages, you’ll meet a couple in their golden years who take a trip with an unexpected detour, a boy desperate to give his brother the Christmas gift he asked for, a girl with a small glass dragon who is at the mercy of her cruel uncles, and a young mother who has a recurring dream about murder. You’ll be introduced to worlds where people get second chances and monsters might be allowed their desires, while angels and dragons try to help. Happy endings occur, but perspective can blur the line between good and evil in these twenty-seven tales. Since the stories vary between 99 and 12,000 words, whether you have only five minutes or an entire evening to settle into reading, there is something that will suit your time and taste.
CONTACT LINKS:
​Twitter     Bookbub     Facebook     Instagram     Pinterest     D.L. Finn blog     Amazon Page

BIO:
​D. L. Finn is an independent California local who encourages everyone to embrace their inner child. She was born and raised in the foggy Bay Area, but in 1990 she relocated with her husband, kids, dogs, and cats to Nevada City, in the Sierra foothills. She immersed herself in reading all types of books but especially loved romance, horror, and fantasy. She always treasured creating her own reality on paper. Finally, surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity was nurtured until it bloomed. Her creations include children’s books, adult fiction, a unique autobiography, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her. 
​
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The Lilies of Life . . .

4/11/2023

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Hello, dear blog friends. I hope you're having a wonderful week. 

It's Tanka Tuesday, and poet Colleen Chesebro offers a new prompt - a photo of a lily taken by Terri Webster Schrandt.

My response is a nine-line chōka of 5-7-5-7-5-7-5-7-7 syllables. I hope you enjoy it, and maybe you'll consider writing a poem as well. You can check out the hows and whys here. 
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Have a fantastic week! ❤️
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A Visit with D. Wallace Peach

4/8/2023

 
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​Hello, blog friends.

Thank you for joining the final day of my book tour. I'm excited to travel to Northern California to visit with writer and friend D. Wallace Peach on her blog site. She's asked me to share a bit about my book, REDEMPTION.  If you have a moment, please join us here. Let's make it a party!

Diana is an exceptional writer and her specialty is fantasy. Her latest book, The Necromancer's Daughter, is an award-winning treasure. If you click on the image below, it will take you to Amazon, where you'll find this book and her fifteen or so other books. 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I look forward to chatting with you -- here. ​
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Your Embrace . . .

4/4/2023

50 Comments

 
Hello blog friends, I've another poem to share.

This week poet Colleen Chesebro invites participants to create a shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) to celebrate her birthday. As part of this challenge, she asks that we use three or four of the following words (my selections are in bold): scale, fish, month, soup, smile, sticks, slave, property, songs, bushes, rock, disease, shade, clouds, giants, spring, grape, books, polish, wing, approval, comparison, walk, front, or hot.  

​I hope you like it. Happy Birthday, Colleen! 
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Have a wonderful week enjoying plenty of embraces. ❤️
50 Comments

A glimpse of eternity . . .

4/3/2023

32 Comments

 
Hello, dear blog friends!

​I've a personal story to share. Last week my husband turned 81, and though that's not a milestone, it was a reminder to enjoy our beautiful world. My gift was a trip to the Grand Canyon via a train ride from Williams, AZ. It was an amazing journey, a bucket list adventure for sure.

One of the things we learned on this trip was that the Canyon is over two billion years old. That's not eternity, but from a human perspective, it's pretty close. Looking into the vast cavernous area, I couldn't help but reflect on our beautiful planet. I suspect every visitor at its rim does the same. 

While on this trip, I never heard one word about politics, the looming financial crisis, the embattled cities … nothing. Every person beamed, chatted about happy topics, took photos, and basked in the sunlight. I think nature calms the soul and redirects it to Love. And for that reason, I believe we need to retreat into nature's embrace now and then. Don't you agree?

Standing at the Canyon edge, I had the overwhelming thought that our universe pulses with Creator Love and somehow we are part of that creative effort. If love begets love, then by our actions we help shape our world. We're not bystanders, we're creators - with a small "c." What a humbling yet powerful thought. 😊
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​​After a night in Flagstaff, we drove to Sedona. The road trip itself was majestic. We stopped many times just to take a photo or two or three. If you've visited the area, you know that it elicits awe and inspiration.

Our beautiful world has many special places where we can stretch, dream, and simply breathe. Sedona is one of those places for me. How about for you? Where is your special place?

My hope for all of us is that we regularly set aside time to allow ourselves to rest in our special place. We need the quiet it brings. And maybe, just maybe, we'll glimpse eternity. ❤️

​Have a wonderful week, dear friends!  
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Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


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