Blog Archives

The Destination . . .

10/30/2023

Hello, blog friends!

Today I'm super excited to announce the release of the third book in the Harbor Pointe series: The Destination by D. L. Finn.

Denise hails from a remote area in the Sierra foothills of California, where she lives with her family, both two- and four-legged. In that rustic area, she writes through the genres. Surrounded by towering pines, oaks, and cedars, her creativity soars.

Each of Denise's books carries her signature love of the wilds, and this latest book is no exception. You'll find that nature abounds, as does intrigue. Below is the blurb.

BLURB:

It’s 1967, and best friends Lacey and Sandy are enjoying a beach vacation, completely unaware of the danger that is lying in wait outside their door. Their room is quaint, with an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and an old lighthouse, but a killer is stalking their next victim. Powerless, Annie the ghost watches, knowing there’s nothing she can do to help—not even her parents, the innkeepers. Who will survive their stay at the Harbor Pointe Inn, where the edge of evil lurks within the shadows?

Amazon

The HARBOR POINTE series:

Happy reading!

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The Hunter's Moon . . .

10/24/2023

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Hello blog friends,

I've another poem to share. This week, poet Colleen Chesebro asks participants to focus on the last breath of Autumn (October 22 - November 5). We are to use at least one kigo word (a Japanese word referring to the use of words that indicate the season) and any syllabic form. I've created two tankas.

My kigo words are: winds, chilly, bare branches, and Hunter's moon. If you're unfamiliar with the Hunter's moon, it is officially full at 3:35 p.m. EST on October 28. Won't you please let me know if you watch it rise? 😊

Aspens abound in my area and often appear in my stories. Today, they take center stage in the poem below. I hope you enjoy it.

Have an incredible week! I wish you clear night skies for viewing this special moon.

All the best,
Gwen

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Bad Moon Rising

10/20/2023

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Dear blog friends,

I'm excited to share author Teri Polen's post with you today. Throughout this month, Teri interviewed writers about things scary and ordinary. It's been a fun experience for all, and today, I'm in the hot seat.

If you have a chance, venture over to Teri's and say hello. You might find new friends and writers from all genres.

If you're unfamiliar with Teri's writing, click on the image below to travel to Amazon. She's an amazing writer, and she's managed to scare more than a few of us. 🎃

Have a wonderful day!

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The Compost Pile . . .

10/18/2023

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Hello blog friends,

I've a poem to share. Colleen Chesebro invites interested poets to create an autumn poem focused on the theme of Cold Dew. We are to use our local area as the stimulus.

In the high desert of Arizona, autumn mornings can be very chilly. I bundle up to go outside. It hasn't snowed yet, but there's a bit of frost.

My tanka offers a glimpse of the season, as experienced at an elevation of 5,000 feet. I hope you enjoy it. 😊

Maybe you have a poem to share? I'd love to read it if you do. Till next week, let's all find time to enjoy the change in seasons.

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Happy News!

10/16/2023

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Dear blog friends,

It's hard to believe that The Gift rolls off the press today - October 17th. I'm excited. Yay!

The project began at the first of the year, when the eight women writers in Story Empire put their thoughts together and birthed a collective project. Ultimately, we decided on three elements to include in each story: the Hawthorne family, a Lighthouse, and the small town of Harbor Pointe. Each story is unique and is ordered by the story's timeline.

My novella is the second in the series and takes place in the late '40s and 50's.

BLURB:

In an innocent American suburb, Shelly doesn’t know the power of a kiss. Or how it will change her entire life.

At sixteen years old, she falls in love with a young man. One night—just one night—they go too far. Months later, pregnant and shamed, Shelly’s parents banish her. Alone and heavily pregnant, circumstances force Shelly to cross the country in an old pickup. A mistaken turn leaves her lost in a forest amidst a severe snow storm and in labor.

In the dark of night. Shelly must get help for her new-born baby before they both perish. A light in the distance gives her the slimmest glimmer of hope. After Shelly wraps the infant in her father’s old jacket, she trudges through the snow to a lighthouse keeper’s cottage. Snow half buries the squat stone building.

Will Shelly find shelter, or is it the beginning of the end?

INSPIRATION:

The Gift is a different kind of Christmas story involving three families. There are gifts under the tree for three readers who can identify the inspiration behind my story. A hint -- the inspiration is an emotion.

If you'd like to participate, write to me at [email protected] with your emotion. I'll announce the results a couple days before Thanksgiving, and, I'll explain why I wrote the story.

Above all else, if you decide to take the leap and read this novella, I hope you enjoy it. ❤️

My fellow Harbor Pointe writers:

Have a wonderful week!

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Late Autumn Glimpses

10/10/2023

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Hello, dear blog friends ~

Autumn has arrived in the high desert of Arizona. Chilly winds create trails of fallen leaves, while migrating birds say their brief hellos and fly south. Coats, hats, and gloves have replaced summer's light wear, and I wonder where time now hides.

Colleen Chesebro invites us to consider the season and submit a poem. The tanka below was easy to write. Seeing geese at the river's edge, I flew with them for a bit and with my poem, I tried to capture that movement. I hope you like it.

My descriptive autumn words (Japanese Kigo) include - grey skies, fields golden, and geese at the river's edge. Maybe you'd like to offer a poem for this beautiful season? I'd love to read it.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. ❤️

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Autumn Equinox

10/5/2023

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Hello blog friends,

I've arisen from a Covid slumber to share a poem. Colleen Chesebro asked her followers to write a seasonal poem using featured Kigo words. I couldn't resist her invitation and created a simple Haiku (5-7-5). I hope you enjoy it.

I wish you well, and hope you avoid this latest Covid variant. It's a doozy. ❤️

For more information, check out Colleen's website: 24 Seasons – Tanka Tuesday

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A journey through memories . . .

10/1/2023

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Glacier Bay, Alaska

Cold, windy, and mind-blowing. It's hard to describe the vastness of Alaska, but those three words capture the journey with my sisters along the Alaskan shores.

It was a blessed trip with ample time for shared stories and laughter, but it was wonderful to return to the Port of Seattle and step foot on solid ground. The high waves of 12' or more rocked the ship mercilessly every day of our trip.

Upon disembarking, hubby and I headed to the Spokane area of Washington to visit with my brother and his family for a few days. I'm the eldest of the crew, and this brother is #5. Again, we shared stories, enjoyed their garden, and talked of a family reunion in 2025. If you haven't guessed, my extended family is the size of a small city, and we have to plan far in advance to arrange for accommodations. 😊

On a sad note, before leaving Spokane, we received word that one of my sisters tested positive for Covid. We felt fine, but by the time we arrived at our home, not so. We tested and sure enough, both my husband and I were positive for Covid. Then the next day, my brother tested positive. Bummer!

We're all doing much better now, but this new variant is a demanding bugger, so take good care of yourselves. ❤️

You might recall that my prior post introduced The Gift. It will be released in two weeks, though it's available for preorder now. I explained that this novella is a fictional Christmas story involving three families. To add to the festivity, I hid three presents under a tree for three readers who identify the inspiration for the story.

Writers are inspired by almost anything. The smallest detail can capture our imagination and prompt a story. With The Gift, it was an emotion that sparked the story. That's my hint. 😊

Have a wonderful week, dear friends. I hope to visit your sites this week. ❤️

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