In A Tree’s Shadow #NewRelease #shortstories @dlfinnauthor

Published on by Jan Sikes

It is with great pleasure I open my blog site to an author I have known for many years, D.L. Finn. She is not only a fabulous poet and storyteller but has a wonderful attitude and outlook on life. She embraces her inner child and nature, and it all comes alive through her stories. She is a fellow Story Empire contributor, as well as an active reader and reviewer. Please make her feel welcome!

PURCHASE LINK

Thank you, Jan, for having me on your blog today to share my latest release, In the Tree’s Shadow.

“End of the Road” weaves in some personal experiences. Like the main character, Kelly, in the story, there was a time after my mom passed when I took care of my stepfather, who lived three hours away. I was a caretaker for someone who had treated me badly growing up because of his PTSD and drinking, just like Kelly. I made that drive home full of anxiety more than once, but I had one thing she didn’t have—a loving home to return to.

This story came from what-if it was bad on both sides of that drive. Kelly had two sons, but they now lived with her cheating ex-husband. She resided in a house she hated and felt alone. Then little things began to happen that got her attention and nudged her in the right direction.

Feathers and flashing lights are some of the little things that happened to her. I have experienced both and am convinced it is a message from the other side that things will be okay. Kelly learns that sometimes things get very dark before the light is visible.

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.

EXCERPT:

My eyes blurred, jolting me from my trancelike state into reality. In the darkness before me, the two-lane highway beckoned me home. Its reflectors tapped in to my idle imagination. All I had to do was pull up on my steering wheel, and my car would take off like an airplane whose destination would be my private island away from it all. I could relax for those few seconds as I flew over the precipice. I was turning the steering wheel toward the cliff when a bright light blinded me. My foot slammed on the brake pedal. The car skidded to the side of the road in a cloud of dust as a feather landed on my windshield.

“What was that? A spaceship?” A shudder coursed through me. My heart pounded against my chest. I peered into the night. Nothing. The cliff was right next to me, bathed in the moonlight. I sucked in air, trying to make sense of what had happened. Would I be at the bottom of the canyon if I hadn’t seen that flash?

Another white feather landed on my windshield. I hoped I was under a tree or utility line where a bird might be perched. I wasn’t.

“Maybe an owl or . . . ” I carefully got out of the car and retrieved the two feathers. It was me, my old Subaru, and the road. No alien invasion in sight. “I must be seeing things.”

The cool air cleared my head. I didn’t want to die, even if the thought had crossed my mind. I was almost entirely sure I wouldn’t have done it. But I didn’t have time to reflect on that as I studied the two white feathers in my hand. A message from the angels. Isn’t that what my grandma used to say? She had told me solemnly to pay attention when I saw them unexpectedly.

“All right, I’m listening.”

AMAZON PURCHASE LINK

Read an excerpt from D.L. Finn’s new short story collection. A #NewRelease of eclectic #shortstories! #excerpt #fiction #paranormal #readerfostwitter via @dlfinnauthor

FUN FINN FACTS:

  1. Our first house was haunted. At one point, I was pushed down the stairs carrying my daughter and pregnant with our second daughter. We were all fine, but we moved soon after that.
  2. I can clearly hear an angel singing one of my husband’s songs. It has inspired me to write poetry and perhaps write about angels.

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.

D.L. Finn Links:

Twitter

Bookbub

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

D.L. Finn blog

Amazon Page

71 thoughts on “In A Tree’s Shadow #NewRelease #shortstories @dlfinnauthor”

  1. Pingback: In the Tree’s Shadow – “The Bonsai”@KIngallsAuthor #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #paranormal #shortstories #newrelease – Author D.L. Finn
  3. Pingback: In the Tree’s Shadow – “The Bench” @JacqBiggar #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #newrelease #paranormal #shortstories – Author D.L. Finn

  4. That’s fascinating your house was haunted, Denise (yes, I know I’m weird), but I’d also have moved after an incident like that – so scary. Kudos to you for taking care of someone who treated you badly. Thanks for hosting, Jan!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. I won’t stay in a place where I feel negativity, Teri. Luckily I learned to notice that house hunting. It was scary! It seemed like the right thing to do and worked out

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. I’m seeing Denise everywhere these days. Great to catch up with her again here, Jan. This was one of my favorite stories. I really liked Kelly’s growth and strength. I gave a little cheer for her bravery. Congrats on the wonderful book, Denise.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thank you, Diana 🙂 This is a favorite of mine too! I have a feeling people will be glad when I go on vacation and it gets quiet on my end for a bit. . Lol!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    2. I agree, Diana. I loved the way Kelly took the bull by the horns, so to speak, and created a life for herself. And I loved the angel nudges she got. Fantastic story! Thanks for visiting and supporting Denise today!

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    1. I agree with you, Vera. Everyone should read it. With so many different genres and stories, there is something for everyone. Thank you for visiting and adding your recommendation for Denise’s new book!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. Thank you, Vera 🙂 I appreciate your support! It is a beautiful and peaceful voice, that I’m blessed and those who hear the song live hear. Xo

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  12. Pingback: In the Tree’s Shadow – “End of the Road” @JanSikes3 #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #newrelease #paranormal #shortstories – Author D.L. Finn

  14. I try to embrace my inner child every day! So enjoyed this post! Thank you for sharing, Jan. Happy New Release, D.L. Finn! Wishing you tons of success! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    1. I love that statement about embracing your inner child, Mary! It helps keep a bit of joy in our lives. I’m glad you enjoyed the post. I appreciate you taking the time to comment and share!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  19. Another great tour stop! I enjoy reading the background info on each story Denise presents on these stops. I loved the entire collection of tales.

    May I also just say that Finn Fact #1 totally freaked me out!?!?!! 😄👻

    Wishing you many new fans with this fabulous release, Denise. Thanks for hosting today, Jan!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    2. I agree, Mae. Experiences like Finn Fact #1 give Denise insider information for her stories, but I would have been freaked out, too. Glad they moved. Thank you for adding your recommendation to the book and for helping support Denise on her tour!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Please log in using one of these methods to post your comment:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.