Thursday, June 30, 2022

Did You Know

 Did you know, there's an airplane specifically for transporting horses. It's called--wait for it--Air Horse One:)


 

Wednesday, June 29, 2022

Writerly Wednesday

 This week's word comes from Christine.



Mine: Travel (with a purpose).

I'll be interested to see what you come up with for this one. 

Got a word you'd like to share?

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

It's Tuesday

 Greetings, Blogger Buds,

Have you seen these water fountains that have a spot for water bottles? I saw one for the first time at the doctor's office the other day. 

AND in the garden:

That bird never moves:)

 

 

This one is for Andrew:


 


 

AND Callie:


 AND:

 


 So, I was writing away deep in a flash flood, thunderstorm scene. When I finished, I strolled to the window, looked out and to my surprise it wasn't raining.

When you write do you sometimes go so deep, you forget your surroundings, lost in the scene?

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Did You Know

 Did you know the official bird of Madison Wisconsin is the plastic flamingo?


 AND


 

Tuesday, June 21, 2022

It's Tuesday

 Greetings Blogger Buds,

Was Father's Day a good one? We went into the mountains and the HH heard from the kids so a thumbs up here. 

Today and yesterday were gorgeous weather wise but the heat is on the way back.  Record breaking heat in some areas, flooding in others. Scary stuff.

I'm still staining the fence.....

My sister sent me this photo of their newest residents in her flower pot. They're hard to make out but there are two baby morning doves nesting in it.


 



 


 Pretty quiet here. What's happening on your end?

Friday, June 17, 2022

It's The Weekend

 


AND

I'm at Cowboy Kisses today (Friday) chatting about the cooks and their responsibilities on trail drives.  If you are in the vicinity, please drop by.


 AND

(2) Winners of eBook "Gift Baskets" of ALL ebooks
Other Winners of individual ebooks or paperbacks
 (randomly selected)

 

Thursday, June 16, 2022

Did You Know

 Did you know, the Snickers bar was named for a favorite horse of the Mar's family?

 


AND


 https://authorsxp.com/win-books/giveaway

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Writerly Wednesday

 What's your word for:

Mine's pipsqueak.


AND a reminder:

(2) Winners of eBook "Gift Baskets" of ALL ebooks
Other Winners of individual ebooks or paperbacks
 (randomly selected)

Tuesday, June 14, 2022

It's Tuesday

 Greetings Blogger Buds,

How are you? Other than the eternal flower(s) I've got next to zilch today on the personal front. The dog has been sick. The vet thinks she has pancreatitis and I've been watching the hearings. That's been about it. Anything exciting going on in your neck of the woods? 


 On the reading/writing front there's a huge giveaway going on:


eBook & Paperback Sweepstakes!

(2) Winners of eBook "Gift Baskets" of ALL ebooks
Other Winners of individual ebooks or paperbacks
 (randomly selected)

 

Link: Weekly Book Giveaway (authorsxp.com)

 

AND

 

 Book Fair (authorsxp.com) 

Friday, June 10, 2022

Your Weekend Read: A VOICE IN THE SILENCE

 


Thank you for inviting me on your beautiful blog, Sandra, to help me celebrate the release of A Voice in the Silence.

My pleasure entirely, Denise. I loved this story.

 


 

When writing about the cats in A Voice in the Silence, I channeled all the kitties I’ve had the luck to share a home with. The first cat I brought home to live in the forest was a fluffy gray kitten who was being given away at the grocery store. Winter loved toast and to sit by my husband while he played his guitar. A couple of years later, another gray kitty found her way to our house from a retail store giveaway. Thunder was the first cat to get stuck in a tree and need a tree climber to get her down. My youngest daughter brought home a maine coon-mix, Stormie. He was the protector of all cats and our 175-pound pup, Bear, was afraid of him. Alice, the hunter kitty, was born on Valentine Day and the subject of many poems.

These cats now rest in the forest they so loved, but we still have a full house of kitties. Rupert is our gray-tux that we inherited from our oldest daughter and is our mother cat to all the other cats and any wildlife he finds. Chester, our brown tabby, was a feral kitten that I caught after his mom was killed. Coco is a big panther kitty who loves humans and acts more like a dog than a cat. Then, there are Zuzu and Luna, our two youngest. Zuzu is the definition of a curious cat—if there is a loud noise or something falls, it’s her. Luna loves her boxes, plastic, and for my husband to play music.

Janie, the black cat in the story, has many of Luna’s mannerisms, but all my kitties are in there somewhere—along with a few tiny additions.

 


Fun Finn Facts

1.      Where I live snowstorms can and have cut us off from the world.

2.      I am a white knuckled snow driver. I avoid it if I can.

 


Blurb

Drea Burr has experienced more than her share of loss when a stray dog, cat, and rat enter her life. Although the animals start to mend her broken heart, there is something very unusual about them. During a snowstorm, Drea discovers a chilling set of footprints leading to her front window. Both the police and a ghostly messenger warn her about a killer stalking widows. Help comes from her late husband’s best friend, Adam Hale. As the two try to discover answers, more questions arise— about a killer, ghosts, and animals experimented on in a lab.

Can Drea and Adam survive the threats coming from so many directions and save themselves and the animals they’ve grown to love? Or will more tragedy destroy her second chance at happiness? Find out in this thrilling, cozy paranormal adventure.

 


Excerpt

Green eyes peered up at her. “Are you lost too, kitty? I—” Drea started as a gray rat ran down her garage freezer, climbed on the black cat’s back, and lay down.

She backed up. “Well, I’ll be. Are you together? Or did you bring me a present?”

The cat turned its head and licked the rat.

“Okay, you’re buddies. Um, I still have a cat box and some sand. Plus a bag of food. What does your rat buddy here eat?”

The cat met her gaze without blinking.

Drea pointed at her head. “From what I remember when Robbie had one, rat food and lots of treats, like carrots and bananas. He was a sweet little guy named Rocky and sometimes got into the dog food. But bringing a stray rat in the house, I don’t know. Feels weird to me. You understand, right? But I don’t want to leave you guys outside. So do you want to come in and stay in the laundry room until I can figure this out?”

The cat continued its stare like it wanted to push its thoughts into hers.

“I’ll be right back. Stay here.” Drea hurried into the house and placed the cat box and litter in the laundry room. It was now ready for her new guests, who hadn’t moved.

She pulled on a pair of thick gloves and carefully approached the cat and rat. Each foot was placed flat like she was trying to walk silently, but it was more not to scare them. Encouraged when they didn’t run away, Drea bent down and gently touched the soft fur on the cat’s back. Loud purrs filled the silence.

“Good kitty.”

She touched the rat, who offered his belly to her.

“You’re both friendly. Are you with the dog?”

The cat’s head moved like it was nodding, but that couldn’t be.

“I’m going to pick you both up, okay? I won’t hurt you, so please don’t bite me. Deal?”

The cat meowed, and the rat grabbed onto the cat’s fur.

“I’m picking you up now.”

Drea scooped up the pair and held them to her chest, expecting them to smell, but they didn’t. She felt their bony frames through their fur. Like the dog, they hadn’t eaten in a while. Soon she had them on a towel next to the dryer.

“You have some food and water, guys. Get comfortable, and later we’ll try doing a bath, okay?”

The rat and the cat made all the food disappear in loud gulps and immediately settled on the towel.

She grinned. “I feel like I’m in a kid’s movie. What’s next, birds? Let’s see if you guys know each other.”

The cat looked up and put its head down again.

“Be right back.”

Drea carefully slipped the collar around the dog’s neck. She leashed him up and brought him to the laundry room.

“Be nice, pup,” she warned.

He licked her hand. Drea held tightly to the leash, ready to pull back if she needed to. The dog bent down and sniffed. His tail went into overdrive as he licked both the cat and rat. Neither recoiled.

Drea’s grip on the leash relaxed. “You had me worried there for a second.”

She watched the dog lie down next to the cat and rat. Who discards animals like this? It was unlikely she’d ever know, but it wouldn’t be the first time people had dropped off their pets to go live free in the forest. Idiots.

Amazon Purchase Link US
Amazon Purchase Link UK



Author 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 adult fiction, poetry, a unique autobiography, and children’s books. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.

D.L. Finn Links:

Twitter

Facebook

Instagram

Pinterest

D.L. Finn blog

Author Amazon Page

 

 

Thursday, June 9, 2022

Did You Know

 Did you know, since they are such social creatures, it's illegal to own just one guinea pig in Switzerland? Good on Switzerland, I say.


 

Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Writerly Wednesday

 What's your synonym for:


 Mine's irritated. Feel free to borrow it if you don't have a different word.

Tuesday, June 7, 2022

It's Tuesday

 Greetings, Blogger Buds. It's Tuesday and I've got the regular suspects:) Flowers and critters:


 

 







Frank's summer cut.




How goes your critters and your garden?