I'm thrilled to have good friend and talented author D.L. Finn with us today sharing information on her new Christmas release. I read it and loved it. A perfect read for the upcoming season.
Thank you for having me on your blog today, Sandra. I appreciate your amazing support!
As you may know, animals usually appear in my stories. This one is no different. We meet a fluffy black cat that lives by the garbage bin. Ana makes sure the cat eats, even when she can barely feed herself. The cat’s a friendly stray, probably dumped there. Ana can’t turn away when the cat needs her help, and that sets off a series of events for her and the cat. I have a feeling a lot of us pet owners would do the exact same thing Ana did. I know I would, and I had a cat that was left to me when my roommate moved out years ago. No, animals weren’t allowed, but I kept the kitty anyway. 😊
Blurb
Can a Christmas wish—and the kindness of strangers—save
Ana from a past that refuses to let her go?
Ana Castle stopped believing in Christmas wishes long ago, but desperation
drives the young widow to make one by a store’s festive twinkling tree. After
barely escaping a fire meant to kill her and losing her parents, best friend,
and husband, all Ana wants is the opportunity to start over. Instead, sickness
forces her to miss work, and her next paycheck will barely cover the rent. She
must make the long, cold walk to a local food bank. There, an unexpected act of
kindness from a grandmotherly volunteer named Carla gives Ana her first glimmer
of hope in a long time. But that hope quickly fades when a black SUV begins
appearing wherever she goes. Ana fears her late husband’s criminal past has
caught up with her. To add to her worries, she must break some rules to follow
her heart, and that decision changes her life. Anna soon learns surviving will
take more than just a Christmas wish. She’ll need to accept a dash of trust,
friendship, and love before the past takes away her last chance at a future.
Excerpt
(Ana) She had the day off and would head to the food bank, a resource used when her earnings proved insufficient. Only a year ago, she’d been on the other side, donating like her mom.
Ted’s frown always deepened when she spent any extra money, especially on charity. “They should find a job. Lazy bums. I can’t afford to support them too.” He would roll his brown eyes. She imagined they held so much love, but he never directed that love toward her.
In response, she’d let a smile spread across her face and give a slight nod. After he left, she donated some of her allowance.
Now a heavy sense of guilt accompanied the food bank bag, which usually contained rice, beans, bread, eggs, tuna, peanut butter, apples, carrots, and miscellaneous canned foods. The food banks were struggling to keep up with the demand, and she was part of the problem. She promised herself that when a better job came along, she’d go back to helping, not taking. Even though she knew it was temporary until she got on her feet, Ted’s words wounded her. His arrogance had come at a cost to both of them.
She removed the flannel sheets and replaced them with the white cotton ones reserved for sweltering summer weather. She scrambled the last egg but missed having coffee to go with it. That treasure had vanished two weeks prior, with no surplus funds for replacement. Luckily, there was coffee available at work, usually the bitter stuff they were going to throw out to make it fresh. She spent the rest of the morning deep-cleaning her apartment. Later, she’d do laundry in the basement with her saved quarters.
Noon arrived quickly, and the food bank was scheduled to open at one.
She bundled up, switched off the lights and heater, and locked the door behind her. Quickening her pace, she rushed past Mr. Anderson’s scarred red door with the faded Resident Manager plate he was so proud of. Fortunately, the lobby was vacant, allowing her to avoid any encounters with him. She wound a yellow knitted scarf around her neck and stepped out into an icy day framed by heavy gray clouds over the Colorado Rocky Mountains. The five-block stroll to her job served as a free gym alternative. The food bank was seven blocks away, still doable.
To her left was what used to be a garden, now hidden under cigarette butts and discarded bottles. If she had extra money, she’d fill the planters. The building was situated beside a smelly, overflowing garbage dumpster inside a dilapidated wooden enclosure that, like the building, needed painting. The one thing about that area that ever brought a smile to her day was a fluffy black cat. She kept a pouch of cat food in her pocket to feed it every morning, whether she was going to work or taking out the trash. Even though she was sick, she made sure the kitty ate. A loud purr was Ana’s usual reward as it gobbled down the chunky food. Today, though, the friendly cat didn’t come out to greet her.
“Kitty?” She waited, but no green eyes peered around the dented, smelly bin. A coughing fit hit her, and when it subsided, she called again. “Here, kitty. I brought you something to eat. I hope my coughing didn’t scare you.” She searched but didn’t find the cat. With a sigh, she opened the food and placed it behind the container wheel. Still no cat. “I left food for you.” She cleared her throat and moved on.
With the dim sky threatening snow on the way, she was glad for the tough boots she’d acquired at the thrift shop. They provided comfort and warmth as she walked despite the frigid temperatures. Back in the day, she’d worn a designer winter coat, leather boots, and top-of-the-line clothes. Now the food bank provided a worn ski jacket, a hat, scarf, and fluffy black gloves. In her new life, she didn’t need designer clothes to stay warm.
Finn’s Fun Facts
1. I enjoy watching all the wildlife around me, which includes birds, foxes, skunks, bears, raccoons, opossums, coyotes, and the unseen ones like mountain lions. My characters enjoy their wildlife too.
2. I fished often with my grandparents growing up by Clear Lake. It seemed natural for my characters to fish.
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 children’s books, adult fiction, and poetry. She continues on her adventure with an open invitation to all readers to join her.
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Chance to win one of three Amazon Gift Cards for $5, $10, or $15! All you have to do is leave a comment here, and the other stops, and I’ll pick winners from the tour.
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