IWSG Wedneday AND Did You Know Thursday

 

The first Wednesday of every month is officially IWSG day. IWSG was formed by Ninja Captain Alex Cavanaugh. Members post about their doubts and fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to others who are struggling.

 

Twitter handle: @TheIWSG  

Hashtag: #IWSG 

Let’s rock the neurotic writing world!

Our Twitter handle is @TheIWSG and hashtag is #IWSG.

 

The awesome co-hosts for the October 1 posting of the IWSG are Beth Camp, Crystal Collier, and Cathrina Constantine!
Every month, we announce a question that members can answer in their IWSG post. These questions may prompt you to share advice, insight, a personal experience or story. Include your answer to the question in your IWSG post or let it inspire your post if you are struggling with something to say. 

Remember, the question is optional

 

October 1 question - What is the most favorite thing you have written, published or not? And why?

As far as readership, Silverhills.  As far as my personal favorite, Keeper Tyree. I like the character. He’s middle-aged, flawed, rough around the edges and a hard man. But he’s fair and he’ll go to the wall, and beyond, for anyone he cares about.

September/October Reviews in no particular order.

* Disclaimer. If I run into an occasional typo, I ignore them and don't factor them into my review.

 

MIRACLES AND GHOSTS PAST by D. L. Finn

This is a delightful collection of Christmas shorts with a twist. In each story there’s a ghost to lend a helping hand.

In THE CHRISTMAS TRAIN MYSTERY a woman’s first step to a new beginning is a murder/mystery dinner train trip.

CHRISTMAS RESCUE~*~ If you read many D.L. Finn stories, you know that somewhere in the book you are going to encounter an animal rescue. This is the story😊

IS THERE A SANTA?~*~ To my mind, of all the wonderful stories, this is the best. The characters are extraordinarily  developed and their emotions pour off the pages as a widower tries to hold his family together at Christmas.

SHE’S HOME ALONE~*~ A young girl must outwit an intruder.

AFTER A WAR COMES CHRISTMAS ~*~ This story centers on civil unrest and is timely considering the unease in America right now.

A GIFT FOR KATIE~*~A woman in need gets an unexpected inheritance and  is unsure whether she should accept it.

CHRISTMAS AFTER LOSS~*~A mysterious soldier throws light on Sheila’s  husband’s unexpected death.

ELEVATOR SANTA~*~Mindy gets stuck on the elevator with an unexpected passenger.

I highly recommend this book of shorts. It’s perfect for the Christmas season. So, grab your cocoa and cookies, put up your feet and enjoy the read.

Available at Amazon 

 

GUARDIANS OF MOTHER EARTH by Zea Perez

These are such sweet stories. And more importantly they impart information to our young people about ecology, and the importance of being a caretaker of the earth. Each story centers around a plant or tree or other forms of nature learning how important they are to the universe and that no matter how small, they can play a large part in saving their own personal piece of the universe. Among the cast of characters are Bon, the bonsai tree, Pitchy the pitcher plant and Venus the flytrap plant. All on a mission to save their homes.

A fun read and a lovely teaching tool with entertaining illustrations.

Available at Amazon 

 

FIRST FROST by Craig Johnson. Book 20 in the Longmire Series.

I love Craig Johnson's writing.  The Longmire Series is outstanding. This story for me was entertaining and had plenty of twists and turns, but it just wasn't quite as good as some of his others. Though, not quite as good, is still heads above many other reads that are out there:)

Available at Amazon 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AND

 

Did you know, the author of  Rip Van Winkle--and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow--Washington Irving, suffered from insomnia? 

 

Sources: 

100 Interesting Facts about Famous Authors – Interesting Literature 

Washington Irving, New York Writer, Sleepy Hollow | Literary Traveler 

 

 

 

Ketch-Up Day

 

How are you?  

On this end we are unsettled. Once again, cancer has raised its vicious head with the youngest grand. Hence my hiatus, awhile back.  I needed some mental health days. So, if I'm not here on a normal posting day (and I miss my fair share of Tuesdays:) or if I'm slower than usual at replying to comments, please bear with me.

Now on to more happy news. My SIL and BIL stopped in for a brief visit.  It was great seeing them. It had been awhile.

AND

This is a sweet potato a friend of ours grew. Isn't it a hoot? It weighed over six pounds. Birthing size! He planted six plants and ended up with over a hundred pounds of sweet potatoes. I don't know what his secret is:)

 AND

Pictures from the Smokies

Thanks, Julie.

 

 

AND

From a California window

Thanks, Denise:) 

 

 

AND

In the garden: Sunset and critters

 

I've never seen a moth quite like this one. It has a horn on its back. David, do you know what it is?

 Don't you love walking sticks?

That's it for now. Have a great one, friends. Let us know what you've been up to. 

Your Weekend Read: MIRACLES AND GHOSTS PAST

 Please welcome dear friend and fellow author D.L. Finn.

Thank you, Sandra, for having me on your beautiful blog today to share the release of Ghosts & Miracles Past: A Christmas Collection Two! I’m beyond grateful for your constant support and friendship.

“Christmas Rescue” was originally in my first Christmas Collection. I pulled it because it wasn’t going anywhere. When I came back to it later, it all came together. Opal’s had a bad year. Her mother died, and her boyfriend broke up with her, leaving her in heavy debt. The worst part was that he took their dog too. All she could do was quit school and start working to pay off the debt. Not feeling her usual Christmas spirit, she still plans to host her aunt, uncle, and cousins as her mother would have. She needs some supplies on Christmas Eve. A big storm is coming, and she finds people are already home, but in one dark parking lot, she isn’t alone.

 

BLURB:

Miracles saturate the sweet-scented Christmas season—a reminder we aren’t alone.

Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection brings eight stories from past holidays. Rita buys train tickets for her and Morris’s 30th anniversary in the novelette, “The Christmas Train Mystery.” She’s convinced this trip will bring her and Morris closer—if he can find the time. A murder mystery excursion will change Rita’s life in more ways than one, but will she go with her workaholic husband or by herself? In the first short story, “Christmas Rescue,” Opal trusts the wrong man and loses her mother in the same year, leaving her feeling lost. On a mission to get candles for the dinner table, she makes an unexpected find. “Is There a Santa?” goes back to the 1920s, where a widower is desperate to hold on to his farm and children. He doesn’t want charity, just a bit of luck or a miracle. In the final stories, you’ll meet an eleven-year-old who’s home alone, a family living in the aftermath of war, a girl who gets some shocking news, a widow with a warning from beyond, and a woman trapped on an elevator with Santa. Hope underlies these stories; it endures even in the direst of circumstances. Whether help comes from a ghost, Santa, or an angel, miracles are just within reach.

 

EXCERPT FROM: Christmas Rescue, 1975

This Christmas Day, she’d paste on a smile, but inside lurked the Grinch before his heart grew three sizes. If time could pause, she would have the chance to breathe and dream again, but time and bills continued to march forward, unfazed even by the world’s Grinches.

 

“Perhaps life is meant to be endured, not enjoyed.”

 

Opal immediately felt guilty, knowing her mom would disapprove of that statement. But Opal’s mom wasn’t there to hear it after her fatal heart attack. It was going to be her first Christmas without her mom, who had been her best friend.

 

Still, she attempted to be positive in memory of her mom. “I know I have this house and my bartending job. But if I sold the house and got an apartment, I could finish getting my teaching degree. Which means I’d leave my childhood home and all the memories that come with it.” Opal sighed and wiped away a single tear. “I miss you, Mom, and you were right about many things—including Sam.”

 

That name repulsed her like a gory horror movie. With a shudder, she thrust away thoughts of her ex. She picked up a silver bell that had fallen off the Christmas tree and put it on an empty branch. The silver bell swung and stilled. She turned her back to the colorful tree to prepare the house for her guests, but the small silver bell started ringing like it was atop a church.

 

“Either an angel got their wings, or my walking jiggled the bell.”

 

Opal leaned toward the latter. She placed her mom’s porcelain nativity scene on the fireplace mantel. Her youngest niece, Lisa, was obsessed with the nativity. Lisa was convinced the angel was real and was watching over them. The sweet girl was always on her best behavior around it.

 

Even surrounded by all this good cheer, regret wouldn’t allow her to forget. It overshadowed everything. Three months after her mom died, her ex-boyfriend moved across the country with her inheritance and Beauty, the sweet pup she still missed. All Sam left behind were maxed-out credit card bills. Unfortunately, she was the primary cardholder; he had been able to charge with no responsibility for any of the debt. This had alarmed her mom, but Opal was in love, or thought she was, and didn’t listen. After her mom passed, Opal continued with her bad decisions, which included adding Sam’s name to her savings account after he pointed out it made sense since they were getting married. She thought that was his proposal, but no ring followed, just a breakup.

 

Universal Purchase Link

 

FUN FINN FACTS

1.      My favorite Christmas songs are: O Holy Night, Carol of the Bells, Silent Night, Happy Christmas (War is Over), Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow, Little Town of Bethlehem, Christmastime is Here, It’s beginning to look like Christmas, White Christmas, I’ll be Home for Christmas, The Christmas Song, Little Saint Nick, A Holly Jolly Christmas….I could go on. I couldn’t pick just one or two!

2.      I start Christmas shopping in July or August.

 

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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To celebrate the release, I will be giving away three Amazon Gift Cards: $5, $10, and $15. At the end of the tour, I will randomly pick the three winners from those who leave comments during the blog tour. Good Luck!