Your Weekend Read: NO FAIRY TALE: THE REALITY OF A GIRL WHO WASN'T A PRINCESS AND HER POETRY

 

Thank you for your kind hospitality in having me here today to share my latest release, Gratitude & No Fairy Tale:  Just Her Poetry Book Three, Sandra!

 

This new collection of haiku, free verse, and photography is a blend of the old and the new.

With my No Fairy Tale: The Reality of a Girl who wasn't a Princess and her Poetry memoir no longer available, my poetry wasn't either. It included poetry I’d written over the years, including my first poems. Two of the poems I updated only to make the message stand out. A few weren’t included in this collection because they were more for the memoir than this poetry collection. The rest of the poems are as they were written. That wasn’t easy to do for me since my poetry style has changed, but I felt it was more honest to leave them as they were. This became part two of this collection.

In part one is my newer poetry or haiku that I blended with my photography. I have used these poems and photos in calendars that I’ve given as gifts at Christmas. I know Sandra has posted several calendar pictures here and appreciate that. Now, they are in my store, D. L. Finn’s Gratitude Store on coffee mugs, journals, candles, shirts, and totes. LINK 

Blurb:

Explore D. L. Finn’s poetic journey, from her newest to earliest works. Part One immerses you in a combination of her photography and symbolic poems. Peaceful winter days, forests, and sunsets illuminate her search for the magic of life. Part Two retraces her journey from her first poems. Her life is revealed through free verse poems and photographs that were featured in her memoir, No Fairy Tale. She discovers gratitude on her path to happiness. Join her as she explores her reality through emotions and nature in this special collection.

 

Excerpts

 From Part One:

I included the poem under the picture so it would be easier to read here and in the book.

quiet summer flow

the river water beckons

for an evening swim

From Part Two:

AROUND US

As I walk in the forest around my house,

I feel in awe at the beauty of it all

The silence that surrounds me

And goes deep inside

Is broken only by a bird or squirrel

To my sheer delight.

The trees remind me of wise, ancient gods

Standing guard and protecting me.

I pay tribute to their size and power.

The air so sweet with pine and cedar

As I expand my lungs wider,

Desperately trying to inhale it all.

Walking in nature as God fashioned it

Makes me realize how we should

Appreciate all the things around us

And become a part of them.

 

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Smashwords 

 

 

Writerly Wednesday AND Did You Know Thursday

What's your synonym, meaning or sentence for:

 Example:

Let's have a hootenanny. You can play the  fiddle, I'll play guitar  and the guests can dance.

 AND

Did you know, the now extinct colossus penguin was as tall as LeBron James?

Giant 6A-Foot-8 Penguin Discovered in Antarctica 

 

Ketch-up Day

 How is your week going?

Same ole. Same ole here. More Garden Pics

  

For Andrew:)

 

 

 

 

Enjoy the rest of your week.

Weekend Wishes

 

IWSG Wednesday 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 

The awesome co-hosts for the June 4 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando, Pat Garcia, Kim Lajevardi, Melisa Maygrove, and Jean Davis!

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

 

June 4 question - What were some books that impacted you as a child or young adult?

I read every horse story I could get my hands on: INDIAN PAINT, FROG THE HORSE THAT KNEW NO MASTER, BLACK STALLION, etc. BLACK BEAUTY broke my heart.

May/June Reviews in no particular order.

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

 

THE HILL OF SACRIFICED SOULS by RC and JP Carter

Book 35 in the Magnolia Bluff Crime Chronicles focuses on the paranormal. The authors themselves actual paranormal investigators, part of a team out of FL.

A young woman, much loved by the community goes missing, abducted and killed by a ritualistic serial killer.  Hoping to prevent the killer from striking again and harming anyone she knows, the victim Eliana Espinosa contacts her friend, paranormal investigator Maureen Donovan, in a dream.  A dream that sends Maureen and her husband Mike racing to Magnolia Bluffs hoping to discover and stop the killer before he strikes again. Tension mounts as another young woman is kidnapped, while beings on both sides of the veil try to prevent another murder.

This will especially appeal to those drawn to the paranormal and are curious about how an actual paranormal investigation work.

Available at Amazon 

 

THE GENIE EFFECT by MK Alexander

What happens when a celebrity chef finds a lamp with an actual genie in it?

Celebrity Chef James Carter is on vacation in Morocco when he discovers a lamp in a tourist shop that he just has to have. Imagine his surprise when he rubs it to clean it and a genie appears, an attractive one at that.

After Azar emerges in a whisp of smoke James’ life becomes one big adventure filled with fun and romance. But not everyone is as enamored with genies as James is with his. An ancient wish has created a brotherhood whose sole purpose is to wipe out every genie in existence. And the brotherhood has nearly succeeded.

How will James and Azar get out of this dangerous coil they find themselves in? You’re going to have to read their story and find out for yourself. Grab your beverage of choice, put your feet up and settle in for a fun read.

M.K. Alexander worked for the New York Times for over ten years.

Available at Amazon 

 

FRANKLIN PIERCE, America’s 14^th President by John DiConsiglio

Franklin Pierce was not a well-known president or one that was very well liked. He tried to strike a compromise to keep the Southern states from seceding and ended up making both sides furious.

He also lost a beloved son two months before his inauguration. His wife was devastated and refused to attend, believing it was a sign from God that Pierce shouldn't run for office.

Pierce spent most of his time in office without a VP AND appointed his friend Jefferson Davis Secretary of War. He was also the only president to place his hand on a law book instead of a bible when he was sworn  in.

It’s not a known fact but there is speculation he was an alcoholic. And given his life it would hardly be surprising.  I found this book to be informative, but sad.

*This is part of a young person's presidential encyclopedia set, but also suitable for adults. 

Available at Amazon 

 

 AND

 

Did you know, June 4th is 

 

 

 

Ketch-Up Day

 

How are you? What's going on in your neck of the woods?

Does your mail look like this? Bills and donation requests? One of my pet peeves is giving to a charity and them selling your name so everyone can ask for a place in your wallet.

In the Garden

 

The Butterfly Bushes and day lilies are starting to bloom.

 

The hydrangeas are still blooming (This pic is for you, Andrew.)
 

 The blackberries are ripening

 

 And I found some baby grapes on the vine:)

 

 

 The Critters

Nori, Frank, and Callie

 

Louie and Maisy

 

 

 And in the news

 

I studiously avoid politics on this blog because A. I feel very strongly about them. And B. I have friends on the other side of the fence that feel just as strongly about their beliefs and I seriously doubt if we are going to change one another's mind. This one though hit close to home and I'd like to share it. Our nephew is one of the scientists who lost government funding. He works on brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease and other neurological issues. He recently took part in an AP interview and because of that he has been getting hate mail from the opposing party, which I find to be so very sad. (And to be perfectly fair, my side of the fence can get pretty raw too. It's a bad situation all around.) He is truly a kind, gentle soul whose goal in life is to make the world a better place.  

 The article itself, I found to be well-written,  informative, and thought-provoking. What in it incited hate mail is beyond me. If you'd like to read it, here is the link. 

 

Scientists have lost their jobs or grants in US cuts. Foreign universities want to hire them. 

LINK:

https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/scientists-lost-jobs-grants-us-cuts-foreign-universities-122172965