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