#NewBook: In the Tree’s Shadow by D L Finn @dlfinnauthor #ShortStories #Fiction
Hi everyone! I hope this finds you well. Today, it gives me great pleasure to have fellow author, blogger, Story Empire Contributor, and friend, D L Finn over to visit. Denise has a new book out, and I’m so happy to help her share the exiting news! This writer loves nature and all its wonders, and her magical outlook shines through in this wonderful new read 
Thank you, Harmony, for inviting me to your wonderful blog today to share my latest release, In the Tree’s Shadow.
It’s my pleasure, Denise!
“The Boy” is a story that taps into my experience of being raised in an alcoholic household. However, my mother didn’t have the mental issues that Bella had to deal with, and she–luckily–had a caring father to turn to.
Bella comes home from school after capturing a picture of the boy she’s been seeing down the street. She isn’t sure who he is, and he refuses to talk to her. There is little time to ponder this when she finds her mother has relapsed into drinking and not taking her meds.
I wrote this during my personal short story challenge. I chose the word scary and then found an image to go with the word. I was inspired by a shadow figure walking down the road in the woods. It took me a couple of tries to get everything to fall together while I explored the dark side of alcoholism and mental illness. Bella finds an unexpected happy ending.
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:
Bella snapped the picture right before the boy disappeared. Finally she had proof that he existed. He had been in the same place for the last two weeks, right where the school bus dropped her off by their private road. He wore jeans and a gray hoodie and carried a black backpack. Without glancing back or speaking, he’d vanish into a heavy fog.
She raced down the long driveway to show her mother the photo. Mother sat on the porch in the old wooden rocking chair, sipping iced tea. The hair stood on Bella’s arms when Mother’s bloodshot eyes fixed on her. “Why do you have my camera?” Her words slurred together like they were in a wind tunnel, but the leaves on the trees were still.
“I borrowed it to get a picture of the boy. I got it. Look!” She held the camera up, hoping she was wrong about Mother’s condition. The last three years had been peaceful now that she remained sober and took her meds.
Mother slammed the drink down hard, shattering the glass. “Liar! There’s no boy out there, and stop calling me ‘Mother.’ You know I hate that word.”
Bella sighed at the blood dripping from her mother’s hand. That scary woman had returned.
FUN FINN FACTS:
At some point, getting on a train, it will be guaranteed, I will say: all aboard.I was fortunate to see sea turtles laying eggs. Someday I want to see the babies hatch.
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:
I’ve read about 65% of this fabulous book of short stories and flash fiction and am enjoying it tremendously. I’d hoped to have a review ready to go with today’s post, but alas I haven’t quite made it. However, I highly recommend this read 
[On a side note, if I don’t manage to respond to your lovely comments in a timely manner, please accept my apologies. My (probable) fibromyalgia symptoms are in high gear and hitting all at once just now. I appreciate you all. Hugs 
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