Roberta Writes – Guest Post: D.L. Finn with her new book, Ghosts & Miracles Past: A Christmas Collection Two and a review

Thank you for having me on your incredible blog today, Robbie, to share the release of Ghosts & Miracles Past: A Christmas Collection Two. I’m really grateful for your support!

Interview

Do you have a favorite story in the collection? Each story has a place and a piece of my heart. “The Christmas Train Mystery” comes from a love of trains. I ride them anytime I can and incorporated that into a story. How I feel about animals shines through in “The Christmas Rescue.” That story didn’t make the first collection, but giving it a second look, it found its voice. “Is There is Santa?” though is the one closest to my heart as I brought an “Elizabeth’s War” character into it. This was my first children’s book that I wrote. It was set in WWI, and I weaved some family history into it from when my great-grandma lived in North Dakota before her family moved to Alberta. So it was fun for Dr. Rhodes to make an appearance and see where the fictional family moved to in 1920.

What is your favorite tradition? I love the time leading up to Christmas and especially enjoy decorating while listening to holiday tunes. I still listen to the old Christmas vinyl records. This can range from Johnny Mathis that I got from my in-laws, the Disney songs my kids listened to, or from my time The Partridge Family, and everything in between. My daughter just got me the Nutcracker album for my birthday. While the music fills the room, each ornament I put on the tree has a special memory attached to it. Not only do we celebrate the now, but also the past when decorating and listening to music.

What is the first thing you do to kick off the holiday season? Beginning in the summer, I begin shopping, particularly for grandchildren. That permits me to spread it throughout several months. The other thing I do early is get supplies for the big feast. If pepperoncini or gluten-free dressing is on sale, I grab them and put them away until the holiday. Then, when it’s time, I give the house a good cleaning and drag all the boxes inside so I can start decorating.

Blurb

Picture caption: Cover of Miracles & Ghosts Past: A Christmas Collection featuring a Christmas tree and old-fashioned lamp

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.

Universal Purchase Link

My Review

This is the second collection of Christmas themed short stories in this series. I enjoyed the first collection, and this book was equally entertaining.

While all the stories in this book are engrossing, I am focusing on my favourite three for purposes of this review.

The Christmas Train Mystery – this is an entertaining Agatha Christie styled near murder mystery. Rita books tickets for her husband, Morris, and her to go on a murder mystery train ride for their thirtieth wedding anniversary. As the story unfolds, the extent to which Morris has changed and become self-absorbed and selfish over the course of their marriage becomes evident and the ticket purchase triggers a series of events that change Rita’s life. In true Finn style, the story ends on an uplifting and happy note.

She’s Home Alone – a creepy short story about a young girl home alone during a snowstorm and a predator with bad intentions. I enjoyed the character of Debbie and appreciated her presence of mind and calmness in a scary situation. Having been the victim of a home invasion, I know just how scary such situations are. The intervention by the angel was uplifting and engaging.

Elevator Santa – this is another story I could relate to as I have also been trapped in an elevator and it is a most unpleasant experience. The paranormal element in this story was subtly included and I enjoyed it very much. Another delightful story that finished on a high note.

Finn’s books always leave the reader with a feeling of contentment and the knowledge that there are lots of wonderful people out there who are the ‘helpers’. I appreciate her positive messages about the spirit of humanity wrapped up in engaging stories. This collection is perfect for Christmas.

Finn Fun Facts

  1. I love baking bread in the fall and winter.
  2. I prefer snowshoeing over skiing.

About D.L. Finn

Picture caption: author photograph of D.L. Finn

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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D. L. Finn’s Gratitude Store

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!

Roberta Writes – Reblog: Simple Pleasures: Reading & Eating: Size Always Matters by Sally Cronin and a Recipe

Hi everyone, its Robbie Cheadle here with my first post in a new series called Simple Pleasures: Reading & Eating. This series comprises a book review combined with a recipe which could be anything from a cocktail to a dessert.

The book I am reviewing for this first post is Size Always Matters: Don’t be part of a statistic, start losing weight today by Sally Cronin.

My review of Size Always Matters: Don’t be part of a statistic by Sally Cronin

Picture caption: Cover of Size Always Matters featuring a red apple wrapped in a measuring tape

This is a fabulous and informative book to help everyone eat better and be more aware of the nutritional value of what we put in our mouths. I am not overweight, and I never have been, in fact, I struggle with losing too much weight through stress and anxiety. The information in this book is just as useful for someone like me who can also use guidance on better eating to help reduce my specific health issues. This book is packed with factual information on the impact of a huge variety of vitamins and minerals on the human body and deals with every aspect of health. The author also points out that part of her eating disorder was anxiety and stress related so it actually does go both ways depending on your personality type.

Continue reading here: https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/2025/11/19/simple-pleasures-reading-eating-size-always-matters-by-sally-cronin-and-a-recipe

Comments are turned off here so please comment on the original post. Thanks.

Roberta Writes – Reblog: Street and Other Public Art on LatinosUSA

Hi everyone, its Robbie Cheadle with you today with my first post in my new Street and Other Public Art section here on LatinosUSA – English Edition.

My first post features a wonderful Tintin and Captain Haddock street art that I saw in Brussels earlier this year.

Let’s start at the bottom and work our way upwards:

Picture caption: We are climbing the fire escape. Up …

Continue reading here: https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/2025/11/17/street-and-other-public-art/

Roberta Writes – Reblog: The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 5)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle

Thank you to Nolcha Fox, editor of Chewers by Masticadores for sharing the next episode in The Soldier and the Radium Girl.

Jake Tanner

27 August 1917

Jake’s battalion had been stationed at the mobilization point of Camp Bartlett in Westfield, Massachusetts for eight days.

The men quickly discovered there was little difference between life at Camp Keyes and life at Camp Bartlett, despite being one step closer to their destination of France. They were housed in tents, and there was a wide-open parade and drill ground where they continued to be trained in the art of trench warfare.

The one notable difference was that visiting French officers, who’d been at the Western Front, directed some of their training.

“That Capitaine Moreau is always on my back about something: salute, eyes to the front, present arms. And there is inspection after inspection. I had no idea our training would be like this. It’s such a waste of time,” Beau exploded one evening.

“They are trying to instill discipline and ensure we keep our uniform and equipment in good order, Beau,” Joe said.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2025/11/14/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-5-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

Roberta Writes – Reblog: Photography – People: Shibuya Crossing – world’s busiest crossing

Do you like to photograph people? This is a place to showcase your photographs of people on LatinosUSA. Come over and take a peek.

Photography – People: Shibuya Crossing – world’s busiest crossing

Roberta Writes – d’Verse: No more Freeloading, Bird of the Week, and Thursday Doors with CFFC

d’Verse

Melissa’s prompt is to write about a pivotal moment. I have [tried] to make my poem humorous. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/11/11/pivot/

No More Freeloading

Lefty’s

been a freeloader

all its life

ever since

Sister Ruth

hit my left-hand knuckles

with a ruler

aimed at redirecting

the Devil’s hand

“We write with the right”

her fierce declaration

from then on

righty did all the work

except for knifework

I never could cut with the right

left retained cutting

it’s one claim to usefulness

and then, righty got injured

an overuse pain

developed and stayed

So, I, the determined

took lefty out of retirement

“No, more loafing”

I said sternly

“It’s time to earn your keep

in this body”

Now, lefty is the mouse hand

takes its share of the work

and the overuse pain

leaving righty free

to do the drawing

and the painting

on demand

Bird of the Week

This poem is for Don’t Hold Your Breath’s Bird of the Week challenge: https://anotherglobaleater.wordpress.com/2025/11/11/himalayan-swiftlet-birds-of-the-week-invitation-cxli/

Flamingo Pair (shadorma prose)

South Africa is home to two species of flamingos: the Lesser and Greater Flamingo. The key breeding site for Lesser Flamingos at Kamfers Dam in Kimberley has been destroyed due to poor infrastructure management by local government. The dam has become toxic, and the flamingo population has been forced to leave, leaving this species near threatened in South Africa. Greater flamingos shared the Kamfers Dam habitat with the Lesser Flamingos but in far fewer numbers. The Greater Flamingo in South Africa is also listed as Near Threatened regionally due to habitat loss from pollution, encroachment and disturbances at breeding sites.

morning

two young flamingos

greet the day

brief respite

before survival dictates

ongoing foraging

Picture caption: My watercolour painting of flamingos

CFFC and Thursday Doors

Dan’s CFFC challenge is Churches so I’ve combined it with my second Thursday Doors post about Westminster Abbey in London.

You can join in CFFC here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/11/10/churches-cffc/

You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/11/13/the-scottish-room/

Picture caption: Westminster Abbey from the queue
Picture caption: Inner door leading into Westminster Abbey
Picture caption: The beautiful stained glass windows and chandeliers inside Westminster Abbey
Picture caption: Ornate memorial to James Wolfe
Picture caption: More gorgeous stained glass windows and chandeliers
Picture caption: I loved this tableau of Death stalking the people
Picture caption: One of the inner doorways in Westminster Abbey
Picture caption: this is the area when the coronations take place. You can see the two doors to the sides.
Picture caption: This is a close up of the Coronation platform with the two doors

Roberta Writes – Reblog: Famous Books & Authors – – The Brontë Family: Patrick Brontë, the Patriarch

Brontë Parsonage Museum, Haworth. Photograph by Robbie Cheadle

In the beginning

Patrick Brontë, born Brunty, was the oldest of ten children born to Hugh Brunty, a farm labourer, and Alice McClory. He grew up in the small village of Drumballyroney in Country Down, Northern Ireland. At the age of twelve, Patrick was apprenticed to a blacksmith, and the to a linen draper and a weaver until he became a teacher in 1798. In 1802, he was given an opportunity to study theology at St John’s College, Cambridge, from where he received his degree in 1806. He was appointed curate at Wethersfield in Essex, where he was ordained a deacon of the Church of England in 1806 and into the priesthood in 1807.

Continue reading here: https://latinosenglishedition.wordpress.com/2025/11/12/famous-books-authors-the-bronte-family-patrick-bronte-the-patriarch-famousauthors-classicbooks-patrickbronte/

Roberta Writes – Reblog “The Soldier and the Radium Girl Part 1: The Bloom of Youth, Chapter 1: Enlist in haste, repent at leisure (cont. 4)” by Roberta Eaton Cheadle on Chewers by Masticadores

Thank you to Nolcha Fox for sharing Part 4 of this series.

Jake Tanner

5 August 1917

“We train six days a week. The mornings comprise of drills. It was fun in the beginning, but the marching, saluting, presenting arms, and right and left about turns have become a bit repetitive after over three weeks. 

“Sarge says drills are important to teach us discipline, teamwork, alertness, and attention to detail, so we do it willingly enough. He’s a good man, a good teacher.”

Jake’s voice was lighthearted, reassuring them that everything was going well.

“You looked great out there, Jake,” Ma’s voice was soft. “The skirmish drill you boys conducted after the parade was well done.”

“I’m glad you thought so, Ma.”

“Go on, Jake,” Kate said. “What else are you learning?”

“At noon, we do an hour of calisthenics. We enjoy that hour. After lunch, it’s field training until 5 p.m. The field training’s not bad. There are dummies for bayonet practice and mock trenches like the ones in France.”

Kate’s blue eyes danced with interest, enticing him to say more about the training, but Ma’s face had an odd, pinched, white look, so he didn’t.

Jake also didn’t mention the choking dust that hung in a cloud over the fields and tents. It was better not to talk about this unpleasant and constant companion, which settled on all the men’s skins and uniforms, irritating their eyes, and scratching their throats, which were always dry, no matter how much water they drank.

Instead, he regaled them with an interesting tidbit: “The camp is fully electrified, isn’t that amazing? Sarge enforces the strict light-out at 10.30 p.m. policy, and you should hear Mike complain. You know what a night-owl he is!”

They both laughed.

Continue reading here: https://chewersmasticadores.wordpress.com/2025/11/07/the-soldier-and-the-radium-girl-part-1-the-bloom-of-youth-chapter-1-enlist-in-haste-repent-at-leisure-cont-4-by-roberta-eaton-cheadle/

Roberta Writes – Reblog: Photography – Animals, new opportunity to share on LatinosUS

Hi everyone

I’m hosting a new photography segment on LatinosUS. You can find out the details by following the link.

My photographs in this post are also for the One-Day One Photo challenge by Marsha Ingrao and Dan Antion to celebrate and remember the life of fellow blogger and photographer, Cee Neuner. If you would like to participate in this tribute, please read Dan’s post here: https://nofacilities.com/2025/11/06/a-bridge-for-cee-1day4cee/

I’ve closed comments here. Please comment on LatinosUS.

Photography – Animals: Leopard & Dog by Robbie Cheadle