C. Desirée Finley, poet + writer
On twitter as @coastalwrite & Instagram/aletafin
C. Desirée Finley is a writer and artist now living in western Massachusetts. Her poetry is published in Straw Dog Writers Pandemic Poetry, Silkworm Journal (print), Cape Cod Times & Willawaw Journal [Pushcart nomination] and anthologies. Finley, who attended Breadloaf in 2018 for fiction, says her writing is now influenced by, "having a mountain in my backyard."
Banner update: The Forsythia blooms are here so spring must be here for good, although, a couple of years ago it did snow in May. Daffodils are up and out on the Mohawk trail and while temperatures zoom up and down by as much as 30 degrees, each day is warmer, longer and brighter. [ 04/18/2024 - photo shows my 'backyard' ]
MOTIVATION:
"I love the apron of land behind where I live, how I can see the river when enough leaves have fallen in autumn and at midnight, looking out at moonlight on the snow. I've lived on both coasts, in cities and ocean adjacent. Now that I live by the side of a mountain, the poet side of me has stepped forward, and even though I used to think of myself as a strictly a fiction writer, there is a bleeding through from one genre to another. Even essays are somehow different. Poetry affects everything." Finley is a member of Straw Dog Writers Guild, Florence Poets Society, New England Poetry Club, SCBWI, and Willamette Writers (from her Portland, Oregon days). She finds grounding and connection in western Massachusetts' community of writers. Mostly, she spends time writing and drawing and always has. >>Visit Fin's poetry page> If new to western Massachusetts and looking to connect with the writing community, here are a few links: R E S O U R C E S Western Mass. Links for Writers: (short list)
Each November local writers support 30 Poems in 30 Days, a fundraiser for the Center for New Americans based in Northampton. In 2023 we celebrated with two poetry readings: one live at Smith College, which was livestreamed, and a virtual reading (I'm in that one). Both are fun to view. While April will always be poetry month, November has emerged as a special time of purpose and sharing. Big Thanks to Sarah Sullivan, Laurie Millman, all the students and the writing-reading community all working so hard for such a good cause.
Stay in touch:
"At the Close of Day in Pieces (below) was written in the winter of 2020 when communication was limited to what we heard about each other's day and what we told each other. "I was (am) grateful for that communication, how we tried (still try) to be with each other in words even if our physical lives were (are) separate." |
we're always on the coast of something, right?
(click to view coastalwrite feed)
I am a longtime artist with oil and acrylic painting, mixed media, portraiture and up until a few years ago, photography. One of my favorite things is creating what I call doodles. Here's one, which I named, 'Pandemic Ennui.'
When I lived in CA I used to do quite a bit of photography. Here's a photo of mine called, 'The Swimmer.'
And, here's another photo I quite love - two people at the top of a dune. I call it The View.
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All photographs and artwork on this website are under copyright.
© 2024, C. D. Finley
© 2024, C. D. Finley