About C D Finley : writing and drawing my way through life

C. Desirée Finley (Fin) poet + writer

C. Desirée Finley (Fin)

C. Desirée Finley is a writer and artist living in a western Mass. hill town. Her poetry is can be found in Straw Dog Writers Guild's (2020) Pandemic Poetry, Silkworm Journal [Pushcart nomination], Cape Cod Times, Willawaw Journal [Pushcart nomination] Meat For Tea, and The Brussels Review. Finley says, when referring to living in a small hill town, "I love having a mountain in my backyard."

In addition to poetry, Finley writes quirky short stories and has experimented with hybrid forms. It all begins, as Ocean Vuong would say, with curiosity," she admits. Finley was guest on WMUR, housed at U Mass, Amherst. You can listen in on spotify. Poet Talk is hosted by Ellen Miller-Mack Thursday nights and past interviews with local and regional writers are easily accessed.

>>view Fin's poetry page

MOTIVATION (for writing):
"I love the apron of land behind where I live, how I can see the river when enough leaves have fallen in winter, looking at moonlight on the snow. 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. Poetry affects everything."
>>Visit Fin's poetry page>

Finley is a member of Straw Dog Writers Guild, Florence Poets Society, New England Poetry Club, AWP, SCBWI, and Willamette Writers (from her CA-Portland, Oregon days). She finds grounding and connection in western Massachusetts' community of writers. Mostly, she spends time writing and drawing and always has.

If new to western Massachusetts and looking to connect with the writing community, this page offers a few links:

R E S O U R C E S
Western Mass. Links for Writers: (short list)

Straw Dog Writers' Guild
Florence Poets Society
Pioneer Valley Writers Workshop
Forbes Library Writing Room group with Tzivia Gover, MFA
Writers In Progress
New England Poetry Club
The LAVA Center
Workshops with Mass MOCA, The Clark Institute, and Williams College Museum of Art. Jan Freeman and other talented leaders.
In 2025 First Sundays (a switch from Tuesday) have an in-person connection at LAVA in Greenfield Mass., thanks to Paul Word Richmond - find him on FB.
2nd Sundays is an evening online venue for those wishing to share poetry. It's managed by Straw Dog Writers and you'll find a sign-up on their site.

The Straw Dog Writers' Guild Resources page offers lots more information about local writing community activities. There are lots of things going on in Easthampton, Northampton, Turners Falls and Greenfield.

Stay in touch:

Instagram as @aletafin
FB as 'C D Fin Finley'
@rivering.bsky.social - a fledgling bluesky social a/c
use the contact form

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."

As far as the visual side goes, Finley admits that
besides writing, "pretty much forever," she has been an artist since grade school, working primarily in portraiture. That core of painting morphed into photography, beginning with film in the 1970's and transitioning to digital. Creating linear drawings is a new love. Here's one, drawn during early 2000, which is named, 'Pandemic Ennui.'

Finley adds, "Now that I have two new what I call pre-owned corneas, (transplants!) photography has returned. Soon, I think, there will be a rendezvous with my SLR. Visual moments feed so much of what I think and feel and it's a miracle to be able to see again." Visit Design and Gallery pages for an historical peek at more art and photography.

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Use the Contact page to be in touch.

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C. Desirée Finley (Fin) ​poet + writer ​

C. Desirée Finley (Fin) poet + writer