C. Desirée Finley (Fin) poet + writer
 C. Desirée Finley (Fin)
C. Desirée Finley is a writer and artist currently living in the quiet hill towns of western Mass. Her poetry can be found in Straw Dog Writers Guild's (2020) Pandemic Poetry, Silkworm Journal [Pushcart nom], Cape Cod Times, Willawaw Journal [Pushcart nom] Meat For Tea, and in winter 2025, The Brussels Review. Finley, who has lived in California and NYC says, when referring to life in a small town, "I love having a mountain in my backyard."
[January's banner shows Bridge of Flowers, Shelburne Falls, Mass.] 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 has attended U. Mass., Simmons Graduate School of Management and LaSalle University, where she was a writing fellow. Finley has volunteered as an Americorps literacy tutor and with Young Writers in Santa Cruz. Now transplanted and Berkshire adjacent, she finds both grounding and connection in western Massachusetts' community of writers. Mostly, she spends time writing and drawing and always has. 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 on Thursday nights and past interviews with local and regional writers are easily accessed and a good listen. >>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> 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)
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." 
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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. The visual feeds 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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All photographs and artwork on this website are under copyright.
© 2024, C. D. Finley
© 2024, C. D. Finley