RAFinley Writes Books

@rafinley.bsky.social

869 Followers 284 Following

Author. Artist. Musician. Exceedingly Reluctant Animator. Terminal Eccentric. Middling Adventurer. Cat Lady. Stationary Supply Enthusiast. Chaos Gardener. Web: rafinleybooks.com Etsy: rafinleyenterprises.etsy.com

A classical painting of Narcissus, transfixed by his own reflection in a pool of water. The text on it reads: Non-political fun fact: In Greek mythology, the arrogant Narcissus is brought down by a reflecting pool. No further comment. (Attributed to John Kotarski)
Screenshot of a social media post and reply: selfdiscoveryjournals: Tell me the craziest thing someone has ever said to you. No context necessary. thisone0verhere: This was not said to me but was said in front of me at an El Pollo Loco in Burbank, "Omg it's gonna be like 100 again today, I don't get why they just don't keep the forecast at like 75 all year round, nobody likes it when it's this hot.” And then I ate three tacos al carbon by myself in stunned silence
An image from the Word Elf word count app. It reads: Wednesday, 10 June 2026 The Achill Bell What magic wants, magic gets. 12,496 of 110,000 11.4% in 5 days Left: 82 days There is a pencil icon followed by a mostly filled in tracking bar and the number 946 followed by an inverted red triangle. (The meaning would seem to be that 946 words have been entered on that day, which is a little less than the target.)
A computer animator has fallen asleep or is at least extremely bored/frustrated at her desk. She is seated in a wheeled office chair while bent forward so that her head is facedown on her keyboard. Her hand is on a computer mouse. On the desk there are two CRT computer monitors which have the following caption bubbles: “rendering frame 600 of 25,000” and “transferring 5GB…estimated 931 minutes remaining,” respectively. There is a takeaway style coffee cup overturned on the floor. The text above all of this reads: What they don’t tell you…
A happy dog, posing for a photo in a shaded, grassy alley. She has long legs and a barrel-shaped torso; disheveled, wiry fur; a single-loop of a corkscrew tail; and a wide, joyful grin. It is difficult to see her eyes beneath the long fur of her brows, but they undoubtedly hold a twinkle.
A gray and white cat lying comfortably on a tabletop. Photographed from a low angle, so the cat is looking somewhat down on the photographer. One front paw is tucked under; the other is held up against his chest as if he might want to groom it when he’s done posing.
The full image of a book cover (front, spine, back) on a computer screen. The back cover is a kind of teal or turquoise color laid over a close up of Celtic-style metalwork. There is placeholder text where the description of the book’s plot belongs. The text of the spine says “The Achill Bell” with the author’s name: R. A. Finley The front has a night scene, with the same murky teal/turquoise color overall. Weeping willow fronds hang down as if the viewer is standing underneath such a tree. There is a slow-moving river in the foreground and a multi-arched but low stone bridge in the distance. Bare trees may be seen growing in the far distance. A raven flies past, surrounded by some sort of mystical glow.
An Ode to Smokey: Smokey is soft fur and strong cuddles Sudden teeth and claw Smokey is early mornings and late nights And every time in between Sunbeam invitations and window sniffs Flashlight strawberry and scratcher frustrations Fussy kibble and my water glass Expected treats and after dinner chicken Couch sleeping and dresser top exploration Curiosity and courage Determination and comfort Smokey is my big love, as big as everything My special, my magic cat Slow blinks and long looks Arm holds and using my hand for a pillow Wonderful, wonderful Smokey My forever, my magnificent Smokey "Cat" Finley Always my love
A gray and white cat stretching up, up, up in order to tap one paw at the open can of his food on a kitchen counter. His expression is one of fierce and intense determination. He is cleverly bracing his other front paw on a cabinet handle for more stability in the extended reach.
A promotional graphic with simple text in color blocks (mainly black) for the Jackson’s Art Prize Extended Longlist for their 2026 competition.
A photo of a card and envelope. The card features a simple illustration of a pot of eight daisy-like flowers.
A greeting card and envelope. The card features a simple sketch of three daisy-like flowers and the text “Grief Sucks.”
A white and tan hamster with tiny pink sunglasses perched on its head sits behind the wheel of a pink toy car nestled in what appears to be the branches of a lighted Christmas tree. Text on the image reads: the horrors persist, but so do I
Two handmade pinball buttons. One has a crown within a red circle with a red line across it. The other reads “In America the law is king.” The letters in “LAW” are red, white, and blue, respectively. And a yellow crown sits above the A.
A screen capture from a scam email which reads: Your novel, The Vale of Silence (The Wheel of the Year Book 3), is a compelling continuation of the Wheel of the Year series, rich with atmosphere, quiet tension, and layered character development. The rebuilding of Granite Springs alongside Thia McDaniel’s evolving relationship with her powers creates a thoughtful, immersive narrative that blends contemporary fantasy, mystery, and emotional depth. Its balance of suspense, humor, and poignancy makes it particularly well-suited for readers who enjoy character-driven fantasy grounded in real stakes.
Screen capture of the Star Wars droid that looks like a movie theater trash bin with some extra bits glued on and legs.
Grace Jane (Handiboe) Henry’s Rolled Oats Cookies 3 cups rolled oats (not “quick”) 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon 2 cups sugar 1 cup raisins 1 cup butter (melted) 2 eggs (slighty baaten) 2 1/2 cups flour 1/4 cup milk - mixed with I teaspoon baking soda
A round canvas painted with a cartoonish sort of cat character. It is wearing a patterned top, perhaps a dress although that is not within frame, and a pearl necklace. There is a flat, green hat atop its head: the ears poke through. Its eyes are wide and round, looking off to the side. A cigarette, its tip red, protrudes from its mouth.
A gray and white cat hard-staring toward the camera with his mouth just slightly open. Those who know this cat might interpret this as a demand for treats.
A gray and white cat in bright yet soft lighting, looking intently out the window that has been blurred by a camera lens effect. The background colors are predominantly white and a deep, very slightly green-tinted blue.
A screenshot of a customer service chat in which the agent says: “…feel free to chat with us again. We are available from 08:00 AM to 12:00 AM EST. Have a lovely day ahead. Honestly speaking you have been the most understanding and polite customer I have interacted so far. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a joyful holiday season! [Christmas tree emoji] Take care and keep smiling always!”
The inside of a card which reads: I can't imagine the shock you must have felt - must still be feeling in the midst of all the other feelings. If I could put 10,000 hugs in here I would. Is there anything I can do for you, for real? Please know that I'm here for you.
A simple illustration of a broken flowerpot, lying on its side with dirt spilling out. Three daisy-like flowers are doing their best to survive. The text above them reads: That shouldn’t have happened.
A pointillistic landscape painting within a black frame. A rocky, tumultuous stream or creek travels toward the viewer from distant, misty mountains. Greenery grows on the banks. The colors are murky, a mix of grays and yellow-greens and aquamarines and black.
“Togetherness” A work of geometric, expressive art. Ink on a paper board edged in gold. Five elongated, black-line figures — like hard-edged brush strokes — with similarly elongated lines (arms) cutting across them. Large circles form the heads, and small circles form the hands. The two tall figure's circles are red and yellow, respectively, while the others are green, purple, and blue. All are edged with gold.
A screenshot of an Etsy store showing six winter holiday cards. Three say HAPPY NEW YEAR in cheerful, golden-yellow block print below a snowy scene of either a red lighthouse, a Dutch windmill and pedestrian bridge, or a trio of green Christmas trees (decorated with red baubles) as fireworks — painted in shiny gold — fill the sky. The other three say MERRY CHRISTMAS in the same cheerful block print but in alternating red and green. Santa and his reindeer-drawn sleigh fly across a fill moon in a night sky featuring some shiny gold-painted stars. Below is either the red lighthouse, Dutch windmill, or grouping of green Christmas trees.
A gray and white cat using a lower kitchen cabinet knob in order to stand on hind legs and stretch a front paw all the way up to the countertop in order to paw at his opened can of food.
“Forever Friends” A work of geometric, expressive art. Ink on a paper board edged in gold. Three elongated, black-line figures — like hard-edged brush strokes — with similarly elongated lines (arms) cutting across them. Large circles form the heads, and small circles form the hands. One figure is taller than the others. It is curved "down" to reach for or embrace one of the other figures while the second small figure leaps or flies above them. The tall figure's circles are purple; the other's, red and green, respectively. All are edged with gold.
A small brick house set deep in a snow covered lot. There are icy tire tracks in the long driveway. Christmas lights of red, green, yellow, blue, and purple have been flung chaotically around the front railings, shrubberies, and somewhat up into a small tree.
A small brick house set deep in a lot which is covered in snow. There are icy tire tracks in the driveway. Christmas lights in colors of red, yellow, green, blue, and purple have been strung chaotically on the railings of the front steps, various shrubberies, and somewhat into a bare-branched, small-ish tree.
“Companions” A work of geometric, expressive art. Ink on a paper board edged in gold. Three elongated, black-line figures — like hard-edged brush strokes — with similarly elongated lines (arms) cutting across them. Large circles form the heads, and small circles form the hands. One figure is taller than the others. It seems to be holding one of the other figures on its arm while the second small figure jumps up toward the unoccupied arm. The tall figure's circles are purple; the other's, red and green, respectively. All are edged with gold.
“Family Hug” A work of geometric, expressive art. Ink on a paper board edged in gold. Four elongated, black-line figures — like hard-edged brush strokes — with similarly elongated lines (arms) cutting across them. Large circles form the heads, and small circles form the hands. Three figures are similar in size and stand with outstretched arms as if embracing one another while a smaller figure seems to jump up to meet them with its arms uplifted. The colors of the circles vary: purple, blue, yellow, green. All are edged with gold.
A work of geometric, expressive art. Ink on a paper board edged in gold. Two elongated, black-line figures — like hard-edged brush strokes — with similarly elongated lines (arms) cutting across them. Large circles form the heads, and small circles form the hands. One figure is taller than the other. Both seem to be leaping while being slightly curved toward one another, with outstretched arms as if about to embrace. One figure's circles are yellow; the other's, purple. All are edged with gold.
A work of geometric, expressive art. Ink on a paper board edged in gold. Two elongated, black-line figures — like hard-edged brush strokes - with similarly elongated lines (arms) cutting across them. Large circles form the heads, and small circles form the hands. One figure is taller than the other. Both stand, slightly curved toward one another, with outstretched arms as if in an embrace. One figure's circles are blue; the other's, purple. All are edged with gold.
A work of geometric, expressive art. Ink on a paper board edged in gold. Four elongated, black-line figures — like hard-edged brush strokes — with similarly elongated lines (arms) cutting across them. Large circles form the heads, and small circles form the hands. Three figures are similar in size and stand with outstretched arms as if embracing one another while a smaller figure seems to jump up to meet them with its arms uplifted. The colors of the circles vary: purple, blue, yellow, green. All are edged with gold.
An illustrated greeting card. Merry Christmas written below a red lighthouse. Santa in his reindeer-drawn sleigh flies past the moon in the sky above.
A screenshot of three photos with the caption Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! The first photo is of a plate of traditional Thanksgiving food — turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, green beans, cranberry sauce. The second photo is of a just-carved-into turkey breast on tinfoil beside a pile of stuffing. The third photo is of a gray and white cat sitting on a kitchen floor and looking intently up at something; one paw is raised with claws out in a big ask.
The cover of a book titled The Stone of Shadows (by R. A. Finley). A raven is perched on a bare branch above an alley running between two high stone walls. Sunset-tinted clouds fill the sky overhead.
A gray and white cat has decided to cuddle against its human and grab onto her arm to draw it in and use it for a pillow. The cat is looking toward the camera with a confident, happy expression.
A gray and white cat standing on its hind legs to stretch a front paw up to a kitchen counter where his opened can of dinner sits ready to be portioned into his bowl. He does not seem to want to wait for that, and very much wants it now.
A mid-close-up of an extremely photogenic and wonderful grey and white cat, his head angled to look at something behind him and just off camera, while he lounges on a blanket-covered sofa. His eyes are half open, and the pupils wide with what the object of his gaze (me, the photographer) hopes is love.
Two pin-back buttons. One has a yellow crown encircled with and out by a red line. The other has a quote from Thomas Payne: “In America the law is king.” Law is written in big letters. The L is red; the A is white; the W is blue. A yellow crown is drawn above them.
A gray and white cat lying comfortably on a blanket made by Calamityware which features odd bat-like and alien-like creatures and is extremely comfortable for humans and felines alike. The cat is in a combination of Loaf and Sphinx poses, with one front leg tucked and the other outstretched.
Screencap of a Tweet from 2014 by @mikefossey that says: Check this shit out motherfucker [I slide one foot out from under me and fall on my ass, its not clear what kind of move I was trying to do]
An unattributed photo from social media of some kind of beverage machine sporting a post-it note that says: “I am undergoing a maintenance cycle. Please let me rest.”
Hollywood Homicide Tomatometer 31% Popcornmeter 27%
An illustration of two people in traditional Dutch costume klomping with a giant red tulip (taller than they are). Normal sized tulips fill garden beds in front of and behind them. Behind that is a row of early 20th century buildings. Above that is a line of trees before a field of blooming tulips and an old Dutch windmill. A whimsical sun shines upon it all.
The front of a greeting card. On it is a simple drawing of a broken flower pot below the text: That shouldn’t have happened. The pot is cracked with dirt spilled out. Three daisy-like flowers are obviously struggling. Only one remains upright, and even it looks dejected. One seems to be on the ground entirely. The middle one might soon follow.
A poster board has been illustrated as if it is a work of stained glass, with a multitude of different colored “sections” outlined in a thick black ink to mimic leading strips. A bunch of tulips is featured, with each of the seven being different variety (ruffled, smooth, pointed petals, rounded petals, single colors, two tone) in reds and purples and pinks. They stand amidst a wavy tangle of green leaves against a yellow “sun beam” background as emitted by an orange sun above, with a thick line of brown like a wooden planter or section of dirt below. A curved line of blue tops the poster, with a very light blue geometric design forming a border around the entire piece.
An artwork in progress. A poster board has been illustrated as if it is a work of stained glass, with a multitude of different colored “sections” to be outlined in a thicker black ink than the current thin black lines. A bunch of tulips is nearly fully painted—three out of seven flowers, each a different variety (ruffled, smooth, pointed petals, rounded petals). They stand amidst a wavy tangle of green leaves, against a yellow “sun beam” background as emitted by an orange sun above, with a thick line of brown like a wooden planter or section of dirt below. A curved line of blue tops the poster, with a very light blue geometric design forming a border around the entire piece.
Three books by R. A. Finley (next to books by Jacqueline Carey) on a metal store shelf. Two are face-out, showing their covers while the third is in so the spine shows. Both covers feature a raven and give a “fantasy genre” impression.
A sloppily-taken digital photo of a printed family photo from the 1990s: Two pairs of hands, one young, one old, captured in the midst of enthusiastically popping a small sheet of bubble wrap.
A gray and white cat curled into a cat scratcher that is shaped like a shallow bowl. A red strawberry plush toy is tucked between his front paws and chin.
Three large pin-back button pins designed to look like typical “name badge stickers” like one might get at a reception or business conference. One is blue and white, the second is green and white, the third is red and white. The blue one has white print which reads “HELLO my dog’s name is” and the name “Happy” is written in black pen. Below, there is a cartoon image of a dog’s face. The green one has white print which reads “HELLO my horse’s name is” and the name “Whimsy” is written in black pen. Below, there is a cartoon image of a horse’s face. The red one has white print which reads “HELLO my cat’s name is” and the name “Smokey” is written in black pen. Below, there is a cartoon image of a cat’s face.
Three large pin-back button pins designed to look like typical “name badge stickers” like one might get at a reception or business conference. One is blue and white, the second is green and white, the third is red and white. The blue one has white print which reads “HELLO my dog’s name is” and the name “Happy” is written in black pen. Below, there is a cartoon image of a dog’s face. The green one has white print which reads “HELLO my horse’s name is” and the name “Whimsy” is written in black pen. Below, there is a cartoon image of a horse’s face. The red one has white print which reads “HELLO my cat’s name is” and the name “Smokey” is written in black pen. Below, there is a cartoon image of a cat’s face.
The screenshot of a social media post by @_tomcashman which says “Someone we ended up here.” An arrow points to the narrow space between two circles of a Venn Diagram. One circle is labeled “Apocalypse;” the other, “Having to go to work.”
A gray and white cat cuddled with a strawberry-character plus toy on a bowl-shaped scratcher-bed.
A gray and white cat lying down in a dish-shaped scratcher-bed and happily batting, kicking, and bitting at a strawberry-character plush toy.
A gray and white cat bravely getting on a round, sort of bowl-shaped cardboard scratcher to reclaim his strawberry-character plush toy and investigate the newness of the scratcher itself.