JAMIE LAMMERS
GOLD HILL — A second-generation Boulderite and a resident of Gold Hill for over 40 years, Leslie Finn has a strong connection to Colorado. Her husband, Christopher, owns the Gold Hill Inn with his family, who bought the property in 1962.
Christopher serves as the chief of the Gold Hill Fire Department, for which Leslie has volunteered for the Gold Hill Fire Department for over 36 years, and she works as a cleaner for the inn’s Bluebird Lodge, which she considers her “little house.”
Leslie Finn has written since elementary school, and the history and beauty of Colorado informs her writing. In 2024, she published her novel Oh Them Days on Blue Hoss Mountain, the first novel in what quickly turned into a series.
The book is based on a poem written by Eugene Field, who served as the managing editor of The Denver Tribune after moving to Denver in 1880. He had previously worked in The St. Louis Journal, and later worked for The Chicago Tribune. His father, attorney Rosewell Martin Field, represented Dred Scott in his fight for freedom from slavery.
During his time writing in Denver, Field visited Gold Hill, writing about his experience in the poem “Casey’s Table D’Hote.” Owners Frank and Barbara Finn later used the poem as a basis for their type of menu.
The poem’s main character, a cook at the inn, is brought to life in Finn’s book as Casey Cotter. The book focuses on his closest confidant, Samantha Aikens, as she fights for independence and works to prove her innocence in the murder of her abusive stepfather.
Finn spent five years writing the first draft of the book. Her book was expansive; she heard at the time that first-time authors often don’t get books over 70,000 words published, and her first draft was around double that length.
She ultimately decided to self-publish this draft into two separate books, with the first released last year. Now, Finn is ready to release the second book, When The Skies Wuz Fair and Blue, which develops the world and characters further. She is currently working on the third book in the series.
She loves being able to share the little-known history of the town she loves through this piece of historical fiction, and she’s found encouraging and unexpected connection and feedback from residents engaging with the history and characters.
Her primary goal with the books isn’t to become a massively successful author. She says when ideas and thoughts of stories come to her, she has to put them to paper, and she wants to share those stories with others.
Leslie Finn will host a signing of her book When The Skies Wuz Fair and Blue on Friday, September 8, 2025, starting at 4:30 p.m., at the Bluebird Lodge, located at 401 Main Street in Gold Hill. The signing will take place until 5:30, and readings and a Q&A will take place until 6 p.m.
Snacks, as well as copies of Oh Them Days on Blue Hoss Mountain, will be available at the event. To RSVP for the event, email finn.leslie@gmail.com. To learn more about Finn’s books, head to ohthemdaysonredhossmountain.com.