Interview with Bethany Jarmul, Runner Up in the WOW! Q1 2025 Essay Contest

Sunday, March 02, 2025
Bethany Jarmul is an Appalachian writer, poet, writing coach, and webinar instructor. She’s the author of two chapbooks, including a mini-memoir Take Me Home from Belle Point Press. Her debut poetry collection Lightning Is a Mother was released on February 7 from ELJ Editions. Her work has been published in many magazines including Rattle, Brevity, HAD, and Salamander. Her writing was selected for Best Spiritual Literature 2023 and Best Small Fictions 2024, and has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, The Best of the Net, Best Microfiction, and Wigleaf Top 50.  Several years ago, Bethany got her start in the literary world through taking classes offered by Women on Writing, so she’s very grateful for this organization and all that they offer. Connect with her at bethanyjarmul.com or on social media: @BethanyJarmul.

Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: Congratulations on being a runner up in the Q1 2025 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest for "When the Scheduler Calls and Refers to My Upcoming Procedure as an "Emergency Colonoscopy”. It was a very powerful "life flashing before my eyes" piece with a focus on family. Do you often write about family?

Bethany: Thank you! Yes, in fact, my mini-memoir (a chapbook of flash nonfiction essays) Take Me Home, is about family and roots and home. It's about coming to terms with growing up in West Virginia and what it means to belong somewhere even after you've left. 

WOW: You identify yourself as an "Appalachian writer". Can you share with us what that means to you and how it influences you as a writer?

Bethany: I now live near Pittsburgh, PA which is Appalachia, although certainly more urban. I was born and raised in West Virginia, the heart of rural Appalachia. My great grandpas were coal miners. My grandpas were a factory worker and a carpenter. I come from a line of hard-working, Bible-believing folks. The mountains themselves, the creeks and the critters, they all show up in my writing. As well as the destruction of nature, the mining and fracking and polluted drinking water. The sense of belonging somewhere, to a people, even after I’d left home. A deep spirituality and religiosity. The culture, a rich history of storytelling and folk music and pepperoni rolls and moonshine. The friendly and hard-working people. The unsafe working conditions and oppression that has often been experienced by the people living here. All these things influence who I am as a writer and what I engage with in my writing. 

WOW: What an image evoking description! You've been publishing and winning writing prizes for about four years now. When did you start writing? 

Bethany: I've been writing for as long as I can remember. However, there was a period of about five years in my early 20s when I didn't write. I returned to creative writing in 2021, as a new mother during the pandemic. In fact, I took a class through Women on Writing then, and that was near the beginning of my publishing journey. It was in 2021, when I first discovered literary magazines and began publishing my work. 

WOW: Your work takes many forms: essays, poetry, short fiction. Do you have a preference for any particular format?

Bethany: I write short things. Flash essays, flash fiction, and poetry. The large majority of my work is 1,000 words or less. What fascinates me most about writing is what language can do. I like to focus on each word, and writing in compressed word counts allows me to do that. Also, I'm a busy mom of two preschoolers, so it also fits my lifestyle. 

WOW: Aside from being a busy mom, what do you feel is your biggest challenge as a writer?

Bethany: My biggest challenge is balancing the creative mindset and the business mindset. Although being a successful writer means putting some time and effort into the business side of things, If I get too focused on or spend too much time on publications and promotions, it does impact my creativity and how I feel about my work. 

WOW: I think many of us struggle with that particular Catch-22. What is your next goal for your writing career?

Bethany: What's next for me? I'm going to continue to pursue excellence in the craft of writing and help others do the same. I have another poetry manuscript completed, so I hope to find a publisher for that. And in the meantime, just write my heart out. That's pretty much always the plan. 

WOW: That sounds like the ideal plan, considering just how much you've accomplished in your brief writing career. We look forward to reading more!
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What Does Your Book Sound Like?

Thursday, February 27, 2025

Occasionally, I'll receive press releases from authors interested in a review on my blog. I was about to pass on a recent one (it was in a genre I rarely read) when these words popped out at me:


"Each novel will also receive their respective soundtrack."

What? Novels have soundtracks now? I had to learn more.

I contacted Lisa K. Stephenson, author of the Fiona Gold YA Science Fantasy series, to learn more about what goes into creating the soundtrack for a book. Like every author, Stephenson pointed to the desire to stand apart from the many other authors and books on the market as the origin for her soundtrack. She describes her soundtrack as describing the journey of her main character Fiona Gold. In her words:

  • "Hello" is the opening song and describes the need for acceptance, "Hi, Hello, can you hear me?" Fiona wants to be heard by those around her who she believes should want to be a part of the journey with her. 
  • "No Limit" which is where Fiona starts to spend more time in the water and she's taking in the Modiri around her realizing there's really no limit to what they can do, especially for her who happens to be a hybrid. Living on land, her kind is oppressed and most will never rebel.
  • "Who I Am" is a lovely ballad about Fiona finally accepting her Modiri heritage and choosing a side.
  • "Shells by the Sea" is Fiona living her life under the water, happy and carefree, an upbeat afro-pop song. 
  • "December" which closes out this soundtrack is an orchestra number with some amazing vocals to wrap up book 1 and is also a nod to Fiona's underwater home being in the Arctic where The Snows of Khione reside under the rulership of King Khione and Lady Rudita.

She also thinks of the music as a bridge after reading book 1 to get excited for book 2. "I think it adds depth to the story as a whole. I recommend that readers read through the book first and then listen to the soundtrack. When I did that and opened my ears to listen to "Who I Am" for example, I began to cry a bit lol. The song is so beautiful and goes perfectly with the story."

Personally, I listened to "Hello" and "Who I Am" and feel that, just like a book cover, trailer, website, social media presence, music could be another way to attract potential readers' attention. To make them think that your book might be their next read. Stephenson is thinking even bigger about the role of her soundtrack. She explained, "I knew I wanted the music to tell the book's story because ultimately I plan to pitch this novel to movie studios and some of the actors and actresses who I specifically [write] characters around - I believe that since I went into this project knowing it will one day be on the big screen, that adding the music and having a say so in its composition was really important, at least for me."

With that goal in mind, Stephenson held a world wide writing camp for writers, musicians and producers to submit songs. Because she owns the masters of the songs, Stephenson was able to monetize them. The songs are available to stream and purchase for .99 each and whenever they are used on YouTube they generate revenue. At first, it sounds like the perfect promotional tool. But then Stephenson explained that the cost for the five songs, including gaining exclusivity and producing, cost over $15,000, with musicians and writers still receiving royalties.

Eek! So, is music beyond the reach of most authors? That depends on your goal. If you want to monetize a soundtrack with original songs it probably is. However, if you know a musician who is willing to write a song and grant you copyright permission, you can use the tune for your book trailer or website and have your own mini soundtrack. To use any artist's song you have to obtain copyright permission. Independent  musicians can charge as little as $100 while well known stars can charge $10K+. But always get legal permissions or you'll end up paying even more in copyright infringement fees. More about that here.  

Too much work? Try including a list of suggested songs and musicians on your website or on your book club page (don't embed YouTube videos without permission, remember someone else own the copyright to that performance). Having a list of songs to listen to is a great way for readers of historical fiction to immerse themselves in the time period. Or you could avoid the tangles of copyright law with music that is in the public domain (music made prior to 1925), royalty-free or on Creative Commons.

Music is just another way to add another aspect to your readers' experience. If costs for copyright permissions were no object, what songs would be on the soundtrack for your latest writing?

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from DIY projects to tea to butterflies. She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing and a writing tutor at her local university. Get to know her @jodiwebbwrites,  Facebook and blogging at Words by Webb. 


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A Letter to Myself About Writer's Block

Tuesday, February 25, 2025



I’ve been having an issue with writer’s block lately. Don’t get me wrong—I’m still writing every day for my blog and podcast as I have deadlines to meet! But I also have a new novel that I’ve taken the time to fully outline, however, for some reason, I can’t bring myself to even begin to write the opening pages. I would like to begin this project while I await hearing back from a few agents on my current manuscript, but I’m letting responses I've already received from some agents hold me back. I’ve begun to doubt that my writing will ever be "literary or good enough" to be published traditionally.

WOW! Executive Editor Angela Mackintosh mentioned she had been taking a writing class, and the instructor discussed this very topic because it’s so prevalent among writers. The instructor asked the writers to write her a letter explaining why they were “blocked.” I decided to give that a try, and here are a few excerpts from this “letter to myself.” 

I’ve been writing fiction for many years now and thoroughly enjoy it. I got my first taste of success when WOW! Women on Writing published my flash fiction story, “In the Depths,” inspired by the real-life disappearance of Kyle Fleischmann from Charlotte, N.C. Somehow, I picked up a few more awards from Writer’s Digest, a publication I’ve always greatly admired. 

My most recent novel, “It’s a Miracle I’m Alive,” has me inching closer to the goal of being a published novelist. It’s nothing I’ve ever written or read before, almost a blend of genres if you will. I’ve described it as women’s fiction, new adult, mystery, suspense/thriller, and book club fiction. It’s inspired by my podcasting journey, and the protagonist is a podcaster. I’ve had three manuscript requests since last summer and one partial. This has never happened before with any other novels I've written! 

But hearing back from some of the early requests made me feel like my work simply isn’t “literary” enough. I’ve spent most of my career writing non-fiction, so I guess this makes sense to me. I feel like I’ve gotten a good grasp on plotting, outlining, and creating an “intriguing premise,” but now I worry that my writing is lacking. I did, after all, get rejected from the only two MFA programs I ever applied to, and I feel like it’s because I didn’t have enough fiction published at the time. 

For now, I’m going to print out the entire outline and get to work. It doesn’t have to be perfect. I can trade chapters with some of my writer friends and I know they will show me where the work needs improvement along the way. This is a story that needs to be told for women my age, and I can’t continue to be afraid of doing that. 

It seems fitting that today I completed this month’s novel for my neighborhood book club, “Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting.” The protagonist of the novel, Iona, is an unforgettable 57-year-old British woman who eventually changes the lives of a small group of commuters in her orbit. The author, Clare Pooley, discussed the inspiration for her novel in a section at the back of the book. 

Her words struck me to the core: “It makes me furious that as men age, they gain gravitas. They become “silver foxes.” Women, however, become invisible. We cannot allow this to happen, my friends. We must all be more Iona. We all deserve, like Iona, to have a Triumphant Second Act. Writing is mine. I had my first novel published at the age of fifty, and I am grateful every day to all the readers all over the world who’ve bought and recommended my books.” 

As a writer who just turned 48 this past fall, Pooley gave me the pep talk I needed to continue pursuing my second act, my dream of becoming a published novelist. As far as I’m concerned, I’ve earned it. 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who produces the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas, which has received more than 500,000 downloads from all over the world. Learn more at www.missinginthecarolinas.com and www.FinishedPages.com.
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Interview with Meredith Miller, Third Place Winner in the WOW! Q1 2025 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Sunday, February 23, 2025

 


After meeting her first love (copywriting), Meredith enjoyed a successful 20+ year career writing and creating motion picture advertising for every genre from horror to popular animation. She is the author of two children’s books through one of the first read aloud apps. Now she writes primarily creative non-fiction, flash, and essays. Her personal story, “Mohawk” was performed at the nationwide showcase, “Expressing Motherhood.” She is a submission reader for Hippocampus Magazine and has volunteered as a mentor for Write Girl. meredithmillerwriter.com 









 ----------Interview by Renee Roberson 

WOW: Welcome, Meredith, and congratulations! "It Does Look Like a Brain" shares an insightful and emotional take on the journeys of motherhood that we are often not prepared to take. How did you get the idea to weave your experience in Peru with your daughter's trip to the hospital? 

Meredith: Thank you. Weirdly, the ant memory popped into my mind in real time while sitting in the ER. In both a literal and literary sense, I wanted to travel (escape) during the essay, far away from current difficulties. My hope was to give both the narrator and the reader a much-needed break from intensity. Also, writing about emotions/reactions such as shock in a setting removed in time and space from the more current scene softens the “telling” (again, protecting the reader) and acts as a reminder that everything/everyone/basic human feeling is ultimately connected. 

WOW: Writing creative nonfiction can be tricky and overwhelming at the start. Do you have any tips for writers on how they brainstorm ideas for their essays? 

Meredith: Prompts: If stuck, finding prompts can help to generate new ideas or new ways of incorporating the stories that have always been there. Look to magazines, journals, books, writers or teachers you like for prompts. One piece of advice I received was to experiment writing one experience as a letter, a comedy, a drama, a recipe… one scene in different ways. It can help open up a new way of thinking about a piece. 

Take a class: Always helpful and can create community. Giving and receiving feedback from fellow writers is key. 

Write a lot: Write with all the senses in mind. Don’t worry about the finished product. Everyone has their own process: Everyone has that nagging image, moment, or conversation, person or dream that they can’t shake. Start there. Then write about the present, the small things – the mustache of a stranger on the train, the crack in the sidewalk near the park, morning coffee - do you wrap your hands around a gifted mug or just slurp it down on your way out the door? As long as writing happens often, connections will be made. Even if you write for five minutes a day: Words on the page may not fit neatly into sentences or paragraphs at first but keep the writing practice moving. 

Personally: I tend to open and close documents a lot, adding, delete, moving things around before examining from an editorial point of view. Have fun. Join a writing group. Read. I hope this is helpful. 

WOW: Very helpful tips! You mention in your bio that your first love was copywriting. How did you first get exposed to the craft and what are some of the things you loved most about it? 

Meredith: I was first exposed to copywriting when I started my career in motion picture advertising (trailers and tv commercials). You know, the famous, “In A World…” I love word play, the challenge of communicating in few words (the ultimate Flash), how even one word choice can shape and communicate tone, meaning, impact, interest level, style of an entire campaign. 

WOW: That sounds like a wonderful experience! We'd love to hear more about the two picture books you've had published. 

Meredith: “Oh Buoy” is little poem about the harbor seals in CA climbing on top of a buoy one by one. If you’ve ever seen them in person, it’s pretty funny how many blubbery brown bodies can squeeze together. (Spoiler alert. Ha) they fall off when a bird lands on them. “Farm Fresh Pajamas” is a silly story about a farm animal complaining a Llama ate her pajamas – illustrated beautifully by Cal Sparrow. Things get more ridiculous as all the animals start complaining: “The emus chewed my shoe, it’s true, it was new! Then the ewe and a gnu chewed my other shoe too!” 

WOW: As a reader for a literary journal, what are some common mistakes you see writers make during the submissions process? 

Meredith: Um… the mistake of not following submission requirements? Some essays aren’t quite ready for publication or not the right fit for a certain journal. But I wouldn’t say I see a lot of mistakes.

WOW: That makes a lot of sense. What journals accept is subjective, but even I've been guilty myself of not reading submission requirements closely enough. It's an important step! Thanks again for being here today, Meredith, and we look forward to reading more from you in the future. 
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Interview With Odyssey Writing Workshops Graduate, Ai Jiang

Wednesday, February 19, 2025

If you want to use the summer to improve your writing, you may consider joining a one-on-one intensive workshop with the Odyssey Writing Workshop program. Since its inception in 1996, the Odyssey Writing Workshop has become one of the most highly respected workshops for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror in the world. You can join one of their three private writing workshops teaches you what you need to know, at the pace right for you, in extensive one-on-one sessions. Sign up today! Your application deadline is April 1, 2025. 

We're interviewing a graduate of the program, Ai Jiang, who shares about her personal experience with the program. She is a Chinese-Canadian writer, winner of the Bram Stoker®, Nebula and Ignyte Awards, and Hugo, Astounding, Locus, and BSFA Award finalist, and an immigrant from Shanghu, Changle, Fujian currently residing in Toronto, Ontario. Her work can be found in F&SF, The Dark, Uncanny, The Masters Review, among others. She is the recipient of Odyssey Workshop’s 2022 Fresh Voices Scholarship and the author of Linghun and I AM AI. The first book of her novella duology, A Palace Near the Wind, is forthcoming 2025 with Titan Books. Her debut novel, An Empire Above Opera, will be coming from Titan Books in 2026.  Find her on most social media platforms and for more information go to aijiang.ca.

--- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: First of all, thank you so much for chatting with me today! I learned that you are a graduate of the Personal Odyssey Writing Workshop. What led you to taking a workshop with them?

Ai: The Odyssey Workshop, before it became Your Personal Odyssey, was already extremely well-known and much spoken about in the writing community when I first started in the short fiction space, and it was one I’d always wanted to attend. I’d applied during my MSc in Creative Writing as I wanted to continue to improve my craft as well as find a program that was very science fiction/fantasy targeted. Your Personal Odyssey came at the perfect time. I’d also noticed one of my newly favourite authors, R.F. Kuang, was a graduate of the workshop.

WOW: I've heard so many good things about this course, especially for science fiction and fantasy writers. Why is it so important for writers to invest in their skills with courses?

Ai: One thing someone once said was “learn the rules so you can break them,” and I think this is particularly true when it comes to writing, at least for me personally, so I can better understand why traditional story structures work so well, why they appeal to readers, and how I can change and manipulate my stories unconventionally to achieve the same affects or perhaps elicit very different reactions and emotions from my readers. I think it’s also important for writers to learn from a variety of other authors so they can see how their processes may differ or adopt tools by these instructors to help improve their own craft. Much like reading the work of others, especially for early writers, I think it’s important for them to invest in acquiring story fundamentals even if they go on to leave them behind as they discover their own voice and style.

WOW: I totally agree! The best way to know how to break the rules is by knowing how to use them in the first place. How did this workshop improve your writing?

Ai: The workshop offered one-on-one guidance that targeted my specific strengths and weaknesses, offering in-depth critiques on all my submissions, which helped me recognize and be able to fully tackle what I already knew I lacked in my work but also offered new revelations about the shortcomings of my craft. I was able to gain skills to better sustain narratives and plot in long form and achieve greater coherency in the same in my short form work. I gained new tools that I can use both in my pre-writing process, craft and revision practices in general as well. The workshop also improved my critique skills in elevating my ability to dissect stories of others and that feeds into my own revision process, helping me better spot inconsistencies and holes in my own work.

WOW: You have such incredible successes under your belt, as a writer. What advice can you pass along to those who hope to make 2025 their year for creative writing?

Ai: I think keeping in mind that writing is subjective is very important, as well as what your goals are as a writer—is it to achieve acclaim? Commercial success? Critical success? Win awards? Make a living? Create art? Write the book you’ve always wanted to read? I think it all feeds into what you end up writing, and sometimes, if we’re lucky, it might hit all the categories. But I would say to write what you truly desire, and your readers will come, and that every piece is an attempt, you only have to start and finish, and it doesn’t have to be perfect, because there is always the next piece waiting to be written.

WOW: I love that! What important lessons have you learned through your publishing journey that you want to share?

Ai: Don’t take rejections personally even though sometimes it can really feel that way, and that persistence, at least for me, seems to be the key to surviving in this industry, along with passion, because readers can always tell if you aren’t enjoying what you’re writing.

WOW: That is hard but important to remember. When is it a good time in someone's writing journey to take this type of workshop and why?

Ai: I think the best time to take this workshop is when you are ready to be utterly focused and immersed in the improvement of your craft, when you are in a good mental space for rigorous studies as well as able to handle in-depth and intense feedback on your work, when you can step away from your writing and view it with the aim to dissect and reassemble and not be afraid to discard your darlings, and when you are open to trying new things with your pre-writing, writing, and revision process because this is a workshop that will force you out of your comfort zone and make it feel as though you’ve taken a nose-dive before you digest the feast that it offers and begin to soar.

WOW: I think that timing is the best, too. Thank you so much for talking with us today! 
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Studying Scenes or Mystery Writing or Self Publishing or . . .

Tuesday, February 18, 2025

Recently Angela Mackintosh was telling a group of us about the amazing class she is taking. It is Jordan Rosenfeld’s Scene Crafting Masterclass. There are video lessons and a workbook. One of the things that Angela likes best is that the instructor does the lessons as well so that you get to see how her scenes develop. Hmm. I’m getting ready to revise a piece of fiction. I bet my scenes could use some work. To take this course, you must be a member of the Writing Mastery Academy which costs $29/month or $289/year. 

I’m in the middle of a series of deadlines so I decided to think it over. 

Meanwhile an email dropped into my inbox. I could sign up for Write Way Better Scenes with Anne Hawley and Rachelle Ramirez. It is part of Pages and Platforms. For $159, I would be able to attend three live sessions with video replays for a year. Was the universe trying to tell me something? 

Still, I had a deadline to meet. When I needed a break, I got up and looked around my office. Despite approximately 3.5 board-feet of how-to books, I didn’t have anything specifically on scenes. So I popped over to my library’s site and Amazon, curious about what I would find. The list included: 
The Writer’s Guide to Vivid Scenes and Characters by S. A. Soule 
The Writer’s Guide to Characters, Plots, and Scenes by S. A. Soule 
Fiction Writing Tools by S. A. Soule 
The Craft of Scene Writing: Beat by Beat to a Better Script by Jim Mercurio 
Scene and Structure by Jack Bickham 
Scenes and Sequels: How to Write Page Turning Fiction by Mike Klaasen 

As I looked at the list of books I was finding, I realized that most but not all of them focused on scene. Maybe some of the books I have here also have sections on scene. Sure, I focus on writing nonfiction, but a lot of the books I have in 3.5 feet of shelf space are on fiction writing. And there are an embarrassing number that I purchased but haven’t read, haven’t read in their entirety, or haven’t read in a very long time. 

In reality, if the universe is trying to tell me something, it is that I have a lot of options. There are a lot of things for me yet to learn about writing. And maybe just maybe I might start that study with what I have here in my office. Not that that reality is going to keep me from signing up for WOW! classes on mystery writing, first chapters, or self-publishing. Let's be serious.  I like taking classes.

What are your favorite ways to learn? 

 --SueBE

  • Click here to find her newsletter.
Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 60 books for young readers.  

She is also the instructor for 3 WOW classes which begin on the first Monday of every month. She teaches:
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Interview with Court Harler: Q1 2025 CNF Essay Contest 2nd Place Winner

Sunday, February 16, 2025
Court’s Bio: Court(ney) Harler (she/her) is a queer writer, editor, and educator based in Las Vegas, Nevada. She holds an MFA from University of Nevada, Reno at Lake Tahoe (2017) and an MA from Eastern Washington University (2013). Court is currently editor in chief of CRAFT Literary Magazine and editorial director for Discover New Art, and has read and/or written for UNT Press’s Katherine Anne Porter Prize, The Masters Review, Funicular Magazine, Reflex Fiction, and Chicago Literati in recent years. She also instructs and edits for Project Write Now, and formerly hosted their podcast, PWN's Debut Review. For her creative work, Court has been honored by fellowships and/or grants from Key West Literary Seminar, Writing By Writers, Community of Writers, Napa Valley Writers' Conference, and Nevada Arts Council. Court’s work has been published in multiple genres in literary magazines around the world. Links to her publications and other related awards can be found at https://harlerliterary.llc. Find her on Instagram @CourtneyHarler. 

If you haven't done so already, check out Court's award-winning essay "How to Breathe" and then return here for a chat with the author. 

WOW: Congratulations on placing second in the Q1 2025 Creative Nonfiction Contest! How did you begin writing your essay and how did it and your writing processes evolve as you wrote? 

Court: I'd been thinking about breath for a long time, and why breathing, and general matters of breath, had sometimes seemed problematic for me. So, my subconscious had been working on that idea in the background, probably for years, but the true catalyst, the actual beginning of the essay, was that text exchange. So, I made the launch the launch. And from there, I think I wrote the rest of the piece in one sitting. Granted, I had also been thinking about segmentation and fragmentation, and I had wanted to try a new (to me) structure for a flash essay. The sections seemed to flow organically from my mind right through my typing fingers. After the initial headrush of drafting, the piece underwent some tightening, but honestly, very little radical revision. 

WOW: That’s a nice combination of factors you used to pull your piece together. What did you learn about yourself or your writing by creating this essay? 

Court: The essay helped me identify and analyze my history of trauma surrounding breath. I realized that my trauma was older than I thought—that it likely began with my own birth, then was compounded by my son's birth and death. I desperately wanted to understand why breathing had never seemed "natural" to me as a bodily function, and why I felt so fiercely protective of my own breath, even when I should be letting go, trusting and relaxing. I mean, yes, we all need to breathe to live, but my issues seemed to extend beyond mere self-preservation. And it was a great relief to finally recognize those primordial fears, and to wrangle with them in a productive way. 

WOW: Wow, that is a powerful realization. Thank you for sharing that, and your essay, with us. I love hearing about the healing properties of writing. You have an impressive writing resume. Of your many literary accomplishments, which one most stands out to you and why? 

Court: Haha, you're asking me to choose between my children, which is impossible to do. I know that some literary critics feel like the mother-writer metaphor is overdone at best, fundamentally flawed at worst, but I do feel a particular type of maternal fondness for my work. I grow frustrated with it, too, just as I've done with my biological children. Maternal love can be sometimes fickle, as well, a terrible lesson I learned from my own mother. Or maybe it's more generous to say that sometimes mothers are...tired. When I read over my published work—which I do from time to time to remind myself of where my words reside in the world—I sometimes fall in love again with the text, and other times I grow frustrated with its obvious limitations. But I've learned that those natural feelings of inadequacy are my own and shouldn't be attributed to the "children" themselves. 

WOW: Which creative nonfiction essays or writers have inspired you most, and in what ways did they inspire you? 

Court: I know I am not alone in this praise, but I so admire Aimee Nezhukumatathil's deep connection with the natural world. The way that she situates herself within the world, with such deep respect for nature's creatures and landscapes. She writes a beautiful, tender blend of personal memoir and ecological literature. She's a wonderful writing instructor as well. I took an online workshop with her a few years ago on the nocturne and left the class feeling truly inspired. I hope to catch her on tour for her new book this spring, when she visits Northern Kentucky University, my undergrad alma mater. 

WOW: How wonderful to have been taught by someone whose work you admire so deeply. If you could tell your younger self anything about writing, what would it be? 

Court: Though I knew I was a writer early in life, I spent many years denying myself that identity. I let others degrade my interest in the art for the sake of financial security. Security is necessary, of course, but you can live securely as a writer—there are ways. I'm lucky that my day gig as an editor keeps the lights on while I continue to explore my craft, and I'm especially lucky that my day gig connects me with talented writers passionate about their work. I learn so much from editing the work of others, but I do sometimes lose focus on my own writing goals. So, I think I would tell my younger self to follow the light within, the one leading me to words and their wisdoms. 

WOW: I love that advice, and I imagine that rings true for many other writers, too. Thank you for sharing your writing with us and for your thoughtful responses. Happy writing! 


Interviewed by Anne Greenawalt, founder and editor-in-chief of Sport Stories Press, which publishes sports books by, for, and about sportswomen and amateur athletes. Engage on Twitter or Instagram @GreenMachine459.
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Friday Speak Out!: Wouldst Thou Read Medieval Dialogue?

Friday, February 14, 2025
by Terri Lewis

Ten years ago I was struggling to finish a novel when by chance I encountered the story of Isabelle d’Angoulême, and in short order, she completely swamped my imagination. Using a few meager facts—when quite young, she’d been stolen from her fiancé by King John of England who married her and whisked her away to England—I’d daydream scenes, certain a great novel was hidden in her life.

I should mention that thanks to a brilliant college professor, I’d long loved medieval history. We’d read original texts such as writs of charter, excommunications, or guild laws, and discussed what those texts meant to the people they touched. I became fascinated by the dynasties, marriages, clothes, and illuminations; the Cloisters museum in New York City and Musee d’Orsay in Paris were favorites; and when I traveled, I sought out cathedrals, stained glass, and castles. I felt prepared to bring a woman in the early 13th century to life.

And that was the point. My Isabelle would step off the page as a woman who gained power in difficult times; she’d entrance the reader as she had me. Although unpublished, I had been working on my craft for over ten years. I knew how to create a plot, tension, and a believable character who transformed through experience.

So I abandoned the other novel and began. Soon I had Isabelle, John, and Hugh, the fiancé, riding through great forests, walking and dancing in stone rooms heated by fire. But then I ran into a difficulty. How did they talk? For a relatable story, Isabelle and John’s dialog needed a sense of difference, but mustn’t sound stilted. The minute they said prithee or doth, their reality would disappear and the story would cease to resonate for a modern reader.

Dialog has many functions. It should forward the plot, but also establish tone and reveal character. Word choice is key. When I remember my grandfather saying, “How’s that now?” his rough whiskers and sly humor comes into focus. My sister’s pet phrase “They’ll figure it out,” evokes the time when her kids were teens. What were medieval equivalents? I wanted to evoke real people living in a completely foreign era.

Research told me Isabelle and John likely spoke a mixture of Latin, Middle English, and some variant of French, so I inserted bits of modern French and touches of Latin but avoided archaic language such as alas or thy/thee/thine. Eventually I did allow an occasional oddity such as “Walk on, 'tis cold,” or “I leave on the morrow.”

I also renounced contractions when the characters spoke. Cannot and is not would give a tinge of distance. But I retained contractions in general text so the narrative could flow naturally to the modern ear.

Because Isabelle lived in a time of war when swearing would seem natural, I searched for pertinent swear words. Some were hilarious. I chose maléfice, a pox on you, and God’s bones, plus descriptions such as dankish gudgeon and useless shite. Because Isabelle was eleven in the novel’s first chapter, the more demure Pismire, meaning ant, but derived from the Latin for piss, seemed appropriate.

Most of my characters were high-born, but for the occasional peasant or guard, I used slight grammatical errors—“I now alone, without my husband” or “Most like I’ll never go”—dismaying my proofreader.

And finally, as I edited at the sentence level, I researched alternate verbs on Merriam-Webster’s Word History, choosing words that were in use at the time or that had stemmed from Latin, Middle English, or old French. The word might be perfectly modern but still have an unusual feel. Hugh’s first appearance in the story has some examples: He wanted to be deemed (considered) worthy of being a squire—his life’s goal at sixteen—and fight to uphold (defend) his family’s honor, but instead he’d been sent to Angoulême to ferret out (find out) if an attack was imminent.

I’ll note that this editing is anal and time-consuming, but like all writers, I wanted my debut novel to be the best I could make it.

My hope is that with these slight adjustments readers will sense some otherness in the language, but find the story of a woman who locates and claims her own power in the face of men’s disdain and contempt completely modern.

* * *

Terri Lewis fell in love with medieval history in college. Not the dates or wars, but the mysterious daily lives of the people. Building on this love, she read widely and traveled, marveling at Europe’s preserved towns and castles. Finally, a sentence in a book bought at Windsor Castle led her to write Behold the Bird in Flight.

Her writing has been honed through workshops with Jill McCorkle, Laura Van Den Berg, and Rebecca Makkai and she has published in literary magazines. She lives with her husband and two lively dogs in Denver, Colorado.

You can check out her novel here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Behold-the-Bird-in-Flight/Terri-Lewis/9781647429102

Or read about her life in writing and ballet here: https://terrilewis1.com

Or signup for her newsletter here: https://terrilewis1.substack.com/

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Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"? Email your short posts (under 500 words) about women and writing to: marcia[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com for consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!
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Being Brave on Wednesday Night

Thursday, February 13, 2025
I've belonged to writers' groups in the past. Once-a- month meetings that consisted of a speaker, news about upcoming events for writers, and maybe a member or two sharing some of their writing. For the most part we were beginners and kind to writers who were brave enough to read aloud.

But last night was something new. This was a two hour Writers Cafe. I was allotted 11 minutes to read my work online for complete strangers (to me at least). This was scary. Thankfully, I was sent some tips before the meeting. Reading 500-750 words takes about five minutes, leaving six minutes for members to offer critiques.

Torn about what to read, I selected two pieces: a flash fiction essay and a scene introducing most of the characters in the novel I was writing. I would decide later.

Then came meeting time. And it was a struggle since the guy who is my pinch hitter when it comes computer problems wasn't home. I managed to get into the meeting and naturally I couldn't get my video or audio to work. Something that mystified me since just four days ago I gave an online presentation complete with audio and video.

So I divided my time between trying to make the black box labelled Jodi "come alive" and listening to the readings (even though no one could hear my comments). First off, intimidation set in immediately. They're screen sharing, so people can follow along with the reading. I just printed out the piece I planned to read. Everyone was prefacing their reading with something like, "As you remember, Jane and June were ignoring each other at the zoo. This is the conversation that happens..."

Jane? June? The zoo?

OMG. These people are reading long pieces, 500 words at a time. And I just plucked 500 words out of nowhere. Well, now I know how readings work. In their critiques, people are referring back to past sections of the piece. And these critiques are serious. No bland positivity. Not harsh, but honest, insightful, pinpointing specifics. 

"Your dialogue feels so authentic..."

"This section seems unfocused. I understand the cartoon reference but why did you use it? How does it tie in with the events at the zoo?"

"What is a packie?"

Even though I was more an eavesdropper than an active participant, I learned a lot last night. I learned how to be an effective critic. Banish good and bad from your vocabulary. Critics should be more specific about what they liked about the piece. Ditto for dislikes. Sometimes it's enough to say, "This is what I took away from that section....is that what you meant to portray? Did you want it to be confusing...tense...secretive...a harbinger of things to come."

I also learned how to be an effective reader. Do a quick "when we last heard from our characters they were..." recap to help listeners jump back into your story. Be open to criticism. Ask probing questions  so you understand what about your reading missed the mark. Don't try to argue people into liking your reading.

And of course, most importantly, ensure that your video and audio are working. Despite, not actually reading last night, I still learned a lot about the value of an outside viewpoint. and I promise that at the
next Writers Cafe, I'll start reading from page 1. I will be brave NEXT Wednesday night.

Do you belong to a writers group (or groups)? Have you found it easy or difficult to join a group to critique your writing? 

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from DIY projects to tea to butterflies. She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing and a writing tutor at her local university. Get to know her @jodiwebbwrites,  Facebook and blogging at Words by Webb. 
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Interview with William VanderHorst: Summer 2024 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Tuesday, February 11, 2025

William’s Bio: 

William VanderHorst is a Georgia native who has spent most of his life in the mountains of Rabun County. An avid hiker and lover of the outdoors, he spends much of his free time filming the many waterfalls of the Appalachian Mountains as well as gardening. Making a living in manufacturing, he juggles his time to allow for his creative side to flourish. A lover of and writer in fantasy, science fiction, and horror, he dreams of one day joining the ranks of J. R. R. Tolkien, J. K. Rowling, and Stephen King. 

Having taken to writing since his early years in high school, William has a number of projects under his belt including a dark fantasy, five book series titled The Symphony of Shadows as well as a new horror series titled Feral America. Along with his list of self-published works, he has also been named an honorable mention in the Writers of the Future short story contest on three consecutive entries. 

William currently lives in the beautiful north Georgia mountains with his wife and their two sons. 

----------interview with Sue Bradford Edwards----------

WOW: What was your inspiration for “Monsters Are Not Real?” 

William: My inspiration for most of my stories and novels come from a lifelong love of anything fantasy or science fiction. Everything from tabletop gaming in Dungeons and Dragons, books by the greatest fantasy minds in the business, and movies that brought those books to life. Anything I can roll around in my head for a while could one day work its way onto paper. 

WOW: Revision is such a big part of the writing process. How did your story change from first draft to the version you submitted to the WOW! flash competition? 

William: Honestly, the finished product was the first draft for this story in question. I sat down with an image in my head and tried to describe what I was feeling as I placed myself in the scene. When I was finished, I reread the scene several times. In the end, I was satisfied and I felt like it captured the feelings I would have were it me in the place of the character. 

WOW: I'm not ashamed to say it. Considering that was draft one, I'm a little jealous!  We never learn the name of the narrator. Why did you decide to withhold that piece of information? What do you want readers to discern about him from the story? 

William: My hope was that by leaving the narrator anonymous, the reader would be able to put whoever they wanted in the place of the soldier. Some of my favorite works have been those that allow me to imagine myself as either the hero or the villain when I am reading. 

WOW:  I love a good villain. You’ve created both novel length work and flash.  What advice do you have for writers who are working to write in multiple forms? 

William: For the longest time, I was only interested in writing novels and full length stories. I started to realize that by focusing on only writing longer works, I found myself regularly hitting blocks or stumbling even with chapters I had diligently planned beforehand. Once a friend suggested trying my hand at writing short stories for numerous competitions, I realized that taking small breaks helped to clear my head and keep creative juices flowing. 

WOW:  Excellent advice! You’ve chosen to self-publish your novels. What do you wish someone had told you about self-publishing that you would like to share with our readers? 

William: For me, my initial dream was to be picked up by an excellent agent and shown to every large publisher in the business but as time went by, I began to set more realistic goals for myself. I realized it was more important to me to get my stories out to an audience than it was to chase the allure of fame. With self publishing that dream became a reality. Out of everything, I would say the biggest hurdle with self publishing is that you are also in charge of marketing and distributing your work. This can be challenging but worth the effort in the end.

WOW: I know that our readers will be heading over to Amazon to check out your work, so I'll make it easy for them to just click here.  Thank you for taking time to discuss your process and your enthusiasm for science fiction and fantasy with us! 
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Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, February 10, 2025
 
Sleeping with Dogs by Barbara Barth

I'm so excited to announce the launch of another blog tour with the prolific author, Barbara Barth. Her newest book, Sleeping With Dogs: A Poetic Memoir, chronicles her journey—in poetic form—of loving dogs throughout her life. This is a chapbook you don't want to miss if you love dogs, have ever loved dogs, or plan to have a dog some time in the future.

We'll be interviewing Barbara and talking about this charming poetic memoir and giving away a copy of the book to one lucky reader. Before we get to that, here's more about the book:

Barbara Barth started adopting dogs after the loss of her husband in 2008. From larger dogs to downsizing to Chihuahuas there are always five to six dogs at home. Barth has captured the essence of each dog's personality in short free verse poems. Known as Writer With Dogs, Barth has written two memoirs and a variety of novels. Dogs are always present in her stories. This is her first collection of poems. A chapbook of second chances.

ISBN-13: 979-8988575061
ASIN: B0DNMFXP46
Print Length: 37 pages

Purchase a copy of the book on Amazon. You can also add it to your Goodreads reading list.

About the Author, Barbara Barth

Barbara Barth turned to writing and adopting dogs to heal after the loss of her husband in 2008. Known as Writer With Dogs over the years, she now calls herself Chihuahua Mama and lives with six demanding Chihuahuas in a charming small town forty miles from Atlanta. She is Literary Arts Chair on the Board of her local art center. Inspired by the many talented artists she meets Barth started painting. Her whimsical style embraces ladies, gardens, critters, and of course cats and dogs.

Find her online at:


-- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: I am so glad to have you back with us at WOW! And I absolutely love your book of poetry. What inspired you to write this?

Barbara: I'm so happy you love my little book! I saw a challenge on Facebook to write 21 poems in 21 days and decided to give it a try. I thought it would be fun, And honestly, I am a bit burned out working on a new novel. The poems were completed in three weeks time. Every morning with my coffee I sat down to write a new poem. I'm hooked now and am continuing to write a quick poem daily. May not publish them but I find it relaxing.

WOW: What an amazing, relaxing routine that resulted in a charming poetry collection. What was your compilation process? How did you decide where each should go? 

Barbara: This is a poetic memoir on all the dogs I've adopted since losing my husband in 2008. I started with the first dog we had as a couple because Foxy helped with all the new dogs that came to live with me as a widow. The poems (and dogs) are in chronological order which was hard to remember who came first with five or six rescue dogs always with me. My goal was to capture each dog's unique personality and also include a few poems on how they have made my life so lovely. The very last poem is a PS because I adopted Lucy from Animal Control. I wasn't planning on another dog, but she was on Facebook and so sad. 
 
WOW: I love how you followed a poetic timeline. I feel like you are a fantastic example of a writer who knows how to connect with her local community and use that to promote her work. Can you share any tips on how a writer can engage with their community better?

Barbara: I have found that promoting other writers and artists opens up new venues and friendships. In the early days of writing I had several blogs and did book reviews that I shared on social media. In 2010-2011, I had a small antique shop that turned out to be a meeting place for writers who taught classes and did book launches from the tiny hub. And most recently since 2018, I am the Literary Arts Chair on the Board of a charming art center where I schedule writing classes, book signings like I used to do in my shop, and our writing group Walton Writers. In everything I've done I'm meeting new people who are readers or writers or artists. We all help each other. And my two favorite things to do with a new book, a blog tour with WOW! and a fundraiser book signing at the art center where 100% of book sales that day a donation to my favorite place. 
 
WOW: Fantastic combination! I love the cover of this book! Can you tell me about the designer and her process in creating it at all?

Barbara: I designed the cover image based on a photograph I saw of a woman in bed with her dog. I'm the chunky gal with each of my six dogs sleeping with me. It's a very naive drawing which is what I wanted for the cover. While my paintings are whimsical, they are not this simplistic. My sister put the final touches on it with color and a few tweaks. Of course she did the rest of the work, designing and uploading to KDP. My sister's book covers are always awesome so I was happy she approved of this one!

WOW: Your cover captures the beauty of your poetry and the delight the reader will have while reading it! You always write such uplifting books that put a smile to your reader's face. And I feel like the world needs more of those books. Why do you think those are the types of books you are pulled to write?

Barbara: Thanks for a wonderful compliment, Nicole. I love a bit of drama but I love a happy ending better. Starting with my first book The Unfaithful Widow, the memoir on losing my husband and finding a creative life, I wanted to share hope with my words. And finding my creative path and adopting dogs played  a huge part in healing. Since then I've written about things I love; dogs, antiques, gardens, art, old houses. And most of my characters have had loss but find their happy ending. Life is hard and I want to be a soft edge on that. Sometimes I think I live in my own little world wearing rose colored glasses. But with a lap full of dogs that's easy to do.
 
WOW: I'll bet! Where do you write? Can you tell us about it, including sharing any pictures?

Barbara: I write at my desk in my den. It's an old farm table in the corner of the room next to French doors so I can look out at nature. It's really a bit of a mess because I also paint here. The table has my laptop, jars of brushes and an old monitor that I painted for an art show with a frog, rabbit, mouse, and the words Wake Up and Create. My mantra in the morning. I have to work in this spot because the dogs are all sleeping in little beds around me. If I went into another room the howling would be horrible. 



WOW: What a beautiful space! I love it. It's so inspiring. Thank you so much for your time today. I loved talking with you again. Enjoy your tour!

-- Blog Tour Calendar

February 10th @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Barbara Barth's poetry memoir Sleeping With Dogs. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy for yourself.

February 11th @ Lori B. Duff Writes
Visit Lori's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 12th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara's blog for a review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 13th @ One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog for a guest post by Barbara Barth about finding creative time.

February 13th @ Love a Librarian
Stop by Zarah's blog for an excerpt from Sleeping With Dogs. Zarah will also be sharing her own dog rescue story!

February 14th @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi's blog for her dog rescue story and a spotlight of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 15th @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdre's blog for her spotlight of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 15th @ Book Bunnies
Stop by the Book Bunnies blog for a fun review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 16th @ Chit Chat With Charity
Visit Charity's blog for a review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs. Charity will also be sharing her own dog rescue story!

February 18th @ Chatty Patty's Place
Visit Patty's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 20th @ Pages and Paws
Visit Kristine's blog for her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 20th @ One Writer's Journey
Sue will be sharing her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 22nd @ Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy's blog to read an excerpt from Barbara's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 24th @ The Bohemian Princess Journal
Join Rebecca for her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 25th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara's blog for her story of how she rescued her dog. You can also win a copy of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 25th @ Lori B. Duff Writes
Visit Lori's blog again for her story of how she rescued her dog. 

February 26th @ Create Write Now
Visit Mari's blog for a guest post from Barbara Barth about book covers.

February 27th @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona's blog for her spotlight of Sleeping With Dogs.

February 27th @ Tracey Lampley's blog
Tracey shares an excerpt from Barbara Barth's Sleeping With Dogs.

February 28th @ Chatty Patty's Place
Visit Patty's blog for Barbara Barth's guest post on her art.

March 1st @  One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog again for her interview with Barbara Barth about her memoir.

March 2nd @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog to read a guest post from Barbara Barth about rescuing dogs.

March 3rd @ The Bohemian Princess Journal
Visit Rebecca for her story of how she rescued her dog. 

March 4th @ Just Katherine
Stop by Katherine's blog again for an excerpt of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

March 5th @ Choices
Visit Madeline's blog for a guest post by Barbara Barth about writing poetry for the first time.

March 6th @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir, Sleeping With Dogs.

March 7th @ Kaecey McCormick's blog
Join Kaecey for her post featuring an excerpt of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

March 8th @ Free to be Me
Join Leslie for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

March 9th @ Caitrin C. King's blog
Visit Caitrin's blog her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
 
Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth Blog Tour
 
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
 
Enter to win a print copy of Sleeping With Dogs: A Poetic Memoir by Barbara Barth! Fill out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends February 23rd at 11:59 pm CT. We will choose a winner the next day and announce in the widget as well as follow up via email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Interview with Ari Honarvar, First Place Winner in the WOW! Q1 2025 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Sunday, February 09, 2025
Ari Honarvar is the founder of Rumi with a View, dedicated to building bridges between the arts, social justice, and well-being. She is a keynote speaker who dances with refugees and facilitates Resilience through Joy workshops on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Her work has been featured in The Guardian, Teen Vogue, NPR, and other prominent outlets. Ari is the author of the critically acclaimed novel A Girl Called Rumi inspired by her war-torn childhood, and the bestselling oracle deck Rumi’s Gift, which pairs her translations of Rumi’s poetry with meditative practices.

--interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on winning first place in our Q1 2025 Creative Nonfiction essay competition! What inspired you to write your essay, “My Poet Mother, the War, and a Used Car?”

Ari: I work with refugees and immigrants, and we often reflect on what’s lost (or occasionally gained) in translation. Coming from Iran, a nation of poets, I initially struggled to adjust to life in the U.S., where poetry isn’t woven into everyday life. As I mention in the piece, over time, it became like a vestigial organ.

Then came the era of speech-to-text voicemail apps. When my family left messages in Persian, the transcriptions were unintentionally hilarious gibberish and I began to see them as a sort of accidental poetry. It inspired me to explore how my relationship with poetry has evolved alongside my relationship with my poet mother.

WOW: How did your essay develop, both in your initial thinking about it and in the revision process?

Ari: I knew I wanted to begin the piece with the nonsensical voicemail poetry. Deciding where to go next and which story to highlight was a bit tricky since there were so many to choose from! I ended up moving back and forth between Iran and the U.S., focusing on the car sale incident. To meet the word count, I had to shorten the original piece, which meant making tough choices about what to keep and what to cut. Come to think of it, I actually enjoy that part of the process.

WOW: What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it?

Ari: I'm fortunate to be part of an ever-expanding circle of women and LGBTQ+ authors, which allows me to explore fascinating genres and styles. At the moment, I'm starting A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea by Laura Taylor Namey.

I'm also finishing Doppelganger by Naomi Klein. I've been following Klein's work for a while and admire how she uses the metaphor of the mirror world (a theme prominent in Persian literature) to illustrate the interconnectedness of the current political landscape, conspiracy theories, climate collapse, and our shared responsibility in it all. I recently finished Hospicing Modernity by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira, and I like how both books offer unique perspectives on similar themes.

WOW:  Can you tell us what projects are you currently working on (writing and otherwise)? What can we plan on seeing from you in the future? 

Ari: My work centers around joy as reparative rehumanization. As a Musical Ambassador of Peace, I hold healing dance and art sessions with thousands of refugees from all over the world, deliver speeches, and facilitate Resilience through Joy workshops and retreats. This spring, I’ll be training future Musical Ambassadors to build community through the healing power of movement and music sessions. I'm also working on an audiobook of Rumi's poems and guided meditations set to music.
In terms of writing, I have a few investigative pieces on joy, the power of the arts, neuroaesthetics, and health equity set for publication. My poems will appear in upcoming anthologies, and I’m co-authoring a YA novel with my husband.

WOW:  Such wonderful and important work you do! The Rumi audio book is also something I'd be interested in. Thanks so much for chatting with us today, Ari. Before you go, can you share a favorite writing tip or piece of advice?

Ari: Tune in to your own temperament and natural rhythms: Find a writing schedule that suits you, cultivate the right conditions for creativity, and strike a balance between productivity and pleasure.


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