The Economy Always Gets Better by Dr. Nikki Finlay: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, August 17, 2026
 
The Economy Always Gets Better by Dr. Nikki Finlay

I'm excited to announce a blog tour for a book that will resonate with you if you are anxiously watching the news, wondering whether the economy will improve and what it all even means. Join us as we celebrate the launch of Dr. Nikki Finlay's book, The Economy Always Gets Better. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy for yourself.

But first, here is more about the book:

For those of us who forgot what we learned years ago or never had the opportunity to take an economics class, terms like recession, depression, tariffs, inflation, and gross domestic product can make our heads spin.

If that sounds like you, you’re in the right place.

In The Economy Always Gets Better, award-winning economist Dr. Nikki Finlay explains the economy in its simplest terms, making it easier to understand and giving readers the tools to approach even the most distressing economic information with confidence.

Dr. Finlay combines her knowledge and years of academic experience in this practical and accessible guide for anyone wishing to better their understanding of the economy. Using personal stories, useful metaphors, visual representations, and statistical data, she makes economics accessible to everyone.

Whether you’re worried about the current economic troubles or trying to figure it all out for the first time, The Economy Always Gets Better will leave you better informed and better prepared to thrive.

Publisher: Amplify Publishing 
AISN: B0GVVTV6K7
ISBN-13: 979-8891388826
Print Length: 240 pages

Purchase a copy of The Economy Always Gets Better on Bookshop.org, Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com. Be sure to add it to your GoodReads reading list.

About the Author, Dr. Nikki Finlay


Dr. Nikki Finlay is an economics educator and author of The Economy Always Gets Better: Navigating Turbulent Times with Confidence. She helps adults who feel intimidated by economics understand how it actually works in their everyday lives—without the jargon.

With over two decades of teaching experience at institutions including Clayton State, Georgia State, and Gwinnett Technical College, Dr. Finlay has worked with students of all backgrounds and experience levels. Her approach is simple, practical, and rooted in real-life examples that make complex economic concepts easier to understand.

Through her writing, Dr. Finlay translates topics like inflation, employment, and economic cycles into clear, relatable insights that help readers build confidence—not just knowledge—about the world around them.

She lives just outside Atlanta, Georgia, with her husband of over 40 years and enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with her children and grandson.

Find her online at:


--- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: Congrats on your book, The Economy Always Gets Better. Who is this book for and why?

Nikki: The Economy Always Gets Better is for those who want to understand the economy but are intimidated by economics.

I wrote this book for the students I used to have. The class textbook didn’t work for them, especially the non-traditional students. This is the book I wish I could have offered them.

WOW: I love that you wrote this for your students. What was your planning process like? What was your revision process like?

Nikki: I recently watched You’re Killing Me, where the main character, a novelist played by Brooke Shields, admitted she was a pantser. Other than using an outline from a college textbook, which I then deviated from by adding, deleting, and rearranging chapters, I really didn’t plan. Everything came from my experiences teaching and learning about the economy.

I also dove into the story of how the Great Recession affected everyone around me. But I started writing the book just before the inflationary post-pandemic period, so that also had a huge impact.

When it came to editing, I tried that, but it didn’t work. So, I had to put together a process. Here’s where AJ Harper’s book, Write a Must-Read, came in handy. I also attended one of her virtual editing classes. She really breaks down the editing process.

WOW: I'm a pantser too, so I understand the need for that technique. How much research did you do in preparation for the book?

Nikki: I was constantly looking for sources to help me illustrate the topic. I spent tons of time on the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the St. Louis Federal Reserve’s FRED site collecting data.

WOW: I can only imagine. I loved your anecdotes throughout the book. It actually made for some interesting reading. How did you decide which experiences to include?

Nikki: Glad you enjoyed them! Initially, I didn’t include many anecdotes and stories, but when one editor chided me for not having people in the story, I added fictional characters. That didn’t work either, so I added stories I told in the classroom and bits and pieces from my own life. The book is part-memoir as a result.

WOW: Great combination! It truly gave it a memoir vibe. What about the economy has interested you?

Nikki: The nuts and bolts—how the pieces fit together.

For example, if you know the different components (or pieces that make up GDP, you can get a stronger feel for the whole economy.

Another example: how do we move from a demand problem to the appropriate policies?

WOW: Good point! What are you working on now that you can tell us about?

Nikki: I’m always on Substack teaching about the economic environment. Find me at Https://nikkifinlay.substack.com and please subscribe!

 I’m also in the planning stages for a book on the history of recessions in the US.

WOW: Thank you for sharing. What lasting thoughts do you want to share with our readers?

After you read The Economy Always Gets Better, please let me know what you think. I’d love a positive review on Goodreads or Amazon!

The Economy Always Gets Better by Nikki Finlay Blog Tour

--- Blog Tour Calendar

August 17 @ The Muffin
Join us at WOW! Women on Writing's blog, The Muffin, as we celebrate the launch of Dr. Nikki Finlay's book, The Economy Always Gets Better. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.

August 18 @ Writer Advice
Stop by Lynn's blog for a guest post by Dr. Nikki Finlay with tips on marketing for mobility-impaired audiences.

August 19 @ One Writer's Journey
Stop by Sue's blog for her review of The Economy Always Gets Better.

August 20 @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
Stop by Karen's blog for a review of The Economy Always Gets Better.

August 21 @ Musings of a Literary Wanderer
Stop by Angela's blog for a review of The Economy Always Gets Better.

August 23 @ Word Magic
Stop by Fiona's blog for a guest post by Dr. Nikki Finlay on writing for mobility-impaired audiences.

August 25 @ Ellen Blogs
Stop by Ellen's blog for her review of The Economy Always Gets Better. 

August 28 @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
Visit Joan's blog for her review of The Economy Always Gets Better.

August 31 @ Tracey Lampley's blog
Stop by Tracey's blog for a guest post by Dr. Nikki Finlay on understanding inflation.

September 1 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Stop by Joy's blog for an excerpt from The Economy Always Gets Better.

September 3 @ One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog again for her interview with author, Dr. Nikki Finlay.

September 5 @ Chapter Break
Stop by Julie's blog for a review of The Economy Always Gets Better.

September 9 @ Create Write Now
Stop by Mari's blog for a guest post by Dr. Nikki Finlay on surprising lessons she learned about finances.

September 10 @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi's blog for her review of The Economy Always Gets Better.

September 13 @ A Storybook World
Stop by Deirdre's blog for her spotlight of  The Economy Always Gets Better.

September 15 @ Bring on Lemons
Stop by Crystal's blog for her review of The Economy Always Gets Better.

September 17 @ World of My Imagination
Stop by Nicole's blog for her review of The Economy Always Gets Better.

September 19 @ Leslie's Voice
Stop by Leslie's blog for her review of The Economy Always Gets Better.


***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win The Economy Always Gets Better by Dr. Nikki Finlay. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends August 30th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!

The Economy Always Gets Better Giveaway
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Interview with C. L. Brenton: Q3 2026 CNF Essay Contest 1st Place Winner

Sunday, August 16, 2026
C. L. Brenton is a fiction author from Carmel, California, and an MFA graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her short stories about mothers on the brink have appeared or are forthcoming in J Journal, Colorado Review, Witness Magazine, and A3 Review among others. Discover more at clbrenton.com.

---interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: What inspired you to write your entry, “Rainbows?”

C. L.: I was in a generative workshop when I was earning my MFA at Vermont College of Fine Arts, and our professor prompted us to write about light. I wanted to write about the crystal that made rainbows in my childhood kitchen, and makes rainbows now in my kids’ playroom. It ended up morphing into an essay about my three year old son and his gender fluidity that I found so magical and vexing, and a moment we shared a few days earlier as we tried to capture the light. The first few lines of “Rainbows” came out pretty much fully formed. Sometimes it takes different prompts to unlock what lives inside you, what’s waiting to come out. Sometimes someone merely has to ask a different question of you for you to understand exactly what you’ve been wanting to say.

WOW: What is the most difficult part of your writing process?

C. L.: I find each part joyful and challenging in its own way. I love the wild chaotic creation part, and the methodical editing part though each have their hang ups. I think maybe the challenge is knowing, or deciding when a piece is done, deciding it’s good enough to send out, and strong enough to take criticism from or even the success of the real world.

WOW: As a busy mom, how do you find the time to write? What works best for you?

C. L.: Writing requires (for me at least) a certain amount of emptiness in my life, meaningful time and space for the muse to do her work. As a busy mom, I know that’s usually the hardest thing to come by.

As we say in my house, though, it’s not about lack of time, it’s about priorities. Some days I have to prioritize my children and my home life, and those are wonderful things to put at the top of my list, but when I can carve out daily time for my writing, to go sit on the beach and watch the waves for thirty minutes, my muse comes back and wants to work. If you can make time to exercise, to watch your favorite show, to read, to read this even, you can find time to write. If you can’t, consider reading while your children play, or commit ten minutes to doing nothing, to day dream, to be present wherever you are. Don’t listen to anything, don’t look at your phone. Let your mind wander. The words will come.

When my kids were toddlers, I took my writing time on the weekend when my husband was the primary caretaker. I wrote on a post it note that I still have attached to my computer monitor the five things that constitute a writing life. Writing, Editing, Reading, Submissions and Community. If I don’t feel like writing, or I feel stuck editing, I can read. If that doesn’t spark my interest, I can engage with my writing community, watch a lecture or submit my work. All of those are important to build the writer you will become.

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

C. L.: For years, likely since we met, my friend Emily (who is a fabulous writer and a dear friend) has been recommending “The Anthropocene Review,” by John Green. It’s a book of essays disguised as reviews of various human-centered things, things specifically tuned to the author’s life so it’s almost a hybrid memoir. At the beginning of summer, Emily asked me if I had read it yet, and ashamed I hadn’t, I quickly found a thrifted copy and dove in. It’s a wildly fascinating, informative read that has made me quite a bit more interesting at parties. At least I like to think so.

WOW: Thanks so much for chatting with us today, C.L. Before you go, can you share a favorite writing tip or piece of advice?

C. L.: Thank you so much for having me! I’m truly honored “Rainbows” found a home at Women on Writing!

As far as general advice, it might help to remember that writing is iterative. Most of what we create is imperfect, followed by imperfect iterations until the story resembles itself, so don’t get hung up on the flaws. We have to first create the rough block of marble from nothing, then we can start to carve it into art.

It also helps me to remember that creation is separate from publishing. We can’t control how or when a piece is published, so you have to make the work the reward. The pleaser of crafting the thing has got to provide the benefit for doing it. Writing is supposed to be fun. Keep your work fun and weird and wild and painfully true. Try not to over edit it or form it to someone else’s aesthetics. Submit it widely when it’s ready; and I mean widely. Send it to a hundred journals or agents before you give up on a piece. Enjoy the process, trust your own taste, and you’ll write forever.


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A Museum Honoring American Writers

Thursday, August 13, 2026

 

This past weekend my family traveled to Chicago for a few days and attempted to squeeze in as many things as we could during the visit. Of course, once my phone figured out where we were, a place called the American Writers Museum began popping up in my social media algorithm. 

My daughter and I left the guys to their own devices on Sunday and took the walk down Michigan Avenue to the museum, tucked away on the second floor of a building a few blocks away from Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. 

At first, I thought we would be one of only a handful of patrons, but by the time we left two hours later a sizeable crowd had trickled in. We started in a thoughtfully-constructed and airy gallery devoted to children’s book authors. From there we explored an interactive timeline of works that spanned 400 years, designed to engage all five of the senses. 

Another permanent exhibit featured 100 authors and playwrights, ranging from the 1600s to the 1980s, including many underrepresented voices. Memories of history I learned as a child came back to me as I walked through the different sections: Colonial Visions & Revolution, The New Nation, Many Voices, Modernism, and New Voices. I liked that my 23-year-old daughter was also exposed to the many creatives and reporters that comprised The Cold War and 1960s Counterculture, as well as leaders in social activism. 

We explored a special gallery dedicated to the visionary voices of Chicago, such as Lorraine Hansberry, Gwendolyn Brooks, Carl Sandburg, and Roger Ebert. Another exhibit honored immigrant and refugee experiences, and visitors are invited to share their family’s stories and leave them behind for others to read. 

A temporary exhibit this year titled “American Prophets: Writers, Religion, and Culture” explores the ways literature reflects and influences our understanding of religion. The “Tools of the Trade” exhibit was especially interesting, showing various tools writers throughout history have used in their creative process, including an Underwood typewriter favored by Ernest Hemingway and a braille writer utilized by Helen Keller. We even got to test out a few antique typewriters ourselves!
Part of the museum is devoted to helping writers jumpstart their own mental blocks around writing. Interactive exhibits offered up writing prompts, and we were allowed to type up a letter sharing our thoughts on the museum, permitting our words to become a permanent part of the exhibit.
I walked away from the museum inspired and less fearful of sharing my own words (I’ve been working on a new novel that has a lot of autobiographical elements in it, which has given me pause more than a few times). 

But as I read the words of such strong and intelligent writers like Octavia Spencer, Ralph Ellison, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, and Flannery O’Connor, I realized I need not be so fearful. Our lives would be boring if every writer said the same thing and didn’t weave in their own experiences and opinions in for perspective. This was one time where I didn’t mind the social media influence that guided me to this enriching museum experience. 

 The American Writers Museum is located at 180 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago. 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who also produces the weekly true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas.
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Interview with Elizabeth Hoban, Runner Up in the Winter 2026 Flash Fiction Contest

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

 


Elizabeth is a traditionally published author of The Secrets That Save Us and The Cheech Room, and a historical nonfiction novel, The Final Mission, a Boy, a Pilot and a World at War. She has written numerous newspaper and magazine articles over the years. She has won several writing awards, including Bethlehem Writers Circle Best in Prose 2018, Writers Digest runner-up in Memoir 2019, Millennium runner-up for Best in Prose 2023, and Reedsy first-place award for two short stories and two short-listed. Her first winning story appears in 2025 Reedsy Anthology. She received the Miriam Chaiken Award for Best in Prose 2025, and is the 2026 guest judge for same. In 2025, she won Women on Writing (WOW) Q3 Essay Contest Award 2025, as well as 3rd place in WOW 2026 Q1 Flash Fiction. 

 Aside from writing, Elizabeth is a Nurse Practitioner who loves spending time with her kids and her four-legged antidepressants. She doubts any of her 6 adult kids have ever read her work – maybe her cat Seuss based on his pedigree.


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

WOW: Welcome back, Elizabeth! This time around we're discussing "A New Normal," which is such a powerful story because any of the scenarios you listed could have been pulled from real news headlines (and in some cases, probably were!). What was the process like for you, from the first draft to the final edits where you felt confident it was ready for submission? 

Elizabeth: "A New Normal" borders on nonfiction - and I started it several years ago. My cousins both worked as teachers in Sandy Hook in 2012 when that horrific shooting took place, which hit close to home and heart, so I started there. Then, so sadly, the news headlines practically wrote the rest in the ensuing years. I am confident a work is ready for submission when I realize that tinkering with it too much would lose something. So, after writing so many stories now, I can tell when I am overthinking and over-editing. I also have a few friends who I've met on writing sites who are my beta readers, and they tell me often to - "...leave it alone and submit already or you'll ruin it!" It's a fine line writers walk. Editing is the tricky part, especially when there is a word count to adhere to - too little, too much, or just right? One thing I've learned with short stories is that every word has to count, and if I need to cut a chunk (killing my darlings). I believe it is fabulous work; I can put that paragraph in an e-file knowing I can always use it in another story, and the reader of the original story will never be the wiser. 

WOW: I love that advice from your friends--sometimes it is possible to tinker with a piece too much! As an award-winning writer with an impressive list of publishing credits to your name, what advice would you give to any writer considering entering a contest for the first time, especially any of WOW's? What should they focus on with their piece of writing, whether creative nonfiction or flash fiction? 

Elizabeth: They say, "write what you know" - and that is always a good place to start. It takes guts to put your name on something you created and put it out there for scrutiny. I have been fortunate over the past couple of years with short story contests and awards, but I can paper my walls with past rejections. It takes time and dedication to the piece you are writing, and if it bores you or you avoid getting to it, then it will do the same for the reader. I guess Nike has the best advice for this - Just Do It. The great thing about entering WOW is that for an extra $10, you get the best critique you've ever received from a professional - hands down. That has helped me improve so many of my stories. 

WOW: I agree, the investment of a critique is so worth it! Having traditionally published three different books, do you have any tips for writers seeking that traditional pathway to publication? 

Elizabeth: Traditional publishing has changed dramatically in the past decade. It has become easier to bypass the traditional route and self-publish or go with a smaller house. But again, if you choose the traditional route, get an agent. Join Query Shark and get help with your query letters. There are books on just about any genre. Currently, I am working with a friend on a children's book series, and I purchased Writer's Market for Children's Writers and Illustrators (Writers Digest series) because I do not have an agent that covers that genre. They are fairly massive volumes, and I always buy the hard copy rather than search online because I am old-fashioned in that respect, and I like to make notes in the margins and keep track with post-it notes of where I have submitted. These books are highly rated, have been around for decades, and a new one is printed yearly - it presents you with everything you need to find a good fit for your book. 

WOW: All great pieces of advice! Are there any common themes you find yourself exploring in your writing? 

Elizabeth: Honestly, I used to be a humor columnist and always leaned towards that style, but it seems that, judging by the awards I have won, judges like sad stories. Ones that really pull at the heartstrings. I may have become somewhat of a doom-and-gloom writer in the past couple of years, but that's okay because there is a market for nearly every well-told story - even humor. 

WOW: You mention living with your “four-legged antidepressants.” I love that description! Have any of your pets “found" themselves in your recent work? 

Elizabeth: I have a dog named Tag who was found at 4 weeks old on a military base, and I ended up adopting her - her name is derived from dog-tags, but they called her Tag for short. She is my pride and joy at only 9 months old now. I wrote a story for Reedsy - which is a great site for weekly story prompts, by the way. I titled it "Tag," about a Vietnam War soldier and his stray dog, and it actually won that particular week. She brought me a bit of luck! I have always had a dog or two - currently just Tag- and I have two cats who think they are dogs; they bark and fetch: Seuss and Monkey. And I did have a two-legged, foul-mouthed African grey that I had for 20 years and then donated to a veterans sanctuary so she could fly as she was intended to, but Woodstock appeared in several of my stories. He was comic relief for all of us. I find that all animals inspire me, and I do not believe I'd feel complete without at least one critter running around. In fact, as I type this interview, I have Tag at my feet, sound asleep. She also reminds me every 90 minutes that it is time to take a break and go for a walk so I get exercise squeezed in throughout the day.

WOW: I concur. If I don't have my pets around to chat with throughout the day, I get very lonely! They make excellent writing companions and I love that yours have made their way into so many of your stories. Thank you again for this conversation and giving us such a rich insight into the writing life, Elizabeth! 
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Revision: From Structure to Word Choice

Thursday, August 06, 2026

 

The final step in revision

After being off work for several months, I’ve signed a contract for a book due at the end of August. Step One is obviously to write like a maniac. Step Two is to revise. 

But to make the process as smooth as possible, you must know where to start. Too many writers think that revising is all about fixing spelling and punctuation errors. I’m not saying that we should ignore those errors but first, we need to look at the big picture or the structure. 

In nonfiction, that means that I make certain my sections are in the right order. I need a solid introduction and then carefully ordered chapters. When I write history, that’s easy because things are chronological. This time I’m writing about pop culture, so I start with the most popular aspect and then cycle through the rest. 

When you are looking at the big picture in fiction, you start with the overall shape of the book. This can include: 

  • The Opening. Did you start your story in the right place? I tend to start too early. Another important point about the opening scene is that it is a contract with your reader. A humorous opening promises humorous moments throughout the story. Action promises action. Fantasy can be tricky, but you should at least hint at the world of magic. 
  • The Closing. Just as your story starts in the correct place, it must end in the correct place. In some ways, it should probably come full circle with the beginning. 
  • Plot. Does your plot hold together? Does your story have a strong beginning, middle, and end? This means different things for flash and either short stories or novels so do some reading to see how other writers do it. 
  • Pacing. Your plot needs a balance of fast-paced moments and quieter moments. If your story is too fast paced, you risk wearing your readers out. Too slow and they’re going to do something more interesting like clean out the crisper. 
  • Characters. Are your characters compelling? Even if they aren’t likeable, they need to be interesting. They also must be believable and three-dimensional. 
  • Setting. Your setting must feel real. The reader needs to have a sense of where and when the story takes place. And the details that you include need to shore up your plot and your characters.

Once you’ve worked through any structural issues, you are ready to revise at the sentence and paragraph level. This is where you make sure that each sentence and paragraph brings something new to the story. You also look for inconsistencies just so that someone’s eye color or worse yet name doesn’t change. This is also the time to make sure you have used just the right word. Did your character stay in a cabin or was it a log home? A duplex or a town home? 

When I work on this level of revision, I have Word read the story aloud. If I read it on paper, I don’t hear clunky phrases. I miss some of the repetition. So I get out my knitting and I listen, pausing to correct the rough spots. 

Finally, it is time to proofread. This is when you look for spelling and punctuation errors. And typos! Don’t forget the typos! 

To catch these final picky errors, I print my manuscript out. Then I go into the dining room with a lovely candle and a cup of coffee. Reading print, I always spot things on paper that I didn’t see on the screen. 

Whether you are working on a piece of flash, a short story, or a novel, revision helps you hone your draft into the piece you intended to create all along. 

–SueBE

Sue Bradford Edwards' is the author of over 80 books for young readers. To find out more about her writing, visit her site and blog.

She is also the instructor for 3 WOW classes which begin on the first Monday of every month. She teaches:

To get a free copy of Sue’s book, What to Do When Your Book Is Banned, subscribe to her newsletter, One Writer’s Journey, here.

  


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Interview With Breeann Adam, Winter 2026 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Tuesday, August 04, 2026
Breeann Adam is a writer, stay-at-home-mom, and former special education teacher. Hope, love, and the beauty in everyday life inspire her creative endeavors. Her first book, a children’s book rooted in exploration, joy, and wonder, will debut in July 2026. A lifelong Montanan, she currently lives in Bonner, Montana, with her family. You can connect with her on Substack at Just Write Mama, or on her website, justwritemama.com.

--interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on placing as a runner up in our Winter 2026 Flash Fiction competition. What prompted you to enter the contest?

Breeann: Thank you! I love writing short fiction stories, but I never write them as often as I’d like. Over the past seven years, I’ve been working hard on a personal memoir-style book about my experience as a foster parent, publishing personal essays on my Substack page, and, more recently, writing a children’s book. These have been wonderful projects, but they have been very all-consuming creatively, and I haven’t written much fiction while working on those other projects. I found this contest online, and I thought it would be a good motivator to write a fiction story and have some fun.

WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “Aromas, California, 2007?”

Breeann: Sure. I was actually reading the guest judge’s biographical information, and in her bio, she mentioned she enjoyed CrossFit. I also loved CrossFit for a number of years, so it sparked my interest as a setting for a story. What I really wanted to focus on from my own CrossFit experience was how empowering it felt as a woman to lift heavy weights and become stronger; an important part of CrossFit gyms is that there are rarely mirrors in the gyms. The focus is on getting stronger and improving your own skills, not on losing weight or having a certain aesthetic. I had done a lot of types of exercise leading up to CrossFit, but CrossFit was certainly the most empowering activity that I had participated in up to that point. While the story and characters are entirely fictional, the feeling behind the main character’s journey is inspired by my own journey. Oh, while the current-day CrossFit Games are a big, polished production with money, sponsorships, and professional athletes, the inaugural Games in 2007 were, as described in the story, casual, low-budget, and open to anyone who wanted to try. Ultimately, this story is about a woman who knew she had to try–for herself.

WOW: We’d love to know more about your writing routines. Could you tell us when and where you usually write? Do you have favorite tools or habits that get you going?

Breeann: I’m a mom of three children, so typically I write during my toddler’s naptime. I like to use my lap desk and write from bed. Although sometimes writing during naptime just can’t happen due to other responsibilities, so I will often also write in my Google Docs app on my phone while in appointment waiting rooms, in my backyard while my kids play, or while I have a few extra minutes here and there. My favorite tool is not very exciting: it’s a piece of notebook paper with a bunch of checkboxes drawn on it. I check off one box every day that I write for any amount of time, and I try to get as many consecutive days as I can. For me, I’m a task-oriented person, so it’s motivating to see all the boxes get checked and a project start to come together, box by box.

WOW: Great tips to try! Your first book is set to debut in July 2026, which is exciting. Can you share a bit about the book? What was your writing and publishing journey like?

Breeann: Yes, it’s so exciting! The book is an ABC rhyming picture book for children called “B is for Bonner: The ABCs of Bonner, Montana.” Bonner, Montana, is where I live, and it’s a tiny gem of a town that I wanted to write a book about, so I could share it with my own children first and foremost, and then share the beauty of our town with others. Ultimately, the book features nature, animals, music, history, and other local highlights, but encourages each reader to find joy, wonder, and beauty wherever they are in the world. The idea for the book mysteriously came to me as I was walking through a local bookstore, having a little pity party for myself about a completely unrelated creative failure! Funny how that works, isn’t it? I went home and immediately began to write my first draft. I went through many, many drafts, rewrites, and edits. I had others read it and give feedback on each version, and then I was lucky to find a local illustrator who does gorgeous work. She brought the book to life in a really magical way. I chose a printing company, and in just a couple of months, the books should arrive! As with most creative endeavors, the process took longer than anticipated, and the book will debut a couple of months later than planned. The process from first draft to publication has taken about one year total, and it has been so much fun! My next step will be sharing the book with local bookstores, schools, and anyone else who is interested in an adventurous and fun book about a trip through a Montana town.

WOW: Good luck with your book promotion, and thanks so much for chatting with us today, Breeann. Before you go, do you have a favorite writing tip or piece of advice you can share?

Breeann: My most proven tip is to never underestimate the power of taking even the smallest steps forward. Patience and perseverance win the race every time. Stuck? Add page numbers to your draft and walk away for the day. Come back tomorrow. Write one sentence. Change one word. Literally, take a single tiny step forward. Keep doing that as consistently as you can, and it’s amazing what you can create over time.

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I'm Not Sleeping, I'm Writing

Thursday, July 30, 2026


Like everyone out there, I have some days where I'm on the go from the minute the alarm goes off in the morning until I fall into bed at night (often with plenty of things remaining on my to-do list). On those days, actual writing seems like an impossible task. So I resort to thinking and planning scenes as I fall asleep. I began noticing that I would wake up with a fully evolved description or bit of dialogue rattling around in my brain just waiting for me to type it into my laptop. Sometimes these impatient pieces of writing would even wake me up before the alarm buzzes.


Weird, right?


Maybe not. When I looked into creativity after sleep I learned that scientists have been studying the link between sleep and creativity for years. Seems Thomas Edison was a big believer in the power of that state just before falling asleep for helping come up with creative solutions. And who can argue with Thomas Edison?


Researchers at MIT and Harvard Medical School recently took the link between sleep and creativity a step further. They encouraged people to guide their dreams to a certain topic or theme and then write something on that topic when they awake. When study participants practiced "targeted dream incubation" - basically thinking about a specific topic or problem while falling asleep - they were judged to be 43% more creative than those who didn't attempt to guide their dreams. And it doesn't have to be a whole night's sleep. It works just as effectively (some scientists say more effective) with naps of 45 minutes.


Are we all just one good nap away from banishing writer's block forever?


Do you find solutions to writing problems when you awake from a good night's sleep? What else gives you a creative burst? 


Jodi M. Webb writes (and occasionally naps) from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from apple pie to consignment shops to travel. She's dreaming about murder for her latest WIP. She's also a blog tour manager for WOW-Women on Writing. Follow her writing (and reading) life at Words by Webb. 

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Interview With Saiyara Khanom, Winter '26 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Tuesday, July 28, 2026


Saiyara's bio:

Raised in Queens, New York, in a Bangladeshi American household, Saiyara Khanom developed a love for storytelling at a young age, shaped by the rich blend of cultures, traditions, and stories surrounding her upbringing. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in English from St. John's University, where she further cultivated her passion for literature and creative writing.

Saiyara is especially drawn to romance, horror, and fantasy, genres that allow her to explore emotion, atmosphere, and the complexities of human connection through imaginative worlds and haunting narratives. Her work is often inspired by gothic aesthetics, folklore, and the emotional depth found in both everyday life and the supernatural. Through her writing, she hopes to create stories that linger with readers long after the final page.

You can find Saiyara online at Reedsy and Substack. 


----------interview by Sue Bradford Edwards----------

WOW: What was your motivation for “The Plant that Doesn’t Die?”

Saiyara: I've always been interested in the way grief and love can coexist with resentment. We often expect stories about parent-child relationships to end with forgiveness or reconciliation, but real life isn't always that simple. Sometimes someone can hurt you deeply and still leave behind evidence that they loved you in ways you couldn't see at the time. 

The image of a houseplant that simply refuses to die came to me first. It felt like the perfect metaphor for a relationship that continues to exist after someone is gone. No matter how much the narrator tries to distance herself from her mother, even through neglect, the fern keeps surviving. It becomes an unavoidable reminder that some relationships don't disappear just because we wish they would. I wanted to explore the quiet space between anger and forgiveness. The story doesn't ask the narrator to absolve her mother. Instead, it asks whether she can acknowledge that love may have existed alongside hurt. To me, that's a more honest ending. 

WOW:  And that honesty is vital in hooking our readers.  Flash fiction is all about choosing what deserves space in the story. We don’t know the POV character’s name, but we know the plant is a fern. How did you decide what to include and what to omit?

Saiyara: When you're writing flash fiction, every sentence has to do more than one job. I knew early on that the emotional center of the story wasn't the narrator's identity, but it was her relationship with the fern and what it represented. Giving her a name wouldn't deepen that relationship, so I chose to leave it out. I wanted readers to focus on the emotional distance between mother and daughter rather than on biographical details. 

The fern, on the other hand, deserved specificity. Calling it "a plant" felt too generic. Ferns have this reputation for being resilient and quietly persistent, which mirrors the role the plant plays in the story. Naming it made it feel like a real object instead of a symbol. Throughout revision, I kept asking myself whether each detail revealed character, moved the story forward, or strengthened the emotional impact. If it didn't, it probably didn't belong. 

WOW: That's a fascinating way to consider each detail. Who will your character leave the fern to when she passes? Why this person? 

Saiyara: I'd like to think she leaves it to someone who doesn't carry the same emotional history she does; perhaps a niece, a neighbor's child, or even a close friend. Someone who would simply see it as a beautiful fern instead of a complicated inheritance. I imagine she'd tell them only that it's important to keep it alive. By then, the fern would no longer represent unresolved grief. It would represent endurance. The idea that care can outlast the people who first offered it. In that sense, she'd be passing along not just a plant, but a story that has finally become lighter to carry. 

WOW: What a good answer! What piece of writing are you working on now? 

Saiyara: Lately, I've been drawn to stories and poetry that blend the emotional with the uncanny. I'm currently working on fiction that leans into psychological horror and gothic atmosphere, exploring how memory, identity, and fear can shape the way people experience ordinary places. I love writing stories where the supernatural isn't just there to frighten the reader, but to reveal something true about the characters. I've been mostly working on short stories and novellas, but I hope to complete some novels in the near future. But no matter the genre, I hope readers always have something to take away from my writing. 

WOW: What question do you wish I had asked? How would you answer it? 

Saiyara: Question: What do you hope readers take away from the story? 

Answer: I don't necessarily hope readers walk away with a particular message. Instead, I hope they recognize a feeling. Most people have a relationship that doesn't fit neatly into categories like "good" or "bad." We carry love, disappointment, gratitude, anger, and grief all at once. If the story encourages someone to sit with those contradictions instead of trying to resolve them, then I feel it has done its job. I think some of the most meaningful stories don't provide answers, but they simply make us feel understood. 

WOW:  That's a great insight!  Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to share all of this with our readers.  Reminder:  You can find Saiyara on Reedsy and Substack. 


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Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, July 27, 2026
Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic

I'm excited to introduce a title that will add a burst of excitement to your summer reading list. Under Cover of Chaos is a debut thriller by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic that delivers gripping suspense, a strong female lead, exotic locales and a brutal question: What happens when one of the world’s most powerful institutions is the perfect place to hide a killer? Join us as we celebrate the launch with an author interview and book giveaway. 

But first, more about the book:

“… a fast-paced thriller that plunges the reader into the morally complex world of a UN humanitarian mission in Bangui...a must-read for fans of thrillers with high-stakes political undertones.”
–Kim McCollum, author of What Happens in Montana and Harriet Hates Lemonade

A serial killer hides behind an untouchable global institution. A broken system fails the victims. One woman vows to uncover the truth.

When young women are found dead in the capital of the Central African Republic, United Nations official Stella Fairmont is reminded of the unsolved disappearance of a friend. As she investigates, she uncovers what may be a chilling pattern: similar deaths in another UN location.

The deeper she digs, the more twisted the view becomes and Stella finds herself up against a system built on compromise, in which accountability is often an illusion. When the truth gets blurred and personal histories can be hidden, the only way to survive is to trust her instincts. But as friendships run thin and time runs out, she must navigate a minefield of lies, moral complexity, and buried secrets — all while trying to stay ahead of someone who would kill to keep the truth hidden.

Publisher: Black Rose Writing (June 18, 2026)
AISN: B0GSWB8XR7   
ISBN-10: 1685137598 
ISBN-13: 978-1685137595     
Print length:  262 pages

Purchase your copy on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop. You'll also want to add it to your Goodreads reading list. 

About the Sisters behind Under Cover of Chaos

Liz Wanic

Liz Wanic worked for the United Nations for almost a decade in New York and in multiple field missions, including Syria, Mali and the Central African Republic before moving into cybersecurity. Her experiences have given her a sharp eye for detail and a deep understanding of the inner workings of power in complex situations.

Rebekah Wanic

Rebekah Wanic, Liz's twin sister, is a social psychologist, university professor and mindset coach. She focuses on the intricacies of the human condition and the complications of balancing competing demands.

Find the author at:

Instagram: @lizwanicauthor

--Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: What made you decide to write Under Cover of Chaos? Have you always been a writer?

Liz: I’ve been starting and stopping stories since as far back as I can remember. I always wanted to be an author, but until Under Cover of Chaos, I never felt strongly enough about a story to pull it across the finish line. 

Don’t get me wrong, it was still a slog to get this book from inception to completion, but a large part of the difficulty was trying to learn the industry while working on the writing and doing my regular day job. I guess in this case, I just liked Stella and her story enough to stick with it – and working with my sister was a huge help as well.

WOW: What roles did you and your sister play in bringing Under Cover of Chaos to life? Were you both writers, one writer and one editor, or something in between?

Liz: I was the main writer and my sister was a fantastic editor. And in the planning phases, she helped me think through the plot and characters.

WOW: What is the biggest advantage (or disadvantage) to having someone you have literally known your entire life as your writing partner?

Liz: Biggest advantage – she gets things quickly without me having to over-explain. Biggest disadvantage – sometimes we both get things that don’t make sense to anyone else.

WOW: How do you feel that collaboration can improve writing?

Liz: I think most writers have experienced the benefits of working with their editors, beta readers, writing groups, and the like. I remember reading about how Harper Lee went back and forth with her editor for years before we got To Kill A Mockingbird, and I’d expect that collaboration played a huge role in most, if not all, of the books we love.

WOW: P.D. James said the “all fiction is largely autobiographical.” So tell us, does Under Cover of Chaos have a thread of autobiography in it?

Liz: Under Cover of Chaos draws hugely from my life and experiences. Without working for the UN or living in Bangui, there is no way I would have been able to create this story. But it’s definitely a fictionalized account with invented characters, and, as far as I know, there is no real life King.

WOW: That's a relief! I hate to think of a serial killer hiding behind diplomacy in nations around the world. Now, let's head back home. If we were to walk into your writing space what would we see?

Liz: Things I need when writing: a window; some tea, water or coffee depending on the time of day; a comfy place to sit. Things I prefer to have as well: classical music; sunlight; no one around.

WOW: Are you a planner or a pantser? I imagine with a thriller there has to be some major planning involved to make all the pieces fit as well as keep up the suspense.

Liz: I’m definitely a planner, but the plans often change as I go. Sometimes I’ll realize that the reader needs to know something earlier or that they are learning it too soon and that requires moving events around or changing when and how clues show up. Sometimes part of the plan happens more quickly or takes longer once it’s on paper than when I first imagined it. Then I have to rearrange chapters or add scenes to grow the tension. There are also times when a character gets more or less page time than originally planned, or they might get eliminated altogether. So I guess my process is, start with a plan and fix it as I write.

WOW: You’ve admitted that you aren’t very active on social media. Do you find that a  challenge in today’s world? Have you decided to avoid the lure of social media or are you ramping up your online presence?

Liz: I cringe when agents and editors ask, “how active are you on social media?” I’m not at all active on social media, and I’d rather keep it that way. However, I understand how it’s a great way to connect with readers, so I’m trying to make a go of it with Instagram and I have a Facebook author page. I doubt I’ll ever put out an excess of content, but I’m very open to doing in-person or virtual events as I love direct connections.

WOW: And thanks for the direct connection you're making with all our WOW readers today. What’s up next for you? Another adventure for Stella or something new?

Liz: Next up – I have a short story, The Assembly, coming out in November 2026 as part of an anthology from Blackstone Publishing called Shadow Labs, Vol III. I’m really excited about the story and am working on turning it into a full length novel. My sister and I are also working on the second book in the Stella series. Hopefully, we can get it ready to go soon!

WOW: And we'll be here anxiously awaiting the release. Thanks for sharing a bit about your writing life today.

Under Cover of Chaos Blog Tour

--Blog Tour Calendar

July 27th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic. Read an interview with the author and enter to win!
https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

July 28th @ A Wonderful World of Words
The writing life can be complicated. Liz Wanic shares what it's like when your writing partner is also your twin.

July 29th @ Chapter Break
Novelist Liz Wanic shares the books every thriller lover should read.
https://chapterbreak.net/

August 3rd @ Silver's Reviews
Want a new author for a new month? Check out Under Cover of Chaos, a debut thriller by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic. 

August 3rd @ What Is That Book About
Today's spotlight is on Under Cover of Chaos, an international thriller by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic. 

August 4th @ Words by Webb
Jodi reviews a summer read packed with action: Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic. 

August 6th @ The Faerie Review
Ready to discover a new author? Learn more about Liz Wanic and her thriller Under Cover of Chaos.

August 8th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Don't miss today's interview with Liz Wanic, author of the exotic thriller Under Cover of Chaos.

August 11th @ Words by Webb
Celebrate the thriller Under Cover of Chaos with a post about living off the beaten path.
https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog

August 13th @ Knotty Needle
Read a review of the global thriller Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic.

August 14th @ A Storybook World
Ready to navigate lies and secrets to uncover a serial killer? Read more about Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic.

August 16th @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
Avid Reader shares her opinion of a new novel: Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic.

August 17th @ StoreyBook Reviews
In today's guest post, novelist Liz Wanic answers the question: When Did My Life Become Fiction? 

August 20th @ Knotty Needle
Novelist Liz Wanic is sharing stories of her Life as a Ex-Pat, an experience that helped when writing her debut thriller Under Cover of Chaos. 

August 21st @ Boys' Mom Reads!
We've got another must read for your TBR list. Check out Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic. 


***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win Under Cover of Chaos by Liz Wanic with Rebekah Wanic. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends August 9th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!

Under Cover of Chaos Giveaway
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