Interview with Joanna Miller: Fall 2025 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Joanna’s Bio: Joanna lives in Derbyshire on the edge of the glorious Peak District with her partner, three dogs and a cat. Her micro and flash stories have been listed in various competitions, including Edinburgh True Flash Fiction Award, Fish Flash Fiction Prize, WOW! Women on Writing, Tadpole Press 100 and the London Independent Story Prize. She has been published in Free Flash Fiction, Writing Magazine, the Scottish Arts Trust, Wildfire Words FF150 and Bath Flash Fiction Volume Nine. 

If you haven't already done so, check out Joanna's award-winning story "The Case of the Cambridge Lad" and then return here for a chat with the author. 

WOW: Congratulations on placing in the Fall 2025 Flash Fiction Contest! What excited you most about writing this story? 

Joanna: I love being able to combine local research with writing. This story came to me after discovering there are two mermaid lakes in Derbyshire. Although I didn’t use all the information from my research, it provided a solid backdrop for the setting. 

WOW: The research process can be so much fun, and it sounds like you have a great perspective on how much to use and when. What did you learn about yourself or your writing while crafting this piece? 

Joanna: As a relatively new writer, I tend to fictionalise fact, drawing on my own personal experiences. This piece was different because it was entirely fictional, which allowed me to use my imagination without restraint. I found that liberating. 

WOW: What a wonderful feeling! What do you enjoy when you’re not writing, and how does it inform or inspire what you write? 

Joanna: I’m very lucky to live on the edge of the Peak District. Taking our three dogs out for walks in the area is a regular activity. I find lots of inspiration locally; we’re surrounded by wild moorlands, historic estates, etc. And then there’s the city. Sheffield is also full of inspiration with its industrial heritage. 

WOW: That sounds lovely and full of potential stories. What are you reading right now, and why did you choose to read it? 

Joanna: At the moment, I’m reading Kevin Barry’s Dark Lies the Island. It’s a collection of short stories that I can dip in and out of, rather than fully immersing myself in a novel. I’ll never tire of reading the Fjord of Killary; it always makes me laugh. 

WOW: If you could give your younger self one piece of writing advice, what would it be and why? 

Joanna: Don’t think a story’s finished just because it’s completed. Stories have a way of developing organically over time. Give them the space to do that—at least a few weeks, then revisit them and let the characters take over the storytelling. 

WOW: That’s great advice! Anything else you’d like to add? 

Joanna: I’m a solitary writer and procrastinator, but I find that competitions provide structure by having a deadline that gives me the impetus to finish a piece of work. And if I do miss a closing date, it’s ok; there are always other opportunities to submit. Receiving feedback from the judges / editorial team is invaluable. 

WOW: Thank you for sharing your story and your responses with us. 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. Connect on social media @greenmachine459.

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Interview with Frances Figart, Runner Up in the Q2 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest with “The Landing”

 Interview with Frances Figart, 

Runner Up in the Q2 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest with 

“The Landing” 

Congratulations to Frances Figart from Flag Pond, Tennessee for her amazing nonfiction essay titled: The Landing 

Check out Frances’s submission, The Landing as well as all the other winning entries and then stop back here to read Frances Figart’s engaging interview with Crystal J. Casavant-Otto from WOW! Women on Writing. 

Frances’s Bio: 

Frances Figart (Fié-gert) edits Smokies Life Journal and directs the creative team for Smokies Life, a nonprofit organization supporting Great Smoky Mountains National Park since 1953. She has written three children’s books addressing conservation issues and began to explore creative writing for an adult audience in 2023 after hosting the first Tremont Writers Conference, an annual program she co-founded in the Smokies.

 

...interview with Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

WOW!: Thank you for being here with me today Frances and thank you for writing such a personal essay. Let’s get right down to it! Can you share a bit about the actual story behind The Landing?

Frances: There are moments in our relationships to other humans that stand out as intensely clear and unforgettable. When we look back on these singular experiences, they are inevitably magnified through the lens of all that has happened since. The moment around which The Landing is framed, a psychedelic experience at a broken-down farmhouse with a college heartthrob, has such expansive power for me. When the psilocybin took effect during that January sunset, the cold drove me inside, but my friend stayed out in the fields. At some point later, we simultaneously felt to need to check in with one another, and we ended up meeting on the landing halfway between his first-floor apartment and mine upstairs. 

In the decades since that trip, my friend and I have stayed in touch, but the timing was never right for us to be in a romantic relationship. Of course, we have each led rich lives with different significant others. When I reflect on all our missed opportunities, I trace our connection back to that magical moment on the landing. So for this piece, I poured all of that energy and emotion into the landing as a pivotal point, and gave the main character, Eve, a psilocybin-induced precognitive understanding that she and Adam would never actually be together. When I hit upon their names, I knew I had something with legs, because she was the one who procured and provided the magic mushrooms, just as Eve gave Adam the apple from the tree of knowledge. But in this case, the trick was on her: she was the one who saw all the way through to the disappointing ending. 

The great news is, my friend loves the story and totally gets how I spun off from our real-life experience into a piece of magical realism in which the tone still echoes our memories and the story of our ongoing friendship, forever draped in the colors of a lost romance. 

WOW!: I absolutely love that back story - thank you for sharing it with us! What is your history with writing contests? Tell us what prompted you to submit to this particular contest. What would you like to tell other authors concerning contests and submitting their work? 

Frances: I have only been submitting to writing contests for a short time. It started because I helped to develop a writers conference in Great Smoky Mountains National Park a few years ago, and working with our faculty and participants awakened an interest in creative writing that has, in a way, lain dormant since college days. Although I’ve written creatively in children’s books as part of my work in the Smokies, I only began to write creative nonfiction as well as some fiction for adults at around age 60. 

I became a member of the North Carolina Writers Network, which does a great job of promoting the many opportunities for emerging writers, WOW got my attention, and I just started making a point of submitting to the quarterly CNF contest whenever possible. I like the 1,000-word length as it helps me focus on honing a story into a tight package. I find the community of women involved in WOW to be really interesting and diverse. For me, winning is not so important as the cadence of discipline to submit; it gives me incentive to work hard on developing my craft. 

 WOW!: Thank you for your kind words about and your trust in WOW! You have an impressive bio—could you tell us more about the Tremont Writers Conference? 

Frances: Sure. It’s one of the coolest projects I’ve been involved with in my eight years as the creative director at Smokies Life, which is one of four nonprofit partners of the most visited national park in the US. The conference is the coordinated effort of two of these educational park partners, Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont and Smokies Life. Set on the lush, secluded Tremont campus in one of the park’s most beautiful pristine valleys beside a swiftly flowing river, the event immerses 25 selected writers in poetry, fiction, and nonfiction cohorts in an intensive retreat of brainstorming and fine-tuning their work while learning about nature and writing in small groups from Wednesday through Sunday in late October. It’s a beautiful time of year to be in one of the most gorgeous natural areas in North America. 

This year we will have Ron Rash as our special guest novelist, Cystal Wilkinson leading the nonfiction cohort, Linda Parsons teaching poetry, and Kelli Jo Ford working in fiction. Acceptance to the Tremont Writers Conference is based on manuscript evaluation. Additional information may be found at writers.gsmit.org. The deadline to apply for this year was May 15, but if someone is interested in the conference, they can reach out to me at Frances@SmokiesLife.org and I can plug them into ongoing channels of information. 

WOW!: Thank you for all that great information and opportunity to still attend the conference! Do you have advice for your younger self when it comes to making decisions, believing in yourself, and/or writing? What would your current self say to the younger you? 

Frances: I recently had lunch with a twenty-something conservation professional who asked me this same question. It’s a good one. Here’s a version of what my 62-year-old self might say to my 22-year-old self: 

“You have known since you were a child that writing is your gift and it’s what you do best. 

Your voice is just as valid as anyone else’s. Focus on your writing, study it and cultivate it. 

Read read read. Rank the literary life above sex, drugs, and rock-n-roll. 

Writing is a life-long pursuit, and you need these early years to learn all 

you can to perfect your craft and become competitive. 

Don’t be distracted. 

Don’t wait forty years to prioritize your passion.” 

Learn more at FrancesFigart.com. 

WOW!: Well if that isn't the best advice; thank you Frances! Thank you for your wisdom, your time, your submission, and your friendship! I look forward to working more with you in the future.

Today's interview was penned by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Crystal Casavant writes. 

Everything. 

If you follow her blog you have likely laid eyes on every thought she has ever had. 

Her debut novel, It Was Never About Me, Was It? is still a work in progress and shall be fully worthy sometime in her lifetime as she switched gears and is seven chapters in on a psychological thriller that has captured her heart. She has written for WOW! Women on Writing, Bring on Lemons, and has been featured in several magazines and ezines relating to credit and collections as well as religious collections for confessional Lutherans. 

She runs a busy household (from her parent’s basement) full of intelligent, recalcitrant, and delightful humans who give her breath and keep her heart beating day after day. 

Crystal wears many hats (and not just the one in this photo) including college student, mom, musician, singer, administrator, writer, teacher, and friend. She fully believes in being in the moment and doing everything she can to improve the lives of those around her! She recently moved into her parent’s basement and is enjoying the challenge, recently posting some delicious meals titled: Culinary Adventures in My Parent’s Basement. 

The world may never know her name, but she prays that because of her, someone may smile a little brighter. She prides herself on doing nice things - yes, even for strangers. She is always up for a challenge whether it’s living in the basement, living on a boat, or buying a dairy farm! You never know where she’ll turn up next or what she’ll be doing, but it’s guaranteed she’ll be having fun! 

 Check out the latest Contests: 

 www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php 

 Here are some scenes from the Tremont Writers Conference that Frances shared with us: 

 Photographer: Valerie Polk

 Photographer: Joye Ardyn Durham

 Photographer: Joye Ardyn Durham

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Trigger Warnings

I've been thinking a lot about trigger warnings lately. I'm not sure exactly when trigger warnings became such a part of our lives but recently these helpful "heads up" about uncomfortable topics seem to be everywhere. They aren't only in books and other entertainment like TV programs, movies and plays but it's becoming a part of our everyday conversation. Recently an acquaintance issued a trigger warning before commencing to tell me about her minor car accident.

OK.

So what's the purpose of trigger warnings attached to books? I suppose the idea is to give people a warning if they have experienced a trauma or have a mental health issue so they can avoid things that make them anxious. The problems is, the things that can cause anxiety are infinite. Sure, we can all agree on some broad terms of uncomfortable topics: sexual assault, violence, suicide, animal cruelty, eating disorders, self harm. But what about snakes, hurricanes, birds, semis, dogs, needles, choking...the list of phobias goes on and on.

When we label a book with a vague trigger warning, we may being unknowingly be placing it "off limits" to someone who could handle, and even enjoy, it. Because we all draw the line at a different place. Perhaps one reader is not bothered by murders but a fist fight, a relatively minor episode of violence, is what truly bothers them because they experienced it. Maybe one reader can endure three pages of violence to be immersed in the other 350 pages of the story. How can we know how much is too much for the thousands of readers of the words we write? 

Anxiety is not always logical. We try to scoop millions of experiences under one umbrella like sexual assault. It seems obvious what that covers. But what if something innocuous is woven into the memories of a sexual assault. A dark alley.  A margarita.  A college dorm room. A rose. How can authors know what things that seem innocent to us could trigger a sexual assault victim?

Perhaps you're thinking that we have to at least try, after all we want our readers to have a good experience. But multiple studies have found that trigger warnings aren't that helpful. First, trauma survivors were found to become distressed just by reading trigger warnings. For someone dealing with PTSD, even a warning "This book contains X" can bring up all the negative memories they have attached to X. 

Another study showed that some trauma survivors feel that trigger warnings make them feel like victims, as if the world thinks they are too vulnerable to even read about certain things. Studies on PTSD also show that avoidance (which can be helped by the use of trigger warnings) can actually increase the effect something has on a person. If a person returns from combat and is jumpy at loud noises because it reminds them of gunfire, a therapist doesn't recommend that they find the quietest place on the planet. Actually, they're encouraged to seek out noises so they can help re-train their brain that not every loud noise is life threatening and to practice calming themself. Perhaps reading about something is a safe way to expose yourself to things that trigger anxiety in you and allow you to tell yourself that it can't harm you. And feel the power of closing the book if you don't want to read anymore.

It's true. Reading about some topics can be uncomfortable. My definition of uncomfortable is probably very different than your definition. But can't we gain something from being uncomfortable? Will we find new ways of looking at things, empathy, strength from facing what bothers us in the safety of a book?

How do you feel about trigger warnings? Should we embrace them or let our readers rely on an old-fashioned book synopsis to filter reading choices?

Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains. 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 Alexis Valle, Runner Up in the WOW! Fall 2025 Flash Fiction Contest

 

Alexis Valle is a Criminal Justice student at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where they balance academic rigor with a deep passion for writing. Their work explores identity, queerness, and the complexities of living in a fractured world, often blending personal narrative with broader social commentary. Currently, Alex is developing a poetry series that reflects on resilience, belonging, and what it means to exist at the crossroads of Latin and queer identity. 

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

WOW: Welcome, Alexis, and congratulations! “Masa, Blood, and Other Tender Things" is a great example of using voice to make your story stand out. Marisol’s voice is haunting, matter-of-fact, and when she’s around Isabel, vulnerable. What steps did you take to ensure that Marisol’s tone would be sure to leave an impression on the reader? 

Alexis: I approached Marisol’s voice as something controlled first, emotional second. I wanted her to sound calm, almost domestic, someone you’d trust immediately, because that makes the horror land harder. She speaks in simple, matter-of-fact observations, but there’s always a second layer underneath, something withheld. 

To build that, I leaned on contrast. In public, her voice is warm, practical, even a little humorous. But when she speaks about Isabel, that restraint cracks. The sentences soften, stretch, and become more vulnerable. I didn’t want to announce that shift, I wanted the reader to feel it happening. I also focused on rhythm. Marisol’s voice is deliberate. She doesn’t waste words, and she doesn’t rush. That steadiness makes even her most disturbing lines feel natural, which I think is what allows the story to linger. 

WOW: Shifting the tone of her voice so subtly paid off by the end! What was the inspiration behind this story? 

Alexis: The story came from thinking about how often women—especially in tight-knit communities—are expected to endure quietly. I wanted to take that expectation and twist it. 

There’s also a strong influence from Latin folklore and oral storytelling traditions, where food, grief, and the body are often intertwined. Cooking becomes a form of memory, but here it’s also a form of control. 

At its core, though, the story is about desire and ownership, what it means to love someone from a distance, and how that love can curdle into something possessive. Marisol doesn’t just want Isabel; she wants to build a world where Isabel remains untouched, preserved. Everything she does feeds into that. 

WOW: You did an excellent job of revealing that in only 750 words--sometimes flash fiction can bee even more impactful than longer works of fiction. Your bio mentions a current work of poetry. Besides flash fiction and poetry, what other forms of the craft do you enjoy and why? 

Alexis: Beyond flash fiction and poetry, I’m really drawn to longer-form fiction, especially novels with dense worldbuilding. I like having the space to build systems, histories, and layered characters that evolve over time. 

That said, I think poetry has shaped everything I write. Even in prose, I’m thinking about rhythm, imagery, and compression. I want sentences to carry weight, even when they’re simple. 

I also enjoy blending forms, stories that feel almost lyrical in structure or that rely heavily on voice. That’s where I feel most at home creatively. 

WOW: What is your writing process like? As a college student, do you write in small pockets of time, favor early mornings or late nights, or have a special way of exploring an idea when it comes to you? 

Alexis: My process is a mix of bursts and control. Most ideas come to me fully formed in tone before anything else—usually a voice or a single striking image. Once I have that, I write quickly, almost instinctively, to capture that energy before it fades. After that, I slow way down. I revise heavily, especially at the sentence level. I’m cutting, tightening, and sharpening until every line feels intentional. As a college student, I definitely write in small pockets of time, late nights more than early mornings. But I’ve learned not to wait for perfect conditions. If I have ten minutes, I use them. 

WOW: There is no "perfect time to write," that's for sure! How did you first learn about the contests at WOW! Women on Writing? 

Alexis: I came across WOW! Women on Writing while actively searching for spaces that support and highlight strong narrative voices, especially in short form. I was drawn to their focus on storytelling that feels both personal and impactful. Submitting felt like a good fit for the kind of work I’m trying to do, stories that are intimate on the surface but carry something darker underneath.

WOW: Well, we're glad you found us and can't wait to read more of your work. Happy writing!

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The Birth of a Widow by Kathie Giorgio: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Multi-talented writer Kathie Giorgio is returning to WOW for the launch of a tour for The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems. Through this book of poetry we explore not only the many facets of grief but also the power a relationship has to shape our life. Join us as we celebrate her launch with an author interview and book giveaway. Let's start the month with poetry!

But first, more about the book:

The Birth of a Widow is utterly shattering portrait of the sudden loss of a husband and a shared life that will speak to anyone who has ever loved or lost a loved one. In these poems of electric honesty, Giorgio explores how she struggles to survive her first year as a widow, using all her wisdom, humor, anger, to cross the vast sea of grief to the other shore, bringing us—wiser, too—along with her.

—Jesse Lee Kercheval, author of I Want To Tell You

Sixty-six days after Kathie Giorgio’s husband was killed when he was struck and run over by a passenger van while walking to his bus stop, Kathie’s grief broke out unbidden into poetry. For the year after his death, she wrote the poems as they arrived. An intimate study of traumatic loss, Giorgio exposes the full depth of grief’s sadness, anger, and confusion.

Publisher: Kelsay Books (Feb. 24, 2026)

AISN: B0GQ45W871

ISBN-13: 979-8901467190

Print Length: 88 pages

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

About the Author, Kathie Giorgio

Kathie Giorgio is the author of seventeen traditionally published books: eight novels, two story collections, an essay collection, and five poetry collections. Her new novel, Unique In All The World, will be released in February 2027. She’s been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in fiction and poetry and awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association and the Eric Hoffer prize for fiction, among others. 

Giorgio is also the founder and director of AllWriters’ Workplace &Workshop LLC, an international creative writing studio offering online and on-site courses and workshops for all genres and abilities, as well as coaching and editing services.

Find the author at:

Website: www.kathiegiorgio.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathie.giorgio.5

Instagram: @kathiegio1

Twitter/X: @kathiegiorgio

-- Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: You published many different types of books: novels, poetry collections, short stories, personal essays. As writers, do you think we should “stretch” our skills by trying many genres?

Kathie: I believe that writers should stretch with genres, but not for building a skill set or for sales or for a brand. They should stretch because they really want to write something in that genre. If you’re a poet, but you think you have a great idea for a short story and it’s all you can think about, then write it. Ditto with any genre to any genre. We should always write what we feel strongly about, whether or not we’ve ever written anything like that before.

WOW: Do you have a favorite genre to write or does it depend on the project/idea?

Kathie: If I was told I could only write in one genre for the rest of my life, I would choose the short story. I love writing in all the possibilities – fiction, nonfiction, poetry. But the short story was my first love and remains my #1 passion. What I write does depend, of course, on the idea. I often don’t know what something is going to be until it is. I once set out to write a novel, jotting down ideas throughout the day on a list. Later, when I looked at the list, I discovered it was a flash fiction piece, already written. You just never know.

WOW: That's an amazing story! How did The Birth of a Widow come into being? Because the poems follow your first year of being a widow, I wonder if you wrote them as part of journaling and the later decided to collect them into their own book?

Kathie: I never intended to write The Birth Of A Widow. 66 days after my husband Michael’s death, I went (ran, really) to the Oregon coast, which is my place to get away, drop all roles, and just be alone. While I was there, I suddenly began to have lines from what appeared to be poetry appearing in my head. So I wrote them, and they were all about Michael and what happened. Because they kept coming after the initial 5, I decided to let it continue (as if I had a choice!). I never once sat down deliberately to write one of these poems; I just wrote them as the words came to me. I did put a deadline on it – I didn’t want to spend the rest of my life writing about losing my husband. So I said I would give in to these poems until the first anniversary of his death. Of course, the writing itself made the final decision – on that anniversary, I found myself unable to write. But the morning after that first anniversary, I woke up with the poem in my head I decided to show the collection to my poetry publisher. She said they should be published, and I agreed.

WOW: Do you find writing helpful in dealing with the challenges of life?

Kathie: Yes, I definitely find writing helpful in getting me through life’s challenges. For years, when I’ve found myself in a situation that I just can’t figure my way through, I sit down to write a short story about it. I create a character who is totally unlike me, but in the same situation. That distances me. Then I move the character through the story. If I can get the character out the other side, I can get myself out too. (Incidentally, I have a novel being released next year, which has a main character who has just lost her husband. Yes, I needed help with this challenge too.)

WOW: Tell us a little about your process. Do you write daily?

Kathie: I don’t write exactly daily. I don’t write on weekends. Typically, I don’t write on Wednesdays either, as I teach all day that day. But I write the other days, and if I’m on a break, I write all day, every day. I’m typically an afternoon writer. My mornings are spent with clients, then I write, then in the late afternoon and into the evening, I teach classes and meet with more clients. If I have a day or a week where nothing comes, I don’t fret anymore. I’ve been writing long enough that I know it’s temporary, and my mind is only taking a rest.

WOW: After being a writing teacher for decades, you must have some great advice. What would you tell all our writers out there?

Kathie: The first thing I would advise is to not put the selling before the writing. Don’t even think of selling or publication. Just write. Once you start publishing, there is tremendous pressure to keep publishing, and you tend to get caught up in that, rather than the passion for putting down just the right words. Don’t write because you think it will sell; write because you have something to say.

    

The second thing I would advise is don’t reach so quickly for the delete key. Even if something doesn’t seem to be going well, give it a chance. We are our own worst critics, and sometimes, when we’re struggling, it actually means something great is on the way. Write it out.

WOW: Do you think teaching helps you as a writer?

Kathie: Teaching definitely helps me as a writer. It puts me right smack in the middle of a community that not only loves what I do, they want to do it too. I’m with people who understand the draw to do such a strange thing. Plus, I can’t hardly expect my students to write if I’m not writing.

WOW: I never thought about the motivation you receive from being a writing teacher. What’s up next for you (and your writing)?

Kathie: I have a novel, Unique In All The World, being released on February 18, 2027. I also decided it was time to fully immerse myself in my first passion, so I’m writing a short story collection.

WOW: Ooh, I am definitely looking forward to that. You are so passionate about short stories I can't wait to read your collection.

-Blog Tour Calendar

June 1st @ The Muffin

Join us as we celebrate the launch of The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems by Kathie Giorgio. Read an interview with the author and enter to win!

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

June 3rd @ Word Magic

The spotlight is on The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems by Kathie Giorgio. Drop by & learn more.

https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com

June 4th @ A Storybook World

Kathie Giorgio, author of The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems, tackles the challenge of honesty in writing on today's post.

https://www.astorybookworld.com/

June 6th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion

Don't miss today's interview of Kathie Giorgio, a creative writing instructor and author of 17 books.

https://bootsshoesandfashion.com

June 7th @ Shoe's Seeds and Stories

Kathie Giorgio takes you behind the scenes of My Own Writing Retreat: Created, Directed and Thoroughly Enjoyed by Me. Don't miss a review of Kathie's latest book: The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems.

https://lschuelerca.wordpress.com/

June 8th @ A Wonderful World of Words

Kathie Giorgio, author of The Birth of a Widow, shares how Poetry is Like a Postcard.

https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/

June 11th @ Words by Webb

Today Jodi writes abut the secret parts of grief we don't talk about as well as a review of The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems.

https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog

June 16th @ Cozy Home Delights

Stop by for thoughts on Writing About Grief from Kathie Giorgio as well as a review of her latest poetry collection The Birth of a Widow.

https://cozyhomedelight.com/reviews

June 18th @ Boys' Mom Reads!

Learn about the latest by writer Kathie Giorgio: The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems.

https://karensiddall.wordpress.com

June 23rd @ Beverley A. Baird

Beverley shares a review of Kathie Giorgio's latest book: The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems.

https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com

June 23rd @ Tracey Lampley

Author Kathie Giorgio gives us a peek at the balancing act of Writing While Caretaking.

https://www.traceylampley.com/

June 25th @ Beverley A. Baird

Kathie Giorgio, author of The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems, is back with a guest post about the everchanging life of a writer in Everything Writer - Writing in Multiple Genres. 

https://beverleyabaird.wordpress.com

June 30th @ World of My Imagination

End the month with a little poetry. Nicole shares a review of The Birth of a Widow: Collected Poems by Kathie Giorgio.

https://worldofmyimagination.com/

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win The Birth of a Widow by Kathie Giorgio. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends June 15th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!

The Birth of a Widow Giveaway

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Interview with Jill Martin, 3rd Place Winner in the WOW! Q2 2026 Creative Nonfiction Contest

 

Jill Martin writes and lives in Northern Virginia. Previously a federal government lawyer, she now travels extensively with her husband, and writes a Substack newsletter about what she learns from her travels (https://jillme3801.substack.com/). She has completed her first novel, which is still unpublished, and has started on her second. She also writes short stories, several of which have won prizes. She loves going to writing conferences to improve her craft, and enjoys meeting other writers. 

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

WOW: Congratulations, Jill, and welcome!"Recipe for Mom's KitchenAid Mixer" is a great example of a hermit crab essay. Did you always plan to structure this piece as a recipe and what is it you like about this particular format? 

Jill: I only recently learned about hermit crab essays. Last year I took a short online course in creative nonfiction (a webinar by Nicole Breit) and that got me thinking about different forms and how you can address an emotionally difficult subject in a structured essay. I like the way that you can uncover some of your deep feelings and memories in this way. I tried several things that didn't work too well, and then one day when I got out my mom's Kitchenaid and all these feelings came flooding in, I wanted to sit and write immediately. But I needed to finish the recipe first.

WOW: I was envious when you shared that your mother's KitchenAid mixer was likely from the 1950s! Are there any other antiques or similar treasures you've chosen to write about over the years? 

Jill: I'm grateful that you asked this question, because my first response was "no," but then I remembered that I wrote something years ago about a tiny family heirloom. Now I need to go back and find that essay, and improve it. 

WOW: I love it! It's always a good idea to do a "spring cleaning" of our files because we often forget about buried treasures such as that one. You are hard at work on writing novels, and bravo to your latest work in progress! What genres would you categorize your work as? How long did it take you to complete the first manuscript? 

Jill: My first novel took me 2-3 years to complete, and I'm still editing as I get further feedback. It's contemporary women's fiction (or "book club fiction" or "upmarket fiction"). My second novel is completely different; it's either YA or middle-grades, and it's about fairies, so it's in the fantasy genre. That's also something that's not recommended by agents; they want you to stick to one genre. But I'm doing what I want to do right now. 

WOW: Follow your heart. I'm also one of those people that likes to write a variety of genres--I get bored when I stick to the same thing all the time! As someone who keeps waffling back and forth about whether I should start a Substack, how has your experience with it been? Do you have a regular publication schedule for it, and what other Substacks do you subscribe to?

Jill: I have surprised myself with how much I enjoy writing my Substack newsletter. When I first started it, the focus was just on my travels. But lately I've been throwing a lot of other stuff against the wall. I've posted a poem, a short story, and several essays. I heard from one friend who was upset because she wanted to read only my travel posts and nothing else. I should probably re-brand the newsletter because it's basically my writing platform now. I don't have a regular schedule for posting my newsletter, although it's a recommended practice. Sometimes months go by between my posts, and then I'll post a bunch in a row (e.g., following a trip somewhere). I subscribe to several Substacks by successful fiction writers, on the craft of writing. My favorite is George Saunders. I also subscribe to several by political writers, as well as the Substacks of writer friends whom I've met at workshops. 

WOW: Our community here loves a good writing conference or residency! What types of conferences have you been to so far and what advice would you give to someone attending one for the first time? 

Jill: I recommend attending as many conferences and workshops as your time and wallet permit. I've been to many different types: quick online workshops that are 1-3 hours; 2- or 3-day writing conferences that are open to all and focus on the craft of writing (e.g. the Women's Fiction Writers Ass'n conference); conferences that focus on pitching agents (I've done in-person as well as online ones); and conferences that include both pitching opportunities and talks on craft (Atlanta Writing Conference, Washington Writers Conference; TBR in Boston). The most helpful ones for my writing have been the competitive-entry workshops that are intensive, in-person, and include an instructor who gives feedback (e.g., the Yale Writers' Workshop). My advice for someone attending a conference for the first time is to be social and meet other writers, even if that's not easy for you. Networking is quite helpful; I've learned a lot from other writers. You can also practice your pitches with them!

WOW: Thank you so much for all this great advice and a peek into your writing life! Congratulations again and we can't wait to read more from you. 

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1 comment Contestant interview, Jill Martin, Renee Roberson, Third Place Winner, WOW! Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest, writing advice

Anatomy of an Essay

 

Last month I shared that I’d begun working on an essay about being the victim of financial fraud in 2023. After dogged determination and enlisting the help of a local consumer affairs reporter, I got the $3,000 back from my bank only to find out my biological father had passed away penniless. I ultimately used some of that money to help pay for my father’s funeral. 

I’ve been working on that piece for the past several weeks, and wanted to share what the writing and revision process has been like for anyone curious about the process. 

First, because my essay had so many numbers, dates, and legal details involved, I dug out the folder of information I’d compiled during the process of reporting the fraud and filing claims. Thankfully, I had saved all that, but I was re-traumatized all over again reading the timeline. I had to step away from the project for a few days as I processed what I had been through. 

Next, I sat down and wrote my first draft over the course of a few days, and it was long (close to 4,000 words). I didn’t worry about the word count though, because I know I would be editing and cutting words down. 

After having a few trusted members of my family read over the draft, I sent it to my critique partner. Once she looked at it, she made a few suggestions, such as limiting the role of one of my family members in the piece and focusing more tightly on the estranged relationship between myself and my dad. She also suggested I make sure everyone had a name, even if I had to make one up, such as calling a bank representative “Barbara from Bank of America” to make the narrative flow more smoothly. I completed another round of revisions and sent those back to her, she brainstormed a good title with me, and offered up a few suggestions for places to submit the completed piece. 

The essay is now in fantastic shape (in my opinion) but I would still like to have one or two more people read it in the latest draft. And for my final step, I’m compiling a list of places to send, “Your Claim Has Been Resolved: How a Bank Scam Helped Me Heal After My Estranged Father’s Death.” 

Not only that, but this positive experience gave me some ideas on how to rework an essay I haven’t had any luck placing and braiding it with a local true crime story from my podcast. I may have finally found a good “hook” to make a stagnant piece more attractive to editors. 

Have you had a positive experience working on a project recently? I’d love to hear about it! 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer and editor who also produces the weekly true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas.

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Leave a Comment Creative Nonfiction, critique partners, Renee Roberson, revision tips, writing advice

Reader Review Wrap Up and Giveaway for L.S. Delorme's Caio

We're back in the Limerent world with a Reader Review Event for Lexy Delorme's Caio, a stand alone book introducing characters that will meet in Book Four: Ghosting Academy. Caio is a legal thriller that also had romance, grief and supernatural elements. Enter to win a print copy below and a $25 gift card!

Want to delve into the Limerent world? You're in luck! Check out the Wrap Up of Bright Midnights. Up next is Fanning Fireflies, a blend of historical fiction, romance and paranormal & you're invited to participate in the Reader Review Event. No blog needed - just the ability to leave a review on Goodreads and one online bookseller site by July 12. Join our Reader Review Event and you receive a copy of Fanning Fireflies to review and a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.  To learn more, contact jodiwebb9@gmail.com.

About the Book:

Sarah Baker is a paralegal in a law firm in modern day Brooklyn. Her life is bouncing between her abusive lawyer boyfriend, the voices she hears in her head and her soul sucking work at the law firm. On a New York spring day, she meets Caio as he plays basketball on a street court.

He is alluring, intriguing and young. Yet that's the least of his mystery. for Caio was beaten, thrown into a hole and left to die. In 1905.

Sarah tries to understand this enigmatic stranger while juggling the dubious ethics of her law firm and the ghosts in her head. As she struggles with loss, grief, love, beauty... and lawyers, she will need to summon the strength to break all of society's rules, save several lives and step into a new and potentially magical life.

Publisher: Limerent Publishing

ISBN-13:  979-8987488003

ASIN:  B0BSGHQSX6

Print length: 296 pages

Caio is available in print and as an ebook at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Bookshop.org. You can also add it to your Goodreads list.

Here's what WOW! readers had to say about Caio by L.S. Delorme:

Nicole says:

What an incredible book! I loved Sarah and getting to know the struggles in her life, first thanks to the death of her husband and then Karl, an abusive man who looks for all kinds of ways to make her and her life miserable. She then meets Caio, who basically turns things around for her in a surprising way. There are some tough topics throughout but what captures me is the writer's style, her excellent character development, and the strong plotline. Great pacing throughout the story and it held my interest the whole time.

(https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8456433838)

Julie says:

This was a dark legal thriller/taboo romance/supernatural story that had me feeling uncomfortable at times, which I think is the point of this series. This is the first in the series (I had previously read the second in the series) of interconnected standalone magical stories. Sarah is an attorney who works as a paralegal because her late husband told her she didn't have what it takes to be an attorney so she let her license lapse. When he passed, she went to work doing research for a shady law firm, and has been "dating" this horrible abusive guy who has too much control on her life, because he "owed" her late husband a favor. It gets even darker and more twisted as she investigates a child custody case with allegations of SA of a minor, and gets worse from there. She's been a pushover her entire life and now she grows a spine to help this family.

(https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8148005584)

Jeanette says:

I feel like this book had two faces. The paranormal face that had ghosts and immortal beings. Then the legal thriller - a frightened paralegal taking on what at times felt like the entire legal community. I was pulled into the legal story which raised questions of "Are there people that evil in the world?"

The ending made me feel like a sequel was needed to learn what happened to so many characters who ended with loose ends.

(https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/201182279-jeanette)

Ashley says:

The writing in this book is genuinely good and the law firm mystery storyline kept me hooked throughout. The paranormal world building has real potential and the atmosphere works. But there are content choices here I cannot overlook.

For a significant portion of the book the romantic and physical relationship develops while Sarah believes Caio to be sixteen years old. The paranormal explanation comes much later. There is also a conversation between the two characters that frames a deeply troubling dynamic in a way I found genuinely upsetting.

The bones of this story are strong. Handled differently, this would have been a four star read for me. Please go in fully informed and please take the trigger warnings at the front of the book seriously.

(https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R178XUA7S5B4C0)

Julie says:

This book is intense. I was impressed by the author's ability to truly conjure up the emotions of the characters. I could really feel the desperation, the fear, the confusion, the revulsion at the choices others make and yes, the glimmers of hope. I felt fully immersed in this world of both dreams and nightmares.
Yes, there are some dark subjects (domestic abuse, sexual abuse, and teenagers involved in inappropriate sexual relationships) so if these are triggers for you, this may not be the book for you. But if you want to read about regular people battling a shadow world of power and evil, Caio will fit the bill.

(https://www.amazon.com/review/R3USG76HXBFDVZ)

About the Author, L.S. Delorme:

Author Lexy Shaw Delorme (writing as LS Delorme) is the award-winning author of The Limerent Series, a genre-defying collection of emotionally resonant novels that blend supernatural mystery, psychological thriller, historical fiction, and romantic suspense. With a background as a lawyer, pop musician, and science writer, Lexy brings intellectual depth and lyrical prose to every story she tells. Now based in Paris, she lives with her French husband and two very cool sons. Her work explores themes of limerence, memory, identity, and the echoes of past lives—and she’s not afraid to push boundaries along the way.

Connect with the author:

Website: www.lsdelorme.com

Instagram: @ls_delorme

TikTok: @LexyShawDelorme

Learn more about Lexy on Upcoming Podcasts:

One More Thing Before You Go

Beach Chair Chats

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

Enter to win a print copy of an L.S. Delorme book. First prize is a copy of Caio and a $25 Amazon Gift Card. Second prize is a copy of Sabbatical, a collection of short stories about the characters that live in the Limerent universe. Fill out the form below for a chance to win! The giveaway ends on Wednesday, June 10 at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw the winners the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!

Caio Giveaway

Enjoying the Limerent Series? Sign up for the Reader Review Event for Fanning Fireflies, a historical romance with paranormal details that is a standalone title in the Limerent Series. No blog needed - just the ability to leave a review on Goodreads and one other online bookseller site by July 12. Join our Reader Review Event and you receive a copy of Fanning Fireflies to review and a chance to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.  To learn more, contact jodiwebb9@gmail.com.

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13 comments book giveaway, Caio, L.S.Delorme, legal thriller, Limerent, paranormal, Reader Review Event

Interview with Sarah Kennedy: Fall 2025 Flash Fiction Runner Up

Sarah Kennedy is an emerging writer from the Midlands, UK. She writes mostly short stories and Flash fiction, with stories longlisted in Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction, Honourable Mentions in Elegant Literature, and a flash piece published on Tortive Lit. Sarah can be found at @svkenn.bsky.social.

--interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on placing as a runner up in our Fall 2025 Flash Fiction competition. What prompted you to enter the contest?

Sarah: I love a deadline! It’s hard for me to carve out writing time, so I search for competitions and submissions with deadlines to give me something to work towards and force me to make time to write. I had the story already written and hoped that the themes it explores might be a good fit for WOW. I’ve read the fabulous stories you publish, and it’s an honour to have placed as a runner up.

WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “I Need This Like I Need a Head in the Hole?” It seems like it could be based on the lives of many mothers.

Sarah: I often draw on my experience of fertility and parenthood when writing, especially the impact on mental health and identity. I work full time, have two beautiful, energetic boys, and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/M.E., so the stresses that come with balancing life, health and work has been a big influence on my writing, and on this story in particular.

I initially wrote the story for the Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction (for anyone who isn’t familiar with it, have a listen to the podcast). It’s a quarterly contest with different prompts each time. The brief for this one was to break the ‘show don’t tell’ rule. I wanted to play around with the idea of behaviour showing what we’re unable to say. The hole is based on a real hole, a tiny one in my own wall that I managed to convince myself that something was living inside. I’ll blame exhaustion and my peri-menopausal brain!

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?

Sarah: I have a very fragmented routine and can't dedicate much time to sriting, as much as I want to. Between work, health, and my boys, by the time I think about writing I’m falling asleep! That’s where the deadlines help. I especially like prompt-based, time limited contests. They can be intense, but they force me to make time and create something new, incorporating characters and settings I'd never have touched otherwise. These are the stories that I will later edit and refine for other submission slots and how I got here with WOW!

I’d love to write every day, and I know that’s what everyone recommends, but it’s just not possible. I try to use evenings and weekends where I can. I work best in a pub or café where I’m free of distractions at home. My husband is very supportive at creating opportunities, and if I know I’ve got a busy writing week with upcoming deadlines, I’ll book time off work where possible.

I’m actually reducing my hours to help manage my CFS/M.E. and I’m hoping to use that extra time writing and add some structure to my writing routine (when I’m not catching up on sleep).

WOW: Are you working on any writing projects right now? What’s next for you?

Sarah: I’ve fallen in love with flash fiction, so I’ll continue the prompt-based competitions, and using those stories for other submission slots (including WOW). I started entering these contests shortly after I attempted a first draft of a novel. I quickly realized that I didn't know what I was doing, and I needed to work on my writing skills. Flash fiction contests seemed like a good way to try and improve. That was over a year ago and while I'm not giving up the flash competitions, it's time to slow that down a bit and get back to that novel.

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

Sarah: I’m sure it’s been said a lot, but find a writing community! Through the various competitions I’ve found, I’ve connected with other writers. I’ve joined a couple of discord writing groups where we beta read each other’s work and share ideas. The peer to peer feedback process is so valuable in honing your skills. It's a reciprocal process, providing feedback for others is just as beneficial for your own writing as the feedback you review from them.

These competitions are so helpful for anyone struggling for ideas or motivation. I can recommend Not Quite Write, Writing Battle, and Twisted Tournament (WOW as well, obviously).

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Leave a Comment Contestant interview, Marcia Peterson, runner up , Sarah Kennedy, WOW! Fall 2025 Flash Fiction Contest