On the Other Side of Grief by Isabella Rose: Reader Review Event and Giveaway

Friday, October 30, 2026
 
On the Other Side of Grief by Isabella Rose

I'm excited to announce our reader review event for On the Other Side of Grief by Isabella Rose. We'll be celebrating the event's launch by sharing reviews from our community and giving you a chance to win a copy of the book and an Amazon gift card. 

But before we get into what our readers thought, here's more about the book:

There is hope on the other side of grief.

Grief takes many forms—the loss of:
  • A loved one
  • A relationship
  • Your health
  • A dream
  • The person you used to be
Whatever you’re grieving, On the Other Side of Grief meets you exactly where you are—no rushing, no performing, no “right” way to do this. Just the comfort of knowing that you don’t have to walk this path alone.

Compiled by Isabella Rose, this book gathers over a dozen soulful authors who share their stories of loss and the hope they found beyond it. In addition to their stories, you’ll find journal prompts, creative invitations, quiet spaces for reflection, and guided activities that you can return to again and again.

Grief can be a painful path, but it doesn’t mean your story is over.

Hope is waiting for you on the other side.

Publisher: Bella Rose Healing Hands
ISBN-13: 979-8996090501
ASIN: B0HK6KFMLX
Print length: 328 pages

On the Other Side of Grief is available in print and as an ebook at Amazon, Walmart, or Bookshop.org. You can also add it to your Goodreads list.

About the Creator, Isabella Rose

Isabella “Bella” Rose is an author, artist, advocate, and holistic health and wellness practitioner. She is the author of the poetic memoir Behind the Masked Smile: A Survivor’s Quest for Love, has contributed to eleven other books, and is the creator of On the Other Side of Grief: A Healing Companion for Your Journey from Loss to Hope. Bella is passionate about using writing, creativity, and advocacy to bring hope and connection to others. When she isn’t writing, creating, or advocating for change, she can often be found making art or spoiling her senior cat, Agno.


Here's what WOW! Readers had to say about On the Other Side of Grief:

"On the Other Side of Grief: A Healing Companion for Your Journey from Loss to Hope is full of interesting stories by different people who have, or do, experience some kind of grief: each story is told honestly and the experiences are raw and heartfelt. I also enjoyed the author Isabella Rose’s contributions. It was good that there were questions to think about scattered throughout the book.

This novel makes me think of my own experiences of grief. I went straight through the book, but it can be dipped into as well. I find the book good but the advice section is a little long and repetitive. It's good there are also activities." ~ Katherine H.

"What an incredible book! In this anthology, compiled by Isabella Rose, we can explore all kinds of grief. From the traditional kinds most of us know about, such as death, to the unconventional ones, such as the loss of the life we thought we knew. The author and her contributors walk us through them all, exploring the deepest emotions that we often leave unsaid. 

"This book resonated with me so deeply as I feel my own types of grief lately (anticipatory, as well as grieving the life I thought I had by now), and Isabella encourages the reader to explore their own healing process. She has writing prompts and activities along the way to help you heal and explore your own grief. Whether you are grieving a loved one or feeling the grief of something you can’t put your finger on, you don’t want to miss this book." ~ Nicole P.

"On The Other Side of Grief by Isabella Rose offers a helpful way to reflect on loss through creative journal prompts. The prompts provide a starting point for exploring feelings that can be difficult to put into words. I appreciate the creative approach, which makes room for personal reflection without requiring neat answers. This is a thoughtful choice for anyone who finds comfort in writing as they navigate grief." ~ Ellen C.

"On the Other Side of Grief opened up my understanding of grief. For most of my life I equated grief with the loss of a person through death. This book showed me that we can grieve for people lost in many ways beside death and well as the loss of other things and aspects of life.

"This book has four sections: one on the many faces of grief, one with personal essays from contributors about their grief, one about how grief can affect you mentally, physically and spiritually and a section of actions you can take to help yourself deal with your grief. I feel these complementary sections work together, the loss of one section would make this book less effective. For instance, I was drawn to the sections on actions to take to deal with grief but if I hadn't read the section on the many types of grief I might not be able to label some of my experiences and emotions as grief.

"This is a book I feel many people will benefit from reading both for when they experience grief and when they are trying to support someone else. It is a low pressure book, perfect for someone who is going through a difficult time. You don't have to read straight through from page 1 to page 295. You can jump around, reading a few pages from a section that you need at a particular time. There is also an abundance of resources focused on the US, Canada and Australia, as well as some resources that can be accessed worldwide. It feels like a book you will return to again and again." ~ Jodi W.

"What an interesting collection of essays, prompts, and musings on grief. This anthology includes a variety of points of view and situations offering hope and healing for anyone (all of us) who have or will navigate a loss. Highly recommended for anyone facing the sadness, confusion, frustration, and despair of these things. It would make a great gift, too." ~ Nita S.


On the Other Side of Grief and Amazon Gift Card Giveaway

***** GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and On the Other Side of Grief by Isabella Rose. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends November 13th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!

On the Other Side of Grief and a $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway
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A Story of Two Photos

Thursday, October 29, 2026

 


Let's start with a story of two photos. The first was a headshot of son in a suitcoat, dress shirt and tie. It was the "official" senior photo the school demanded for the yearbook, the local newspaper and other press releases. He didn't look like himself and yet he looked just like every other boy in his class. An uncomfortable teen masquerading as a businessman. The photos are...forgettable.


The second photo is the "fun" senior picture. Same teen outdoors lounging on a fallen tree, wearing his favorite jeans, Vans and gray fedora. He looks like he's enjoying the day. It is not like any of his classmate's photos.  Looking at this photo, you might think "I'd like to meet that guy." 


Why am I thinking about Senior class photos? Because I've had writer pics on my mind. Most people refer to them as author pics, because once upon a time they were slapped on the back of a book jacket. Book authors needed photos. 


But today, all writers need at least one good writer pic. We're constantly asked for one by editors (especially when we do online writing), we need them for our own social media presence, for workshops we lead, and yes, one day for that book we write. And truthfully, it's often a mad scramble of "Oh no, do I have a recent photo that looks half-decent?"


Let's be honest...is your writer pic more like my son's first photo or his second photo? I'll go first! Mine is definitely a boring, looks like a thousand other writer pics, forgettable headshot. Because that's what I thought a writer pic should be.


Plus I don't really like getting my photo taken. Something about facing a camera makes me lose the ability to smile naturally. My smile comes out as "I'm being kidnapped but trying to make the best of it."


But Kristan Higgins has become my new inspiration. When I was sent her writer pic for a recent book promotional tour I loved it. It felt like a candid someone had snapped in her living room, full of action and personality. Immediately I thought, "Every writer pic should be like this." It should say more about the writer than, "This is me dressed up and trying to look professional."


In my opinion, we should all have a few writer pics, especially if we do a variety of writing work. Maybe we'll always need that bland headshot but we should have writer pics with more personality to offer. The writer pic for your personal essays should be different than your writer pic for your true crime writing and different from the one for your travel writing. After all, you wouldn't use the same bio for all those outlets, so why use the same photo? 


So take a good look at my writer pic below. Hopefully, it'll be the last time you see it. I'm going to be snapping some shots that feel more like me for the future. Won't you join me?


Jodi M. Webb writes from her home in the Pennsylvania mountains about everything from

apple pie to consignment shops to travel. 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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What Happened in Beulah: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, October 26, 2026

What Happened in Beulah by Christy Scott Cashman

I'm excited to announce the launch of a blog tour of the new YA novel by Christy Scott Cashman, What Happened in Beulah. You'll find yourself caught up in this tale of a teenage girl who uncovers the dark secrets of her Smoky Mountain town while searching for a missing classmate. This gripping coming-of-age mystery perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing. Join us in celebrating with an author interview and book giveaway.

But before we get to that, here's more about her book:

Nestled in the foothills of the Smoky Mountains, Beulah has always seemed steady—rooted in tradition, shaped by generations, and slow to change. But in 1986, the ground has shifted, and no one feels that more than fifteen-year-old Barrett Childress Owens. Between her parents' unraveling marriage and a school full of kids she can't connect with, she feels invisible in her own hometown.


When Lacy Gunderson, the captivating new girl everyone is curious about, suddenly vanishes, the town's calm surface fractures. Search parties comb the woods. A police investigation begins. Rumors multiply. Families close ranks. And Barrett begins to sense how much the adults around her choose not to say. As Beulah clings to its usual rituals—including the annual Miss Kudzu pageant, which has shaped local girlhood for decades—Barrett is forced to navigate a community where loss lingers in the air and secrets are carefully kept. Her journey through the uncertainty reshapes her understanding of friendships, family, and the complex place she calls home.

A rich coming-of-age story with a pulse of mystery and a budding romance, What Happened in Beulah explores the fault lines of a small town and the courage it takes to face the truths people would rather bury.

She Writes Press (October 20, 2026)
Audiobook: B0HB7D3M2Z
ASIN: B0GPDC6LFN  
ISBN-13: 979-8896364801
Print length:  288 pages

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

About the Author, Christy Scott Cashman

Christy is the award-winning author of the bestselling debut novel The Truth About Horses (2023), which earned multiple literary awards and widespread acclaim for its emotionally resonant storytelling, unforgettable characters, and heartfelt exploration of resilience, family, and hope. She is also the author of the children's books The Not-So-Average Monkey of Kilkea Castle and Petri's Next Things. Her third children's book, The Cat Named Peanut Shrimp Cookie Fry Muffin Who Lives on Staniel Cay, will be published in September 2026, continuing her passion for creating imaginative stories that inspire young readers and families alike.

In addition to her literary career, Christy is an accomplished actress and producer who has appeared in more than twenty feature films, including American Hustle, Joy, The Women, Ted 2, and The Forger.

Committed to nurturing creativity, mentorship, and storytelling, Christy founded YouthINK, a nonprofit organization in the U.S. and Ireland that connects aspiring young creatives—including writers, filmmakers, actors, artists, musicians, and storytellers—with accomplished industry professionals who encourage, mentor, and inspire the next generation of creative voices. She is also the founder of YOUthink Creative Wellness and Writing Retreats, which offers immersive writing, creativity, and wellness experiences for adults while supporting YouthINK's mission.

A passionate advocate for literacy and the arts, Christy serves on the Boards of The Associates of the Boston Public Library, the American Film Institute, and the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company. She also proudly supports Raising A Reader, reflecting her longstanding commitment to fostering early reading.

The second-youngest of ten children, Christy was named after Catherine Marshall's beloved novel Christy and grew up in North Carolina, where her lifelong love of horses began. Today, she divides her time between New York City, Martha's Vineyard, and her farm in Pennsylvania, where she finds
inspiration for many of her stories. She treasures time with her family, four horses, two dogs, and the moments that inspire her writing.

--Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: Like your debut The Truth About Horses, What Happened in Beulah is the story of a young teenage girl. Are there any underlying threads that the books have in common?

Christy: There are definitely underlying threads. I would say primarily just by virtue of the age of the protagonists. They are both dealing with being raised by adults who have their own pain and challenges. They are both trying to figure out where they fit in and how to let go of the fears they cling to from the past in order to forge ahead to a new beginning.

WOW: I feel like that's an experience we go through at so many ages. Speaking of age, your book is labeled Young Adult, but as a non-YA reader, I still found it engaging. Do you believe book industry labels are helpful or restrictive for readers?

Christy: That’s a really interesting question. Because I think labels are both helpful and restrictive when referring to a book or a person! I think it’s best to see them as a loose guideline as opposed to black and white descriptions. I find labels dangerous for a lot of reasons.

WOW: Why did you place your novel in 1986 as opposed to the present?  

Christy: I placed my novel in 1986 because it was a time in my life when there was a big change. All of the detail I was growing up with in this little town in the Smoky Mountains was accentuated to me because we had just moved there at the time. I think anytime you move as a kid, all of your senses are very alive. Probably partly because of fear and change. But it’s very helpful to rely on all of those feelings to be able to write a story from that perspective. And I found that I didn’t have to dig too deep to find them. I loved being able to write about a time when we did not rely on our technology for everything!

WOW: Did you have any beta-readers who were teenagers to help ensure that you were capturing the teenage experience and emotions, or did you rely on your own memories? 

Christy: I really just relied on my own memories for my teenage voice. In some ways, it was easier than writing the character of Reese in The Truth About Horses because Reese I wrote as present day in the teenage voice and Barrett I wrote as a teenager from the 80s which I can certainly relate to!

WOW: As an actress, who do you relate to? Which character in your novel would you like to play in the movie? (Of course, I made that up… unless there is a movie in the works and you’d like to announce it here.)

Christy: Oh my gosh! I think it would be so much fun to play mama! She’s just so fun and flawed and interesting to me. She's a sloppy hot mess and I can definitely relate to that!

WOW: Can't we all. I just sent a loved one a text that read "I'm sick. Bring me chocolate." What did you learn writing your first novel that helped when writing What Happened in Beulah?

Christy:  It mostly helped for me to realize that I have my own way of working. I gained a lot of confidence knowing that sometimes it’s helpful to put a manuscript aside for several weeks and sometimes it’s helpful to write every day but not necessarily in your manuscript.

I also found that it’s very much like having another child because it’s not exactly the same experience. I wasn’t quite as precious about certain things. For instance, if The Truth About Horses is my first baby and What Happened in Beulah is my second, I may have coddled and breast-fed The Truth About Horses a bit longer than What Happened in Beulah. IF The Truth About Horses dropped the pacifier on the ground, I would’ve washed it several times before giving it back. With What Happened in Beulah, I would have shoved it right back in her mouth.

WOW: I love it! I'm picturing you shoving a pacifer into the mouth of a baby/book creature. Can you tell us a little more about your writing process? 

Christy: I write in phases. At the beginning of a manuscript I would refer to it as my hunting and gathering mode. I don’t necessarily know the direction I’m going so I’m looking for a little clues out in the world. A conversation I might overhear, the way someone is dressed might inspire a character.  Airports, and coffee shops become incredibly rich for material. It’s during this time that I get to have a fresh view of life. And I love it! 

The next phase is a bit more grueling because it requires sitting down and piecing all of these clues together. But this is also so exciting because it’s where I get to choose my world, the characters in the world and the challenges that they will face. I tend to write in islands where I can write a scene and not necessarily know how it’s connected to the rest of the story, but if it comes to my mind, it’s a mistake if I don’t write it down. 

The next phase is like connecting all the dots and filling in to create a streamlined story; or at least something that makes enough sense for a rough draft. The most important thing I found in learning to write is to not try to be perfect. Once I make my way to a rough draft I have a little  celebration because it feels like there’s a story and now I’m well aware of the challenges ahead.

WOW: What was your inspiration for creating YouthINK? Did a younger you have a creative mentor?

Christy: I started YouthINK because I was so excited about having been able to get The Truth About Horses to the finish line. It felt like a gift. Afterwards, it felt like something God was telling me to do. To create a place where kids could express themselves creatively and learn to find their voices. I had an English teacher in my sophomore year in high school who used to write the nicest comments on my
creative writing assignments. Also, my uncle Ernie complimented my letter-writing.

WOW: I commend you for actually doing it. Too often we have great ideas for improving the world but they get stuck in the idea phase. Finally, a question just because I’m feeling particularly nosy. Were you ever in a pageant similar to the Miss Kudzu Pageant in What Happened in Beulah?

Christy: I was never in a pageant like the Miss Kudzu pageant, thank God! But as you know, there are so many different types of pageants in the south. And I find humor and lots of interesting things to write about in regard to anything competitive that parents do with their children or in general!

WOW: Yes, competition does bring something out in us, doesn't it? The cutthroat world of t-ball. Let's end with what’s up next for you? 

Christy: Thank you for asking! I’m actually working on a screenplay right now and I’m not even sure what it’s about. But I think that there are themes around mental illness and becoming too complacent in life. And maybe redefining yourself when it doesn’t seem like the most convenient time.

WOW: A screenplay! That's an exciting change of pace. We can't wait to hear more when this idea really begins to take shape.


What Happened in Beulah by Christy Scott Cashman Blog Tour

--Blog Tour Calendar

October 26th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of What Happened in Beulah by Christy Scott Cashman. Read an interview with the author and enter the giveaway.

October 27th @ A Storybook World
Like literary secrets? Stop by for author Christy Scott Cashman's list of 10 Novels about Small Towns with Big Secrets.

October 28th @ Boys' Mom Reads
Get a sneak peek at your next read with an excerpt of What Happened in Beulah.

October 29th @ Knotty Needle
Christy Scott Cashman, author of a novel full of fog, kudzu, and mountain storms, writes about the landscape as a character.

October 31st @ All Things Writing
Author and actor Christy Scott Cashman shares what acting taught her about writing dialogue.

November 2nd @Storeybook Reviews
Read an excerpt of What Happened in Beulah and a guest post by author Christy Scott Cashman on What a Beauty Pageant Reveal About a Town.

November 3rd @ Words by Webb
Jodi shares her thoughts on What Happened in Beulah by Christy Scott Cashman.

November 5th @ Knotty Needle
Judy reviews Christy Scott Cashman's YA novel What Happened in Beulah.

November 6th @ Just Katherine
Author Christy Scott Cashman is visiting to tell everyone about her work with YouthINK: What Mentoring Teen Writers Taught Me about Writing a Teenager.

November 11th @ Chapter Break 
Christy Scott Cashman posts about the challenges of writing with the voice of a 15 year old girl with condescending to her in her latest What Happened in Beulah.

November 14th @ All Things Writing
Caitrin answers the writing prompt for the What Happened in Beulah blog tour by sharing a childhood experience that still affects her as an adult.

November 17th @ A Wonderful World of Words
How do you set novel in the past but still have a modern feel? Today author Christy Scott Cashman explains how she walked the tightrope of setting What Happened in Beulah in 1986.

November 21st @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Meet author Christy Scott Cashman in today's interview.

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

Enter to win What Happened in Beulah by Christy Scott Cashman. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends November 8th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!

What Happened in Beulah Giveaway
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A Haunted Bookstore?

Thursday, October 22, 2026

Me sharing a few local crimes stories at our recent Hops and Haunts event. 

 

I guess it’s only appropriate that the bookstore I chose to work in may very well be haunted. The building our store is housed in was built in the early 1900s, shortly after a catastrophic fire swept through the town. For many years, it was home to a bustling general store. In the mid-1980s, two women turned the space into a bookstore, and the current owner purchased it with her mother more than 10 years ago.

I didn’t hear the whispers about the unusual activity in the store until I’d been there for a few months. The only thing I’d noticed was the occasional chill up my spine as I walked through the darkened hallway behind the store on my way out of the building at night. But I chalked that up to it being a very old building without the best lighting. I heard stories of booksellers finding various books on the floor when they would open in the morning.  

Most of the activity seems to occur in the corner of the store where children’s picture and board books are. One day I was straightening the area when three books propped up on a stand fell onto the floor in front of me—three different times. The stand was slanted toward the wall so there was no reason for the books to fall forward onto the floor. We have one whimsical shelf from Ikea shaped like a tree that holds books featuring the character Bluey. Large piles of books fly off that shelf often. 

We play Spotify through the store computer, so we have curated music throughout the day. The Bluetooth speaker constantly loses connection to the Wi-Fi, and we find ourselves reconnecting it often. One day I turned from our workstation to look at the back of the store, and a shadowy haze appeared by the back door. It was one of those moments where you blink, and you wonder if you really saw something at all. Two co-workers have seen a woman in the store in the early morning hours, near the natural sciences section, when no one else was in there. They were appropriately spooked. 

Once a friend of mine who runs the town ghost tours heard about these occurrences, she began doing research. The pizza restaurant three stores down has reported seeing the spirit of a young girl in their kitchen. My friend discovered there used to be a neighborhood of houses for the mill workers on the street behind our store. In 1938, a mom in that neighborhood left her home to run an errand and returned to discover her five children had died when the house caught fire. We now wonder if it’s one of those children who likes to visit the children’s section of the bookstore, but who is the woman my co-workers have also seen? Of course, some of my colleagues are skeptics who laugh off the ghost musings, while others are more willing to entertain the idea. Now that we’re a regular story on the ghost tour, we have customers stop in to ask us questions about what we might or might not have witnessed. 

So, I guess it shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that the person who has been writing scary stories for years, and created a true crime podcast, would also end up working in a bookstore with potential paranormal activity. Maybe there’s a story that will come out of it. 

Until then, I’ll do my best not to upset any ghosts in the store. 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who also hosts the true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas. She also works at an independent bookstore in a cozy college town straight out of Hallmark Movie.
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Beyond Depletion Book Blitz

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

Beyond Depletion by Toni Curtis

I'm excited to announce the launch of a book blitz for Beyond Depletion: A Nutritional Therapist's Guide to Postpartum Healing.  We want everyone to know about this book to empower women in their birth experience. It's not too late for you to join the blitz and share this great book on your blog, Facebook, Twitter or other social media channels. If you participate, you'll be entered to win a $25 Amazon Gift card. For more information contact, Jodi at jodiwebb9@gmail.com Join us in celebrating this amazing book with a book giveaway.

Book Summary:

After years of being dismissed by the medical system, nutritional therapist and doula Toni Curtis discovered the truth: postpartum depletion is real, it is measurable, and it does not have to be your new normal. Beyond Depletion is the guide she wishes someone had handed her — a fusion of ancestral wisdom, functional nutrition, and modern science built specifically for the fourth trimester and beyond.

Inside, you'll find a complete roadmap for postpartum recovery, including the science of postpartum depletion, nervous system healing, global herbal wisdom, nutritional information, sample recipes, guided journaling pages and a 42 day recovery plan.

Whether you're newly postpartum, years past delivery and still not feeling like yourself, or preparing for birth and want to protect your recovery in advance, this book meets you where you are.

Publication July 26, 2026

ASIN: B0H8XSZMP6
ISBN-13: 978-8187173648
Print length:  121 pages

Purchase your copy on Amazon. You'll also want to add it to your GoodReads reading list.

About the Author, Toni Curtis


Toni Curtis is a certified birth doula and childbirth educator. Her work in maternal support began in 1996 when she volunteered as a peer educator while in high school. In addition to teaching classes about safe sex practices, she supported teen mothers who needed prenatal care, labor and delivery support and postpartum care. For years, she continued to stand with and advocate for young mothers who were underrepresented and in many cases, simply not heard.

Since the birth of her own children, Toni has been on a mission to equip herself with the knowledge that she now shares with her clients and fellow doulas. Recently, her wealth of knowledge and passion for this work has led her to become a mentor to doulas across the country. She is passionate about her work and prides herself on being patient, empathetic, kind and always willing to learn. Her mission is to educate, support, advocate and even make policy changes surrounding implicit and cultural bias about equitable maternal care.

When she is not taking a class or supporting moms, Toni enjoys spending her time with her husband and their two children. She enjoys learning about different cultures, watching Japanese anime and most recently, taking roller skating classes so she can refresh her skills.

Instagram: @birthwisedoulas
Twitter/X: @BirthWiseDoulas

Beyond Depletion by Toni Curtis Book Blitz

--Blitz Calendar

Thanks to all our friends who are helping by sharing information about Beyond Depletion, their thoughts about life after baby's arrival, excerpts from the book and links to enter the giveaway and purchase the book with their followers.

October 21st @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of the Beyond Depletion: A Nutritional Therapist's Guide to Postpartum Healing by Toni Curtis. Learn more and enter the giveaway.

October 21st @ Tracey Lampley

October 22nd @ A Storybook World

October 23rd @ Boys' Mom Reads!

October 26th @ Words by Webb

October 27th @ A Wonderful World of Words


October 29th @ Chapter Break

October 30th @ World of My Imagination

November 2nd @ One More Chapter Reviews

November 4th @ Nikki's Book Reviews

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win a copy of  Beyond Depletion: A Nutritional Therapist's Guide to Postpartum Healing. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends November 4th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck! 


Beyond Depletion Giveaway
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Interview with Deb Grohs: Spring 2026 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Deb Grohs is a recently retired computer/database programmer whose lifetime goal is to write at least one novel. She holds a Creative Writing degree from the University of Iowa and enjoyed attending their Summer Writing Festival before it was dismantled.

Since retiring, Deb has been stretching her writing muscle by participating in various writing competitions, among them: Writing Battle (‘Elite Eight’, Autumn 2025; Honorable Mention, Spring 2026); Furious Fiction; Writer’s Playground; The Booby Prize; Not Quite Write; NYCM; TL;DR Word Herd; and, of course, WOW (Honorable Mention, Fall 2025).

She has yet to be struck with a brilliant idea for a novel, but has written a novella which she submitted to the Miami University Press 2026 Novella Contest.

When not writing, Deb enjoys gardening, walking, RV’ing, and spending time with her grandkids.

--interview by Marcia Peterson

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

Deb: I was drawn to WOW as a community of writers, but more specifically, women writers. I felt it would be a safe, non-judgmental space for a new writer such as myself. For this particular competition, I felt my style of writing and subject matter might be appreciated by the guest judge (Noah Charney).

WOW: Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “A Murder of Crows?”

Deb: I had run across the story about crows falling from the sky (yes, this really happened! Portland, Oregon, January 2018) and tucked it away for a “someday use” in a story. When I later used an online prompt generator and received the prompts drama(genre) – storyteller(character) – murdering(subject), it just came together.

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

Deb: I typically write in the mornings, in my home office, in the quiet, with a cup of tea close at hand. But when I’m in the middle of a story and away from my computer, I often jot notes to myself on my phone – a sentence fragment, the ‘perfect word’, a title, a plot twist, a character foible.

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

Deb: At this point, I’m just moving from one writing competition to the next, honing my writing skills and learning as I go. Next up is Writing Battle Harvest Owl and October’s Elegant Literature contest.

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

Deb: I read about this concept years ago (unfortunately I can’t remember who to attribute it to), and it has stuck with me. Imagine an artist – spattered apron, cluttered studio, a painting before him on a large wooden easel. He steps back, studies his work, thumb and forefinger scratching the stubble on his chin. He studies it and studies it, steps from side to side to catch the different angles. Then he steps forward, selects a brush, dips it in red pigment. Then, with a sure hand, he applies a spot of red to the canvas. When questioned as to why, his response will be, “The eye will go there, and they will remember.”

So when I’m writing characters, I try to give them each a spot of red. Maybe the hero bites his fingernails, maybe the villain saves kittens from trees. Give them something to make them just a bit different than expected. The reader will remember.

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Toward the Light: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, October 19, 2026

Toward the Light by Deborah Svec-Carstens

I'm thrilled to be announcing a blog tour for a memoir that relates a tale of resilience in the aftermath of trauma. Deborah Svec-Carstens brings us her debut book Toward the Light: A Year in Paris. Although this story will resonate with survivors of sexual violence, there is also a universal message of hope and courage for everyone. Join us in celebrating with an author interview and book giveaway.

But before we get to that, here's more about her book:

At twenty-two, Deborah Svec-Carstens leaves small-town Iowa for Paris, hoping a year abroad will bring adventure, independence, and a fresh start. But just as she begins to feel at home, a morning run ends in sexual assault.

Every instinct tells her to leave. Instead, she chooses to stay.

As the months pass, Deborah leans on an unexpected community of friends, wrestles with questions of faith, and finds purpose in caring for Lily, the young girl entrusted to her care. Slowly, she discovers that healing is not a destination, but a path taken one step at a time.

Set against the cafés, parks, and neighborhoods of Paris, Toward the Light is a coming-of-age memoir of trauma, resilience, and the courage of simply staying.

Spiral Staircase Press (September 15, 2026)
Audiobook: 979-8-9958853-2-0
ASIN: 979-8-9958853-0-6
ISBN-13: 979-8-9958853-1-3
Print length:  308 pages

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

About the Author, Deborah Svec-Carstens

Deborah Svec-Carstens, JD, MTS, is a writer, book coach, spiritual director, and former lawyer whose work explores healing after trauma, embodiment, and spirituality. Her debut memoir, Toward the Light: A Year in Paris, traces her search for meaning and connection in the months after a traumatic assault in Paris in her early twenties. 

Her writing has appeared or is forthcoming in bioStories, the Brevity blog, the Des Moines Register, and Ember & Vine
Nonfiction Anthology. Her work has received recognition from Writer’s Digest, WOW! Women on Writing, and Memoir Magazine. Deborah writes The Spiral Staircase on Substack and offers
workshops and presentations. She lives in Central Iowa with her husband, where she writes and accompanies others in their journeys of healing and story. 


--Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: What made you decide to write a memoir? Was it part of a healing process? 

Deborah: I started writing Toward the Light ten years ago, but the idea had been with me far longer. At first, I wondered whether there might be another layer of healing to uncover through the writing. As I continued to write, my “why” for writing the book grew. I wanted my nieces and nephews to know what I’d experienced and, more importantly, that I’d moved forward. I was resilient and courageous—and they could be, too. As the story took shape, so did a deep desire to share my story with other survivors, and publication became a goal. I wanted to give other survivors and their loved ones hope. I wanted readers to know that my darkest moment was not the end of my story, but an invitation into community, connection, and faith.

WOW: Your book explores two very personal topics: recovery after sexual violence and searching for a spiritual relationship. Was it difficult to share this with the world?

Deborah: At first, yes.

My Paris journals, where I’d written prayers, scripture passages, and questions, helped me remember my spiritual wrestling but also made me cringe. My faith had changed drastically since those initial months after the assault. As hard as it was to put some of those pieces in the book, I knew the faith journey was part of the story, and I had to be true to who I was then.

My writing group, who eventually read every page of the book as I drafted and revised, didn’t know at first that I’d been sexually assaulted in Paris. It took months before I could write the chapter detailing the assault and share it with them.

As the circle of people I’ve shared my story with has widened—including a local storytelling event before an audience of more than 1,200 people—talking about my experience has become easier. Getting the story out of my body and onto the page has helped me gain some distance from it and release the shame I’d carried for years afterward.

My desire to share my story outweighs the moments of vulnerability. I hope it might help someone share their story—whether that’s with a friend or family member, a therapist, or a wider audience.

WOW: When writing, we live and breathe our topic. Did you ever feel that in writing this
memoir you might find yourself down the rabbit hole into the fear you felt after your assault? 

Deborah: Enough time had passed by the time I started writing that I wasn’t worried about slipping
back into the fear I felt after the assault. But I also made sure I had the support I needed to write, including a therapist, a spiritual director, and a supportive writing community. Drawing on what I’d learned about trauma, I made it safe to write the hard scenes by taking a few deep breaths, feeling my feet on the floor, and using other practices to stay present and grounded in my body. Still, there were times when I had to take breaks from the memoir and write other pieces that had nothing to do with France, trauma, or healing.

WOW: What is an idea you hope readers will take with them after reading Toward the Light?

Deborah: I hope readers walk away with two ideas: that their darkest moment is not the end of their story, and that surrounding themselves with community during challenging times makes all the difference.

WOW: Tell us a little about how you became a book coach.

Deborah: When I wasn’t sure how to begin writing, I turned to a coach. She offered a safe space to share my experience of sexual assault and believed in my story even when I didn’t. She helped me envision how it would resonate with readers and guided me in shaping it into not just a recounting of events, but a book with a narrative structure, central themes, and a clear overarching point. She encouraged me to dive deeper into the emotional heart of the story and wouldn’t let me quit writing when I wanted to.

My experience working with a coach inspired me to become an Author Accelerator certified book coach in memoir. I want to be for other writers the coach that I was fortunate enough to have.

Over the course of eight months, I completed coursework and coached three practicum clients in various stages of the writing process, then submitted materials for certification. Today, I offer steady support, honest feedback, and clear direction to writers who feel called to share their stories of transformation, resilience, or spiritual growth, helping them move from doubt and fear to courage and confidence.

WOW: From your experience as a book coach, what do you think is the most common thing that writers need from you?

Deborah: Most of all, writers are looking for encouragement. They want someone to accompany them through the planning or drafting stages, keep them accountable, and help them discover the structure or narrative arc for the story they want to tell. As a coach, I offer suggestions and guidance, but not in a prescriptive way. Ultimately, I provide a safe, non-judgmental space where people with challenging stories to tell can make meaning of their life experiences and shape them into a book that will resonate with readers.

WOW: Any advice for our readers considering writing a memoir?

Deborah: Keep going. It took me ten years to write and publish Toward the Light. Many times, I   wanted to quit. Fortunately, I had a coach and a writing group to encourage me and keep me accountable. They refused to let me quit.

Writing may be a solitary endeavor, but bringing a story to life requires community. Find yours.

WOW: Can you share some of your favorite memoir writers/titles?

Deborah: Absolutely! Cheryl Strayed’s Wild, Maggie Smith’s You Could Make This Place Beautiful, Caroline Knapp’s Appetites, and Roxane Gay’s Hunger are memoirs I return to for their structure and for the vulnerable writing that draws readers in. I also highly recommend Mallary Tenore Tarpley’s Slip: Life in the Middle of Eating Disorder Recovery. It’s an excellent example of a hybrid memoir that interweaves the author’s personal story, reporting, and research.

WOW: What’s up next for you and your writing?

Deborah: In addition to spreading the word about Toward the Light: A Year in Paris, I write on 
Substack at The Spiral Staircase and coach other memoir writers. I’m happy to join book groups to discuss Toward the Light: A Year in Paris. Free discussion questions are available to download at my website.

My award-winning essay, “Fireweed,” will be published in the Ember & Vine Nonfiction Anthology on
November 3, 2026 (Ember & Vine Press). A second essay, “Befriending Beth Ann,” will be published in Eat Me: Essays, Poetry, & Art on Eating Disorders From Midlife Women in spring 2028 (Third Rail Press).

WOW: That's so exciting. We're looking forward to reading more of your work.

Toward the Light Blog Tour

--Blog Tour Calendar

October 19th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Toward the Light: A Year in Paris by Deborah Svec-Carstens. Read an interview with the author and enter the giveaway.

October 20th @ Guatemala Paula Loves to Read
Looking for a new memoir? Read an excerpt from the debut memoir by Deborah Svec-Carstens,   Toward the Light: A Year in Paris.

October 22nd @ All Things Writing
Author Deborah Svec-Carstens shares her writing experience in Writing About Trauma, Not Reliving It.

October 27th @ A Wonderful World of Words
Deborah Svec-Carstens writes about the journey to release the shame after her assault, including writing her memoir Toward the Light.

October 30th @ Nikki's Book and Movie Reviews
Stop by for a review of Toward the Light by Deborah Svec-Carstens.
https://nikkitsbookreviews.wordpress.com

October 31st @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Meet author Deborah Svec-Carstens in today's interview.

November 2nd @ A Storybook World
Find out the meaning behind the title of Deborah Svec-Carstens' memoir Toward the Light.

November 4th @ Words by Webb
Jodi shares her thoughts on Toward the Light by Deborah Svec-Carstens.

November 6th @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
Today Joan is reviewing a memoir of trauma and hope by Deborah Svec-Carstens: Toward the Light.

November 11th @ Some Thoughts: Everything Creativity
Author Deborah Svec-Carstens writes about The Keys to Memoir: Journals, Photos, Letters, Music and More.

November 14th @ World of My Imagination
Celebrate National Memoir Writing Month with Nicole's review of Toward the Light: A Year in Paris.

November 15th @ Some Thoughts: Everything Creativity
In a memoir mood? Today Kaecey review Toward the Light by Deborah Svec-Carstens.


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

Enter to win Toward the Light: A Year in Paris by Deborah Svec-Carstens. Fill out the form below for a chance to win a memoir of hope and courage. The giveaway ends November 1st at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!

Toward the Light Giveaway
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