Showing posts with label author interview. Show all posts
Showing posts with label author interview. Show all posts

Book Blog Tour and Book Giveaway for "Double-Dip Demise" and Author Interview with Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

Monday, November 09, 2026

Book Blog Tour For 

Double-Dip Demise: A Sweet Dreams Mystery 

(Sweet Dreams Mysteries Book3) 


About the Book:

Christmas is around the corner, and Genevieve Winterland is taking a break from slinging scoops at Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Parlour to enjoy Pinewood’s Winter Spectacular. She can’t wait to sip cocoa on the snowy downtown streets and watch the tree lighting ceremony with BFF, BrandonSummers, and her dog, Butterscotch. 

But Genevieve’s Christmas cheer begins to melt when an unwelcome visitor comes to town. Harlan Freed is the cantankerous owner of Cheezie’s Pizza, a chain of fast-food restaurants. His ambition to open one of his low-quality pie joints on Main Street threatens to put beloved staple Bradshaw’s Pizzeria out of business. Following a heated public argument with Mr. Bradshaw that nearly comes to blows, the bullish Freed turns up dead–strangled with a string of Christmas lights. 

Genevieve feels compelled to investigate; after all, the body was discovered behind her family’s shop. But her history of amateur sleuthing has her on this ice with Detective Christie. Can she stay off the detective’s Naughty List and solve the crime before the trail goes cold? 

Product details‎:
Publication date : ‎ July 15, 2026 
Print length ‏  ‎ 248 pages 
ISBN-13 ‏: ‎ 979-8181154568 
ASIN: B0H85TXVK7 
Dimensions: ‎ 4.12 x 0.59 x 6.75 inches 
Book 3 of 3‏: ‎ Sweet Dreams Mysteries 

Double-Dip Demise is available on Amazon. Add it to your list on Goodreads.


About the Author:

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo is the author of The Fourth Wall, The House on Linden Way, and the Sweet Dreams series. Her work has been published in Brevity Magazine, Superstition Review, Reservoir Road, Fractured Lit, Literary Mama, Hospital Drive, The Portland Review, and a few other places. Her stories have been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best American Essay, and Best of the Net, and her short story "Windows" was selected for Best Microfiction 2023. 

Elizabeth can be found at http://www.elizabethmarianaranjo.com/. 

You can also connect with Elizabeth on her social networks: 

Author Interview with Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Welcome Elizabeth! We should probably explain to readers that we've known each other through several books and many years! 

Dear readers - grab a cup of your favorite beverage and settle in for a delightful interview between friends - you'll gain some exciting insight into the life of our beloved Elizabeth, so get comfy!

WOW: We've already chatted about where you write and feel like this is a fun question that will help our readers get to know you and your life better, so... dear Elizabeth, what Objects Tell the Story of Your Life? 

Elizabeth: Definitely my bookshelves! They reflect so many eras of my life. For example, I have a shelf of favorites from my teens and twenties, everything from Christopher Pike to Ray Bradbury to Barbara Kingsolver. I have a shelf filled with the gothic novels and science fiction and horror anthologies I read when I returned to college in my thirties. Another shelf is stacked with the cozy mysteries I fell in love with in my forties. I have a shelf dedicated to Stephen King, whose stories have followed me from childhood, and I have shelves of the books that imprinted on my heart, like Watership Down, The English Patient, Wuthering Heights, and The Last Unicorn. 



WOW: These questions are so much fun - thanks for giving us such an intimate glimpse into your life. Now that we know about your bookshelves and reading preferences, it seems only natural to find out about music. Spill it: What Music Inspires You and Why? 

Elizabeth: This question reminds me of our very first interview, in 2014! You asked me to choose a song to go along with my debut novel, and I answered with Iron Maiden’s “Infinite Dreams,” a gorgeous song from one of my favorite albums of all time, and one that fit so perfectly with my book about lucid dreaming. Heavy metal has always been one of my biggest inspirations because it encompasses all the genres of stories I love—fantasy, folklore, science fiction, horror, historical fiction, literary fiction, and poetry. 

WOW: I remember that interview - I can't believe we've been friends for over a decade already! That means we worked together during the years when I went from being a mother of 3 to a mother of 4, then 5, then 6! So many moments we've shared! That begs the question: What Are Some Recent Moments of Happiness in Your Life? 

Elizabeth: The whole month of October was full of great moments. Over fall break my daughter and I binge-watched the Strike series on HBO and spent hours just chatting about books. She moved out in March so it was nice to spend some quality time with her. Then my husband and I visited our son in Flagstaff, where he’s a sophomore at NAU. Getting to hug him and listen to his stories of campus life always makes me happy. Finally, it rained for two weeks straight—perfect weather for staying home and catching up on reading! 

WOW: The story of hugging your adult son resonates with me deeply - half of my children are adults now and when they come home I have all the happy feelings! Adult children bring happiness but it's an entirely new set of challenges, isn't it? Speaking of which, What Challenges Have You Set for Yourself? 

Elizabeth: This year I set several challenges for myself, including publishing my third cozy mystery novel and completing my master’s degree in education. After several months of intensive book edits and almost a year of weekly research papers, I completed both projects by the end of September. I then spent almost every October evening reading for hours on my porch, which helped me wrap up my third challenge of reading 25 books this year! I’m in celebratory mode now, simply enjoying things like this blog tour, the upcoming holidays, and maybe a wintry vacation at Disneyland. 

WOW: I love that we are both going to school for education - we were definitely meant to be friends! I'm very impressed with your time management - the only reason I hit my reading goal was because one of my classes was about teaching reading...otherwise I struggle with juggling reading for fun with my studying. Congratulations on juggling reading, writing, school, and real life! You never cease to amaze me! 

What is Your Favorite Place in Your House and Why? 

Elizabeth: My favorite place in my house is my dining room. It’s small and cozy with a red-brick fireplace and French doors that look out onto the backyard where my children grew up playing. I’ve lived in my home for over twenty years now, and there’s so much history living there with me, all those memories of shared family time, and also time alone, sitting at the dining room table and writing stories.
 

WOW: Oh dear Elizabeth, in the words of my beloved T.S. Elliot "And to make an end is to make a beginning" our time is coming to an end and yet this is just the beginning of something new, isn't it? There's a new year just around the corner and I have a feeling we will see one another in this same setting in the new year, won't we? Shall we let it be a cozy mystery for our readers, or would you like to give them a glimpse into this beginning that is forthcoming? 

Elizabeth: Crystal, you know me so well! It is always the beginning of something new. I've had an idea simmering for nearly a year, just waiting for its time. I can't say much about the project right now, but it is not another cozy mystery. This next one's going to be more like my first three books—lyrical and melancholy, atmospheric and introspective. I can't wait to begin. 


WOW: I just knew it! So - until we meet again dear friend; here's to all the words, the many pages, and the delicious ideas we've shared before and will share in the future! It's such an honor to be part of your stories!

Double-Dip Demise Blog Tour

Blog Tour Dates: 

November 9th @ The Muffin 
Join us at the Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Double-Dip Demise by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Crystal from WOW! will interview Elizabeth as readers will have a chance to win a copy of this cozy mystery just in time for Christmas! 


November 11th @ Finished Pages 
Author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo is busy touring with her latest book Double-Dip Demise, but she takes time to pen today’s guest post with long time fan and friend Renee at Finished Pages. Don’t miss this fabulous post titled: "Sweet Escape: Living Vicariously Through Your Fiction" and a chance to learn more about Naranjo’s latest sweet mystery! 

November 12th @ Sue Bradford Edwards 
Readers at Sue Bradford Edwards’ blog get a chance to hear from Sue as she reviews Double-Dip Demise, the latest sweet mystery from fellow author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. This book is Sweet Dreams Mysteries Book #3 but many have enjoyed it as a stand alone. Let’s see what Sue has to say about it today! 

November 13th @ Chapter Break 
Julie at Chapter Break hosts guest author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo today. Join Naranjo for a post titled: "The Importance of Platonic Friendships in YA Fiction" and find out more about Double-Dip Demise, Book #3 of Sweet Dreams Mysteries! This is the perfect time of year for this cozy mystery! http://chapterbreak.net 

November 17th @ Nikki’s Book and Movie Reviews 
Nicole Harmon shares her thoughts with readers at Nikki’s Book and Movie Reviews. See what Nicole has to say about Elizabeth Maria Naranjo’s latest cozy mystery Double-Dip Demise and learn more about The Sweet Dreams Mystery Series! 

November 18th @ Finished Pages with Renee 
Renee was pretty excited to find out one of her favorite authors had released book #3 of her Sweet Dreams Mystery Series - find out Renee’s thoughts as she reviews Double-Dip Demise by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo! 

November 19th @ Boys’ Mom Reads! 
Karen C. Siddall reviews Double-Dip Demise by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo! This is book #3 of the Sweet Dreams Mystery Series but readers are enjoying it just as much as a standalone - let’s see what Karen has to say! 

November 30th @ A Wonderful World of Words 
Joy Giachino shares her review of Double-Dip Demise written by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Learn more about this cozy mystery and check out Joy’s review today at A Wonderful World of Words! 

December 2nd @ Lisa’s Reading 
Elizabeth Maria Naranjo is in today’s author spotlight at Lisa’s Reading with Double-Dip Demise; Book #3 of the Sweet Dreams Mysteries Series! Don’t miss a chance to find out more about this series and the latest release! 

December 9th @ Words by Webb 
Jodi Webb shares her thoughts on Double-Dip Demise, the latest release written by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo (book #3 of the Sweet Dreams Mysteries Series)! Don’t miss out on this sweet opportunity! https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog 

December 10th @ Hook of a Book! 
The title of today’s guest post at Hook of a Book is " Writing Standalone Novels Versus Books in a Series". Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo as she takes a break from promoting her latest cozy mystery, Double-Dip Demise to talk about standalone novels and books in a series. 

December 11th @ World of My Imagination 
Nicole Pyles shares her 5 star review of Double-Dip Demise with readers at World of My Imagination! Don’t miss this opportunity to learn more about author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo and her Sweet Dreams Mysteries books! 

December 12th @ Deirdra Eden’s A Storybook World 
In the spotlight today at A Storybook World is none other than author Elizabeth Maria Nanjo with Book 3 of her Sweet Dreams Mysteries Series titled: Double-Dip Demise! Stop by and learn more about this sweet read! 

December 13th @ Lady Unemployed 
Readers at Lady Unemployed will enjoy today’s guest post penned by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo titled: "Comfort and Joy: Writing for the Holidays". Read more about this topic and find out about Naranjo’s latest release Double-Dip Demise! 

December 14th @ Bring on Lemons 
Crystal Casavant-Otto has been talking up Double-Dip Demise by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo for months! You won’t want to miss an opportunity to read Crystal’s 5 star review of this cozy mystery and you’ll want to get your hands on your own copy before Christmas! 




 ***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****

Enter to win the YA cozy mystery Double-Dip Demise by Elizabeth Maria Naranjo. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends November 22nd at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!


Double-Dip Demise Giveaway
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Hummingbird Moonrise: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, November 02, 2026
Hummingbird Moonrise by Sheri Dodd

Are you sad that Halloween is over? Or eager for the winter holidays? Either way, the final book in Sherri Dodd's Murder, Tea & Crystals trilogy could be your ideal next read. We're celebrating the launch of Hummingbird Moonrise, another adventure of modern witch Arista that happens during the winter season. Join us for a special giveaway and an author interview! 

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

The past two years have taken their toll on Arista Kelly. Once an eternal optimist, now she has faced the darkness and must recalibrate what true happiness means for her. Meanwhile, Shane, her ex-boyfriend, is pulling all the right moves to help keep her sane from her heightening paranoia. But it doesn’t help that Iris, her Great Aunt Bethie’s friend, has disappeared.

Still, one additional trial remains. While searching for Iris, Bethie and Arista stumble upon a grand revelation in the eccentric woman’s home. With the discovery, they realize their run of chaos and loss of kin may have roots in a curse that dates back to the 1940s—the time when their family patriarch first built Arista’s cottage in the redwoods and crafted his insightful Ouija table.

This pursuit will not follow their accustomed recipe of adrenalized action, but the high stakes remain. Will the mysterious slow burn of unfolding events finally level Arista’s entire world or be fully extinguished, once and for all?


Publisher: Black Rose Writing (October 9, 2025)
Audiobook: B0GXPSGKDD
ASIN:  B0FB5QV948
ISBN: 1685136583
ISBN-13: 978-1685136581 
Print length:  305 pages

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

About the Author, Sherri Dodd

Sherri grew up in southeastern Texas walking barefoot and catching crawdads as they swam the creek beds. Her childhood ran rampant with talk of ghosts, demons, and backcountry folklore, inspiring her first short story about a poisonous flower that shot toxins onto curious children. Her classmate bought it for all the change in his pocket. Not long after, her mother packed the two of them up and headed to the central coast of California. She has explored the vast area ever since, using it as a catalyst to her writing, from journaling to fitness articles to fiction. She holds a bachelor’s degree, and is pursuing her master’s, in holistic theology and believes this helps her to see the world through a more colorful and accepting lens. 

In writing, her publisher labeled her 2024 debut novel as a paranormal thriller. She would have described it as a cozy murder mystery with generous dashes of magic realism, showing that she loves to merge genres. Her trilogy — Murder, Tea & Crystals — released book one - Murder Under Redwood Moon in March 2024; book two - Moonset on Desert Sands in March 2025; and the final book in the series- Hummingbird Moonrise released October 2025! All three books became an Amazon #1 Best Seller in the Occult Supernatural genre.


--Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: Your third book Hummingbird Moonrise happens during the winter holiday season. How did you manage to balance a witch with a very significant religious holiday season?

Sherri: Perhaps I would think differently living in another state, but as a Californian for the majority of my life, and as an ordained minister in holistic theology, I aim to weave together the different faiths and find commonality within their philosophies. I first encountered interfaith when my Christian father married my Buddhist stepmother as a teen. Again, I saw the joining of two religions when my son entered kindergarten, and I met a Jewish mother married to a Catholic man. I found the ability for them to raise their children in both faiths quite inspiring. In both examples, I witnessed a cooperative acceptance with the edges softening to allow for special events of each faith to be celebrated out of respect for the other. I worked toward this unity within my trilogy with Shane and Arista being of different faiths – Catholic and a modern-day witch. While not all will agree, it is possible for different faiths to collaborate and fall in love.

I have a superb reverence for Christmas based on my Episcopalian upbringing. December 25th has been given as the time when Jesus was born, making it the most joyous time of year. Around this same time, an authentic modern-day witch reveres the ancient Germanic (English, Norwegian, Swedish, and Dutch to name a few) tradition of recognizing December 21st and 22nd as Yule. During Yule, the winter solstice brings in the longest night of the year. Like the Christian faith, it is a time of great anticipation of what lay ahead. However, for those celebrating Yule, that anticipation is rooted in their ancestors’ eagerness for the longer days to come, bringing forth renewed warmth as the ice melts, blossoms pushing upward, and eventual crops that will grow in the fields. Britanica further reports that these traditions – Christmas and Yule – merged in the tenth century when King Haakon Haraldsson visited England and became Christian. When he returned to Norway, he put into law that Yule and Christmas would be celebrated together. True to his Norse custom, ale flowed in abundance to celebrate this merging.

Not one to usually answer questions such as this, I do believe religion and politics have and always will be best avoided in general conversations, and the intricacies of a true education on these matters could fill volumes and ranges far beyond my brief explanation.

WOW: In Hummingbird Moonrise you took on a challenge that frightens many writers - accents. Was it difficult finding the right way to portray the words they way you want them to sound in your reader’s head? Why did you do it? Do you feel the accents add something needed to the characters?

Sherri: This variety of accents is a realistic setting for me as diversity enriches my life on a daily basis. My best friend since age thirteen is Scottish. Her accent was so thick when I first met her that not only did she learn to speak with an American accent, but within a year, I spoke with a Scottish accent when at her house talking with her parents. Thank goodness, the accusations of cultural appropriation did not exist back then! Even today, I may say ‘coo’ instead of cow in conversation, based on our friendship. Also, I love the Cockney accent in movies. Gene from Hummingbird Moonrise is modeled after an actor in Guy Ritchie’s Snatch that left such a comical impression on me with his accented incredulousness that I wanted him in my book. Finally, I had already written Arista, as Stevie said in book two, as a little Celtic goddess, so I could not ignore adding a bit of Irish in the mix. For all of these, I consulted books, YouTube tutorials, and as referenced in my book, The Irish Cultural Center out of San Francisco, for actual translations. While I had read that accents slow down the reader, I took my own experience with sounding out accents and decided to move forward with it. Frankly, I enjoy accents in text. Yes, I slow down and iterate the words until they roll off my tongue. Then, I reread the sentence without interruption. This process has never taken away from the overall reading experience. Hopefully, my readers were not adversely affected either.

WOW: Since you’re working on your fourth novel, we’d like to know all your secrets! Tell us a little about your writing habits. Do you write daily? Are you a pantser or a plotter? Are you a “write anywhere” type of gal or do you have to be in your writing space?

Sherri: I have a general idea of where I want to go, but the paths that I create to get there take me in exciting directions. Similar to setting goals, I have learned over the years that you simply write down what you want. No need to worry about how you will get there; just where you want to be. It is then that fate brings it all together for you!

Regarding where I write, I must be in front of my MAC with my gurgling fish tank and a trusty feline within reach. Though, I am always catching snippets of input during my time outdoors, such as when I’m on a date with my husband, and we talk about something that triggers an idea. Many aha-moments come while on hiking trails, and they are common in the wee morning hours as well.

WOW: Do you have any beta-readers, a writing group or editor? How have they helped you polish your books?

Sherri: I have a small group of beta readers – three women, one man, and one non-binary individual. I hired them online with the first book and found their feedback and challenges so refreshing that they journeyed through the trilogy with me. However, it is my New York Times Best-Selling Editor who has helped me grow the most as an author. Upon my debut draft of Murder Under Redwood Moon, she red-lined, commented, and guided so much it took me a month to revise. Even now, I get the itch to rewrite certain sections, but ‘let it go’, realizing I had to start somewhere! By the second book, my editor marveled at how much my writing had improved, so with Moonset on Desert Sands and Hummingbird Moonrise the edits became fewer with no requirements for added scenes.

WOW: To me, your books are just one cliffhanger after another. There’s always something ominous happening. Do you plan your books to offer those “What next?” moments throughout your book or did they just evolve naturally as you wrote the story?

Sherri: I aim to open with a punchy scene and leave each chapter with a question to push the story forward. In a trilogy, I believe it is important to have a cliffhanger at the end of each book. While it is not a literal character hanging from a cliff, Will they survive? kind of moment, I do intend to cast a thrilling new development at the reader that feels like a Pandora’s box of possibilities for the next book.

WOW: You’re promoting your paranormal trilogy while writing your next book. How do you find time to do both?

Sherri: That is tedious to say the least, especially with the changing of the genres. But I believe my multi-tasking background in corporate – Cisco Systems, Inc. at the height of their success – helps this juggling act. At Cisco, our VPs claimed we worked in cheetah yeas, and I would agree. Head-spinning chaos, yet you looked cool and collected while executing your responsibilities. Then, I left corporate to become a full-time, at-home mother, and while my firstborn indulged in more artistic pastimes, my second son had me running him to all kinds of sport conditioning classes, games, and team gatherings on a regular basis. It did not help that we lived an hour from his school, especially during his football season throughout summer when we would make up to three trips a day to different events. Sometimes it’s physical, and sometimes it’s mental. Both can be exhausting, but the bottom line is that I am experienced in multi-tasking, and promoting, writing, and planning books takes exactly that ability!

WOW: Thanks for sharing and now I can thank my kids for all those basketball, cross country and track meets, play rehearsals, music lessons and choir practice. Who knew they were training for being an author?

Hummingbird Moonrise Blog Tour

--Blog Tour Calendar

November 2nd @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of the final book in Sherri Dodd's Murder, Tea & Crystals trilogy: Hummingbird Moonrise. Read an interview with the author and enter the giveaway.

November 4th @ Boys' Mom Reads!
Get a sneak peek at the final Murder, Tea & Crystals book with an excerpt of Hummingbird Moonrise.

November 5th @ Knotty Needle
Judy reviews Hummingbird Moonrise, a magick realism mystery.

November 6th @ Chapter Break 
Sherri Dodd shares what it's like when an author comes to The End of A Trilogy. 

November 7th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Author Sherri Dodd takes a break from writing to share how Yoga Can Improve Your Life.

November 9th @ A Storybook World
Ready to meet the Paws of War? Don't miss the intro by animal lover Sherri Dodd.

November 10th @ Words by Webb
Jodi writes about favorite holiday reads and an unexpected addition: Hummingbird Moonrise by Sherri Dodd.

November 11th @ All Things Writing
Get hooked on Hummingbird Moonrise with today's excerpt.

November 13th @ A Wonderful World Of Words
Welcome to WERC. Intrigued? Author Sherri Dodd reveals what WERC is today.

November 15th @ World of My Imagination
Don't miss Nicole's review of Hummingbird Moonrise and your final chance to enter the Book + More giveaway.

November 16th @ News and Notes
Sherri Dodd, author of the Murder, Tea & Crystals trilogy, writes about the challenges & rewards of switching genres.
https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/newsandnotes

November 18th @ Word Magic
Author Sherri Dodd tells us what she learned from James Nestor's Breath.
https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/

Hummingbird Moonrise Giveaway Package

***** BOOK GIVEAWAY PACKAGE *****

TWO WINNERS! Enter to win an amazing Murder, Tea & Crystals prize that includes Hummingbird Moonrise by Sherri Dodd as well as lots of other witch themed gifts including candles, gemstones, soap, lip balm, Oracle cards and more. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends November 15th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw TWO winners the next day and follow up via email. Good luck! 

Hummingbird Moonrise Package Giveaway
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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 22nd 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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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
Read More »
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