Showing posts with label blog tour. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog tour. Show all posts

They All Fall in Love at the End by Haili Blassingame: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, June 22, 2026
 
They All Fall in Love at the End by Haili Blassingame

Fans of Raven Leilani, Lily King, and Xochitl Gonzalez won't want to miss our latest blog tour. Haili Blassingame joins us to celebrate the launch of her book, They All Fall in Love at the End. Join us as we interview the author about her incredible novel and give you a chance to win a copy for yourself.

Before we get to that, here's more about the book:

Cat St. Clair is ready for her messy love triangle era now that she’s in an open relationship. But she didn’t foresee a forbidden love triangle with the only two people who are off-limits: her boyfriend’s best friend and his girlfriend. Being a twenty-something writer who lives for plot, she falls for them anyway, with deliciously disastrous consequences, in this electric literary debut for fans of Xochitl Gonzalez, Coco Mellors, Lily King, and Raven Leilani.

It’s the fall of 2024, and twenty-four-year-old Cat isn’t asking for too much: all she wants is three boyfriends, to write her little novels, and to survive another chaotic presidential election. She’s in an open relationship with her college sweetheart Jay, but nonmonogamy isn’t just a hot trend she’s trying. It’s her sliver of freedom in a world eager to wrestle it from her for being a Black woman going after what she wants with reckless abandon.

While political tensions roil the campus where Cat is slowly earning her creative writing degree, she finds herself drawn to Jay’s best friend, Tristan, who’s smart, super hot, and…in a monogamous relationship. And then she meets Tristan’s girlfriend, Nia, a captivating art student with her own gravitational pull.

Friends and family urge her to just be happy with Jay, but Cat is determined to have it all—or blow up her life trying. As she falls for all the wrong people, racking up lies, betrayals, and terrible drafts of her novel, she tries to write her way to a happy ending. But in art, politics, and love, true liberation may take more than rewriting the old scripts. It may mean inventing something entirely new.

Publisher: Scribner
ISBN-13: 9781668204122
ASIN: B0D9DP6GDY
Print length: 384 pages

Purchase a copy of They All Fall in Love at the End on Amazon and Bookshop.org. Be sure to add it to your Goodreads reading list too.

About the Author, Haili Blassingame

Haili Blassingame

Haili Blassingame is a producer for the show 1A from WAMU and NPR. She writes literary fiction about love, desire, and the decisions that feel impossible to make starring plucky, loud-mouth female protagonists of color. Her debut novel is called THEY ALL FALL IN LOVE AT THE END. It has a hot-pink cover. She's also written a New York Times Modern Love essay about breaking up with her boyfriend and a piece in The New Republic about Kamala Harris and Gretchen Whitmer. She’s also been a guest on the Modern Love podcast, NPR’s Life Kit, and NPR’s 1A. She previously worked on NPR’s Code Switch and Weekend Edition. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her 10,000 books and no bookshelf.

Find her online at:

Instagram: @hailiwroteabook
TikTok: @shutuphaili

-- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: Congrats on your book, They All Fall in Love at the End. What pulls you towards writing romantic fiction?

Haili: I LOVE love! I don’t know if I know how to write about anything else—or I should say, I write about many things, but romantic love often is the center of gravity of it. I’m also someone who grew up bingeing RomComs, so that genre and its quirks lives deep inside of me.

WOW: I think loving your genre is so important. How did your book change from the first draft to the final draft?

Haili: It changed DRAMATICALLY. There was an iteration of the book where the heroine’s main love interests, Jay and Tristan, were not childhood best friends. There was also a version where Cat and Tristan’s girlfriend, Nia, were just friends and there was no romantic complication there. All the tension was drained from the narrative in those drafts, it was like, Who cares!!? We wouldn’t even be talking about it right now if I hadn’t rewritten the whole thing; it wouldn’t have sold.
 
WOW: The changes you made ended up being so successful. What an experience to be published with a major publisher! What has that experience been like for you? Any insights or lessons you can share?

Haili: I’m lucky in that my experience at Scribner was seamless. I had a FANTASTIC editor that I adore, a deeply committed publicity and marketing team, so much support, I mean, Scribner hasn’t been around for nearly two centuries for no reason. They are the home of Fitzgerald, Wharton, Vonnegut, Wolfe, Hemingway (a fact I offer unprompted to anyone who cares, I’m just Scribner-maxxing right now). And so the lesson here is this: you can’t always choose your imprint. I sold in a pre-empt, so my editor and I chose each other. But the imprint does matter. Each one has its own identity, culture, logic, resources, vision and that’s hard to understand when you’re just starting out, you just want anyone, someone, to take your book. But just look at FSG, they launched the f*ck out of Madeline Cash. Scribner was the absolute right imprint to launch my debut, I’m certain of it. As a fire sign, I am proud to have the imprint’s flame on the spine of my novel. It’s also electric green which is very hot.

WOW: It sounds kismet! Okay so I have to ask: 10,000 books and NO BOOK SHELF? I love it! But I wonder: where do you put them all? And can we see photos? :)

Haili: I own a bookshelf, I just haven’t put it together and never will! This is my nightstand:


WOW: I love it! Where do you like to write? 

Haili: I write in my bed! But my mattress is sinking in on one side, so I won’t show you a picture. Sometimes, when I’m feeling adventurous, I write on the sofa in my living room, which is an absolute mess.


WOW: Sometimes the messiest places are the best places. What are you working on now that you can tell us about?

Haili: I’m working on way too many things because I’m neurotic. I just finished a literary time travel novel that’s part domestic drama, part second-chance romance. Basically a loose 17 Again retelling (pray it gets published!!!). I’m also working on a friends-to-lovers campus Rom-Com, like Deep Cuts but with movies. And I just started a queer celebrity fan fiction featuring a narrator loosely based on myself and the hottest nonbinary actor on Earth. I want it to be a slender summer novel–but we’ll see what happens there.

WOW: I can't wait! Thank you so much for sharing more about your writing journey and your latest projects. Enjoy the blog tour!

They All Fall in Love at the End Blog Tour

-- Blog Tour Calendar

June 22 @ The Muffin
Join us at WOW as we celebrate the start of Haili Blassingame's blog tour for They All Fall in Love at the End. You'll also have a chance to win a copy of the book.

June 23 @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog to read an excerpt from the book. She also responds to our tour-themed prompt about why she loves reading romantic stories.

June 25 @ Sarandipity's 
Stop by Sara's blog for a spotlight of They All Fall in Love at the End.

June 27 @ Chapter Break
Stop by Julie's blog for an interview with Haili Blassingame about her book They All Fall in Love at the End.

June 27 @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Join Linda's blog for an interview with Haili Blassingame.

July 1 @ Writer Advice
B. Lynn Goodwin interviews Haili Blassingame about her book, They All Fall in Love at the End.

July 4 @ Brandy's Substack
Stop by Brandy's Substack for a review of They All Fall in Love at the End. She also shares her response to our open blog tour-themed prompt.

July 7 @ Caitrin C. King's blog
Join Caitrin for an interview with Haili Blassingame.

July 10 @ StoreyBook Reviews
Join Leslie's blog for an excerpt from They All Fall in Love at the End. 

July 11 @ 30 Days By the Sea
Join Amy for a review of They All Fall in Love at the End.

July 15 @ Hook of a Book
Visit Erin's blog for a review of They All Fall in Love at the End.

July 17 @ Afro Reads
Join Lynelle for her review of They All Fall in Love at the End. You can also check out an excerpt of the book.

July 20 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Stop by Joy's blog for an excerpt from They All Fall in Love at the End.

July 25 @ A Sip, A Shout, and A Sentence
Join Elle for her review of They All Fall in Love at the End.

July 26 @ Nikki's Book and Movie Reviews
Visit Nikki's blog for her review of They All Fall in Love at the End.

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

Enter to win a print copy of They All Fall in Love at the End by Haili Blassingame. Fill out the form below for a chance to win! The giveaway ends on July 6th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck!

They All Fall in Love at the End Giveaway
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Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, November 03, 2025
 
Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy

I'm excited to announce a blog tour for author, Shirley Miller Kamada, and her young adult historical fiction novel, Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy. This book is perfect for anyone interested in U.S. history and the history of WWII. Join us as we celebrate the launch of her book and interview her about her writing journey. You'll also have the chance to win a copy for yourself.

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

Zachary Whitlock knows sheep. He knows farming and knows what it’s like to have his best friend forced into an internment camp for Japanese Americans. What he does not know much about is goats and traveling by sea on cargo ships, yet he makes a decision to go with a group of volunteers to Japan to help deliver a herd of more than two hundred goats, many of which are pregnant, to survivors of the U.S. bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Goats will provide much-needed milk and nutrition, and people living in the bombed ruins are sick and hungry.

What he also does not know at the age of seventeen is what it means to be seasick, how to navigate the personalities of seasoned seamen, and how to keep not only goats but himself alive during a typhoon.

A fascinating follow-up to No Quiet Water, Shirley Miller Kamada's well-received novel about the WWII internment era, A Seagoing Cowboy is a story full of adventure, human connection, and a young man's coming of age.

Publisher: Black Rose Writing
ISBN-10: 1685136400
ISBN-13: 978-1685136406
ASIN: B0FGVFJGVG
Print length: 135 pages 

Purchase a copy of Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or Black Rose Writing. Be sure to also add it to your GoodReads reading list.

About the Author, Shirley Miller Kamada



Shirley Miller Kamada grew up on a farm in northeastern Colorado. She has been an educator in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington, a bookstore-espresso café owner in Centralia, Washington, and director of a learning center in Olympia, Washington. Her much-loved first novel, NO QUIET WATER, was a Kirkus recommended title and a finalist for several awards. When not writing, she enjoys casting a fly rod, particularly from the dock at her home on Moses Lake in Central Washington, which she shares with her husband and two spoiled pups.

You can follow the author at: 


---- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: Congrats on your novel, Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy! You have such great character development in your novel. How do you create such realistic characters and cause them to shine through?

Shirley: I think it has to do with the fact that my characters feel real to me. Although they are imagined, when I decide to write about a particular thing, the characters present themselves to me as if they are truly alive. That phenomenon is hard to explain. Perhaps it comes from the fact that, growing up on a farm, imagination was our foundation for almost everything. We had to be able to imagine solutions to problems as they presented themselves, and on a farm, there are always problems. 

Also, having been an educator, I have lived a life of helping young people build character through education. Not just year by year, or even day by day, but minute to minute, the character of individual humans changes and grows. I believe a reader should see these changes, whether positive or negative, and how change affects a life. Some people are overwhelmed by even the smallest changes. Others see change as positive, a thing to be embraced. If a person possesses a negative trait or attitude, I believe I have a responsibility to show that as much as I believe I have a responsibility to show good qualities. In the case of Zachary, he is someone who early on showed a propensity to accept responsibility as he took on care of the family’s sheep. In my imagination, that translated to him being willing to board a ship and manage a herd of goats. A negative trait? If Zachary has one, it is a tendency to overthink, to go beyond a question’s creditable answer and continue to worry over it. (I can relate.)

As in the classroom, perhaps the overcoming of a negative characteristic is part of a person’s story. Particularly if a character is coming of age, and I as writer am portraying that moment in time, I find myself asking, where will the character go from here? What have these changes wrought? That is as things are in reality, and so my answer to that question becomes part of the story. Or perhaps the entire story. Being alive is to accept the necessity for change, and perhaps that is my answer to the question: I think my characters come across as realistic because they are not static. They are doing what humans do: transforming in tiny increments. 

WOW:  What a great point about creating characters that evolve! Do you plan your novel before writing or do you write by discovery (exploring the novel's plot as you go, or in other words, pantsing!)? And why?

Shirley: I do very little advance planning. I am struck by something I want to write about, a meaningful occurrence, an event or a situation in history, then I ponder how such a thing might impact the life of a person or family. My writing hews close to facts, dates in history, actual conditions. I avoid making anything happen that would be unlikely overall, but we’ve all experienced things that were unlikely but true, things that changed our life, changed our world, so that’s not entirely off the table. 

As I research a topic, I often learn about things I didn’t know happened, or I knew little about, perhaps had accepted a common misunderstanding. For example, I was stunned to learn of humanitarian Floyd Schmoe, and all he did to help the survivors of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I knew nothing of the firebombing of Tokyo and how the fact that it had occurred was not widely known by the American people. I have long been intrigued by Heifer International, in fact have supported them through donations and purchasing gifts for friends and family—buying bees or livestock for villages in Africa, for example—but when I learned that its origins had to do with transporting goats to people who were suffering after the horrors of the various bombings carried out by my own country, I knew I had to write about it. Still, the story gave itself to me in bits, and not necessarily in order. It does feel that way—as if the story gives itself to me. I may engage in extensive research, but when it comes to the actual telling of the story, it feels like a gift that comes from outside of me. Almost as if I’m merely a channel rather than creator. 

WOW: What an incredible insight that you are a channel rather than a creator. Was there anything that surprised you while writing your book?

Shirley: Learning that Floyd Schmoe undertook the voyage to Japan was the greatest surprise. Taking the goats to Hiroshima was one thing. He was a forester by profession. He participated in the building of his family’s home, so had some building experience, but to take responsibility for Houses for Hiroshima was a big stretch, I’d think. He had to raise funds and recruit volunteers in both situations. In planning, it was his choice to consult with Japanese people in the community where the houses would be located. He did not impose his will but acted as a servant to the community. As I learned more about the real Floyd Schmoe, I came to realize that this was not surprising at all. That is who he was. And so, that is who Zachary became.

WOW: Great insight! What kind of research did you do for your novel? 

Shirley: I suppose you could say that I’m something of an independent historian. I admit I am relentless. One thing I learned in the writing of No Quiet Water is that not everyone strives for historical accuracy. I read many books set during the internment era and saw the same misrepresentations repeated over and over again. How did I know they were misrepresentations? Because as much as possible, I used archival materials and original documents. This is easy to do when writing about WWII, as archival material abounds at universities and in the federal archives. I had access to family archives as well, which included recorded interviews with family members who had been relocated to the camps. Then there is the organization known as Densho (https://densho.org), which is working to preserve as much archival material about the internment era as possible. My rule is to try to find three verifiable sources that say the same thing. I believe this practice brings an air of truth and a sense of reality to my writing and storytelling. 

WOW: It's awesome you had so much access to research. I love the historical fiction element blended with the coming-of-age theme. Why did you decide to blend these two elements?

Shirley: ​I wanted to explore the post-WWII era with few preconceived notions. It followed that I would write about it in the voice of someone experiencing it that way. Zachary Whitlock and his best friend Fumio Miyota were eleven years old when Fumio's family was forced into internment, and they were sixteen when internment was ended. I heard from readers that they wanted to know more about Zachary and what happened next. I did, too! By the time No Quiet Water was complete, I felt close to both the Miyota and the Whitlock families. Zachary had knowledge of animal care and he was a math whiz. He was a deep thinker, but also a doer, and empathetic. His family was Quaker. I learned of the Heifer Project and the mission to Japan serendipitously. Reading about the post-WWII era, I came across mention of Homes for Hiroshima, of which I had been somewhat aware. The project was conceived and directed by Floyd Schmoe, a well-known Friends Society humanitarian and activist. In that reading I simply stumbled across Schmoe's travel to Japan with the Heifer Project. And that was it! I was hooked!

WOW: That's amazing! Thank you so much for your time today! And best of luck on your tour!


Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada Blog Tour

--- Blog Tour Calendar

November 3 @ The Muffin
Join us at the Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada. We interview the author and give you a chance to win a copy of the book.

November 5 @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi's blog for her review of Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada

November 8 @ Sarandipity
Visit Sara's blog for a guest post by Shirley Miller Kamada about Marshall strawberries.

November 10 @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie's blog for a guest post by Shirley Miller Kamada about owning a coffee shop and bookstore.

November 12 @ Storey Book Reviews
Visit Leslie's blog for a guest post by Shirley Miller Kamada about the day her mother took a chainsaw to their sofa.

November 14 @ Nicole Writes About Stuff
Visit Nicole's Substack newsletter for a weekend contribution by Shirley Miller Kamada.

November 18 @ Reading is My Remedy
Stop by Chelsie's blog for a review of Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada.

November 20 @ Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
Stop by Lisa's blog for an interview with author Shirley Miller Kamada.

November 21 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy's blog for an excerpt from Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada.

November 24 @ Author Anthony Avina's blog
Join Anthony for an excerpt from Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada.

November 25 @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona's blog for a guest post by Shirley Miller Kamada about why so few people know about the U.S. firebombing of Tokyo.

November 27 @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra's blog for her spotlight of Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada

November 30 @ Author Anthony Avina's blog
Visit Anthony's blog for his review of Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada.

December 1 @ Reading is My Remedy
Stop by Chelsie's blog for Shirley Miller Kamada's guest post on learning that her grandfather helped build the internment camp at Minidoka in southern Idaho.

December 2 @ CC King's blog
Join Caitrin as she features a guest post by Shirley Miller Kamada about how the character of Zachary developed.

December 4 @ Sandy Kirby Quandt
Visit Sandy's blog for her review of Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada

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

The giveaway is open to US residents for a print copy. Enter to win a print copy of Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy by Shirley Miller Kamada! Fill out the Gleam form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends November 16th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day via Gleam and follow up via email. Good luck!

Zachary: A Seagoing Cowboy Giveaway
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Lost Heart In King Manor by Celeste Fenton: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, September 15, 2025
Lost Heart in King Manor by Celeste Fenton

I'm always excited to introduce readers to fun characters that seem to leap off the page like those in Lost Heart in King Manor. But it's even better because author Celeste Fenton is launching a series and her characters will stop by for welcome visits in subsequent books. Celeste has finally made that timeless question "What do I feel like reading?" unnecessary. Her debut novel gives us a pinch of everything: cozy mystery, suspense, romance, second chances, humor, beautiful settings.  Join us as we celebrate the launch of this book with a giveaway of the book and a $25 Amazon gift card and an interview with the author.

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

Lost Heart in King Manor is a thrilling story of love, passion, and determination. The plot has twists and turns that will keep the reader guessing all through. 

Because some secrets are worth killing for.

And some hearts don’t break quietly.

At 45, Gabby Heart isn’t looking for drama—just quiet days on Dost Island running her village gift shop, teaching art, and keeping her past tucked safely away. But when her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby is pulled into a storm of family secrets, betrayal, and a dark legacy buried within the walls of the once-grand King Manor. 

What was supposed to be a safe place for her mother’s recovery becomes the backdrop for a chilling mystery. Strange incidents begin to unfold, and it becomes clear: someone inside King Manor has a deadly agenda. As a hurricane traps Gabby inside the sprawling estate, she’s forced to work alongside two very different men—her maddeningly attractive officemate and a charming new neighbor, both hiding dark secrets. 

One man may want her heart. The other may want her dead. But can she trust her instincts before it's too late?

Publisher: Independently Published (April 15, 2025)
ISBN: 979-8280071773
AISN: B0F2ZML3M9
Print length:  347 pages

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

About the Author, Celeste Fenton

Celeste Fenton holds an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and has over thirty years’ experience in higher education. Her writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery, a fascination with the complexities of the human heart, and just enough real-world experience to keep things interesting. A widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired professor living in Florida, she weaves imagination with insight to create stories that are both emotionally rich and laced with suspense.

When she’s not writing, reading, or plotting her next twist, she’s often off exploring small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures, much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of friends and family. Her latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.


--Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: Congratulations on your debut mystery, Lost Heart in King Manor. As a big fan of the mystery genre, I’m always eager to know why you chose to write in the mystery genre?

Celeste: Thank you! Even as a kid, I loved a good mystery—especially the kind that kept me up way past bedtime with a flashlight under the covers. Growing up, I read everything in our small-town library, from Nancy Drew to Victoria Holt, and eventually moved on to Agatha Christie, Sherlock Holmes, and romantic suspense. I was a huge Murder, She Wrote fan—still am, really. I think I fell in love with the idea that even in a chaotic world, a clever woman with a sharp mind and a stubborn streak could find the truth. Writing Lost Heart in King Manor felt like coming full circle—mixing suspense, family secrets, and a little romance with characters I’d actually want to have coffee with… or interrogate.

WOW: Tell us a little about your writing journey. When did you begin writing and what led to the decision to write a book?

Celeste: I’d been putzing around with writing ideas for years—jotting things down in journals, daydreaming about stories—but like a lot of people, life and work always seemed to get in the way. That was my excuse, anyway. Then in 2021, everything shifted. My husband passed away, both of my beloved dogs died, and I lost a dear friend to cancer. It was a season of deep loss. 

But in the middle of that grief, I realized something: life wasn’t going to wait for me to write a book. And when I really reflected on it, the truth was not that I had been too busy to write. It was deeper: I was afraid. Afraid of failure, of rejection. If I had a story to tell—and I did—it was time to get moving. I had to stop waiting for the “perfect time” and start now. I gave myself permission to let go of the fear and finally chase the dream. And once I did, the story poured out. 

WOW: Finding that elusive "perfect time" to write. Was that the most challenging part of writing?

Celeste: The most challenging part? Hands down—marketing. I didn’t even have a social media account when I started. I thought TikTok was the sound my clock made. Now I’m learning hashtags, filming videos, and figuring out how to post reels and tag folks! I’m terrible at it, but getting there!

WOW: And then, just when you feel like you've got a handle on marketing, something new pops up! That's how I feel, at least. So what's been the most rewarding part of writing?

Celeste: The most rewarding part is watching the story come to life. Seeing the characters evolve into people I care deeply about. And hearing from readers who love them too—or who yell at me because of something a character did. That connection is magic. Knowing something I wrote made someone laugh, or cry, or stay up too late reading? That’s magic to me.

WOW: Do you belong to a writing group or have a group of beta-readers that helped when you were writing your book?

Celeste: When I started writing… I really just dove in. Quite naively, to be honest. I wasn’t even aware of writing groups or beta reader networks—I just had a story I needed to tell and hoped for the best.

I didn’t belong to a formal writing group, but I had what I like to call my “squad”—four trusted friends who read early drafts and gave me feedback, kindly but honestly. And one especially dear friend who re-read and edited so many times, I’m fairly certain she could recite the book by heart at this point. They helped me see what worked, what didn’t, and most importantly, they kept me going when I wanted to toss the whole thing in a drawer.

Now that Lost Heart in King Manor is published—and the sequel, Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle, releases September 22—I’m exploring beta reader teams, ARCs, and maybe even a writing group. I’ve learned that writing might be solitary, but publishing thrives on community.

WOW: We hope you find a welcoming group here with the WOW community. Why did self-publishing appeal to you for your mystery series?

Celeste: At first, I thought I’d try the traditional route—but once I started researching, I realized self-publishing gave me something I really valued: creative control. I wanted to shape the series the way I envisioned it—everything from the cover design to the pacing of the release schedule to how I connected with readers.

And let’s be honest, I’m not twenty-five. I didn’t want to spend years waiting on gatekeepers to tell me yes or no. I’d already waited long enough to start writing. Self-publishing let me take ownership of the process, and while it’s definitely a learning curve, it’s also incredibly empowering. Plus, I’ve discovered a whole world of supportive indie authors and readers, indie bookstores, and resources  out there. 

WOW: After reading Lost Heart in King Manor, I want to visit Dost Island! Is it based on a real place? How do you think a great setting adds to a book?

Celeste: I love this question because one of my passions is traveling across America, especially through small towns. There’s something so charming about those little towns and villages—where the Main Street still has a neighborhood hardware store, and everyone waves at you even if they don’t know you. I’ve spent a lot of time in New England and absolutely fell in love with those seaside communities and postcard perfect charm. Dost Island was inspired by that—but with a touch of my own imagination and mystery stirred in.

For me, setting isn’t just a backdrop—it’s part of the story. Small towns create this illusion of safety, of community, of knowing everyone’s business. There’s a sense of tradition, fellowship, and comfort. But what I love about writing mystery is pulling back that curtain—asking, what’s really going on behind those white picket fences? That cute little shop? That contrast—the cozy surface and the darker undercurrent—is perfect for suspense.

A setting like Dost Island lets me play with that tension. It can feel warm and familiar one minute, and eerie the next. And in a mystery, that’s gold.

WOW: I definitely felt the contrast of the charming down and the secretive undercurrent in your book. Tell us more about your main character Gabby. Is she your literary counterpart? 

Celeste: Well… I think my curiosity, impatience, and a little spunk definitely found their way into Gabby. She’s not me—but she thinks fast, feels deeply, and sometimes blurts things she probably shouldn’t, and… well, let’s just say that felt familiar!

But honestly, there’s a little bit of me scattered across many of the characters—not just Gabby. Some of them carry my snark, some my passions or old wounds. Others reflect people I love. I’ve borrowed some of the best traits from my friends and family—kindness, wit, loyalty, that fierce protectiveness—and tucked them into the people on the page. I do think most writers weave themselves into their characters, whether they mean to or not. It’s like we crack open parts of ourselves and rearrange the pieces into someone new. That’s where the truth—and the fun—lives.

WOW: What would we find if we took a peek at your bookshelf?

Celeste: I think I’m kind of moody when it comes to reading. Depending on my mood, I’ll binge mysteries, or suspense, or romance (could be contemporary or historical), thrillers…when Game of Thrones was dominating HBO/Max, I binged George R.R. Martin. My bookcases are stocked with M.C. Beaton, Janet Evanovich, Charlain Harris, Linda Howard, J. D. Rob, C.J. Box, for romance Lisa Kleypas, Sarah MacLean, Eloisa James, Emily Henry, Elizabeth Berg, Elizabeth Strout…I could go on and on. 

I’ve always been inspired by authors who mix strong characters with a compelling sense of place. I love a story that’s a little mysterious, a little emotional, and makes you want to step right into the world they’ve created. Lord, I cried buckets over The Tale of Edgar Sawtelle.

Right now, I’m reading The Atomic City Girls by Janet Beard—a wonderful novel inspired by true events during World War II. I’m a sucker for historical fiction with heart and grit. Waiting in the wings on my nightstand are The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Rodham, and People We Meet on Vacation—so you can see I’m all over the map, genre-wise! 
  
WOW: But that's half the fun! Now you've gicven me a few books to add to my TBR list. What’s up next with your writing career?

Celeste: Well, the adventure continues! My second book in the Mysteries of a Heart series—Captive Heart at Brantmar Castle—releases September 22. Gabby and a few familiar faces journey to Scotland, where a remote castle, buried secrets, and an incoming snowstorm create the perfect storm for a twisty, emotional mystery. Meanwhile, back on Dost Island, loved ones are grappling with an unsettling crisis of their own—unraveling the truth behind a string of missing boys.

Following that, Broken Heart at Avalon Chateau is scheduled for winter 2026. Jay offers a much-needed escape to his newly inherited chateau in northern Canada… but let’s just say peace and quiet aren’t on the itinerary. As Gabby and the gang uncover danger and deception up north, their friends back on Dost Island are trying to solve the murder of the island’s beloved librarian.

And there’s more! Book Four—Wild Heart at Crest Edge Villa—takes Gabby and friends to Tasmania after Anna’s half-brother dies under mysterious circumstances. A cryptic letter leads them deep into the wilderness in a motorhome (what could go wrong?), where a wrong turn becomes a survival story with eerie twists, ancestral secrets, and a stalker in the shadows. Book Five—Rescued Heart at Water’s Edge—is also outlined. After barely escaping Tasmania, the group ends up shipwrecked on an uncharted island. 

It’s been a wild ride, and I’m loving every moment. I never imagined I’d be here, doing this, at this stage of my life—but I’m proof it’s never too late to chase a dream… or write yourself into a mystery.

WOW: I love that your characters are going to be popping all over the world chasing adventure - and danger. Thanks for giving us a sneak peek and sharing your inspiring writing journey with us.

Lost Heart in King Manor by Celeste Fenton Blog Tour and Giveaway


--Blog Tour Calendar

September 15th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Celeste Fenton's debut novel filled with romance and suspense: Lost Heart in King Manor. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.

September 16th @ All Things Writing
Don't miss author Celeste Fenton's advice on Setting the Stage for Suspense.

September 17th @ Chapter Break 
Today's guest is Celeste Fenton, telling the story of Publishing at 69! It’s Never Too Late for a Story.

September 19th @ What Is That Book About 
The spotlight's on romance and suspense with Celeste Fenton's debut novel Lost Heart in King Manor.

September 22nd @ Lisa Haselton's Reviews & Interviews
Meet Celeste Fenton, the author behind Lost Heart in King Manor and the Mysteries of a Heart series.

September 25th @ Words by Webb
Jodi reviews a novel for reader that like a good dose of adventure with their romance: Lost Heart in King Manor.

October 1st @ Avonna Loves Genres
Start the month off right with a review of Lost Heart in King Manor & a book giveaway.

October 2nd @ Some Thoughts. Everything Creativity
Stop by for a review of the first book in Celeste Fenton's mystery series: Lost Heart in King Manor.

October 3rd @ Books R Us
Author Celeste Fenton is visiting today with the guest post From Barbie to Breakdown: Writing About Complex Women

October 4th @ Three Things on a Saturday Night
Searching for some Saturday fun? Lost Heart in king Manor made the list of Three Things on a Saturday Night! Check out the review.

October 7th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Enter to win a copy of Lost Heart in King Manor. Author Celeste Fenton also share a guest post: Cozy Mystery Doesn’t Have to be Cute: Grit and Grace in Your Cozy.

October 9th @ Knotty Needle
Stop by for a review of Lost Heart of King Manor by Celeste Fenton.

October 10th @ Some Thoughts. Everything Creativity
Novelist Celeste Fenton is posting about Using Weather as A Metaphor. 

October 19th @ Just Katherine
Everyone loves a romance! Find out how Celeste Fenton writes it with the guest post Second Chances, Slow Burn: Crafting the Romance in Lost Heart.


Lost Heart in King Manor and a $25 Amazon Gift Card Giveaway


***** MYSTERY NOVEL & GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY *****

The giveaway is open to US residents for a print copy. Enter to win a print copy of Lost Heart in King Manor by Celeste Fenton and a $25 Amazon gift card! Fill out the Gleam form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends September 28th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day via Gleam and follow up via email. Good luck!

Lost Heart in King Manor Giveaway

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The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg: Blog & Podcast Tour & Giveaway

Monday, August 25, 2025
The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg
We are excited to announce the launch of a blog tour with author Ekta Garg. The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories is a charming collection of short stories, perfect for anyone who loves fairy tales in any form—fractured, retellings, modernizations, and more. If you loved classics like The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and The Secret Garden or modern gems like Wicked or Cinder, this is the book for you. 

Read our interview with Ekta, who talks about her enchanting short story collection. You can also enter to win a copy of the book and a $25 Amazon Gift Card! 

Before we get to that, here's more about The Witch's Apprentice:

Have you ever wondered why Jack and Jill needed that pail of water in the first place? Or how Sleeping Beauty managed to prick her finger despite a royal order to destroy every spindle in the kingdom?

Fairy tales and nursery rhymes have given us some of the most iconic characters and images in storytelling; think Cinderella’s glass slipper or Jack’s oversized beanstalk. But what about the in-between moments? The ones that never made it to the page?

In this enchanting micro-collection of short stories, award-winning author Ekta R. Garg explores the untold scenes between the lines of some of our most loved tales. Find out what the Wicked Witch of the East was doing in the road before Dorothy’s house fell on her. Learn where Goldilocks came from. Meet the conmen who convinced the emperor he had new clothes and more.

Rediscover the wit, heart, and magic of the classics, and see them as you’ve never seen them before in The Witch’s Apprentice and Other Stories.

Purchase a copy of the book on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org. Be sure to also add it to your GoodReads reading list.

Publisher: Atmosphere Press (August 12, 2025)
ASIN: B0FGFK498B
ISBN-13: 9798891327405
Print Length: 97 pages

About Ekta Garg

A Reviewer, Editor, Author, and Dreamer of stories and books, Ekta has worked in niche publishing since 2005—she’s written and edited about everything from healthcare to home improvement to Hindi films! Ekta judges writing contests, hosts writing workshops, and podcasts about great books and how to write them. She’s currently the Content Coordinator of Neighbors of SW Champaign, a hyper-local magazine focusing on and lifting up the Champaign, Illinois, community. Ekta’s award-winning holiday novella, The Truth About Elves, and her award-winning fairy tale for grown-ups, In the Heart of the Linden Wood, are available from Atmosphere Press. 


-- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: First off, congratulations on your short story collection, The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories. What inspired you to write these stories?

Ekta: I've always been fascinated by the "behind-the-scenes" information of stories, like deleted scenes of TV shows/movies or those interviews with actors/directors/writers about their processes. I wasn't thinking directly of these things when I set out to write this collection, but I know part of my driving force in writing these stories comes from that abiding interest. 

The collection started with the title story, "The Witch's Apprentice," the first draft of which I wrote in response to a writing prompt I read online a few years ago. I had so much fun writing the "in-between" story that when I started considering what my third book should be, I decided to devote it to several short stories that take fairy tales and nursery rhymes as we know them and figure out what's happening in the gaps. That's what the book is about: examining well-known stories as they exist in their original form and looking at the mini-stories that were never told.

WOW: I love those behind-the-scenes too. I loved that you wrote about our familiar fairy tales and gave them a different kind of spin. What led you to do that? 

Ekta: There are so many amazing retellings and fracturing of fairy tales—where a writer takes a well-known story and changes some major portion of the story while still staying true to the spirit of the original. I've read many of these stories/books and enjoyed them immensely. Instead of doing the same, however, I wanted to challenge myself in a different way. What if, I thought, we take the stories as they currently stand and look at previously-unexamined parts of them? 

An example of this would be the shortest story in the book, "Denying Hamelin," which goes back to the story of the Pied Piper of Hamelin and how he led the children out of the town. Most versions of this story in fairy tale books end with the piper skipping out of town, playing his merry little tune, and hordes of kids following him. The question that came to my mind upon examining the story a little closer was, What happened to the parents who were left behind? The story I wrote examines that. So I didn't come up with an alternative to the piper leading the kids away; I left the original story intact. My goal, instead, was to look at what hadn't been previously explored; in this case, it was the effect the kids' disappearance had on the parents.

WOW: What a unique approach! You ended up filling in the blanks for a lot of familiar stories, including fairy tales and nursery rhymes. Why did you decide to sort of reframe these familiar stories in a new light? 

Ekta: My goal as an author in every book is to challenge myself to get better in the craft but also to challenge my imagination and creativity in ways I haven't before. As I mentioned, other authors have fractured and retold the classics many times over. Think of the Disney princesses, the Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer, or Wicked by Gregory Macguire. Writers have had a lot of fun giving familiar stories a new twist or a facelift, but I'm not sure how many authors are out there sticking with the original stories and winding their way between the gaps. Because there are many, many gaps. In an effort to differentiate myself from what other authors are doing or have done before, and, more importantly, to force myself into a new way of approaching stories, I decided to go in this direction. 

In some ways it was easier, because I don't have to come up with the base story. The main players are already in place. The load-bearing framework of the story exists. I just have to find a new way to move around that frame. It was also harder than writing a retelling or fractured fairy tale, because the implicit agreement I've made with my stories on this project is that I wouldn't try to knock down some of the walls as they were originally built. I challenged myself to work around them. When there are specific elements that you've agreed won't be touched, moved, or changed, it becomes an interesting challenge to find out how to highlight what's already there while also uncovering something new all at the same time.

WOW: That's definitely not something commonly done. I love that you did that. You also write and host workshops. What does hosting those teach you about writing and your own creative work?

Ekta: First, that the world is full of immensely creative, talented people! One of the workshops I do at the library from time to time is a brainstorming workshop called "Solving Your Story Problems." Writers bring their writing problems to the workshop, and I help them brainstorm some solutions in real time. I also encourage the other writers present to share any ideas they may have to help solve the story problem, and many people's creativity and contributions leave me in awe. I'm so glad I get to hear about these amazing artistic pursuits.

Secondly, there are days when I'm painfully aware of just how hard writing is. It's not something that's acknowledged enough at the granular level—just how challenging it is to come up with a compelling character, plot, story, conflict, and dialogue. How difficult it is to create an original story that speaks to the human condition while also being its own special artistic expression; how writers spend months and sometimes years researching unusual and even downright strange ideas/careers/scenarios and then turn around and distill all of that research into something meaningful and impactful (In getting ready to write Cloud Cuckoo Land, for example, Anthony Doerr spent a year just researching libraries in ancient Constantinople.) These workshops are a good reminder that I'm not the only person trying to do this with my craft. Writing is a solitary endeavor, but knowing others are toiling away at their desks—whatever form that desk might take—is comforting.

WOW: Sounds like a great workshop! This is your third book. What have you learned about writing through each book you've written?

Ekta: With every book, I've become more aware of the readers and how to frame my story and present my characters to them. When I was working on my first book, my editor (the incredible Asata Radcliffe,) said something to me during revisions that really stuck with me. We were discussing some of the magical elements of The Truth About Elves that, at that time, weren't coming across as clearly as they needed to. She gave me guidance on how to improve my story, especially when it comes to specificity, and then said, "You're teaching your reader how to read your book." 

I've really taken that to heart since then. This advice is especially applicable to genres that include fantastical components, but I think you could say the same for almost any work. The reader goes into a new book having very little idea what they're going to encounter. Not only are we, as authors, sharing the story of the characters we created; we're also teaching our readers how to encounter and embrace the story as we want them to. In both of my subsequent books, I've been more and more aware of how readers will encounter my stories and what I can do to teach them to take in the books so they get the best reading experience.

WOW: What a great point! What does your writing space look like? 

Ekta: We moved into our current home in 2016. When we were trying to figure out what kind of home best suited our needs, I told my husband I'd love to have a writing studio—a space I could devote to everything and anything writing/publishing related (and where I wrap Christmas presents during the holidays so I can keep the mess down to a minimum and hide what I'm wrapping from the kids!) 

My studio is a room above our garage, so any time anyone comes home from work/school, I know right away. 😁 It's about 10'x11' and is filled with things dedicated to my work as an author but also things I find inspirational/interesting. I've got posters of all three of my book covers on the wall behind my desk so that every morning when I enter the studio, that's what I'm facing when I walk in. My father-in-law bought me a gorgeous desk where I sit every day and work. I've also got little trinkets that are important to me for sentimental reasons—the mug I got at my high school graduation with the names of my fellow grads on it. Framings of writing certificates and book reviews. A picture of my dad, who I lost last year, in my direct line of sight. A cork board with postcards, vacation mementos, and other things on it. Lots of little items all around the room that others might say are emotional inclusions but mean something to me. It's a balance of things to encourage me in my writing but also things that make me smile, which is helpful if I'm having a bad day.

WOW: What a wonderful space! Are you a pantser, a plotter, or a bit of both? And why?

Ekta: Definitely a bit of both. I've tried pantsing stories from time to time; I actually tried it when I started the first draft of my first book, The Truth About Elves, more than a decade ago. However, I discovered pretty quickly that without a general semblance of where my story is going, I won't finish it. 

I'm also not one of those writers who has to map out every single scene or chapter—I've tried that once or twice too and discovered that I won't write those stories either, because part of the fun for me is the discovery along the way. If I plot the entire thing, there's no point in writing the actual story because I know beat by beat what's going to happen. The fun of spontaneity is gone.

So that's why I say I'm both a plotter and a pantser. I need to know what my final destination is and will put that in my GPS, but if I happen to take some unexpected detours along the way because of traffic or something that looks interesting that I hadn't originally mapped out, I'll follow the detour for a while to see what's down that path before gently coming back to my original route. I get the benefit of both.

WOW: You have a great balance! Thank you so much for chatting with us today. I hope you enjoy your tour!

The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta R Garg WOW Blog Tour

-- Blog Tour Calendar

August 25 @ WOW! Women on Writing
Join us as we celebrate the launch of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. Read an interview with the author and enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.

August 27 @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie's blog for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

August 29 @ CK Sorens' Instagram
Join Carrie for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

August 30 @ One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog for an excerpt from The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

September 2 @ One Writer's Journey
Stop by Sue's blog again for her review of  The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

September 4 @ The Faerie Review
Join Lily for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. 

September 4 @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy's blog for a guest post by author Ekta Garg on how to set goals and actually keep them.

September 5 @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie's blog again for a guest post by author Ekta Garg on how to choose the theme of your book...or let it choose you. You can also read her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories.

September 5 @ All Things Writing
Caitrin interviews author Ekta Garg about her writing journey and short story collection The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories.

September 7 @ What Is That Book About
Visit Michelle's blog for an excerpt from The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg

September 7 @ Shoe's Seeds and Stories
Visit Linda's blog for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. 

September 9 @ Words by Webb
Join Jodi for her response to our tour-themed prompt on what's something in a fairy tale that she wished she saw more of.

September 10 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy's blog for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. 

September 12 @ Musings of a Literary Wanderer
Visit Angela's blog for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. 

September 12 @ Author Anthony Avina's blog
Visit Anthony's blog for an excerpt from The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. 

September 13 @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie's blog for her response to our tour-themed prompt about her thoughts on why fairy tales still resonate with readers today.

September 13 @ Boots Shoes and Fashion
Join Linda's blog for her interview with Ekta Garg about her book The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories.

September 14 @ Shoe's Seeds and Stories
Visit Linda's blog again for her response to our tour-themed prompt about what were some of her favorite fairy tales growing up.

September 15 @ Beverley A. Baird's blog
Visit Beverley for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

September 16 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy's blog again for an excerpt from The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories.

September 16 @ Words by Webb
Join Jodi for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

September 16 @ CK Sorens Newsletter
Don't miss Carrie's feature of Ekta Garg's The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories.

September 17 @ Beverley A. Baird's Blog
Join Beverley again for a guest post by Ekta Garg on finding your voice as a writer.

September 18 @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy's blog for her response to our tour-themed prompt about her thoughts on why fairy tales still resonate with readers today.

September 19 @ Beverley A. Baird's blog
Visit Beverley again for her response to our tour-themed prompt on which fairy tale she would alter and how she would do it.

September 20 @ Sarandipity's
Visit Sara's blog for her interview with author Ekta Garg about her book The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories.

September 21 @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdra's blog for a guest post by Ekta Garg on using the word "perfect" to empower your writing.

September 21 @ Boys' Mom Reads
Join Karen's blog for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

September 23 @ Sandy Kirby Quandt
Visit Sandy's blog for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

September 24 @ Writer Advice
Visit B. Lynn Goodwin's blog for a guest post by Ekta Garg on why she chose the hybrid publishing route.

September 24 @ Author Anthony Avina's blog
Stop by Anthony's blog for his review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

September 25 @ Knotty Needle
Stop by Judy's blog again for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. 

September 26 @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog for her review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg. You can also check out her response to our tour-themed prompt on what she hasn't seen in a fairy tale that we wish we saw more of.

September 27 @ Jill Sheets' Blog
Visit Jill's blog again for her interview with author Ekta Garg about her book The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories.

September 27 @ Book Bunnies
Join the Book Bunnies blog for a review of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta Garg.

Podcast Features

The Mike Wagner Show

One More Thing Before You Go

Book Lover's Companion - The English Version

Teatime with Miss Liz

Apollo Papyrus


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

Enter to win a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of The Witch's Apprentice and Other Stories by Ekta R. Garg! Fill out the Rafflecopter form for a chance to win. The giveaway ends September 8th at 11:59 CT. We will choose a winner the next day and announce it in the Rafflecopter widget as well as follow up via email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, August 11, 2025
What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom

I'm excited to announce the latest book by author Cheryl Grey Bostrom, What the River Keeps. This is a book that will enchant you with its descriptions of the Pacific Northwest while unraveling the complicated emotional lives of the characters. If you're looking for a love story steeped in nature and layered with mystery, suspense, and subtle spiritual themes of forgiveness and healing, this could be your next read. Join us as we celebrate the launch of this book with a giveaway and an interview with the author.

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

Cheryl Grey Bostrom has a writing voice unlike anyone else. When you see the world through the eyes of her stories, you see a beauty and depth few authors can achieve. What the River Keeps is a deliberate
and thoughtful portrait of a young woman searching for truth and for herself, perfect for fans of authors
such as Erin Bartels and Leif Enger.
--Katie Powner, Christy Award–winning author of When the Road Comes Around

Hildy Nybo is a successful biologist, her study of the Pacific Northwest’s wild fish both a passion and a career. But behind her professional brilliance, Hildy’s reclusive private life reflects a childhood fraught with uncertainty. Haunted by the confusion of her early years, she now records her life in detailed diaries and clings to memory-prompting keepsakes. 

Then her mother’s health fails, and Hildy accepts a job near her childhood home, joining a team of scientists who will help restore her beloved Elwha River after two century-old dams fall. There Hildy settles into a cabin on her family’s rustic resort—a place she both loves and dreads, for reasons she can’t fully explain. 

When a local artist rents an adjacent cabin for her pottery studio, Hildy resists the intrusion—until intriguing Luke Rimmer arrives to help with the cabin’s renovation. Now a few years beyond a tragedy that brought him to his knees, Luke recognizes a kindred soul in Hildy. As he earns her trust, they uncover her mysterious history, and Hildy dares to wonder if she can banish her shadows—and follow her river’s course to freedom.

Publisher: Tyndale Fiction (August 12, 2025)
ISBN: 1496481585
ISBN: 978-1496481580
AISN: B0DK3ZW85L
Print length:  368 pages

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

About the Author, Cheryl Grey Bostrom


A keen student of the natural world and the workings of the human heart, Pacific Northwest author, Cheryl Grey Bostrom captures the mystery and wonder of both in her lyrical, riveting fiction. Her novels Sugar Birds (Christy finalist, Amazon bestseller, and Book of the Year) and Leaning on Air have won more than two dozen industry honors, among which are CT’s Fiction Award of Merit and American Fiction, Reader’s Favorite, Carol, Nautilus, Best Book, Foreword Indies, and International Book Awards.

An avid birder and nature photographer, Cheryl lives in rural Washington State with her husband and three irrepressible Gordon setters.


--Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: Congratulations on your latest book, What the River Keeps! This book peeks at the life of Hildy, a biologist working on the rivers of Washington state. How do you know so much about things like dismantling dams, fisheries and the life of a biologist?

Cheryl: Thanks . . . and thanks for asking!

I was practically weaned on those topics. Raised a few miles from Olympic National Park’s Elwha River, I first roamed the pristine Elwha Valley with my grandparents, who taught me to treasure its ecosystem. Too, I rowed on the Lake Aldwell reservoir and fished for the Elwha’s giant, dwindling chinooks in Port Angeles salmon derbies. Our family visited hatcheries, and we smoked, grilled and canned salmon we caught. Because a childhood friend’s dad worked in the Elwha powerhouse, that dam was on my early radar, too. When I married a veterinarian similarly intrigued by rivers and fish, my interest only grew.

Regardless, I’m not an expert, so when I decided to have the river’s re-wilding parallel Hildy’s release from mysterious generational strongholds, I looked to others for accuracy about the Elwha’s restoration. Fortunately, online materials were endless. Since the Elwha project was the largest dam removal to date anywhere, Tribal and government researchers and scientists accumulated reams of data, photos, analyses, and videos.  I also consulted several experts involved in all phases of the restoration—including a 30-year fish biologist with the Lower Elwha Klallams and a USGS research ecologist. Their insights (and manuscript checks) were golden. 

WOW: Since you wrote nonfiction for many years, I suppose you’re researching and interviewing skills came in handy. Can you talk a little about your journey into fiction? 

Cheryl: Ah . . .  I fell in love with writing at age five, when Mrs. Obermeyer gave me my first fat pencil at school. I still have early poems I scrawled in soft graphite on my wide-ruled tablet. I was ten when I told my grandmother I’d write a novel someday, but by my late fifties, I was still chin-deep in non-fiction writing. 

Then my first grandchild Gwyn arrived, and my focus shifted. Wanting to write for her and her someday self, I dove into fiction, learning all I could about the craft. When a workshop sketch about a tree-climbing girl turned into Sugar Birds, I dedicated the book to my Gwynie. 

WOW: In What the River Keeps you lightly touch on the characters’ faith and beliefs. How do you think the inclusion of faith elevates your writing?

Cheryl: Few would deny that we humans are physical, emotional, and spiritual beings—and that whether we acknowledge it or not, we all choose beliefs that direct our worldviews and guide our choices. Whether readers believe in the God of the Bible as I do or in something else entirely, when they engage the spirituality of my characters (whose beliefs vary), they enter depths of human motivation that are rich fodder for discussion and introspection. 

My books grapple with real life in this beautiful, but broken world, where spirituality shapes outcomes mightily. Themes of restoration and redemption thread my plots, but I don’t hard-sell faith, nor do I offer platitudes or easy solutions to life’s trials. Even so, some won’t be interested. I get that. Not every book appeals to me, either. 

WOW: As with your first two novels, Sugar Birds and Leaning on Air, this book captures the beauty of the Pacific Northwest with breathtaking language. Any tips on how writers can effectively capture the essence of a place? Your writing is so vivid it made me wish I was an artist so I could draw the places you described.

Cheryl: The only sketching I do is with words, so I love hearing that! 

I guess I’d suggest that writers draw their settings not as static backdrops to story, but as characters. We could brainstorm for hours about ways to do that, but one thing’s sure: when a story’s humans engage with a dynamic setting, the synergy can be magic. As place mirrors and interacts with character motivations and themes, readers will feel that setting’s pulse.

WOW: Have you ever considered writing a book outside of the Pacific Northwest? 

Cheryl: Not yet . . . I’ve hardly tapped Pacific Northwest settings I know best, and since they’re the places I love to inhabit as I write, I think I’ll stay. My next book’s set in Washington’s San Juan Islands with earthquakes and wildlife and the living, breathing Salish Sea. You couldn’t tear me away.

WOW: Until today I had never heard of the Salish Sea and now I can’t wait for your next book! Thanks for giving us a peek at your writing life.

What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom Blog Tour

--Blog Tour Calendar

August 11th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Cheryl Grey Bostrom's nature infused love story What the River Keeps. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.

August 12th @ One Writer's Journey
Stop by for a post about the Five Birds that Make Life Better and a review of What the River Keeps by  Cheryl Grey Bostrom.

August 13th @ Writer Advice
Novelist Cheryl Grey Bostrom is visiting with her thoughts on The Deliciousness of Book Clubs.

August 14th @ Knotty Needle
Read a review of What the River Keeps and author Cheryl Grey Bostrom's guest post: Re-wilding Ourselves Through Nature Novels.

August 16th @ Boots, Shoes and Fashion
Enjoy a fun interview with novel writer Cheryl Grey Bostrom.

August 18th @ What Is That Book About 
Luxuriate in nature with a spotlight on the novel What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom.

August 19th @ Word Magic
Author Cheryl Grey Bostrom is stopping by to write about Nature as Guide through Wilderness of Heart.

August 20th @ Nikki's Book Reviews
Nikki's sharing her thoughts on the novel What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom.

August 21st @ Lisa Haselton's Reviews & Interviews
Meet the author behind What the River Keeps and other novels set in the Pacific Northwest.

August 25th @ Beverley A. Baird
Need a good read for the waning days of summer? Beverly's sharing her review of What the River Keeps.

August 26th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Enter to win a copy of What the River Keeps. Have fun with author Cheryl Grey Bostrom translating Bird Language for Our Inner Lives.

August 27th @ Create Write Now
Cheryl Grey Bostrom writes about the power of nature in Created to Heal: How Nature Illustrates the Design of Our Hearts.

August 28th @ Words by Webb
Jodi reviews a novel that is ideal for nature lover and women's fiction: What the River Keeps.

August 29th @ Beverley A. Baird
Author Cheryl Grey Bostrom is visiting with a guest post on What's the Draw to Faith in Women's Fiction?

September 2 @ A Storybook World
Novelist Cheryl Grey Bostrom is writing about Three Ways Nature Novels Speak to Our Hearts and recommending a few of her favorites.

September 4th @ Reading Is My Remedy
Take flight with author Cheryl Grey Bostrom with Bird Lessons - What Winged Creatures Can Teach Us. They'll also be a review of her latest novel What the River Keeps. 

September 5th @ Storeybook Reviews
Check out the spotlight on Cheryl Grey Bostrom and her latest novel What the River Keeps.

September 9th @ Boys' Mom Reads!
Looking for a new book for a new month? Karen's reviewing the novel What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom.

September 10th @ Choices
Cheryl Grey Bostrom shares lessons she's learned after writing three novels.

September 12th @ Chapter Break 
Today's guest is Cheryl Grey Bostrom, author of several novels set in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

September 14th @ Jill Sheet's Blog
Today's the last day for the blog tour for What the River Keeps! We're ending on a high note with a post by author Cheryl Grey Bostrom about Improving Your Writing through Photography -- and Other Art. 

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

Enter to win a print copy of What the River Keeps by Cheryl Grey Bostrom! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends August 24th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day via Rafflecopter and follow up via email. Good luck!

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