Showing posts with label giveaway. Show all posts
Showing posts with label giveaway. Show all posts

Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition by Mari L. McCarthy: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, October 12, 2026
 
Journaling Power 10th Anniversary Edition

We're excited to announce the upcoming blog tour for Journaling Power: How To Create the Happy, Healthy Life YOU Want to Live, 10th Anniversary Edition. Mari L. McCarthy, author and long-time friend of WOW! Women on Writing joins us to celebrate her book's launch and special anniversary. We interview her about her book and give you a chance to win a copy for yourself.

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

Are you ready to take control of your health and happiness, and healing - from the inside out?

In this powerful 10th anniversary edition of her international bestselling book, Mari L. McCarthy reveals how a simple pen-and-paper journaling power practice can unlock your inner healer, restore your connection to self, and help you create a life that finally feels like it fits.

Diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and facing mounting health challenges, Mari turned to journaling - not as a hobby, but as a lifeline. 

What she discovered wasn’t just helpful. It was transformational.  Less pain. More clarity. Emotional freedom… and personal power reclaimed!

Heal. Grow. Transform.
 
Through Mari’s Journaling For The Health Of It™ method, thousands of people around the world have discovered how to:
  • Manage chronic illness and heal emotional trauma 
  • Rewire negative thought patterns and reduce anxiety
  • Cultivate self-compassion and body trust
  • Awaken their intuition and inner wisdom
  • Navigate their healthcare journey with confidence
  • Live authentically, joyfully, and on their own terms
All you need to join them is a pen, a notebook, and a quiet space.

With inspiring writing prompts, Morning Pages exercises, and step-by-step guidance, Journaling Power gives you the tools to turn inward - where healing, clarity, and self-love reside.

Publisher: BookBaby
AISN: B0H6S6ZM55
ISBN-13: 979-8317840433
Print Length: 204 pages

Purchase a copy of Journaling Power: How To Create the Happy, Healthy Life YOU Want to Live, 10th Anniversary Edition on Bookbaby and Amazon. Be sure to add it to your GoodReads reading list.

Praise About Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition

"This autobiographical book is a good option for people who are looking for a reason or method to start a journaling practice. It shares a lot from the author's own perspective, and honestly felt like the book was probably also therapeutic for the author to write (in addition to being helpful to those who may be facing similar issues, such as struggles through chronic health conditions).
 
"The book really focuses on the idea of making journaling work for you. It's not about showing your writing to anyone else (or honestly even about reading it later). It's about the helpful effects of getting thoughts down on paper. There are specific journaling prompts as well as guidelines for how to journal. There are also a lot of stories of the author's health journey and how journaling fit into it. The author includes ways to reframe your inner critic and deal with common pitfalls, and also incorporates data and research that supports the benefits of regular writing, including narrative and expressive journaling. The end of the book has a bonus section, with prompts that didn't necessarily fit anywhere else in the book but also are worth exploring.
 
"One of my favorite little sections of the book was talking about being on a journey as opposed to reaching a destination. I do like that idea, because a lot of what we want to do with our lives doesn't necessarily have an end point. For example, I deal with my own chronic health issues, so I'm not likely to ever reach a destination of 'recovered' but I can continue on a journey towards greater mobility and small improvements.
 
"If you're curious about journaling, or feel like journaling will help you but don't know exactly where to start, read through this book to get you moving in the right direction." ~ Reedsy Discovery
 
"Mari L. McCarthy shines as a trailblazer in the world of journaling, and this updated edition of Journaling Power is a testament to her passion, wisdom, and lived experience. Drawing from her own transformative journey—overcoming the challenges of multiple sclerosis through daily pen-to-paper writing—Mari offers readers not just inspiration, but practical tools and heartfelt encouragement for writers who want to embark on their own paths of healing and self-discovery. This revised version is more than a guide; it’s an empowering companion that demonstrates how journaling can unlock creativity, foster resilience, and help anyone create a happier, healthier life. With its blend of personal stories, scientific evidence, and actionable exercises, Journaling Power stands out as an invaluable resource for writers looking to deepen their stories and anyone seeking to harness the life-changing benefits of journaling. This is a gift for the writer's soul. Thank you, Mari!" ~ Angela Mackintosh, Editor, WOW! Women on Writing

About the Author, Mari L. McCarthy


Mari L. McCarthy is the Founder and CEO-Chief Empowerment Officer of CreateWriteNow. She teaches health-conscious people how to use Journaling For The Health Of It™ for self-discovery,  personal growth and mental wellness.

Mari discovered therapeutic journaling 28 years ago while navigating the challenges of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Teaching herself to write with her non-dominant left hand, which began as a simple physical therapy exercise, quickly became a powerful tool for emotional, mental, and spiritual transformation.

She is the multi-award-winning author of Journaling Power, Heal Your Self With Journaling Power, and Mindset Medicine. Her work also includes more than 20 Journaling For The Health Of It™ workbooks, such as Who Am I?, Declutter Your Life and Writer’s Magic Journaling Challenge.

Learn more about her work and get your free Journaling Power workbook at CreateWriteNow.com. 

--- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: Congrats on your 10 year anniversary of Journaling Power! I can't believe it's been 10 years since your first book came out. What has changed for you since the first release of this book?

Mari: Professionally, a lot has changed. Since my first book was released, I’ve self-published two more paperback/eBooks: Heal Your Self With Journaling Power and Mindset Medicine: A Journaling Power Self-Love Book. I’ve also expanded the CreateWriteNow Store to 23 workbooks, including a very popular addition to our Writer’s Collection, Writer’s Magic: 21-Day Journaling Challenge. The Writer’s Collection now also includes 53 Weekly Writing Retreats, 12-Day Guide to Morning Pages, and Overcome Page Fright in 7 Days.

Personally. I’ve made many lifestyle changes, and my health is at an all-time high. I’ve been off prescription medications for almost 24 years, I follow a Paleo diet, and since giving up dairy, my vocal range has been approaching four octaves.  I sleep consistently 7–9 hours a night, I feel more energized, and I enjoy ever growing inner peace and harmony.

I’ve added meditation and deep-breathing exercises to my daily Journaling Power practice…and oh, the places I go!

WOW: I love it! So many good things have happened. What was your process of revising and updating the book to prepare for the 10 year anniversary? 

Mari: I was starting on a new book, “Heal The Issues In Your Tissues” and wasn’t getting anywhere so I had some discussions with my journal and discovered that 2026 was the 10th anniversary of Journaling Power. I already had the cover image, so then I created the Amazon description and back cover copy. I reordered the chapters a bit, renamed a couple chapters and added a Bonus Section of Advanced Journaling Techniques (thank you for the bonus section suggestion, Melanie Faith). Then it was on to the fun part: rewriting, rewriting, rewriting.

WOW: That's amazing how it all came together. You must have changed so many lives by sharing your journaling method. What kind of experiences have you heard from people about how journaling has helped them? 

Mari: I’ve heard so many wonderful stories over the years, and what strikes me most is that journaling meets people wherever they are in their lives. By putting their thoughts and feelings on paper, they were able to make sense of what they were experiencing instead of carrying it all around in their mind and body.

Others have used journaling to gain clarity about what they really want. They start by writing about what’s bothering them or what they’re struggling with, and somewhere along the way, they discover an answer, a goal, or a solution they hadn’t been able to see before.

And then there are the stories about action. Someone told me, “I knew what I needed to do, but I just couldn’t do it.” Journaling gave them a safe place to explore the fear, uncover what was holding them back (issues in their tissues), and take that exciting first step. 

WOW: I agree that journaling can be so life-changing. What led you to turn to journaling in the first place? 

Mari: It really started with what I call a physical therapy emergency.

I had an MS episode that caused me to lose the function of my right arm, so I had to teach myself how to write with my left hand. Am

I went into a Borders bookstore looking for something that might help, and one of the booksellers recommended Julia Cameron’s The Artist’s Way. That book introduced me to Morning Pages—the practice of writing three pages of stream-of-consciousness thoughts first thing in the morning.

I started doing it, and something unexpected happened. Writing with my left hand quickly became easier. In those first few weeks, I realized that I had actually been left-handed as a child. The nuns at St. Bernard’s Grade School had made me switch to my right hand!

WOW: That's an incredible discovery! What advice would you share with those who don't really know how to get started with journaling?

Mari: The question I’m asked most often is, “How do I get started with journaling?”That’s why I created my 14-day introductory eWorkbook, Start Your Healing Journaling Power Practice Today!  available at CreateWriteNow.com.

My recommendation is to read through the workbook and choose the chapter or exercise that speaks to them.

Once they complete an exercise, I invite them to schedule a complimentary Journaling Power Session with me. During this session, we focus on whatever they’re currently navigating—whether that’s self-sabotage, an inner critic, procrastination, feeling overwhelmed or cluttered, or wanting to create healthier habits. Together, we identify what they need and co-create a Journaling Power Practice that fits them.

WOW: You have truly helped so many people. Thank you for choosing WOW to join you across your journey. 


Journaling Power 10th Anniversary by Mari L. McCarthy Edition Blog Tour

--- Blog Tour Calendar

October 12 @ The Muffin
Stop by WOW's blog The Muffin to celebrate the launch of Mari L. McCarthy's blog tour of her 10th Anniversary Edition of Journaling Power. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.

October 13 @ Boys' Mom Reads!
Stop by Karen's blog for a spotlight of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition by Mari L. McCarthy.

October 13 @ Sandy Kirby Quandt
Sandy shares her review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition by Mari L. McCarthy.

October 15 @ Knotty Needle
Stop by Judy's blog for a review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. 

October 20 @ All Things Writing
Stop by Caitrin's blog for an excerpt from Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. 

October 21 @ Thoughts of Maddness
Maddie shares her review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. She also responds to our tour-themed prompt about keeping a journal and her experiences writing in one over the years.

October 22 @ Knotty Needle
Return to Judy's blog for her response to our tour-themed prompt about keeping a journal and her experiences writing in one over the years.

October 23 @ Melanie Faith's blog
Stop by Melanie's blog for a spotlight of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. Melanie also responds to our tour-themed prompt on her writing routines around her journal.

October 25 @ Lisa's Reading
Stop by Lisa's blog for a spotlight of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition.

October 26 @ World of My Imagination
Stop by Nicole's blog for her review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition.

October 27 @ Discover The Magick Within
Stop by Isabella's blog for her review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. She also interviews Mari L. McCarthy about her book.

October 28 @ Book Reviews From an Avid Reader
Stop by Joan's blog for her review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. 
    
October 29 @ The Memoir Revolution Blog
Stop by Jerry's blog for his review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. He also interviews Mari L. McCarthy about her book.

November 1 @ A Storybook World
Stop by Deirdra's blog for a spotlight of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. 

November 1 @ Just Katherine
Stop by Katherine's blog for a spotlight on Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. She also responds to our tour-themed prompt on keeping a journal and her experience writing in one over the years.

November 3 @ Something Thoughts Everything Creativity
Stop by Kaecey's blog for her review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. 

November 5 @ A Wonderful World of Words
Stop by Joy's blog for an excerpt from Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. 

November 5 @ Hook of a Book
Stop by Erin's blog for her review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. 

November 6 @ Sarandipity's Blog
Stop by Sara's blog for a spotlight of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. 

November 8 @ Shoe's Seeds and Stories
Visit Linda's blog for her review of Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition. 

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

Enter to win Journaling Power: 10th Anniversary Edition by Mari L McCarthy. Fill out the form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends October 25th at 11:59 pm CT. We will randomly draw a winner the next day and follow up via email. Good luck! 

Journaling Power Giveaway
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Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, February 10, 2025
 
Sleeping with Dogs by Barbara Barth

I'm so excited to announce the launch of another blog tour with the prolific author, Barbara Barth. Her newest book, Sleeping With Dogs: A Poetic Memoir, chronicles her journey—in poetic form—of loving dogs throughout her life. This is a chapbook you don't want to miss if you love dogs, have ever loved dogs, or plan to have a dog some time in the future.

We'll be interviewing Barbara and talking about this charming poetic memoir and giving away a copy of the book to one lucky reader. Before we get to that, here's more about the book:

Barbara Barth started adopting dogs after the loss of her husband in 2008. From larger dogs to downsizing to Chihuahuas there are always five to six dogs at home. Barth has captured the essence of each dog's personality in short free verse poems. Known as Writer With Dogs, Barth has written two memoirs and a variety of novels. Dogs are always present in her stories. This is her first collection of poems. A chapbook of second chances.

ISBN-13: 979-8988575061
ASIN: B0DNMFXP46
Print Length: 37 pages

Purchase a copy of the book on Amazon. You can also add it to your Goodreads reading list.

About the Author, Barbara Barth

Barbara Barth turned to writing and adopting dogs to heal after the loss of her husband in 2008. Known as Writer With Dogs over the years, she now calls herself Chihuahua Mama and lives with six demanding Chihuahuas in a charming small town forty miles from Atlanta. She is Literary Arts Chair on the Board of her local art center. Inspired by the many talented artists she meets Barth started painting. Her whimsical style embraces ladies, gardens, critters, and of course cats and dogs.

Find her online at:


-- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: I am so glad to have you back with us at WOW! And I absolutely love your book of poetry. What inspired you to write this?

Barbara: I'm so happy you love my little book! I saw a challenge on Facebook to write 21 poems in 21 days and decided to give it a try. I thought it would be fun, And honestly, I am a bit burned out working on a new novel. The poems were completed in three weeks time. Every morning with my coffee I sat down to write a new poem. I'm hooked now and am continuing to write a quick poem daily. May not publish them but I find it relaxing.

WOW: What an amazing, relaxing routine that resulted in a charming poetry collection. What was your compilation process? How did you decide where each should go? 

Barbara: This is a poetic memoir on all the dogs I've adopted since losing my husband in 2008. I started with the first dog we had as a couple because Foxy helped with all the new dogs that came to live with me as a widow. The poems (and dogs) are in chronological order which was hard to remember who came first with five or six rescue dogs always with me. My goal was to capture each dog's unique personality and also include a few poems on how they have made my life so lovely. The very last poem is a PS because I adopted Lucy from Animal Control. I wasn't planning on another dog, but she was on Facebook and so sad. 
 
WOW: I love how you followed a poetic timeline. I feel like you are a fantastic example of a writer who knows how to connect with her local community and use that to promote her work. Can you share any tips on how a writer can engage with their community better?

Barbara: I have found that promoting other writers and artists opens up new venues and friendships. In the early days of writing I had several blogs and did book reviews that I shared on social media. In 2010-2011, I had a small antique shop that turned out to be a meeting place for writers who taught classes and did book launches from the tiny hub. And most recently since 2018, I am the Literary Arts Chair on the Board of a charming art center where I schedule writing classes, book signings like I used to do in my shop, and our writing group Walton Writers. In everything I've done I'm meeting new people who are readers or writers or artists. We all help each other. And my two favorite things to do with a new book, a blog tour with WOW! and a fundraiser book signing at the art center where 100% of book sales that day a donation to my favorite place. 
 
WOW: Fantastic combination! I love the cover of this book! Can you tell me about the designer and her process in creating it at all?

Barbara: I designed the cover image based on a photograph I saw of a woman in bed with her dog. I'm the chunky gal with each of my six dogs sleeping with me. It's a very naive drawing which is what I wanted for the cover. While my paintings are whimsical, they are not this simplistic. My sister put the final touches on it with color and a few tweaks. Of course she did the rest of the work, designing and uploading to KDP. My sister's book covers are always awesome so I was happy she approved of this one!

WOW: Your cover captures the beauty of your poetry and the delight the reader will have while reading it! You always write such uplifting books that put a smile to your reader's face. And I feel like the world needs more of those books. Why do you think those are the types of books you are pulled to write?

Barbara: Thanks for a wonderful compliment, Nicole. I love a bit of drama but I love a happy ending better. Starting with my first book The Unfaithful Widow, the memoir on losing my husband and finding a creative life, I wanted to share hope with my words. And finding my creative path and adopting dogs played  a huge part in healing. Since then I've written about things I love; dogs, antiques, gardens, art, old houses. And most of my characters have had loss but find their happy ending. Life is hard and I want to be a soft edge on that. Sometimes I think I live in my own little world wearing rose colored glasses. But with a lap full of dogs that's easy to do.
 
WOW: I'll bet! Where do you write? Can you tell us about it, including sharing any pictures?

Barbara: I write at my desk in my den. It's an old farm table in the corner of the room next to French doors so I can look out at nature. It's really a bit of a mess because I also paint here. The table has my laptop, jars of brushes and an old monitor that I painted for an art show with a frog, rabbit, mouse, and the words Wake Up and Create. My mantra in the morning. I have to work in this spot because the dogs are all sleeping in little beds around me. If I went into another room the howling would be horrible. 



WOW: What a beautiful space! I love it. It's so inspiring. Thank you so much for your time today. I loved talking with you again. Enjoy your tour!

-- Blog Tour Calendar

February 10th @ The Muffin
Join us at The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Barbara Barth's poetry memoir Sleeping With Dogs. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy for yourself.

February 11th @ Lori B. Duff Writes
Visit Lori's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 12th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara's blog for a review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 13th @ One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog for a guest post by Barbara Barth about finding creative time.

February 13th @ Love a Librarian
Stop by Zarah's blog for an excerpt from Sleeping With Dogs. Zarah will also be sharing her own dog rescue story!

February 14th @ Words by Webb
Visit Jodi's blog for her dog rescue story and a spotlight of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 15th @ A Storybook World
Visit Deirdre's blog for her spotlight of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 15th @ Book Bunnies
Stop by the Book Bunnies blog for a fun review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 16th @ Chit Chat With Charity
Visit Charity's blog for a review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs. Charity will also be sharing her own dog rescue story!

February 18th @ Chatty Patty's Place
Visit Patty's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 20th @ Pages and Paws
Visit Kristine's blog for her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 20th @ One Writer's Journey
Sue will be sharing her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 22nd @ Wonderful World of Words
Visit Joy's blog to read an excerpt from Barbara's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

February 24th @ The Bohemian Princess Journal
Join Rebecca for her review of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 25th @ Frugal Freelancer
Visit Sara's blog for her story of how she rescued her dog. You can also win a copy of Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth.

February 25th @ Lori B. Duff Writes
Visit Lori's blog again for her story of how she rescued her dog. 

February 26th @ Create Write Now
Visit Mari's blog for a guest post from Barbara Barth about book covers.

February 27th @ Word Magic
Visit Fiona's blog for her spotlight of Sleeping With Dogs.

February 27th @ Tracey Lampley's blog
Tracey shares an excerpt from Barbara Barth's Sleeping With Dogs.

February 28th @ Chatty Patty's Place
Visit Patty's blog for Barbara Barth's guest post on her art.

March 1st @  One Writer's Journey
Visit Sue's blog again for her interview with Barbara Barth about her memoir.

March 2nd @ Just Katherine
Visit Katherine's blog to read a guest post from Barbara Barth about rescuing dogs.

March 3rd @ The Bohemian Princess Journal
Visit Rebecca for her story of how she rescued her dog. 

March 4th @ Just Katherine
Stop by Katherine's blog again for an excerpt of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

March 5th @ Choices
Visit Madeline's blog for a guest post by Barbara Barth about writing poetry for the first time.

March 6th @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole's blog for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir, Sleeping With Dogs.

March 7th @ Kaecey McCormick's blog
Join Kaecey for her post featuring an excerpt of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

March 8th @ Free to be Me
Join Leslie for her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.

March 9th @ Caitrin C. King's blog
Visit Caitrin's blog her review of Barbara Barth's poetic memoir Sleeping With Dogs.
 
Sleeping With Dogs by Barbara Barth Blog Tour
 
***** BOOK GIVEAWAY *****
 
Enter to win a print copy of Sleeping With Dogs: A Poetic Memoir by Barbara Barth! Fill out the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends February 23rd at 11:59 pm CT. We will choose a winner the next day and announce in the widget as well as follow up via email. Good luck!

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No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop Judge: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, June 17, 2024
No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop Judge
Anoop Judge is back! She had so much fun with her blog tour for Mercy and Grace that she's back with No Ordinary Thursday. It's a book for readers who love the tale of dysfunctional families or the experiences of First Generation Americans. No Ordinary Thursday has a little bit of everything: romance, friendship, scandal, feuds, adventure, secrets. You'll find it tough to stop reading about the intertwined relationships of this close knit Indian community.

More About the Book

Lena Sharma is a successful San Francisco restaurateur. An immigrant, she’s cultivated an image of conservatism and tradition in her close-knit Indian community. But when Lena's carefully constructed world begins to crumble, her ties to her daughter, Maya, and son, Sameer—raised in thoroughly modern California—slip further away.

Maya, divorced once, becomes engaged to a man twelve years her junior: Veer Kapoor, the son of Lena’s longtime friend. Immediately, Maya feels her mother's disgrace and the judgment of an insular society she was born into but never chose, while Lena’s cherished friendship frays. Meanwhile, Maya's younger brother, Sameer, struggles with an addiction that reaches a devastating and very public turning point, upending his already tenuous future.

As the mother, daughter, and son are compromised by tragedy, secrets, and misconceptions, they each must determine what it will take to rebuild their bonds and salvage what’s left of their family.

Publisher: Lake Union Publishing (August 1, 2022)
ISBN-10: 1542037751
ISBN-13: 978-1542037754
ASIN: B09KLJTJJ2
Print Length: 335 pages

Purchase a copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or Bookshop.org. Make sure you also add it to your GoodReads reading list.

About the Author, Anoop Judge

Born and raised in New Delhi, Anoop is the author of four novels, The Rummy Club which won the
2015 Beverly Hills Book Award, The Awakening of Meena Rawat, an excerpt of which was nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize, No Ordinary Thursday, and Mercy and Grace. 

Her essays and short stories have appeared in Green Hills Literary Lantern, Rigorous Journal, Lumiere Review, DoubleBack Review, and the Ornament anthology, among others. 
 
Anoop calls herself a “recovering litigator”—she worked in state and federal courts for many years before she replaced legal briefs with fictional tales. She holds an MFA from St. Mary’s College of California and was the recipient of the 2021 Advisory Board Award and the 2023 Alumni Scholarship. 

She lives in Pleasanton, California, with her husband, and is the mother of two admirable young adults.

You can find her online at:


--- Interview by Jodi Webb

WOW: Welcome back to WOW Blog Tours! We had so much fun with your first tour for Mercy and Grace. You have four published novels and another on the way. What made you choose No Ordinary Thursday for your second blog tour?

ANOOP: I loved how the Wow book team represented my latest published novel, Mercy and Grace—the questions the bloggers asked me were astute and insightful, and I enjoyed getting feedback from the bloggers about the book. I wanted to repeat the experience with my previously published novel No Ordinary Thursday.

WOW: I’m so glad because your books are on my TBR list. While reading No Ordinary Thursday, I noticed that the women mentioned a pivotal moment in their friendship that happened during a card game. That got me thinking about your novel The Rummy Game. Do the characters in No Ordinary Thursday and The Rummy Game crossover?

ANOOP: Yes, you are right, these are crossover characters from my first book The Rummy Club. When I first began writing No Ordinary Thursday I thought it would be a sequel to The Rummy Club, and that’s why you have the scene where the women are playing the card game—rummy—which originated from my first novel. Ultimately, I abandoned the idea of a sequel but decided to let the names stay the same as a fun fact. How astute of you to get that!

WOW: Fascinating, a great example of how writers have to be open to changes in the plan mid-writing. Another thing that stayed with me from No Ordinary Thursday was one section that was so frightening and realistic it gave me shivers. I don’t want to publish a spoiler so we’ll leave it at that. How do you make the events in your books so real?

ANOOP: The idea for this book actually came from a real-life story. I read about a young man, who left a young girl to die in a car that caught on fire because he was driving drunk, in the ethnic newspaper India West. That got me thinking as to how a sheltered, protected young man coming from a conservative South Asian background could behave like a criminal. I decided to make him part of a shattered family and a secret that led to alcohol poisoning for fifteen years and that’s how I came up with the character of Sameer. 

This is a very good question because, although I have not experienced any of these things personally, there is always YouTube videos to consider when you want to research your character. I also wanted to give the novel The Night Of vibes which is a drama miniseries (aired on HBO in 2016) that stayed with me for a long time after I watched it.

WOW: Oh no, now I have another series to add to my streaming list. Where will I find the time? But my schedule challenges are nothing compared to yours. Writing a novel, promoting another, teaching a class on novel writing. Not to mention a family wedding! How do you fit it all in? 

ANOOP: Thank you for finding out a little about me. Yes, I like to stay busy. Born to a professional family in New Delhi I was raised on the mantra of “Study hard. Get a job. Be financially independent. Get married.” In that order. I love attending Indian weddings but I also love writing, and teaching. As I grow older, I focus on the things that matter to me instead of cynicism, petty gossip, excessive criticism, and demands of any nature that drain me emotionally. I love this quote from Meryl Streep:

“I no longer have patience for certain things, not because I've become arrogant, but simply because I reached a point in my life where I do not want to waste more time with what displeases me or hurts me . . . I no longer spend a single minute on those who lie or want to manipulate. I decided not to coexist anymore with pretense, hypocrisy, dishonesty, and cheap praise. I do not tolerate selective erudition nor academic arrogance. I do not adjust either to popular gossiping. I hate conflict and comparisons. I believe in a world of opposites and that's why I avoid people with rigid and inflexible personalities. In friendship, I dislike the lack of loyalty and betrayal. I do not get along with those who do not know how to give a compliment or a word of encouragement.” 

WOW: Marvelous, we should all keep that in mind. Can you tell us a little about how you became involved in mentoring and teaching other writers? 

ANOOP: To write a novel and to be successfully published, takes not just one person, but a village. I have been lucky to be helped by many other writers, including my writing coach from my Amherst writing classes and various writing friends that I met along the way while attending writing retreats. Now that I know the tricks of the trade I want to help all kinds of emerging writers, young and old to make sure their stories find a place in the world.

WOW: I’m sure your students have so much to learn from you. Can you tell us a little about being a writing teacher?

ANOOP: Teachers and students of creative writing have a symbiotic relationship. Almost all authors teach because we learn so much from our students. Students bring a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and viewpoints to the classroom, which broadens my understanding and challenges my preconceptions. Additionally, fresh and unfiltered creativity from students often introduces me to new narrative techniques, unique story structures, and original thematic explorations. Likewise, observing students navigate challenges and overcome writing blocks demonstrates the importance of perseverance and flexibility in the creative process.
Another takeaway is feedback and reflection. Engaging with student feedback on my teaching methods helps me refine my approach and adapt to meet their learning needs more effectively. And of course, the enthusiasm and passion students exhibit for storytelling reinvigorate my own love for writing and remind me of the joy and excitement that originally drew me to writing.

Overall, teaching creative writing is a reciprocal process that continually enhances my growth as both an educator and a writer.

WOW: Can you give us a sneak peek of your next novel?

ANOOP: My next book is about an open marriage between an Indian couple—secret from their family and friends, of course—which gets upended when all the rules are broken. The working title is Let’s Just See What Happens. I’m still in the process of researching and writing the book.

WOW: Well, here at WOW we can’t wait to just see what happens!



No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop Judge Blog Tour

-- Blog Tour Calendar

June 17th @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Anoop Judge's book No Ordinary Thursday. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.

June 19th @ Writer Advice
Novelist Anoop Judge stops by with a guest post about Ways To Begin a Story.

June 21st @ A Wonderful World of Words
Let's have some fun with a book giveaway and a guest post from Anoop Judge tracing her journey through four novels.

June 22nd @ A Storybook World
Make an addition to your TBR pile with this spotlight on No Ordinary Thursday.

June 24th @ My Beauty My Books
Author Anoop Judge visits with advice to her twenty year old self and a chance to win a copy of her novel No Ordinary Thursday.

June 25th @ Words by Webb
Read a review of No Ordinary Thursday at Words by Webb.

June 28th @ What Is this Book About
Stop by for a spotlight on a new book for a new month: No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop 
Judge.

June 30th @ Choices
Anoop Judges gives readers a peek at her writing life with today's guest post.

July 2nd @ Boys' Mom Reads
Karen shares her review of No Ordinary Thursday, a novel of love, friendship and family.
 
July 3rd @ The Faerie Review
Want to enjoy the July 4th holiday with a great book? The Faerie Review is spotlighting No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop Judge.

July 5th @ StoreyBook Reviews
Anoop Judge shares her thoughts on Crafting Dialogue: How Can You Best Give Voice to Your Characters?

July 9th @ Word Magic
Fiona welcomes novelist Anoop Judge sharing a few things you didn't know about her.

July 11th @ Knotty Needle
Read a review of No Ordinary Thursday, a novel about family and friendship.

July 12th @  Author Anthony Avina
Pop by the blog of Author Anthony Avina for a guest post about what inspires Anoop Judge.

July 17th @ Chapter Break
Ready to head for the hammock (or your favorite reading spot) with an engrossing summer read? Learn more about No Ordinary Thursday and author Anoop Judge.

July 20th @ Seaside Book Nook
Jilleen shares her thoughts on No Ordinary Thursday and a guest post on first memories from the author Anoop Judge.

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

Enter to win a print copy of No Ordinary Thursday by Anoop Judge! Fill out the Rafflecopter form below for a chance to win. The giveaway ends June 30 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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Tales From a Rogue Ranger by Rosanne S. McHenry: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, April 08, 2024

 

Tales from a Rogue Ranger by Rosanne S. McHenry
We're excited to announce the blog tour for Tales of a Rogue Ranger by Rosanne McHenry. This book—which is equal parts outdoor adventure, danger, humor and overcoming obstacles—is a perfect match for outdoors lovers, women and families. The book is a great vacation read or escape from your everyday life.

“From drug busts and drunken brawls to teen romance on display, from an attack goose to a pot-bellied pig on the loose, Rosanne S. McHenry regales her readers with madcap adventures as a California State Park Ranger working in California’s American River Canyon.”

—Barbara J. Moritsch. Ecologist and Author of Wolf Time and The Soul of Yosemite, Finding, Defending, and Saving the Valley's Sacred Wild Nature

“Rosanne tells it like it is, with humor and wonderful details of the pains and joys of working as a California State Park Ranger.  Fantastic park stories of people and Mother Nature are featured inside this fascinating peek at the world of a park ranger.  Funny, intriguing, and a really good read!” 

—Mike Lynch, retired California State Park Ranger and Historian. Author of Rangers of California State Parks: Over 125 Years of Protection and Service

Before we interview the author, here's a bit more about the book:

Tales From a Rogue Ranger is full of stories that speak to the comedy and tragedy of being a park ranger: a job that is nothing like you might imagine.  Set against the stunning backdrop of California's American River Canyon, this is an engaging and wildly unusual read about the untamed life of a woman ranger.  From a miner riding a mule to a young man lost in the system, these tales show the kaleidoscope of characters a park ranger encounters, giving the reader a fascinating look into a true ranger experience. Readers will laugh out loud, cry tears of sadness, and feel the greatest joy as they revel in this amazing book!  

Publisher: Book Baby
ASIN: B0CWSV7J2G
ISBN-13: 979-8350936056
Print Length: 253 pages

You can purchase a copy of the book on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, and Bookshop.org. Make sure to add it to your Good Reads list.

About the Author, Rosanne McHenry

Rosanne S. McHenry has worked as both a U.S. National Park Ranger and a California State Park Ranger. Her ranger experiences include the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, Mount Rainier National Park, the Auburn State Recreation Area, Folsom Lake, Marshall Gold Discovery State Historic Park, and Death Valley National Park, among others.  

In her latest book, Tales From a Rogue Ranger, McHenry shares her experiences about the rough and tumble life of a patrol ranger near Auburn, California. A park ranger’s job is nothing like you might imagine! Set against the stunning backdrop of California’s American River Canyon, this is an engaging and wildly unusual read about the untamed life of a woman ranger.

McHenry, who first wrote the book Trip Tales: From Family Camping to Life as a Ranger, currently lives and works in Auburn, California, with her husband. The beautiful American River Canyon is adjacent to their home in the Sierra Nevada Foothills.

You can find her online at:


--- Interview by Jodi M. Webb

WOW: Congratulations on the release of your second book, Tales From a Rogue Ranger.
You spent decades as a ranger. How did you narrow down which stories you were going to share?

Rosanne: These are my favorite tales, the ones that are the most intrepid and unusual, the craziest, wildest and most engaging stories that will grab readers’ attention and make them amazed to learn about the kinds of challenges a park ranger faces. Most of the stories are about my own adventures as a ranger, but a few of them are about my husband, Vern, whom I worked with, and who had some pretty amazing, hilarious, and heartwarming tales of his own. 

All of the stories are true, as outlandish as many of them may sound. Reading these tales now as I write them, I’m amazed myself.

WOW: Your book includes stories that run the gamut from sad to funny to thrilling. Do you enjoy writing one type of story?

Rosanne: That’s a tough question to answer because I enjoy telling all of these stories. I think my favorite ones in this book are about being the Whitewater Rafting Program Manager at the Auburn State Recreation Area, on the North and Middle Forks of the American River. This job was hugely challenging, since it was my responsibility to regulate the 45 different whitewater rafting companies on the river. The parts of the job I enjoyed the most involved being on the river to see what was going on, and to ensure that people were being safe. Some of what I saw was hair-raising, like overloaded rafts, people falling out of boats with no lifejackets or helmets on, transport buses with no brakes, and more. It was my job to correct these problems.

There were always conflicts between miners, rafters, kayakers, day-hikers, campers, picnickers, equestrians, and the occasional mountain lion or bear. How do you manage all those conflicting uses? Everyone goes outdoors with different expectations. So it was very rewarding when I was able to work with the different user groups to come up with solutions. 

WOW: Although you portray most of the people in your book in a positive light, did you ever worry that people would not like being in your book or that they would claim you remembered an event incorrectly?

Rosanne: Great question! I asked my former co-workers to review the book for just this reason. When you work that closely with other park rangers and staff you get to know them like family. We patrolled together, trained together, shared confidences, and sometimes endured tragedy together. It was a brotherhood. I don’t think any of the former staff I worked with will be surprised to read these stories. They all have equally adventurous tales of their own.

WOW: What is one thing you hope that readers will remember after reading Tales From a Rogue Ranger?

Rosanne: I hope the book will give readers a true appreciation of nature and the importance of protecting our parklands. 

I also hope readers will also realize the myriad challenges facing park rangers. As they read the stories people will laugh at the antics of the characters, but they’ll also feel amazed at the challenges rangers endure. We put our lives on the line every single day. The dangers we face are very real. The job isn’t easy, but it is immensely rewarding. I can’t think of any other career which offers that kind of freedom and autonomy.

WOW: Your book shares that challenges of being a ranger; what are the challenges of being a writer?

Rosanne: The most difficult for me is promoting the book. Like most writers, I just want to write, and not have to think about how to compete with 80 million other books out there. It’s not easy to market a new book. I recall something my editor told me, and I didn’t really understand what she meant until I wrote my own book: “The book is finished; now the real job begins!” This is so true. Outreach and marketing are an ongoing process requiring perseverance and creativity.

WOW: Did you learn anything while writing your first book that made you do things differently for Tales From a Rogue Ranger? 

Rosanne: I realized that it’s critical to promote the book as soon as it is being released. This is why the blog tour is an important element of that outreach. Also, my first book was only released on Amazon and Ingram in paperback and Kindle. This time I went with a different publisher that does marketing outreach to all the major book platforms.

Another key thing I learned is to minimize the front and back pages. I gave a brief introduction and prologue to help put the stories into context. But from the beginning, the reader is dropped right into the midst of eye-popping activity. Readers get impatient if they have to slog through too many unnecessary pages, especially if they are looking at a sample online. It’s important to grab the readers’ attention immediately and get to the story. Open up the first chapter with a bang and keep things moving throughout. No boring reminiscing or overly-descriptive scene-setting. Give the reader enough to set the stage, but don’t drown them with excessive detail. If I’m reading a book and have to review the ‘history of the world’ before I can hope to get to the first scene, they’ve lost me.

WOW: Let's forget about the tough parts of being a writer, what's the most fun?

Rosanne: The most rewarding thing about being an author is when someone tells me they felt like they’d been there, right inside the stories! When my readers tell me they felt like they experienced, first hand, the adventures I describe, that for me is the most rewarding thing in the world.

I really love it when a child reads the stories and turns to their parents to tell them, in an excited voice, about how much they love the book. I’ve read some of these stories to my six-year old grandson and have him laughing out loud.

WOW: I think you definitely succeeded in dropping readers right into the action! So much so, that now I'm thinking about summer vacation at a national park. Which national or state parks are on your wish list?

Rosanne: I hope to go to Denali, Badlands, Carlsbad Caverns, Rocky Mountain National Park, Dinosaur National Monument and so many more. I want to return to Yellowstone again because that was so varied and spectacular. I love the Colorado Plateau country of Arizona and Utah the most, and especially love Grand Staircase/Escalante.

WOW: What are you working on now?

Rosanne: At the moment I’m busy launching Tales From a Rogue Ranger, but afterward, I plan to begin writing Travels With Gus, a story about our cantankerous but lovable old motorhome we named ‘Gus’. Born in 1977, Gus was over thirteen years old he we acquired him in 1992. By then he had already traveled all over the West, including Alaska. Gus was a standard shift, four-speed mini pickup with no power steering, so navigating him up and down winding country roads was hard work. 

Gus was tiny, so the four of us (me, my husband and our two kids) had to share two small bunk beds and sit close together around the makeshift dining table, but we loved the freedom of the open road and having our own little camping rig. He was so small he could fit into any parking space anywhere. We drove him all over California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Colorado, visiting stunning national parks and exploring backroads no one had ever heard of!

We had amazing times in Gus, ranging from mishaps to marvelous adventures. Sometimes he’d just quit running and we’d be stranded in a little backwater town, waiting for an obscure mechanical part to come in so we could get him going again. Other times his engine would screech at us as we tried to nudge him up a steep hill. Sometimes he couldn’t quite make it, and we’d have to roll back downhill and make another run. He sounded like a grumpy old man, but this was his charm. We especially loved taking him to the beach where we could hear the waves crashing outside.

WOW: Growing up, my family spent summer camping and we had plenty of crazy mishaps. I look forward to hearing about your adventures with Gus.

Tales from a Rogue Ranger by Rosanne S. McHenry Blog Tour

--- Blog Tour Calendar

April 8th @ The Muffin
Join us at WOW as we celebrate the launch of Rosanne McHenry’s book Tales from a  Rogue Ranger. Read an interview with the author and enter for a chance to win a copy of the book.

April 9th @ What Is That Book About
Get the 411 on Tales From a Rogue Ranger, the story of life as a ranger by Rosanne S. McHenry in today's book spotlight.

April 10th @ Fancy That!
Summer's right around the corner! Get ready with Advice for a Road Trip to a National Park, a guest post by author Rosanne S. McHenry.

April 11th @ Words by Webb
Looking for a different kids of vacation read? Read a review of  Rosanne McHenry's Tales From a Rogue Ranger.

April 12th @ Sara Trimble
Read of review of Rosanne McHenry's Tales From a Rogue Ranger today.

April 15 @ A Storybook World
The spotlight is on Tales From a Rogue Ranger, a book about Rosanne McHenry's adventures as a park ranger.

April 18th @ Word Magic: All About Books
Rosanne S. McHenry, author of Tales From a Rogue Ranger learned a lot during her days as a ranger. Today she shares How NOT to Get Bitten by a Gigantic Rattlesnake.

April 19th @ Pages and Paws
Stop by for a review of Rosanne S. McHenry's book Tales From a Rogue Ranger by Kristine and her canine reviewing partner Kimber.

April 20th @ The Shaggy Shepherd
Join Isabelle at The Shaggy Shepherd for a guest post about the Best National Parks for Families by Rosanne S. McHenry,  author of Tales From a Rogue Ranger.

April 22nd @ Beverly Baird
Learn Beverley's thoughts about of Rosanne S. McHenry's latest book Tales From a Rogue Ranger.

April 23rd @ Chapter Break
Stop by for an interview with Rosanne McHenry, author of Tales From a Rogue Ranger.

April 24th @ Choices
Rosanne McHenry, author of Tales From a Rogue Ranger, tells us how she learned to Succeed at a Job You Never Wanted

April 26th @ Beverly Baird
Stop by Beverley Baird's blog for a guest post by author Rosanne S. McHenry about how to choose which life stories "make the cut" in your memoir.

April 26th @ The Faerie Review
The Faerie Review is spotlighting Tales From a Rogue Ranger by Rosanne S. McHenry.

April 27th @ Pages and Paws
Rosanne S. McHenry, author of Tales From a Rogue Ranger, shares why being a ranger is Not Just a Walk in The Woods by sharing some animal rescues.

April 30th @ World of My Imagination
Read Nicole's review of Tales From a Rogue Ranger by Rosanne S. McHenry.

May 2nd @ Sara Trimble
Stop by Sara Trimble's blog for a guest post on how to choose a book cover from Rosanne McHenry, author of Tales From a Rogue Ranger.

May 9th @ Knotty Needle
Judy shares her thoughts on Rosanne McHenry's latest book: Tales From a Rogue Ranger.

May 11th @ Boys' Mom Reads!
Find out what a Boys' Mom thinks of Tales From a Rogue Ranger by Rosanne McHenry.

May 12th @ Jill Sheet's Blog
Learn more about the author of Tales From a Rogue Ranger with an interview of Rosanne McHenry.


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

Enter to win a copy of Tales from a Rogue Ranger by Rosanne McHenry. Fill out the Rafflecopter form for a chance to win. The giveaway ends April 21st at 11:59 pm CT. We will choose a winner the next day and announce in the widget and also follow up via email. Good luck!


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