Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Hello my dear! I hope all is well with you! I am finishing a few projects for this blog and for WOW! this year in addition to making music, doing my own writing, and raising adorable (not so little) children. So, beginning Monday, December 23rd and continuing through Thursday, January 2nd, if you email us or stop by the blog you may notice changes or be suprised by the lack of response. All of this is necessary for the positive changes coming in 2025. If you have an emergency of some sort, you can reach me by currier pigeon or smoke signals - actually, I jest because I can't imagine what sort of emergency you might have. If you're looking for a recipe and can't make it through the holidays without it, you could reach out on FB and I'll do my best to help you. I sincerely hope you have a fun and peaceful time these next two weeks and can’t wait to get back in the swing of things after the new year. May your days be filled with sunshine and happiness now and always! xoxox ~Crystal

Another WOW! Women on Writing Book Blog Tour Invitation - Side Hustle and Flow by Cliff Beach

 Hey everyone!

It's hard to believe we are almost coming to the holiday season. Hope to get in shape in the new year? I'm excited to invite you to an audiobook tour of the book, "Side Hustle & Flow: Shape Up!" by Cliff Beach. This audiobook is perfect if you need extra inspiration and guidance for getting into shape this year. The tour starts Jan 20th and ends on Feb 23rd.

Here's more about the book:

"Side Hustle & Flow: Shape Up!" is more than just a fitness guide; it’s a call to action for a healthier, happier you. Cliff Beach’s practical advice and motivational style will inspire you to take control of your health and transform your life. Join Cliff on this transformative journey and take the first step towards a fitter, happier you today!

Read more here: https://www.amazon.com/Side-Hustle-Flow-Shape-Up/dp/B0DKFZLY8T

The blog tour starts on January 20 and lasts through February 23. Audiobooks are available for all interested and you'll get a workbook along with it. The audiobook is available on a private Youtube video you can access. If you need an alternative option, I'm happy to work with you on that. You can also share a guest post by the author, interview the author or spotlight the book.

Sign up here:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfM7OxYik8C7ytU4Z_uVhGsAJptu3oTWca6X0gFQvHg5Gr-ng/viewform

Or email Nicole, the blog tour manager with the following information (npyles86@gmail.com) :

Your name:
Email:

Your blog link:
Your participation option: review the book, interview the author, share a guest post, or spotlight the book. Select one or more:

If reviewing the book, is the Youtube video fine?

If not a YouTube video, what option are you open to?

What dates work for you in the tour (starts January 20 through February 23)

If a guest post, choose from topics below:

Guest post topics:

Self-Help
Motivation
Writing Memoir
Writing Non-Fiction
Self-Publishing
Traditional Publishing
Weight-Loss Transformation
Creativity
Art & Commerce
Grit/Hustle Culture

WOW! Women on Writing Book Blog Tour - Guest Post - by Kathie Girgio author of "Don't Let Me Keep You"

 I am excited to welcome Kathie Giorgio as part of the...

WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR

of

Don’t Let Me Keep You

 Let's begin with Kathie's guest post titled

How To Write The Hard Stuff

 

 

“You say what you want to say when you don't care who's listening.”

― Allen Ginsberg

 

When you ask writers why they write what they write, you will get as many answers as there are to the question, “What is the meaning of life?” We writers write for every reason imaginable, and some of us change those reasons with every project, while others gnaw at the same bone our whole life through.

And then there are writers like me, who basically just can’t keep our mouths shut.

I’ve been called a “dark” writer, a “disturbing” (thank goodness not “disturbed”) writer, a “fearless” writer, an “honest” writer. Of them all, I like “honest” best. I tend to write about the things that people have very strong feelings about – and consequently, if they see something that defies that, they get angry.

I’ve written about abuse and infidelity, rape, and especially the treatment of women involved in all of these. In my nonfiction, I wrote about being assaulted by a man in a Make America Great Again hat, a few days after Trump’s inauguration. More recently, I’ve written about suicide, not about the people left behind, but about how those who choose to end their own lives feel, and how they are treated.

There have been times I’ve wished I could be a “light” writer, and some of my favorite writers are exactly that. But I find that what most often makes me run for my computer is something that twists my heart and my psyche, and I write about it in order to find out more, to dig deeper, especially into the “whys”, and to learn, which is what I hope my readers do too. And ultimately, I write to help.

There are some drawbacks to this, of course. There are things you have to learn to deal with, if you’re going to do this kind of writing. First, look at how I am described as a writer, that I just listed above. Hearing yourself called dark and disturbing is…disturbing. You may question why you write such things, why you’re interested in them, and I’ve certainly done a lot of that.

And sometimes, it’s right in your face. I was teaching once at a writing conference, and I happened to be close by the book-selling table when I saw a woman pick up my novel, Rise From The River (The Main Street Rag Publishing Company, 2015). This book is about a young single mother who is raped, and it covers the issue of 39 of our states giving the rapist and his family more rights than the victim. (You’ll have to read the book to see what I mean by that.) Someone standing next to the woman who was looking at my book said, “Oh, you should get that. I’ve read it, and it’s amazing!” The woman put the book back down. “No,” she said. “It’s just too dark.” And she wiped her hand on her jeans like she’d been holding something dirty.

That hurt. And these things will hurt. I write, and other controversial writers write, with a sense of sincerely wanting to shed light on something, usually something that needs to be changed. So to be treated as part of the problem, and not part of the answer, can be difficult. So what do you do?

You do your best to not remember the woman who put your book down, and remember all those that picked it up.

That’s a universal problem, it seems, across the board of writers. From the writers I know, to the writers I teach, to myself, it is somehow much easier to remember the rejections and insults than it is to remember the acceptances and praise. You might have to print out some of these good comments and keep them somewhere where you can readily see them.

And you always need to remember your motivation. You don’t write to hurt; you write to help, and to try to make the hurt go away.

Another issue that arises when you write about controversial issues is, in a sense, battle fatigue. Writers sink into their characters. We are immersed in them. When we’re not writing, the characters follow us around and tap us often on the back, reminding us there’s a story to be told. But when you have a “dark” story to tell, it’s very possible to start feeling pretty dark yourself.

The solution? Take a break. Write something else entirely different. Don’t write at all. Spend a week reading nothing but comic strips. Walk in the sun. Hug your favorite person. Let them hug you.

And then remind yourself that you’re a good person and get back to it.

If you’re writing about controversial issues, you’re doing so because you care. Because you want to make a difference, because you want to help. You want change. And the most important thing about writing on these topics is to keep doing it. To keep reminding yourself of your motivation. You aren’t writing for shock value (some writers are), you aren’t writing for attention (some writers are), and you aren’t writing to hurt someone (some writers are). The most important thing to do when writing about controversial issues is to be true to yourself. Remember who you are and why you’re writing.

And then just keep going.

 

A Bit About the Book:

Motherhood is a symphony, from the first movement, through crescendo after crescendo, to the finale.

 

 Hildy Halverson, a genius in math and science, is pushed by her parents to step into a male-dominated field and change the world for women. But Hildy, enamored of the scientific force of the human body, and her own body’s ability to create and sustain life, decides to go against contemporary expectations. She marries young and raises a houseful of kids.

 

 Hildy wants her children to choose their own life paths. As each child is born, she tells them, “You can be whatever you want to be, and whatever you want to be will be great.” Despite her efforts to not influence her children, Hildy does so, often in unexpected ways. Each child is introduced in that first private moment between Hildy and her new baby. This is followed by a chapter revealing that child’s life, years later. Woven throughout is an underlying grief over the death of the sixth baby soon after birth. That grief is more pervasive than any of them expect.

 

 In this ambitious novel, the struggles and joys, fatigue and exhilaration of motherhood, are captured in the full panorama of family life. Hildy lovingly raises her children, then lets them go, finding herself along the way.

 

Publisher: Black Rose Publishing (October 3, 2024)

Print length:  230 pages

Reviews

Don’t Let Me Keep You is a lyrical meditation on motherhood seven times over, gestating, unfurling with rhythmic, poignant prose. Over decades we see each of the Halversons through the eyes of the others, bringing into sharp focus how differently each member can experience the same family. The way children protect their mothers, the way mothers remain children themselves, and what a mess we can still make of things despite our best intentions. That we can choose to love each other regardless of who we turn out to be, no matter what.

 –Maggie Ginsberg, author of Still True

 

Don’t Let Me Keep You follows a math prodigy’s unconventional and slightly obsessive journey through motherhood. Giorgio’s dynamic characters and complex emotional bonds turn this family saga into a propulsive page turner wherein motherhood as a career is an empowering choice. At once gritty, heartbreaking, and hopeful, Don’t Let Me Keep You shows the fallibility of the human condition through the haunting eyes of a mother’s love as she struggles with the age-old question, Am I a good mother? 

--Marisa Rae Dondlinger, author of Open and Come And Get Me

 

The thing I love about Kathie Giorgio's books are the surprises. Her books are not like anyone's. They are fresh, unique, and wonderful. Don't Let Me Keep You is all that and more. This is a story about motherhood, childhood and family. Belonging, expectations, and the enduring power of love. Of course, because this is Kathie's novel, there is poetry, and vignettes. A cast of characters worth knowing. And many opportunities to reflect on our lives as parents and children. I highly recommend Don't Let Me Keep You.

--Karen E. Osborne, Author of True Grace and Reckonings

 

 With delightful finesse, author Kathie Giorgio weaves a flawless web of family love that weathers plenty of storms, but still comes out shimmering.

--Mary Ann Noe, author of Water the Color of Slate

 

Purchase a copy of Don’t Let Me Keep You on

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Let-Me-Keep-You/dp/1685134882

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-let-me-keep-you-kathie-giorgio/1145428066

Black Rose Publishing: https://www.blackrosewriting.com/womens/p/dontletmekeepyou

 

You can also add this to your GoodReads reading list:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/211567748-don-t-let-me-keep-you

 

About the Author

Kathie Giorgio is the author of a total of fifteen books: eight novels, two story collections, an essay collection, and four poetry collections. She’s been nominated for the Pushcart Prize in fiction and poetry and awarded the Outstanding Achievement Award from the Wisconsin Library Association, the Silver Pen Award for Literary Excellence, the Pencraft Award for Literary Excellence, and the Eric Hoffer Award In Fiction. Her poem “Light” won runner-up in the 2021 Rosebud Magazine Poetry Prize, and her work has also been incorporated into many visual art and musical events.  Kathie is the director and founder of AllWriters’ Workplace & Workshop LLC, an international creative writing studio.

 

She lives with her husband, mystery writer Michael Giorgio, and their daughter Olivia, in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Three of her adult children, Christopher, Andy, and Olivia, live close by, along with her solo granddaughter, Maya Mae. One adult child has wandered off to Louisiana and lives among the mathematicians and alligators.

You can follow the author at:

Website: http://www.kathiegiorgio.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kathiegiorgioauthor/

X/Twitter: @KathieGiorgio

Instagram: @kathiegio1

 

Blog Tour Calendar

October 21st @ The Muffin

Join us as we celebrate the launch of Kathie Giorgio's novel Don't Let Me Keep You. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of her book.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

 

October 22nd @ Tracey Lampley

Kathie Giorgio reveals how she had 15 books published with traditional publishers in 14 years, including her latest Don't Let Me Keep You.

https://www.traceylampley.com/guest-author-interviews

 

October 24th @ What Is This Book About

Get a peek inside Don't Let Me Keep You with today's excerpt.

www.whatisthatbookabout.com

 

October 25th @ The Frugalista Mom

Rochie will be reviewing Kathie Giorgio's latest novel Don't Let Me Keep You.

https://thefrugalistamom.org/

 

October 26th @  A Wonderful World of Books

Author Kathie Giorgio writes about controversial books and the hurdles they face in today's post: You've Been Banned. Now What?

https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/

 

October 29th @ Michelle Cornish

Learn what Michelle thinks about Kathie Giorgio's latest novel: Don't Let Me Keep You.

https://michellecornishauthor.com/blog/book-reviews

 

October 30th @ Create Write Now!

Is Writer's Block real? Learn what author Kathie Giorgio has to say today on CreateWriteNow!

https://www.createwritenow.com/journal-writing-blog

 

October 31st @ The Frugalista Mom

In a complicated world, author Kathie Giorgio shares how she takes on controversial topics in her writing.

https://thefrugalistamom.org/

 

November 1st @ Michelle Cornish

Author Kathie Giorgio shares the challenges of writing through illness and crisis.

https://www.michellecornish.com/blog

 

November 4th @ A Story Book World

What's on your TBR list for November? Learn more about Kathie Giorgio's latest novel Don't Let Me Keep You.

https://www.astorybookworld.com/

 

November 5th @ Chapter Break

Kathie Giorgio writes about the precarious balancing act of writing and raising children.

https://chapterbreak.net

 

November 6th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews

Don't miss today's interview with novelist Kathie Giorgio.

https://lisahaselton.com/

 

November 7th @ Knotty Needle

Still deciding on your November read? Check out today's review of Don't Let Me Keep You by Kathie Giorgio.

http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com

 

November 8th @ Word Magic

Author Kathie Giorgio shares her thoughts on Writing as a Business.

https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com

 

November 12th @ The Faerie Review

The spotlight is on Kathie Giorgio's latest novel, Don't Let Me Keep You.

https://www.thefaeriereview.com

 

November 13th @ Words by Webb

Jodi is reviewing Don't Let Me Keep You by Kathie Giorgio.

https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog

 

November 14th @ Some Thoughts - Everything Creativity

In today's guest post, learn if author Kathie Giorgio is Plotter, Pantser or Both?

https://www.kaeceymccormick.com/blog

 

November 15th @ Choices

Author Kathie Giorgio writes about Depression: Putting One Foot in Front of the Other.

http://madelinesharples.com

 

November 19th @ StoreyBook Reviews

Looking for a good book for the Thanksgiving holiday? Leslie is reviewing Don't Let Me Keep You by Kathie Giorgio.

https://www.storeybookreviews.com

Little Bits of Beauty

Good Morning! It's been awhile - and I just increased my screen size to 120% so remind me to make an eye Doctor appointment sometime soon. My aging eyes are not the topic of today's article however - I just thought I'd say it out loud so I don't forget - because my memory seems to be going the same direction as my eyesight. Focus Crystal (pun intended)! 

Here I sit staring at the sun shining on Lake Michigan; I am undoubtably blessed beyond measure. That also is not the topic of today's article. 

Today I want to tell you about my deep thoughts while mowing the lawn. Stick with me - it's better than it sounds initially. 

 A few years ago my friend Jim insisted we needed a zero turn mower at the church. I teased him that he had better stick around to drive it because I was the only other person who knew how and I was already the organist, janitor, and administrator at the church. Unfortunately, Jim is in Heaven now - well, I mean it's fortunate for him, unfortunate for me. I now mow the lawn at church. Don't tell anyone, I secretly love this job. I'm not a huge fan of the getting dirty part, but I love the sun on my shoulders, the music in my earbuds, and the alone time. I also love the way the lawn looks when I'm done - it's like a magic carpet! 

This past Thursday as I was mowing I drove past the North side of the building and it was nothing special. I stopped for a moment and just stared. I've been attending this church for 42 years. This is where I've laughed and cried and when I'm inside, one of my favorite "jobs" is to go into the Sanctuary and turn on the lights and prepare for Divine Service. The sun streams through the stained glass windows and it creates so much beauty I'm often overcome with emotions. Yet, I guess I've never looked at the exterior wall. The stained glass actually appears to be nothing special. Even from a few feet away it's more of a muddy brown/grey and you can't make out the individual pieces or the art that it is. 

 I made a few more passes with the mower (the entire job takes six hours alone) and the entire time I was thinking about those stained glass windows. Little fragments, joined together to form something that is only beautiful when the sun shines through it. Isn't that what we are too? Small fragments of varying size and color; life's experiences (good and bad) held together by something stronger than those individual moments. An artform that isn't fully experienced outwardly, but once you see the inside you realize the true beauty? When the SON shines through us we are fully realized and recognized? 

Most days I feel pretty muddy grey/brown on the outside, don't you? The imperfections. The mistakes...the many mistakes... The things I could have done better or the things I should have done and didn't or didn't do and should have. A compilation of good days, bad days, long nights, tears, joys, all bound together to create something that is only beautiful to those who are willing to step inside. 

I am going to leave you with those thoughts today and as always, I'd love to hear from you - so please leave a comment or reach out. I'd also like to invite you to visit me at Church the next time you find yourself in Two Rivers, Wisconsin. I'd love for you to see the beauty shown in this picture and experience the beauty of everything I love at Good Shepherd. We offer a Divine Service Wednesdays at 6:30pm and Sundays at 9:15am and you can find us online too on our youtube channel: https://youtube.com/@goodshepherdlutheranlcms?si=ojG_RpdHha9EN3hb

Now for today's questions:

*what do you look at differently as an adult that you maybe didn't appreciate in your youth?

*what is your favorite part of church?

*what do you do when you feel broken to help you shine again?

In case no one has told you yet today - THE WORLD IS A BETTER PLACE BECAUSE YOU ARE IN IT!

xoxox

Love,

Crystal

5 Stars for Roslyn Cohn's "Who Saved Who" - review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

 

Thanks to WOW! for another chance to participate in an excellent book blog tour. 

5 Stars for Roslyn Cohn's "Who Saved Who" - review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn is such a touching book. If you've never had a pet, you'll still love everything about the heart and soul of Who Saved Who. This book delves into the importance of relationships and love (specifically with our furry friends). Cohn does a most beautiful job taking thoughts and emotions and getting them on paper and touching the hearts of readers. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has experienced LOVE, longs for LOVE, or knows anything about LOVE. Well written and absolutely a joy to read! 

Here's more about her book:

Growing up in beautiful Bohemian 1970s Marin County, the daughter of a funny pawnbroker-jeweler with vision who knew the streets and a warm, independent Mom turned Naturalist-Animal Rights Activist, Roz is an award-winning actress who spent 20 years in NYC, where she worked on stages from the size of a postage stamp to Broadway. 

Roz begins Who Saved Who with her unique parents and upbringing which is so crucial in understanding both her and her journey during 2022. While living in a post-Pandemic world, her career on hold and with politics and the environment in a persistent state of toxic tension, there was little left of life to be desired, so believed Marin County raised and NYC ripened Roz. Told through words, pictures, and video, “Who Saved Who” is an honest, sometimes funny, many times moving, and ultimately joyous journey of 2022 with a woman who was lost. With messages from the Other Side and the words that her Mother said to her years ago, “We save dogs, Roz, that’s what we do,” Roz was able to climb out of deep sadness and found a purpose ignited she didn’t know was flickering inside.

In “Who Saved Who,” readers may recognize their own journey in loving dogs – perhaps heal themselves from the loss of their own beloved furry family member – and best of all, readers may find their hearts open to saving their next canine companion. “Who Saved Who” does more than warm the heart, it can help heal the spirit. It’s an easy and fulfilling read – paws down.

ISBN-13: 979-8865682363

ASIN: B0CNWZ3LYW

Print Length: 157 pages

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

About the Author, Roslyn Cohn

Roslyn Cohn is an actress who has worked from stages the size of a postage stamp to Broadway with the likes of Tony Randall, Jack Klugman, Jerry Stiller, Julie Hagerty, and Ellen Greene as well as appeared in TV, film, and commercials. Roz has won awards in Intimate Theatre (known as 99 Seat) in Los Angeles; awards for her Short “Essential Tremors” about her neurological disorder; and in 2013, with Jake Anthony and Joshua Finkel, co-wrote and stars in the groundbreaking, Broadway World Award-nominated “diffiCult to leave,” about her 23 years in the Cult of Scientology. The entire show lives on her YouTube channel: RoslynCohn. You can visit her at: www.RoslynCohn.com. #WhoSavedWho #ShelterDogsRock #AdoptDontShop

You can find her online at:

Her Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/rozcohn

Website: www.RoslynCohn.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roslyncohn/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rozcohn

--- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: Congrats on your book Who Saved Who! What inspired you to write this book? 

Roslyn: I use Facebook (FB) as a journal in many ways. People had been following my journey of buying this house out of dire necessity for Fluke and Diva. I don't want to give too much away in the book, but when Fluke became suddenly ill, I had a legion of people already plugged into when he'd gone through his knee surgery. It was like a mini-series, reading about our lives together - Fluke, Diva, and the Human who lives with them. As my journey took a course no crystal ball could envision, I was gaining more and more readers on FB. By the time this miraculous thing happened, literally hundreds were watching the birth of the pups. It was my FB friends who urged me to write the book as each entry had them laughing and crying in my storytelling. It was those FB friends who inspired me for I knew my story would help those grieving the loss of their beloved pets and also give awareness of the gifts shelter dogs give us. My Mom always said I was a writer along with being an actress and I trusted her words.

WOW: I love that your personal sharing on Facebook led you to creating this memoir. You captured many profound emotions so well in this memoir. What was your writing process like to capture these feelings in such a great way? 

Roslyn: When the pups were about 4 weeks old I was able to move them into the living room. I would pour myself a martini, and for the next two hours, I would write starting from the time when I adopted Maui & Kona. I knew that I had three weeks to get this part of the journey written and the story literally poured out of me. The original title of the book was "Who Saved Who or The Book That Wrote Itself" because that is what happened. The story literally poured out of me in laughter and tears. When the pups were transferred to their final foster, I started writing about all the dogs in my life but then felt it would be too long of a read. I wanted this book to move people and be an easy read. My family is very interesting and knew I had to start there, quickly catch people up w/all the shelter dogs in my life and then focus on 2022, a year where I no longer wanted to be alive. My shelter dogs saved me. Fluke and Diva got me through the pandemic where I lost all traction in my acting career, didn't work for 3 1/2 years due to the fear of getting Covid, and then I started dealing with the worst loss of my life in losing Fluke so suddenly. When Diva crossed over I had been working with the animal communicator, Pam, and it was Fluke who pulled me from the brink and then I got Maui and Kona....and the miracle happened. A woman who was lost was suddenly charged with beautiful, innocent lives who would have been snuffed out had I not rescued Maui and Kona. It's a profound journey and lesson I hope all readers benefit from.

WOW: What an incredible experience. Why did you decide to independently publish? 

Roslyn: I didn't want to waste any time getting it out there to help others in grief and all the dogs in shelters. While this book is about my dogs, I feel cats fall into this predicament as well. I have no real stats a literary agent would be interested in and my only purpose for publishing it was to inspire others to adopt their next furry family member from a shelter.

WOW: I can understand that. I truly believe this is a must-read book for anyone who loves their pets. What do you hope people walk away feeling after finishing your book? 

Roslyn: Aw, you're making me well up because this is why I wrote the book - thank you. I wanted to die. I didn't know if I would act again and didn't feel I had a worthwhile purpose here any longer. I sense there are others who went through deep tragedy after the Pandemic and could relate. Our animals pulled us through. I want people to experience what happened to me and go through their own loving memories of the dogs in their lives. I want them to laugh, to cry, to go out and adopt a shelter dog....and if they can't have one for whatever reason, the shelters are in dire need of volunteers and that is a very noble endeavor. You're still giving to these amazing beings!

"I want people to experience what happened to me and go through their own loving memories of the dogs in their lives. I want them to laugh, to cry, to go out and adopt a shelter dog. And if they can't have one for whatever reason, the shelters are in dire need of volunteers and that is a very noble endeavor."

WOW: I truly hope people do! You are an actor by trade. Did your acting experiences inform your writing in any way? If so, how? 

Roslyn: Actors are storytellers. If you are an actor, you are used to all different kinds of writers and knowing how to tell the arc of a story. It was super helpful to be a storyteller who gives voice to a writer's words. All I wanted was to be authentic and move people in their hearts and to action in saving these creatures.

WOW: That's so cool. Tell me about the non-profit you are donating to through the publication of this book. 

Roslyn: I am donating to two. Hank's Legacy Foundation enabled me to care for Maui's pups, and there is no way I could have done this without Shelby Erashidy, whose foundation I am also giving funds to East Valley Animal Shelter, where I got Fluke, Maui, and Kona...and inadvertently 8 pup pups. 500 dogs are euthanized DAILY in the LA Animal Services world. This is a problem we Humans can fix through education, spaying, and neutering. I want to make a dent in this terrible, needless issue. If we could end backyard breeders and puppy mills, spay, neuter, and let responsible breeders do their job, we wouldn't have the need for shelters. We can fix this!!! I know I say I am giving 10% of the proceeds to Hank's Legacy, but the truth is that I've given probably 200% to both Hank's Legacy Foundation and East Valley Animal Shelter. Regardless of how the book sells, I will continue to do so. It would be so helpful if people would buy the book, though, as it does help...and hopefully, it will spur people to donate to their local shelters as well.

WOW: You are making such a difference! What are you working on now that you can tell us about? 

Roslyn: After the puppies left I did The Laramie Project in Los Angeles. It's a play about how the city of Laramie deals with the tragic murder of Matthew Shepard. It's a sacred play and we've won two Los Angeles Awards as Best Ensemble. Then I shot a short that's getting ready to be released by a filmmaker who saw Laramie (work begets work) and was in A Very Die Hard Christmas Musical which is being given new life next December in two very exciting venues, one being in another Country, which I cannot say too much more about....but it would be an experience of a lifetime! And I continue to audition for Film/TV/Theatre/Commercials/Voiceover...Ah, the life of a thespian)) It's my dogs who give me the Greatest Joy!!! #ShelterDogsRock #AdoptDontShop #WhoSavedWho

WOW: I can't wait to see what you come up with next! Thank you again for joining us.

---- Blog Tour Calendar

April 15th @ The Muffin

Join us at The Muffin as we celebrate the launch of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn. Stop by and read an interview with the author and enter for your chance to win a copy of her book.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com

April 16th @ Pages and Paws

Visit Kristine's blog for her review of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn. 

https://pagesandpaws.com/

April 18th @ Sarandipity's Designs

Visit Sara's blog for an interview with the author and a giveaway of an e-book of Who Saved Who.

https://sarandipitys.com/

April 18th @ Words from the Heart

Join Linda for her review of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn.

https://contemplativeed.blogspot.com  

April 20th @ A School Librarian in Action

Join Zarah for her review of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn.

https://lovealibrarian.blogspot.com/

April 22nd @ Word Magic

Join Fiona for a spotlight of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn.

https://fionaingramauthor.blogspot.com/

April 25th @ Knotty Needle

Visit Judy's blog for her review of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn.

http://knottyneedle.blogspot.com/

April 27th @ Chapter Break

Visit Julie's blog for her interview with Roslyn Cohn.

https://chapterbreak.net/

April 29th @ Boys' Mom Reads

Visit Karen's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

https://karensiddall.wordpress.com/

May 1st @ A Storybook World

Join Deirdra for her spotlight of Who Saved Who.

https://www.astorybookworld.com/

May 3rd @ Weaving a Webb

Visit Jodi's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

https://www.jodiwebbwriter.com/blog

May 5th @ A Wonderful World of Books

Visit Joy's blog for a spotlight of Who Saved Who.

https://awonderfulworldofwordsa.blogspot.com/

May 7th @ World of My Imagination

Visit Nicole's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

https://worldofmyimagination.com

May 9th @ Bring on Lemons

Visit Crystal's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

https://bringonlemons.blogspot.com/

May 10th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion

Join Linda for her interview with Roslyn Cohn about her memoir Who Saved Who.

https://bootsshoesandfashion.com/

May 10th @ The Faerie Review

Join Lily for her spotlight of Who Saved Who.

https://www.thefaeriereview.com/

May 11th @ Sara Trimble's blog

Visit Sara's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

https://saratrimble.wordpress.com/

May 13th @ Freeing the Butterfly

Visit Michelle's blog for her interview with the author Roslyn Cohn.

https://freeingthebutterfly.com/

May 15th @ The Mommies Review

Join Glenda for her review of Who Saved Who.

https://www.themommiesreviews.com/

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

Enter to win a copy of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn! Fill out the Rafflecopter form for a chance to win.  The giveaway ends April 28th at 11:59 pm CT. We will choose a winner the next day and announce in the Rafflecopter widget and follow up via email. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

5 Stars for Finding Fran by Nancy Christie - a review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

 

I'm so excited to participate in a WOW! Women on Writing Book Blog Tour - and this is an amazing book - 5 Stars without a doubt! 

5 Star Review by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto

I've been busy at work lately and there's all the busy-ness of having teens, a business, and small children can be overwhelming. I sat down to start reading Finding Fran and I couldn't put it down! This amazing book by Nancy Christie took me away from my reality and helped me laugh and smile. My kids were asking what I was reading on my tablet because I didn't have my normal serious mom face on! I recommend this book for anyone who enjoys leaving their own life for awhile and experiencing things from the perspective of someone much more interesting for awhile!

Here's more about Finding Fran:

Once a best-selling romance novelist, 55-year-old Fran Carter is now dealing with a slow but steady drop in book sales and a major case of writer’s block, complicated by the knowledge that her lover, a professional photographer, has been on the wrong side of the camera (so to speak) with his models. (So much for her author brand, built on the premise that women in their fifties and beyond can still find love and happiness.) Her solution is to spend a week in isolation at a northern California bed-and-breakfast. There she hopes to resolve her professional and personal conflicts, and ultimately create a new and better future for herself by writing a new “story” for the Fran she wants to be!

ISBN-13: 979-8350942248

ASIN: B0CWTNN8ZC 

Print Length: 302 pages

Purchase a copy of Finding Fran on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Bookshop.org. You can also add it to your GoodReads reading list.

Praise About Finding Fran

“I loved the premise of the romance writer floundering in a relationship herself and then finding her way. And I always enjoy reading about the lives of writers, even fictional ones. As a writer myself—and as a woman—I could so relate to Fran’s indecision, lack of confidence and self-doubt as well as be inspired by her pushing ahead despite it all.” ~ Dorothy Rosby, award-winning author and humor writer

“Nancy Christie is an author who has made a career of writing about women’s lives, and as a women’s fiction reader, I’m glad to have discovered her work. Christie’s strength is in her ability to thoroughly insert you into the life of her heroine, Fran. In Finding Fran, you learn about Fran’s floundering writing career and her relationship troubles. Fran is relatable, and I found myself rooting for her to pursue and earn the life she deserves.” ~ Monic Ductan, award-winning author

“With her Midlife Moxie series, author Nancy Christie has tapped into a long-overlooked, yet vital and thriving, world of women in mid-life. Sadly, so many books dealing in romance and achieving life goals only revolve around the younger woman, but Christie has wisely realized that ‘women of a certain age’—like her, like you, like me—have been dealing with heartbreak, pursuing true love, and achieving their wildest dreams from time immemorial. [In] Finding Fran, Christie delves into the shock and heartache of learning a so-called life partner has committed the ultimate betrayal that feels like a death, but leads to beauty, fulfillment, and self-awareness. Christie’s characters are complete studies of humans with all of their messy, imperfect vulnerabilities, who realize they are ultimately in control of their destinies—they just needed a little push.” ~ Jennifer Bowers Bahney, award-winning journalist and author

About the Author, Nancy Christie

Nancy Christie is the award-winning author of eight books—two novels: Reinventing Rita and Finding Fran; three short story collections: Mistletoe Magic and Other Holiday Tales, Traveling Left of Center and Other Stories and Peripheral Visions and Other Stories; two books for writers: Rut-Busting Book for Authors and Rut-Busting Book for Writers; and the inspirational book, The Gifts Of Change. Her short stories and essays have appeared in print and online publications, with several earning contest placement. The host of the Living the Writing Life podcast and the founder of the annual “Midlife Moxie” Day and “Celebrate Short Fiction” Day, Christie teaches writing workshops at conferences, libraries, and schools. She is a member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), the Florida Writers Association (FWA) and the Women’s Fiction Writers Association (WFWA).

You can find her online:

Website: https://www.nancychristie.com/ 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NancyChristieAuthor

X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/NChristie_OH

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancychristie_author

Threads: https://www.threads.net/@nancychristie_author

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nancychristie_author 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/nancy-christie

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Nancy-Christie/author/B001K8GBYK

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1048768.Nancy_Christie

Midlife Moxie Novel Series on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@midlifemoxienovelseries3804 

Books by Nancy Christie on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@NancyChristieAuthor

Living the Writing Life podcast: https://livingthewritinglife.podbean.com/ 

WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING READER REVIEW TOUR OF "What Was Never There" BY Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo’s

 

WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING

READER REVIEW TOUR

 

OF

 

What Was Never There

 

Tour Begins May 3, 2024

 

 

 Book Summary

A mother and daughter lost in the woods must overcome their worst fears to find their way back. A father going through a divorce witnesses a seemingly impossible motorcycle accident, which forces him to question the truth of his own perceptions. A little boy with a terrible secret routinely steals away at night to meet a girl beneath a willow tree—only to discover she has a secret of her own.

What Was Never There is a collection of short stories with the common theme of memory, or rather, the way memory haunts us.

Includes Pushcart Prize nominated stories “We Never Get to Talk Anymore” and “The Dinosaur Graveyard" and the award-winning "Windows," selected for Best Microfiction 2023.

 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CQSTX8WT
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (December 21, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 276 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8866571697

What Was Never There is now available to purchase in print and as an e-book at Amazon.com. Add it to your GoodReads reading listing as well.

 

About the Author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo

Elizabeth Maria Naranjo is the author of The Fourth Wall, The House on Linden Way, and What Was Never There. Her stories and essays have been widely published and nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best American Essays, and Best of the Net, and her short story, “Windows,” was selected for Best Microfiction 2023. She lives in Tempe, Arizona, with her husband and two children.

 

Buy links:

 

Amazon Kindle:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CJWVFTDD/ref=x_gr_bb_amazon?ie=UTF8&tag=x_gr_bb_amazon-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0CJWVFTDD&SubscriptionId=1MGPYB6YW3HWK55XCGG2

 

Amazon Paperback:

https://www.amazon.com/What-Was-Never-There-Stories/dp/B0CQSTX8WT/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

 

Website: https://www.elizabethmarianaranjo.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emarianaranjo

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/199240146-what-was-never-there

Hashtag:  #naranjowhatwasneverthere

Physical copies available in the U.S.  or PDF available for all!

I'd love to have you for this Blog Tour!
Questions? Send me an email: crystaljotto@gmail.com or call/text: 920-645-7529

 

 

If you’ve never participated in this type of tour before – here’s how it works:

·        Read the book

·        Leave a review on at least ONE promotional site (such as Amazon – preferred) and/or Goodreads (required)

·        Be entered to win a $25 gift card

 

Reviews need to be posted by June 3, 2024 and the launch day is May 3, 2024.

 

Thanks for joining us!

 

 

 

-- Launch Date

May 3 @ The Muffin

What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Join us at the WOW blog to celebrate the launch of author Elizabeth Maria Naranjo's  “What Was Never There”.   You can read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

If you’re ready to participate – here’s a link to the google form I need you to fill out:

 

https://forms.gle/NooFgfy6FSNvrNxw6

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Hugs,

~Crystal

 

**OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE SENT TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!

 

 

WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING READER REVIEW TOUR OF "WE BURNED OUR BOATS" BY KAREN JONES GOWEN

 

Karen Jones Gowen’s

 

WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING

READER REVIEW TOUR

 

OF

 

We Burned Our Boats

 

Tour Begins May 6, 2024

 

 

 Book Summary

Bruce and Karen Gowen are facing a retirement that neither one wants. Bruce can't imagine life without employment. Karen wants change, adventure, a chance to spread her wings and fly away after thirty years of raising their large family.

Their opportunity comes in a way they can both support: helping their daughter and son-in-law with a hotel project in Panajachel, Guatemala.

Never ones to do anything half way, the Gowens sell everything, including one of their businesses. What they can't sell, they give away. With their worldly possessions down to two checked bags and two carry-ons each, they fly one way to Guatemala City. Then on to Panajachel, a tourist town on scenic Lake Atitlan, in the southern highlands of Guatemala.

Here they begin their new life, a time filled with incredible experiences, tough challenges, and unexpected adventure in one of the most beautiful settings on earth. A place where the Maya culture permeates the land. A land and people that will transform anyone fortunate enough to encounter the magic of these hills in Guatemala.

 

·         Publisher ‏ : ‎ WiDo Publishing (January 18, 2024)

·         Language ‏ : ‎ English

·         Paperback ‏ : ‎ 306 pages

·         ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1947966685

·         ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1947966680

We Burned Our Boats  is now available to purchase in print and as an e-book at Amazon.com.  Add it to your GoodReads reading listing as well.

 

About the Author Karen Jones Gowen

 

Born and raised in central Illinois, Karen Jones Gowen attended Northern Illinois University in DeKalb and the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana. She transferred to Brigham Young University, where she met her husband Bruce, and there graduated with a degree in English and American Literature.

Karen and Bruce have lived in Utah, Illinois, California and Washington, currently residing in Panajachel, Guatemala. They are the parents of ten children. Not surprisingly, family relationships are a recurring theme in Gowen's writing.

 

 

Hashtag:  #gowenburnedboats

Karen Jones Gowen can be found online:

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Karen-Jones-Gowen/author/B007FQDG8A?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

 

https://karenjonesgowen.com/

 

 
Physical copies available in the U.S.  or PDF available for all!

I'd love to have you for this Blog Tour!
Questions? Send me an email: crystaljotto@gmail.com or call/text: 920-645-7529

 

 

If you’ve never participated in this type of tour before – here’s how it works:

·        Read the book

·        Leave a review on at least ONE promotional site (such as Amazon – preferred) and/or Goodreads (required)

·        Be entered to win a $25 gift card

 

Reviews need to be posted by June 6, 2024 and the launch day is May 6, 2024.

 

Thanks for joining us!

 

 

 

-- Launch Date

May 6 @ The Muffin

What goes better in the morning than a muffin? Join us at the WOW blog to celebrate the launch of author Karen Jones Gowen’s “We Burned Our Boats”.   You can read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book.

https://muffin.wow-womenonwriting.com/

 

 

 

If you’re ready to participate – here’s a link to the google form I need you to fill out:
https://forms.gle/u3eZ5UBhWoj2eJWJ6

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Hugs,

~Crystal

 

**OFFICIAL INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE SENT TO ALL PARTICIPANTS!