Interview with Jennifer Braunfels, Fall 2023 Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Tuesday, April 16, 2024

 

Jennifer is a writer and English teacher from Maine. Her work has appeared in McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, As You Were: The Military Review, the Whiskey Tit Journal, and Free Flash Fiction. Her piece, “Surrender Ridge,” placed in the top ten in the WOW! Women on Writing 2022 Fall Flash Fiction contest and she has also received Honorable Mentions in two other WOW! Women on Writing contests. She is currently in the process of getting her first novel, Waiting, published. You can learn more about her at her website. 

 










----------Interview by Renee Roberson 

WOW: Welcome, Jennifer, and congratulations! My favorite thing about “Well-Kept” is the main character Ben’s voice. How did you first get the idea for this story? 

Jennifer: I was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer almost a year ago, so of course, cancer keeps showing up in my stories. As I suspect most writers do, we write what we know. And I have found that writing about what I’ve been going through has been very cathartic. I’ve written some non-fiction, but I love expressing some of my deepest fears about this disease through fictional characters to see what they’ll do with my fears. 

WOW: I'm so sorry to hear that.  I hope that writing through this diagnosis has been helpful on your healing journey. You’ve had success before having your fiction published, including here in this contest. What is it about writing short stories that appeals to you? 

Jennifer: I like the challenge of telling an entire story in a short amount of words. Then, you have to make every sentence count. I suppose I also like to write short pieces because I’m a high school teacher. Student attention spans get shorter and shorter each year, so I spend a good deal of time reading short stories that might appeal to them. I often find inspiration in other people’s stories, and I model my writing after what would appeal to a broad audience and hold their attention. 

WOW: I get that! I think everyone's attention spans are getting shorter, to be honest. It's fun to experiment with different lengths. How do you find potential markets for your writing? 

Jennifer: I devote a good deal of time to perusing Clifford Garstang’s literary magazine rankings for fiction. It’s fun to dream about one day seeing my name in one of the publications at the top of his list. I also spend a good deal of time reading different literary magazines. If I read a story in a magazine that I like and the voice resonates with me, I start researching what types of work that particular magazine is looking for. And if it looks like that magazine might be interested in my style of work, I submit to them. 

WOW:  That sounds like a great method for finding new markets. How do you balance working full-time and your writing? Are there specific times of the day you reserve for your creative work? 

Jennifer: I often wake up with a story idea in my head, and I know that if I don’t get it down on paper, I’m going to lose the details. So, I usually get out of bed before everyone else, go downstairs, and start writing. The story doesn’t always flow immediately, but I just write the words down on paper and then sift and rearrange them later. Sunday mornings are usually quiet around the house, and that is when I get a lot of writing done. 

WOW: You are currently seeking publication for a novel. Could you tell us a little more about what it’s about? 

Jennifer: Thirty-year-old Grace moves to a coastal town in Maine for a year with her boyfriend, Liam, to fix their broken relationship. However, Grace’s focus quickly shifts when she meets their new neighbor, Annie, a woman twice her age. Annie has a sharp tongue, a thick New York accent, and a mammoth personality. The two become instant friends. As her relationship with Liam begins to fall apart, Grace meets Matthew, who might be the perfect for her. It’s not until Grace accidentally learns that Annie has terminal cancer, a secret that Annie wants to withhold from Grace, that Grace starts to question everything about her life. With humor at the forefront, the novel follows Grace on her inspirational journey, where she discovers who she really is and what she wants out of this one life we’re given.

WOW: Sounds like a great premise for a novel, we wish you continued success on your publishing journey! Thank you again for joining us today. 
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Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn: Blog Tour & Giveaway

Monday, April 15, 2024

Who Saved Who by Rosyln Cohn

We're back with another awesome blog tour for an amazing book you don't want to miss. Roslyn Cohn is launching her blog tour for Who Saved Who, a must-read memoir for dog lovers everywhere. Join us as we celebrate the launch of her book with a giveaway and an interview with the author.

But before we get to that, 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:

--- 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.

Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn Blog Tour

---- 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.

April 16th @ Pages and Paws
Visit Kristine's blog for her review of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn. 

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.

April 18th @ Words from the Heart
Join Linda for her review of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn.

April 20th @ A School Librarian in Action
Join Zarah for her review of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn.

April 22nd @ Word Magic
Join Fiona for a spotlight of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn.

April 25th @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy's blog for her review of Who Saved Who by Roslyn Cohn.

April 27th @ Chapter Break
Visit Julie's blog for her interview with Roslyn Cohn.

April 29th @ Boys' Mom Reads
Visit Karen's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

May 1st @ A Storybook World
Join Deirdra for her spotlight of Who Saved Who.

May 3rd @ Weaving a Webb
Visit Jodi's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

May 5th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy's blog for a spotlight of Who Saved Who.

May 7th @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

May 9th @ Bring on Lemons
Visit Crystal's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

May 10th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Join Linda for her interview with Roslyn Cohn about her memoir Who Saved Who.

May 10th @ The Faerie Review
Join Lily for her spotlight of Who Saved Who.

May 11th @ Sara Trimble's blog
Visit Sara's blog for her review of Who Saved Who.

May 13th @ Freeing the Butterfly
Visit Michelle's blog for her interview with the author Roslyn Cohn.

May 15th @ The Mommies Review
Join Glenda for her review of Who Saved Who.

***** 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!

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Interview with Krahe, Fall 2023 WOW! Flash Fiction Contest Runner Up

Tuesday, April 09, 2024
Going by the (deliberately misspelled) pen name “Krahe,” this bird will write almost anything, but prefers cerebral, surreal, absurdist horror. In stark contrast to some of her written material, she also draws buttons for her local Pokémon Go group. To contact her about writing almost anything (or editing your fanfiction for a small fee), message her on Twitter (@majoukrahe). Buy some of her jewelry on Etsy (CrystalsbyKrahe) if you feel like showing support (or like shiny things).

interview by Marcia Peterson

WOW: Congratulations on placing as a runner up in our Fall 2023 Flash Fiction competition! Can you tell us what encouraged the idea behind your story, “All the Time in the World?”

Krahe: Believe it or not, it came from a writing prompt from a local writing group. We were given two lines to start with. The rest was up to us. My mind went to a problem that writers usually have because of course it did.

WOW: Why do you write flash? What makes it different for you?

Krahe: I don't write flash regularly, but I am used to writing other things within a given word count. As much of a free bird as I can be, I also find it challenging and fun to work within restrictions (like in flash fiction). Most budding writers aren't used to doing that; it can be a well-deserved kick in the pants.

WOW: What advice would you give to someone wanting to try writing flash fiction for the first time?

Krahe: The old adage "less is more" comes to mind. Flash fiction requires you to be succinct. It is not for writers that like slathering the audience with details (that can be an issue regardless—watch out!). Break out your thesaurus; sometimes, you can save words by finding one word that works perfectly for your story as opposed to five.

Flash fiction is also great for ideas that you are uncertain about; can you, for example, tell a story with this idea in 750 words or less? You won't know until you try.

WOW: Besides writing, you’re also an artist and have a jewelry shop on Etsy. How do you balance multiple types of creative projects? What works for you?

Krahe: Priorities, I guess. Most of my art projects are for events, like Pokémon GO Community Days or holidays. I don't have control over those dates. I usually need my art done a week or two before then so that the people I work with can make merchandise. Same for writing things with deadlines—the deadlines always come first.

That said, the jewelry part (which I'm sure people want to hear more about) is languishing. It started as an idea during the pandemic. Resin is messy and dangerous to work with. Don't do what I did. I might do something with doming resin or wrapping crystals in the future, but that's it.

Buying something on my Etsy shop is a very easy way to support me, by the way. I get unreasonably excited every time someone makes a purchase!

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

Krahe: Have two.

One is "write every day." It doesn't matter what. Get into the habit of writing something daily.

On that note, two, know when you have a good idea. Edit that idea. Shop it around. Writers might be stereotyped as introverts, but that will hurt you. You won't know your strengths and weaknesses until you put your work out there and learn to take feedback.

***

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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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Interview With Phyllis Unterschuetz, Runner Up in the Quarter One 2024 Nonfiction Essay Contest

Saturday, April 06, 2024
Congratulations to Phyllis Unterschuetz of Lithia Springs, Georgia and to all of the other contestants and winners of the WOW! Women on Writing Quarter 1 2024 Essay Contest! 

Today I'm excited to interview Phyllis Unterschuetz. Before we get to our interview, make sure you check out her essay, "And the Trees Shall Hold You," first. Then come on back! But first, here's a bit about Phyllis: 


Phyllis Unterschuetz is the co-author of Longing: Stories of Racial Healing (Bahá’í Publishing). She is currently writing her second book, a memoir about finding the courage to tell the abortion story she kept secret for over 50 years. Phyllis was the winner of Tell Your Story’s Spring 2023 Writing Contest. Her work has been published in Science of Mind Magazine, longlisted for the 2023 Amy MacRae Award for Memoir, and nominated for Best of the Net and the Pushcart Prize. She has three grown children and one in the spiritual world, six grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter. Phyllis and her husband live just outside Atlanta in Lithia Springs, Georgia. Visit her website at https://phyllisunterschuetz.com

 …………..interview by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto 

WOW: Phyllis, I loved your essay submission but even more so I enjoyed an opportunity to get to know you better! You are so open and honest - qualities I admire in a friend! I’m sure readers will agree, you are a gem! Let’s get down to it; what were you wanting readers to gain from "And the Trees Shall Hold You"? 

PHYLLIS: I hope my readers will think about how they might tap into the power of connectedness when they find themselves in challenging situations. I believe we humans are dual-natured beings—souls who are temporarily associated with physical bodies. We thrive when we are able to draw strength from our connections to each other, to the earth, and to Spirit, including the souls of those who have passed on to the spiritual realm. My experiences at the cemeteries felt magical and mysterious, but they were also very concrete. I grew physically stronger when I imagined myself connected to the trees’ root systems. I’d be thrilled if my readers can have similar experiences. 

WOW: You do an excellent job using your writing to help readers connect to your story - this is truly an impressive skill and quite a gift! Speaking of impressive, you have an impressive bio. What is your latest/current project? 

PHYLLIS: I am writing a memoir about finding the courage to tell my abortion story after trying to keep it secret for over 50 years. It took me a year and a half to finish the first draft, and now I’m six months into my first round of revisions. I’m struggling with the structure, particularly with figuring out my opening scene. I seem to change my mind once a week. But it’s not just the craft issues that are making this book so challenging. 

My first book, which I co-authored with my husband, was a collection of personal essays about healing from our unconscious racial conditioning. We were very transparent in describing how we’d been programmed as white people to see race. We laid bare our souls, hearts, and minds. We dug deep into our vulnerable psyches. I thought that was the hardest thing I’d ever write, but I was wrong. What I’m writing now is much harder. 

I’ve had to search out memories I had repressed and experience them all over again. I ended up working with a therapist for nearly a year when I first started writing the story (which, by the way, is a very smart thing to do if you’re going to write a memoir about a traumatic event.) I’m finally healed enough, and have enough emotional distance, to move beyond getting the story out to crafting something I hope will be beautiful. 

WOW: As a writer who struggles with trauma and healing, I love your insight as far as therapy goes. Thank you. There's so much more I want to know - I can't ask these questions fast enough. What is your history with writing contests? Tell us what prompted you to submit to this particular contest? What would you like to tell other authors concerning contests and submitting their work? 

PHYLLIS: Writing contests are so alluring! I think we all want to see our names next to the word “Winner.” The first contest I entered was the Amy McRae Award for Memoir in 2022. I didn’t place, but I was hooked. Then last spring I wrote an essay about how I was teased in college for being fat, and I entered it into the Tell Your Story Spring Essay contest. I thought I must be out of my mind to put something so raw and revealing into the world for everyone to see, but then it won 1st Place and I didn’t care who read it! 

I entered this WoW contest because I love how you support women writers and I admire the pieces I’ve read by the winners of your previous contests. I figured that placing in a Women on Writing contest would look great in my bio and would connect me with other women who share my goals and values. 

My advice to other authors is submit, submit, submit! I’ve entered a lot of contests since that first one, and most of the time I don’t win. But each submission makes my writing a little better. So whether you’re submitting to contests or for publication in a journal, keep at it! Don’t get discouraged and give up, because you never know when a judge will see the value of your essay and vote it to the top. And it’s such a thrill when your work is recognized like that. 

WOW: Sounds like contests are a great support for you - or at least an encourager - but who is your support? What have you found to be most supportive in your writing life as well as in life in general? You are clearly a nurturer of others. What role has journaling and/or writers groups played in your life? What advice do you have for others during turbulent times? What works or doesn’t work for you when it comes to dealing with stress and the pressures of everyday life? Your answers are so revealing, I want to ask ALL the questions!

PHYLLIS: My spiritual beliefs are my greatest support, both in my daily life and in times of stress. I belong to the Bahá’í Faith, which you probably guessed from my essay. I’ve been a Bahá’í for 56 years, and I turn to its teachings for guidance, comfort, insight, strength, and peace. Prayer and meditation are part of my daily practice. 

I regularly call on loved ones who have died, especially my mom, when I need help or inspiration. Also I believe the child who died when I had the abortion has been helping me all along, even when I tried to pretend he didn’t exist. The story I’m writing is his story too, and he seems to be helping me write it. 

 My biggest human supporters are my husband, my siblings, my kids and their spouses, and the members of my writing groups. I would never have made it this far with my memoir, or in fact with any aspect of my life, without their constant encouragement and love. My children tell me that my abortion story is a part of their legacy. There are no words to describe how much strength it gives me to hear that. 

I belong to a group of eight women working with memoir coach Kim Douglas of Write2Unite. We focus on craft, lifting each other up, identifying what’s working in our writing, and discovering the heart and soul of our books. I also meet weekly with two other memoirists who never hesitate to tell me what’s not working in my writing. Both types of feedback are extremely valuable. I can’t imagine trying to write a book without a combination of loving support and honest critique. 

Moving my body and being in nature also help me deal with stress. When my brain locks up or I start to feel panicky, I bounce on my mini trampoline while listening to loud music, or I go for a walk at the state park near my house. So, back to what I was saying in my essay—when times are turbulent and life is stressful, you can find strength in your connection with other humans, with nature, and with the spiritual world.
 
WOW: Oh Phyllis - I could keep this up all day and our time is nearing an end - what’s next for you? What are your writing goals for 2024 and beyond? 

PHYLLIS: My 2024 goal is to submit my memoir manuscript to an agent or publisher by the end of this year. I’m not sure if I’ll try for one of the big five publishers or for a smaller traditional press. I’d also like to have several essays published in literary magazines by then. Once my book is out on submission, I’ll start working on an essay collection about my lifelong eating disorder, which was officially diagnosed last year. And there are more stories, so many stories I want to write. I’m turning 75 in two weeks, so I may have to speed up my process. 

WOW: Thank you again for your submission, your honesty, and your time. Congratulations on being one of our runner ups and we certainly look forward to reading more from you in the future and I hope we can interview again so I can ask more questions and gain valuable insight! You are truly a gift!

Interviewed by Crystal J. Casavant-Otto who just keeps on keeping on and can be found blogging and sharing on social media hashtag #raisingkidsandcattle #shelovesgodandsheridesgoodhorses #thankfulgratefulblessed 

 Check out the latest Contests: 
http://www.wow-womenonwriting.com/contest.php

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The Wonderful World of Freelance Editing: 5 Fabulous Perks of Freelance Editing

 
By Melanie Faith
 
Do you love to read? Have you participated in a writing workshop or beta read for a friend? Or taken a creative writing class to learn the building blocks of prose and poetry? Have you offered suggestions for a friend’s essay or creative piece? Are you a creative writer? Are you a fan of precise or beautiful language? Do you love talking about the writing and revision processes? Do you enjoy discovering an individual author’s voice and offering encouragement?
 
If the answer to any of these questions is yes, freelance editing may very well be a wonderful fit for your natural skills, bring enjoyment, and offer some spending money or a helpful additional income to your household while doing something you already love—communicating and developing fun-to-read, page-turning literature for fellow readers.
 
Let’s look at just a few of the many perks of becoming a freelance editor. 
 
1. One of the best parts of freelancing is working directly with a motivated writer who is open to suggestions for making their manuscript clearer and more gripping to readers. We all know how hard it can be to spot errors or inconsistencies in one’s own writing, and as a freelance editor you get the privilege of offering feedback that the author may be too close to the manuscript to notice while self-editing. You work as a team to sculpt the work to optimal length, genre specifications, literary devices, pacing, character and/or plot development, and so much more.
 
2. You also will likely expand your network and build a bond or a friendship with authors whose manuscript you have the chance to review. It’s a sacred, meaningful honor to be entrusted with a writer’s work, and while bringing out the best in the writing, editors and writers work towards the same goals. Once you have offered supportive, clear feedback to an author on one project, they often return when they have other manuscripts they’d like constructive, helpful suggestions on in the future.
 
3. Freelance editors have freedom of time and freedom of project-choice. Freelancers set up a schedule and a deadline that mutually work for both writer and editor. Freelance editors also enjoy the freedom to pick the kinds of projects and the genres of writing that most excite us. Do you love reading thrillers and fantasy but dislike mysteries and dystopian work? As a freelancer, you can pick and choose the projects that you feel most excited to offer feedback on and that most inspire you.
 
4. Most freelance editors begin their small businesses as part-timers, so whether you are working another job, serving as a caregiver, raising a family, running another small business, or juggling multiple life stages and vocations, freelancing offers the flexibility to work from home or a café or shared office space at times that work best for you, your schedule, and your life circumstances. I’ve worked with freelance editors and students of all ages—from their twenties through their retirees—who start editing, and these editors have found that freelance editing fits into their lives around other life events and responsibilities with a little organization and planning.
 
5. You can work with clients from your local neighborhood or from all around the world at a time that is best for you and your clients’ needs.
 
Clearly, freelance editing offers countless perks and the satisfaction of adding quality, entertaining, meaningful books to the literary landscape. If you have any interest at all in this exciting, flexible field, it’s well-worth looking into and giving it a whirl. 
 
***
 
An Insider's Look at Launching as a Freelance Editor webinar with Melanie Faith
Melanie Faith holds an MFA from Queens University of Charlotte, NC. She is an author and freelance editor with more than 10 years' experience in the field. Her upcoming webinar on freelance editing, An Insider's Look at Launching as a Freelance Editor, is on Friday, April 12th. 
 
To learn more about Melanie’s writing, teaching, and photography, please visit: www.melaniedfaith.com, Twitter: @writer_faith, and Instagram: @frompromisingtopublished99.
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Why I Love the Libby App

Thursday, April 04, 2024


When my kids were younger, I used to frequent the library almost weekly, even more during the months of June, July, and August when the summer reading programs were in full swing. During the height of the pandemic, my visits came to a screeching halt. I was focused on keeping my job as a magazine editor and trying to launch a podcast. I knew there was an app called OverDrive that was supposed to allow you to check out books from the library digitally on your Kindle, but I found it clunky and difficult to use. Around 2022 I discovered the Libby app, which is owned by OverDrive but much more user-friendly. All I had to do was download the app to my phone, find my local library, enter in my current library card number, and voila, I was connected to so many resources I didn’t know what to do with them at first.

Through the Libby app I’ve been able to request and read books, magazines, and audiobooks, all for free! What’s even better is that I can “send” books directly to my Kindle for easier reading. I manage all my loans in the app, and if I request a book, and it comes in while I’m still reading another one or know I won’t get to it quickly enough, I can request the book be sent to the next person in line without losing my own place. The book will usually come back to me within 10 days, if not sooner. Last year I participated in the Goodreads Reading Challenge, and the majority of my books came from my access to the Libby app. I read books like The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid, In Five Years by Rebecca Serle, Matthew Perry’s autobiography Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing, The Rewind by Allison Winn Scotch, Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Café by Fannie Flagg, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, and much more. 

Through the audiobook feature, I listened to Hello Sunshine by Laura Dave, I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy, and Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister. I learned that I don’t love listening to books on audio—I feel like I can read faster than I can listen and with the Gillian McAllister novel, which was told in reverse, I found myself very confused and wishing I could flip back and forth in a physical book. I’ve shared my love of the app with so many friends who didn’t knew it existed and they are having a blast exploring the titles available. The only downside I’ve found is that occasionally I will request three or four books at the same time, all with drastically different wait times, and they will all become available within three or four days of one another. #booknerd problems, right? That’s why I love the “pause my hold” feature as it gives me time to finish a current book before starting another. 

I’ve just finished The Women by Kristin Hannah and am about to start The Christie Affair, a historical work of fiction featuring the life of Agatha Christie by Nine de Gramont. I recently joined my neighborhood book club and was able to request our May book through the app. Now if I could only find the time to write reviews for all these fantastic books . . . 

Have you been able to try the Libby app? What do you like or not like about it? 

Renee Roberson is an award-winning writer who also produces the weekly true crime podcast, Missing in the Carolinas.
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Interview With Fall 2023 Flash Fiction Runner Up Winner, Elizabeth Danek

Tuesday, April 02, 2024
 

Today, I'm honored to interview Elizabeth Danek, a runner-up in our Fall 2023 Flash Fiction contest. Before you read our chat together, make sure you check out her story, December 1994. Then, come on back!

Here's a bit about Elizabeth Danek:

Elizabeth Danek’s short fiction and essays have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Mid-American Review, and Flash Nonfiction Food, as well performed for the Liar’s League PDX. Recently, she placed 3rd in the 2023 William Faulkner Literary Competition with her short story “The Pet Shop.” For more than thirty years, Elizabeth has been a high school and adult education teacher in Los Angeles, Portland, Oregon and Munich, Germany (where she lived during the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s). She will soon retire from teaching, ready to pay more attention to her grandchildren, writing, travels, and urban hikes. Currently, she is working on a novella and a story collection.

--- Interview by Nicole Pyles

WOW: Congratulations on winning runner up! Why were you inspired to write the story?

Elizabeth: From 1989 to 1998, I lived in Munich, Germany, and watched up close the fall of the Berlin Wall and the Balkan Crisis. One summer, on a visit to Dalmatia, one of my sons was “gifted” a large piece of shrapnel from an attack outside Zadar – a memento of the war.

My father was from Croatia and escaped from the former Yugoslavia after WWII. He believed that armed conflict changes hearts and minds forever, and that brutality devastates families, as it did for him in the 1940s and then again fifty years later.

The convergence of the shrapnel and my father’s history created “December 1994,” (part of a longer piece in progress), in addition to my own experiences with family caught in the turmoil and visits to Croatia over the decade I lived in Europe. I also know many Bosnian refugees who were resettled in Portland, where I now live; their stories are haunting. Turmoil in the world today reminds me of the near past.

WOW: That's amazing you have that kind of connection to that incredible piece of history. You have some impressive publications under your belt. What inspires you about short fiction?

Elizabeth: I have always found short fiction artful, drawn into a new world with so few strokes. Admittedly, as a young mother and full-time teacher, I struggled with focus, frustrated when I lost the thread of a longer work. So I remain loyal to short fiction and let those whose work I love surround me: Katherine Mansfield, Alice Munro, Gabriel Garcia-Marquez, Alice Walker, Elizabeth Strout, Kelly Link and countless others. I don’t always know how they do what they do, really, but I admire their work and find their stories instructive and beautiful.

WOW: As a short fiction writer myself, I know what you mean. I see you’re working on a short fiction collection. As a short story writer, that’s my goal one day too. How are you compiling your stories? Do you have a method? 

Elizabeth: I find that place is prominent in my work. I have to know my characters and where they’re from or what brought them to this point in conflict. My collection centers around San Pedro, California, the L.A. Harbor town where I grew up. The stories are an ode to the coast, the diversity of the people, and my characters’ challenges.

WOW: I think it's interesting how place means so much in your work. How has teaching guided your writing?

Elizabeth: For me, writing is rewriting. Young students can’t always see that, but some do, and they appreciate going the extra mile. I know what it is to struggle with a piece, to write draft after draft to try to get something right. 

WOW: Absolutely! What do you hope people gain by reading your work, and specifically this story “December 1994”?

Elizabeth: I hope that my fiction can bring readers to feel something relatable and perhaps find some “truth” along the way.

WOW: I believe you have! Thank you again for your time today. Best of luck on your work!
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Ask the Book Doctor: About Formatting a Manuscript

Monday, April 01, 2024

By Bobbie Christmas

Q: How important is the format of my manuscript? If I don’t follow standard manuscript format, can my book get rejected?

A: I can’t speak for every agent and publisher in the world. I can, however, address some of the things that are standard in the industry. If you have any hope of landing an agent or selling your book to a traditional publisher, the format of your manuscript could possibly stand in the way if it doesn’t follow standard manuscript format—SMF. It’s hard enough to land an agent or find a publisher willing to buy your manuscript, so it’s important to show your professionalism by following the standards in the book publishing industry.

When you go for a job interview, the person who interviews you will make a few snap decisions based on how you present yourself. Are you dressed and groomed in a professional manner, or is your hair in disarray and your clothes raggedy? Agents and publishers are likely to make the same snap decisions about a manuscript. In SMF a manuscript looks professional and reflects well on the author, as it should.

If you plan to self-publish, perhaps your manuscript format won’t matter, but I’ll address that issue in a minute. First let’s discuss the settings in SMF.

Microsoft Word is the standard word-processing program for manuscripts, although Pages in Mac is often accepted. Don’t bother with Google Docs or other programs that are set up to design the book layout while you write. While you write your draft you need only to write, not design.

Before you start typing, go to Home in Word and choose twelve-point Times New Roman for the font. Next ensure the document is aligned flush left, not justified. Next check 2.0 for the spacing and check Remove Space After Paragraph. There are several ways to set up an automatic indent for new paragraphs. I select all and then move the top triangle on the ruler at the top of the page so that new paragraphs always automatically indent five spaces. You will have to click on the top of the page to add a header with your name, your manuscript title, and automatic page numbering, and that’s it. You can then click back on the body of the page and type your story, and Microsoft Word will format your manuscript correctly.

Don’t get confused. Manuscript format and book layout are separate operations. After a manuscript is written, revised, and professionally edited, and after a publisher buys a manuscript, the publisher will layout and design the book.

On the other hand, if you plan to self-publish you may not need to concern yourself with double-spacing or font type or size, because you or your layout person may be able to work with any format your original document uses. Nevertheless, the book layout is done after the manuscript is complete and not while the manuscript is being written.

Finding an agent or a publisher is tough. Following SMF tells those folks that you are knowledgeable about publishing industry standards. It makes you look professional, so it’s worth a little trouble to set up before you ever start writing.

Q: I keep having formatting issues when I'm writing my book in Word. What software do you recommend? Google Docs?

A: If the manuscript is set up correctly in Word, there should be no formatting issues. Perhaps you are trying to layout the manuscript like a book while you are still writing. Layout should be managed only after the writing and editing are complete. Use Word; the standard in the industry. Later you can learn a good layout program or let a professional person layout the book if you intend to self-publish, but don't let format get in the way of the first writing. Doing so will thwart your creativity.

Q: I have seen books where long quotes were indented on both sides instead of using quotation marks. How can I do this in Word?

A: First, the quote must be at least five lines long once indented. Don’t use the Tab key or the space bar to perform this operation. If the quote is long, highlight it. Go up to the ruler and put your cursor on the triangle for the left margin. Move it five spaces to the right. Put your cursor on the triangle on the right and move it to the left five spaces. Your long quote will then be indented. You may have to return the triangles to their previous positions to return to the original formatting.

***

Bobbie Christmas is a book editor, author of Write In Style: Use Your Computer to Improve Your Writing, and owner of Zebra Communications. She will answer your questions too. Send them to Bobbie@zebraeditor.com or BZebra@aol.com. Read Bobbie’s Zebra Communications blog at https://www.zebraeditor.com/blog/.
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