“There’s always more than meets the eye, in fiction as in life, and it’s very rewarding to be able to show that.”
Rachel shared her top tips for creative success, her current biggest challenge, and the power of shifting perspectives in fiction with BoldJourney Magazine. Full interview here.
“There’s a particular kind of silence that follows (after) the scans, the surgery, and the words benign, you’re lucky, and it could have been worse. After everyone around you exhales—sometimes before you do.” -Heather Holt, host of Change Happened, Then What?
Heather and Rachel explore this complicated silence in-depth here.
LOS ANGELES, JUNE 2025 – American Book Fest announces THE BLUE IRIS as winner of the 2025 INTERNATIONAL BOOK AWARD (IBA) in the General Fiction category. This is the book’s fifth award.
In this episode of multi-award winning podcast 2 Lives with Laurel Morales, Rachel explains how her writing community encouraged her to open up about one thing she never spoke about, and how, like the characters in her novel, long-overdue healing sprouted from the process.
“You can’t ignore your uncomfortable truths forever, so you might as well figure out how to get good with them.”
Rachel reflects on the risk inherent in growth, the overlap between fear and progress, and the role of found family in helping her defy the odds with author Marta Lane in Interview With A Dreamchaser.
NEW YORK CITY, October 2024 – THE BLUE IRIS is named a Distinguished Favorite for General Fiction in the 2024 NYC Big Book Awards.
“Start small, whatever you can manage. And don’t apologize for it.”
In Originality: Conversations About Books And Art With Innovative Indies, Rachel and Author Brenda K. Massman discuss the road less travelled, unconventional definitions of “success,” and advice for pursuing a creative life.
THE BLUE IRIS Places Second in PenCraft’s Annual Competition.
After winning PenCraft’s ’24 Spring Best Book Award, THE BLUE IRIS placed second for General Fiction in Pencraft’s Annual Competition.
THE BLUE IRIS Now In Audiobook
The variegated cast of characters are brilliantly performed by Jeannie Sheneman and GM Hakim, inviting readers to experience this one-of-a-kind flower market like never before. Listen now.
Indigo Locations Welcome Rachel
Rachel recently attended Indigo’s Richmond Hill and Newmarket locations for two great afternoons of signing copies and meeting wonderful book people.
The Launch Diaries Now on Substack
Fellow creators at all stages, join Rachel’s free Substack for The Launch Diaries, a series of reflections, lessons, real talk and confessions from her debut author journey.
102.7 CHOP FM’s Writers for Readers
Rachel had a blast in-studio at Newmarket’s 102.7 CHOP FM for the October edition of the Writers for Readers segment wiuth Gary Johnson.
“You will never have enough time. But I’m living proof of what’s possible when you make space for that thing that makes time disappear altogether.”
Rachel joined a stellar lineup of speakers at the sold-out Ageless Ambition Women’s Summit to discuss how THE BLUE IRIS became her personal miracle in the wake of disturbing medical results, and inspired a relentless 6-year journey to publication.
THE BLUE IRIS Named PenCraft Spring ’24 Best Book
“The PenCraft Seasonal Book Awards recognizes books of remarkable literary quality, artistic excellence, and popularity with readers.” Congratulations to all winners and finalists!
“Write the story that keeps you up at night and kicks you out of bed in the morning. Then, be absolutely relentless about getting it right.”
Check out Rachel’s interview with BookLife in the February 12, 2024 issue of Publisher’s Weekly.
“Rachel’s journey is one that is truly inspiring and the love that her fans have for her first book is incredible.”
It was a full house including the Mayor at a recent Meet The Author Event in Aurora, Ontario. Rachel spoke about her wild journey to publication, answered awesome questions, and gave away great prizes.
“Where there’s peonies, there’s peonies.”
Following her win of Reader Views Reviewers’ Choice Award for The Blue Iris, Rachel shares her “cartoon fry pan moment” and the truth about peonies you never knew you needed with Inside Scoop Live.
THE BLUE IRIS Earns Silver in Feathered Quill Awards
THE BLUE IRIS placed 2nd in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards, Adult Fiction Category. Congratulations to all winners and finalists!
“A year ago I was at my kitchen table in a cold sweat just discussing the possibility. Now, I say yes without hesitation.”
SheDoesTheCity catches up with Rachel one year later to reflect on how publishing her personal essay changed her life and to learn more about The Blue Iris. Read the interview here.
“Someone might steal your snack. But we’ll talk about it later and cry together.”
Rachel and Author Teri M. Brown discuss sending their first book-babies into the world and the surreal qualities of writing fiction in this laugh-filled episode of Online for Authors.
“Setting the dream aside now was the rational thing to do.”
Rachel’s inspiring essay, “Did You Come This Far To Only Come This Far?,” about persevering over the long haul, has been featured in Women Writers, Women(‘s) Books.
“I reached out to see if Rachel would talk to me about how in the heck she pulled this off.”
Rachel and Kim Lozano, Editor and Writing Coach, discussed writing from many (many) points of view in Kim’s popular blog and newsletter for writers. Read the interview.
THE BLUE IRIS Receives Five Stars and Reviewer’s Choice Designation from Reader Views
“A thought-provoking, well-praised work that you must read for many reasons.” Read full review.
“You’re free to dream up anything you want, but it always ends up being the one thing you need.”
Rachel talks about developing complex characters, the courage and faith required to share art, and making space for her writing in Issue 32 of Superstition Review.
“This Is Us meets Ted Lasso meets The Language Of Flowers”
Shail Rajan has rapid-fire questions about the “choose your own adventure” aspect of authorship, overcoming writer’s block, and unearthing small-town feel from a big city setting in 3 Minutes with the Author.
THE BLUE IRIS Named BookLife by Publisher’s Weekly Editor’s Pick
“Stone debuts a gorgeous literary novel…rich and evocative, digging right to the difficult emotions under the surface.” Full review selected to appear in October 2023 Issue.
“The world will tell you to move on, try something else.”
Rachel shares advice for aspiring writers on the debut novel journey with Author Jill Hannah Anderson .
‘Those secondary characters just kept getting louder.”
Rachel dives into the inner workings of drafting (and redrafting) a fictional ensemble in the wake of secondary characters who kept taking over in Five on A Friday with Author Kathleen Basi.
“None of us have it all figured out, and that’s okay.”
In the days leading up to the launch of her debut novel, Rachel sits down with The Auroran to reflect on her biggest hope for her readers, and how a writing prompt six years ago, combined with her determination NOT to write a novel, led to The Blue Iris.
“Four-thirty in the morning at a flower market is very different than when you stroll by at 01:00 on a Sunday.”
In this jampacked 13-minute episode of Author Express, Rachel chat about growing up in Toronto, her first day in a jail (you read that right), and the behind-the-scenes of a flower market that customers would never believe.
“The book was all out of road, but it wouldn’t let go of me.”
Rachel talks creative process, the winding road to published author, and the personal health miracle unearthed by The Blue Iris with BookView Review.
“Some people have called it brave. At the time, it felt irresponsible and foolish and selfish.”
Rachel reveals the long-hidden backstory behind a bold career switch at 36 with SheDoesTheCity in “I Quit Bay Street to Be A Writer — It Healed Me.”
“Summer Queen” Places First in ’22 OBOA Writing Contest
“With two impeccable corners framing my reference, my gaze levelled, then pushed higher.”
“Thank My Lucky Scars” In Heroes Issue of Please See Me Journal For Health-Related Stories
“It was only in that meat-locker metal room, enveloped by ethereal, called-to-serve eyes without faces, that everything felt as it had before.”
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Rachel Stone 