Woman of the Hour by Claire Polders
Author News,  Book: Woman of the Hour

Pub Day for Woman of the Hour

Today my debut short story collection Woman of the Hour: Fifty Tales of Longing and Rebellion will enter the world.


A girl changes into a fox in self-defense. An idealist imagines what her new leader should look like, using her pets as reference. Guerrilla gardeners at dawn are sowing life-saving hope. A traveler delights in tasting European chefs. And a cruel ritual for teenage women turns into a revolution. 

The fifty stories in this collection will transport you from an Amsterdam canal to the Oaxacan coast, from a silt-streaked Venice to an imaginary world, from an Icelandic waterfall to a hall of mirrors. 

You can order Woman of the Hour now!

The book is available as paperback and e-book (and soon as audiobook via Tantor)!

If you order Woman of the Hour directly from Vine Leaves Press, my publisher and I benefit the most.

The collection is also available on many different sites and can be ordered in nearly any bookstore.
Here are some options: 

Bookshop // Amazon // Barnes & Noble // Target // Apple // Waterstones // Foyles // BOL (NL) 

Can I read a preview?

Certainly! Please read the title story “Woman of the Hour” here.

Will there be a book launch?

Probably! But not today. Many of my (writing) friends and family members are on holiday, and I wasnโ€™t sure where I would be today and whether I would have stable internet to present a digital launch, so I chose not to organize anything yet. But I have an idea for a celebratory craft talk in September. You are all invited and Iโ€™ll share the details on my website, in my newsletter, and on my social media (Facebook // Instagram // Bluesky).

Woman of the Hour fits well with Lima’s Woman of the Hour street art.

Want to support me but cannot afford to buy my book?

I love helping writers create their art, but I cannot buy every book that piques my interest. 

Here are some things you can do for authors that wonโ€™t cost you any money:

  • Add their book to your to-read list on Goodreads, or better: Rate the book and write a favorable review
  • Request their book at your library
  • Borrow their book (from a library or friend) and review it
  • Follow the author on Amazon and like their books
  • Share their book posts on your social media 
  • Like their book posts or leave a comment
  • Subscribe to their newsletter
  • Invite them to write a guest post on your platform
  • Interview them for a newsletter, podcast, or literary magazine
  • Encourage them by writing a kind note (private or public)
  • And, if youโ€™re serious about writing a review, request a review copy from the author or publisher. 

For more information, including early praise, please visit my Woman of the Hour book page.

Alright, thatโ€™s all! Now, Iโ€™m going to celebrate my book along with the rest of the Peruvians in Lima. Itโ€™s their Independence Day (today & yesterday). Who says the fireworks are not for me?