Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Brenda Novak | Rest in Peace?
Author Guest / October 28, 2014

Serial killers are often the stuff of a good suspense novel. My book, A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN, includes them, too. But when we think of serial killers, we often associate them with contemporary stories. Or, if we don’t, we focus primarily on Jack the Ripper. The dark mystery behind Jack the Ripper’s crimes keep the memory of his poor victims ever-present. I’ve always been intrigued by Jack the Ripper, but when I was looking for ideas for my next historical romantic suspense novel, I ran across a different type of serial killer that intrigued me just as much—not someone who murdered for lust or the thrill of it. William Burke and William Hare teamed up to murder for money. Granted, that isn’t unheard of (then or now), but the circumstances surrounding their crimes were bizarre, especially to a modern reader. And when I learned that conditions in the late 17th century and early 18th century were rife for the same type of thing to happen again, over and over, I knew I’d hit upon the perfect spine-tingling backdrop for my story. Burke and Hare were Irishmen living in Edinburgh when they murdered sixteen people. Oddly enough, they didn’t have…

Amanda G. Stevens | Unexpectedly Speculative
Author Guest / October 24, 2014

Story has been my deepest love since before I could read. And I was serious about it. I watched Mary Poppins at five years old and thought the idea of a carousel horse joining a real horse on a racetrack was insulting. I expressed similar disdain when books violated reality. A mouse born to human parents? A swan learning to read and write and play the trumpet? Ridiculous. I wrote my first story in first grade and never stopped writing. My stories never messed with reality, never took “what if?” too far. Then, in high school, I discovered Star Trek: Voyager. A new frontier opened in my imagination. I started seeking out fantasy and science fiction. A few years later, my first full-length novel idea bloomed—the idea that would grow into SEEK AND HIDE. In the storyworld of SEEK AND HIDE, the government has seized control of the church. Bibles have been retranslated. Churches agree to teach only from the retranslated Bible or are closed. The dystopian world is represented well by the bleak sky and dilapidated farmhouse on the cover; here, freedom and truth are decaying like this house. My main character, Marcus Brenner, is a new Christian who…

Victoria James | The Top-Ten Hero Must-Haves!
Author Guest / October 24, 2014

Hi! I’m so happy to be back here, blogging at Fresh Fiction! This is release week for my book, THE DOCTOR’S FAKE FIANCEE. I probably had the most fun with the hero in this book, Evan. He was also the most different of all my heroes. He’s a guy who’s always had to excel, skipped ahead in school, and had it instilled in him that he needed to be the best. He’s a guy who’s SO intelligent. But he’s actually the most emotionally unaware hero I’ve ever written, so I had a blast torturing him into self-awareness. I brought the poor guy to his knees by the end of the book, as it FINALLY dawned on him what was most important in his life. So while I enjoy reading and writing about all different kind of heroes, there are certain traits they must all have-or acquire-by the end of the book. Here’s my list (in no particular order). 10. Honor. Even if a guy is a grump at the beginning of the book, he needs a code of honor. If he doesn’t have one, he just doesn’t interest me and I’ve lost respect for him. 9. Ambition. He doesn’t have…

Elizabeth Byler Younts | Voices from My Amish Past
Author Guest / October 24, 2014

When I look back at my earliest memories I remember the flicker of oil lamps casting shadows on the wall of our home, our buggy, and wearing plain clothes. I remember when my dad drove our first car into the driveway—a green Nova with lime colored carpet on the dash—we were leaving the Amish. And when my mammie (grandma) visited from across the street and my mom told me not to bring out my new English dress that was blue seersucker with ruffles and smocking. But I did. For several years I spoke Pennsylvania Dutch better than English but my little friends still understood me. I was still raised alongside my plain cousins because my shunned parents exhibited great patience and unconditional love in order to maintain a relationship with our Amish family. From these memories came my mammie’s memoir that shared her life through the Great Depression and World War Two. It was a difficult life and not the mainstream picturesque Amish. Seasons: A Real Story of an Amish Girl brought voices from my Amish ancestral past. I could hear my daudy (grandpa) telling me about being drafted to World War Two but because of his conscientious objector status…

Kate Canterbary | You Know You’re Sleeping with an Architect When…
Author Guest / October 22, 2014

Architects are special creatures. They are cut from a cloth that’s all their own, and lumping them in with businessmen, doctors, or lawyers is to miss the nuances that make architects so fascinating. In all things, they balance art and science, instinct and creativity. They tend to be highly articulate and attend to fine details, and bring deliberate thought to all of their decisions, and those are delightful quirks. Here are a few more snippets from Matthew Walsh, and how you’ll know when you’re sleeping with an architect: 1. They state their opinions as fact. It comes from years of defending their reasoning and advocating their designs with loads of research, and they need someone who can argue right back. “”The load on this structure”—I pointed to the roof—”is causing extensive stresses and deformations on the internal supports. The walls, the pillars. And I’d bet anything the foundation has deteriorated beyond repair. A strong gust and this place is coming down. I want you fifty feet away, Miss Halsted.” I passed my fingers down the stone column for emphasis, a trail of sand and pebbles trickling to the ground. “I’m only Miss Halsted inside the classroom. Call me Lauren.” Her…

Gemma Brocato | What I’ve Learned From Where I’ve Lived
Author Guest / October 22, 2014

Have you ever lived somewhere that seriously influenced your life? A place that gave you a different perspective on the world as you know it? What I’ve found is that each place I’ve lived has somehow changed my world view. I grew up in Iowa. We didn’t live in the largest city in the state, but I grew up believing we were the most cosmopolitan utopia ever. I was rudely divested of that notion when I went away to college. But Iowa is where I received my education, my interest and training in writing and a life-long love of learning. Moving to Houston after graduation, I learned how to live on a budget. A straight commission job I loved, but wasn’t very good at meant I also had to learn how to exist on limited sleep. Because I needed a second job to make ends meet. Oh, and I learned to love country music and dance the Cotton Eyed Joe. I’ve lived in the same city in Illinois twice. I moved there the first time as a young newlywed and didn’t know a soul (other than my husband). This is where I learned resilience. I learned to rely on myself…

Ophelia London | Jane Austen for a New Adult Generation
Author Guest / October 22, 2014

Ever since I was given the amazing opportunity to write a Pride & Prejudice modern respin (DEFINITELY, MAYBE IN LOVE), I’ve been jumping at the chance to respin another Jane Austen. Though nothing can touch P&P, I’ve always had a major soft spot for Persuasion. I love a good “second chances” story, and there isn’t a better one out there than Austen’s. Something about reunited lovers really pierces my heart. Maybe because I’ve had  a lot of boyfriends in my dating history, it’s kind of a personal fantasy to meet up with one of my better ex’s down the road and do a bit of rekindling. Hee-hee In SOMEDAY MAYBE, Rachel and Oliver dated when they were freshmen at the University of San Francisco, then some time goes by and they meet up again. (Don’t worry, I’m not giving any spoilers…) I love writing about college-aged characters. For me, it was such an important time of my life and I made huge decisions about the future. The same goes for the year or two right after collage: First real job, first long-term relationship, first apartment on my own, etc. That’s what is so fun about writing new adult stories…I can…

J.T. Geissinger | Top 10 Worst Supernatural Gifts For Any Paranormal Heroine
Author Guest / October 21, 2014

Ever heard the phrase “I’m having a bad hair day?” Of course you have. And we all know exactly what it means! But if you happen to have the supernatural gift of prehensile hair (the ability to manipulate, quickly grow, and attack with your hair), that phrase can take on a whole new meaning. Personally I’d rather not have a coiffeur that might kill my husband if he mentions my mane needs a trim, but there’s a few even worse gifts out there in the paranormal world a girl might find herself saddled with. Here’s the top ten, in no particular order: 1. Bone Consumption Aside from the sheer gross factor, I can’t think of a single instance where this power might come in handy. A variation on the traditional vampire, a bone eater gets her power from eating the marrow and skeleton of others. About as unsexy as a supernatural power gets. 2. Self-Detonation This one is self-explanatory. The ability to let loose an explosion from the body, and put yourself back together again. Ouch. Also, I worry if there is an accompanying smell. (It can’t be pleasant.) 3. Prehensile Tongue Like the aforementioned prehensile hair, a prehensile tongue…

Samanthe Beck | It’s in the Bag
Author Guest / October 21, 2014

My wardrobe doesn’t get a lot of attention. Being a writer barely requires me to wear clothes at all, much less nice ones, but I have fun dressing my characters. An item of clothing or an accessory can speak volumes about the person wearing it. My friend C, on the other hand, is very fashionable. Her enthusiasm reaches a pinnacle when it comes to purses. She’s the proud owner of a number of “statement handbags.”  I borrowed one a while back for a special occasion. What follows is a rundown of the statement I made. The occasion was my birthday. It was a milestone, and my sweet, romantic, long-suffering husband planned a special evening. His instructions consisted of, “Wear something pretty. We’ll be gone all night.” Woo-hoo! I bought a wrap dress, splurged on new underwear, and borrowed C’s Gucci purse. I’d been having back pain and I didn’t want to risk a flare up that night, so I tossed my prescription painkillers in the purse. On our way out the door I stopped to get the mail. I received cards (with checks!) from my mom, my in-laws, and my aunt. Three personal checks into the borrowed Gucci. Boom. Boom….

Juliette Cross | The Leading Men We Love to Love
Author Guest / October 21, 2014

Because I like to analyze and title just about everything (neurotic reader/writer that I am), I’ve analyzed and labeled each of the various, yummy types of men that make us swoon, giggle, and want to leap through the page, punch out the heroine, and take her place. As an alpha-loving girl, you’ll find my favorite leading men tend to lean toward the aggressive type. Sorry, beta girls. Still, I think there’s a book boyfriend out there for everyone. Let’s take a look at a few archetypes, shall we? MR. SNARK Devastatingly handsome, smoldering smile, and sarcastic with a bite—all of which makes you want to slap him or kiss him. Probably both, in that order. Why does he intrigue us so much? Well, hell, just look at that smirk! And you never know what’s really going on behind those scintillating looks (but we can pretty much guess). *gasp* *Examples: Edward Rochester in Charlotte Bronte’s JANE EYRE; Dorian the Fairy King in Richelle Mead’s DARK SWAN series PRINCE CHARMING Golden good looks with sparkling eyes and a smile that makes you melt into a pile of goo. This guy is exactly what his title suggests—all charm and sparkling wit. Though he…