Bestselling author Irene Hannon has written more than 50 romantic suspense and contemporary romance/women’s fiction novels. She is a seven-time finalist and three-time winner of the RITA Award and a member of Romance Writers of America Hall of Fame. Hannon launched her Men of Valor series in April of 2015 with BURIED SECRETS, which New York Journal of Books called “one of those addictive books that, once started, compels you to shut out the world till you reach the very last page.” In January 2016, she will release the anticipated second book of the series, THIN ICE. In THIN ICE, she pulls her readers back into the lives of the high-octane McGregor brothers. As a former Delta Force operator and newly appointed FBI special agent, Lance McGregor is called to reopen a case when Christy Reed receives a letter in her dead sister’s handwriting. But he comes up with more questions than answers. Is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game—or the target of a sinister plot? As he digs deeper, one thing becomes clear: someone in the shadows has a deadly agenda. You started off writing in the romance genre. What prompted you to transition into suspense? To…

Tune to the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries Channel on Sunday, January 10th, 2016 to watch THREE Hannah Swensen movies, back-to-back! Sunday January 10th, 2016 from 5 PM to 7 PM EST Murder She Baked: A Chocolate Chip Cookie Mystery then . . . from 7 PM to 9 PM EST Murder She Baked: A Plum Pudding Mystery then . . . the icing on the cake . . from 9 PM to 11 PM EST The World Broadcast Premier of Murder She Baked: A Peach Cobbler Mystery Come spend the night with Hannah, solving mysteries and munching cookies. Jo says, “Ladies, start your ovens!” For more about Jo Fluke and Hannah Swensen visit her Website

My first book sale was practically a fluke. I’d spent years writing two manuscripts that I loved with a passion. I found an agent. I had interested publishers. And while I waited for editors to make their final decision, I noticed a new publisher was looking for Christian romance stories set in small towns with cute names. To submit, all I had to do was write three chapters and a synopsis. I did it in a day, sent it to my agent, and forgot about it. My agent called with good news. I was so excited. Except the good news wasn’t about the manuscripts I’d spent years on. It was for a book I hadn’t even written yet. A sale was a sale. I’d take it. I pulled out my synopsis to remind myself what I’d be writing about. Ha! It included a chubby, unicycle-riding twelve-year-old named after Superman’s father. Writing that story was going to be fun. Except before I finished writing the book, my husband of ten years left me. And I had to write a romance novel while my own marriage fell apart. I never wanted to write romance again. And besides the Costco book-signing in 2010…

And How My Story Extended Hers Lately, I’ve been having some challenging conversations with a friend concerning the ongoing inspiration I find in what my parents told me (many years ago now) about their own lives—particularly their lives before my existence. “You have your own experiences, your own perspective, not to mention your own vivid imagination,” my friend says. “Why do you feel the need to carry the burden of your parents’ stories? Are you setting aside your own material, better, more immediate material, trying to keep them alive?” Her questions have left me shaken. They’ve made me reflect again on that frequent question: where do your ideas come from as a writer? And, yes, for me, some of those ideas have been influenced by the stories my parents told me, and the stories my parents didn’t tell me—the ones I only learned after my mother’s passing (she died when I was fourteen years old, and was a notably reserved woman before that time). The ones I only learned from others who knew her, in so many ways, better than I ever got the chance. My dad, the verbose one in our little family of three, was a fabulous storyteller—a…

Fresh Pick for Friday, January 8th, 2016 is THE FORGOTTEN RECIPE by Amy Clipston #InspirationalFriday a new year rediscover the past About THE FORGOTTEN RECIPE After losing her fiancé in a tragic accident, Veronica Fisher finds solace in the old recipes stored in her mother’s hope chest—and in a special visitor who comes to her bake stand to purchase her old- fashioned raspberry pies. Veronica Fisher knows how lucky she is to be marrying her best friend. Seth Lapp is kind, hardworking, and handsome—but most importantly, he loves Veronica. When an accident on the job steals Seth away from her, a heartbroken Veronica is certain she will never love—or be loved—again. Yet when she discovers a batch of forgotten recipes and opens a bake stand to sell her Mammi’s raspberry pies, Veronica picks up a regular customer who gives her heart pause. Jason Huyard was with Seth when he lost his life—a memory that haunts him still. So when he seeks out the grieving fiancée to convey his condolences, the last thing he expects—or wants—is to fall in love. Nonetheless, Jason soon finds himself visiting Veronica’s bake stand every week . . . and it’s for more than the raspberry…

St. Augustine, the oldest continuous settlement in America, a location for your story? The Casa Monica Hotel, its history and culture flaunts the visitor to St. Augustine, Florida, where the city is celebrating the past 450 years. The Spanish founded it in 1513, but by 1564 the French took over, only to step back in 1565 when the Spanish arrived again. They conquered the French garrison on the St. Johns River and held the coast of Florida. The garrison remains, and you are welcome to walk on the grounds of those that came before. Read on . . .  Cheers, Gail About Gail Ingis Gail Ingis writes historical romance, loves history and romance of course, has taught history, and her weekly blog frequently covers historical content. A native of Brooklyn, New York, Ingis’s early days began and ended with writing, drawing and music. Her inspiration to write came from books gifted to her by an aunt. But life had other ideas. After graduating from the New York School of Interior Design with a BFA in Interior Architecture and Design and masters’ studies in Architecture and Design Criticism at The New School (Parsons). Her career in interior design and architecture led her…

The year has barely started, and I already can feel my wallet crying as I look at all the incredible books releasing this year. I read across most genres (fantasy, contemporary, horror, etc.), and it seems like this year will be stellar for all of them. I’m always on the fence about preordering and buying on or near release day. I know preorders can be wonderful for the author and for sales numbers, but I also love walking in to an independent bookstore and finding the new releases fresh on the shelf. After looking at the second part of my most anticipated reads of the year, I may find myself trying out a new-to-me compromise where I preorder from the bookstore to make sure I get them the day of release, but also pick them up at the store, so I get the satisfaction of another visit. Regardless, this is one incredible year for new books! About REBEL OF THE SANDS Mortals rule the desert nation of Miraji, but mythical beasts still roam the wild and remote areas, and rumor has it that somewhere, djinn still perform their magic. For humans, it’s an unforgiving place, especially if you’re poor, orphaned,…