Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Carter Wilson | Do Not Write What You Know
Author Guest / March 30, 2018

I hate the adage “write what you know.” Hate it. But I don’t hate it because it’s wrong. As an author, there are plenty of things about your life woven into your fiction, and most of the time this is done unconsciously. The car your character drives has a striking resemblance to your own. A few choice turns of phrases that you’ve been known to use pepper your manuscript. Your protagonist’s drink of choice is, coincidentally, a margarita on the rocks, two parts tequila, one part lime, touch of orange liquor and a drizzle of agave nectar. No salt, not ever. No, I hate that phrase “write what you know” because too many readers take it as an unalterable truism. By readers, of course, I mean family members. They mean well, God bless ’em, but boy do they want to know where all that darkness comes from. It has to come from somewhere, because, you know, you write what you know, and if the villain in your book fancies choking out hookers and making totem poles out of their torsos, well, we may need to revisit that time you went to summer camp when you were sixteen. My mom always…

Terry Spear | FLIGHT OF THE WHITE WOLF Excerpt
Excerpt / March 29, 2018

What were the odds that Gavin would run into the woman that he’d accused of stealing Samoyeds and reselling them for profit, who was also the one piloting the plane he had to take today? He recalled that was her occupation back in Big Lake, and how he’d thought she could be smuggling stolen pets across the border. But he still felt like he’d met her in Seattle. Which was why he’d asked if she had a sister. A twin, since wolves often had multiple births, that maybe he’d seen instead. All decked out in a leather flight jacket and black, skin-tight pants and laced-up boots, blond hair cut shoulder length and blue eyes fixed on him, the Arctic wolf was just as beautiful as the time he’d met her in Alaska. He wondered how she’d feel if she knew he hated to fly. She’d looked highly annoyed that she had to fly him anywhere and probably wanted to kick him out somewhere over the Boundary Waters—until she’d discovered he was a wolf like her. But not just any kind of wolf. A white wolf too. Even so, she was…prickly. Holding a grudge against him for entering her home and…

Maureen A. Miller | Reader Author Match
MatchMaker / March 28, 2018

Writes: Young adult and romantic suspense. My latest release, BENEATH, is a young adult adventure romance. It’s like a Disney adventure movie, but with a “best friend’s brother” romance thrown in! About: Former software technician turned romance novelist seeks readers who enjoy adventure, fantasy, and romance on–or below–the Atlantic Ocean. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Must have an overactive imagination. Must like anything with mozzarella on it. Would rather read a book than watch the news. Is always looking for an adventure. Secretly wishes she could travel to another planet. Is fascinated by shipwrecks and ocean voyages. Loves a good romance! What to expect if we’re compatible: Books with page-turning adventure. “Head in the stars” romance. Way too many pictures of my Corgi. Newsletter updates with fun stuff you don’t find on the Facebook page. Plenty of giveaways! So many hugs! BENEATH by Maureen A. Miller An overnight fishing trip on the Atlantic Ocean… It was Stella Gullaksen’s final break before starting her freshman year at college. Joining her best friend, Jill, and Jill’s family aboard the STARKISSED, Stella wakes to a violent storm that capsizes the boat over a hundred miles off the New Jersey…

Callie Hutton | Who Was Jack the Ripper?
Author Guest / March 28, 2018

My new book, THE PURSUIT OF MRS. PENNYWORTH takes place in the fall of 1888 in London, England. If that date seems notable, it is because that was when Jack the Ripper was wreaking havoc in White Chapel, one of the worst sections of London at the time. With a degree in Education and History, doing research, while absolutely necessary, can be a time suck for me. Once I find a subject I need to learn a few facts about, hours later I am oftentimes still reading and googling for more information. (The research black hole) Thus became the overload of data I uncovered about Jack the Ripper. While the actions of Jack the Ripper don’t have a direct effect in my story about a widow who is being stalked, it does impact the plot. Mrs. Charlotte Pennyworth is receiving disturbing packages on her front steps. When she goes to the Metropolitan Police (Scotland Yard) they deny her help because Jack the Ripper is keeping them busy. The police officer she speaks with indicates she probably has an admirer, she is in no danger, and should enjoy the attention. Charlotte then turns to Mr. Elliot Baker, a private investigator to…

Author/Reader Match: Lisa Renee Jones
MatchMaker / March 28, 2018

Writes: Romance, Romantic Suspense, or in the case of my newest release, MURDER NOTES, book one in my Lilah Love series out on March 27th, is Romantic Suspense, with a heavy leaning towards the suspense side of the story. However Lilah does have a forbidden fruit of a man in her life, that she just can’t stay away from and he’s not about to let her succeed when she tries. About: New York Times bestselling author with weakness for coffee and chocolate. I love to write kickass heroines, sexy men and plots that will (hopefully) have you guessing and breathless until the very end. I have a husband who to enables my previously mentioned weaknesses when he knows what’s good for him. We currently reside in Colorado where there’s plenty of snow and cool weather to satisfy our native-Texan hearts. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Enjoys female-led suspense Likes damaged, dark characters Likes a little danger with their men Doesn’t mind if the lead characters toe the line between good and bad Loves a story where everything could be a clue, and tries to figure out the mystery as reading What to expect if we’re compatible:…

Eliza Knight | Five Things You Might Not Know About Archery
Author Guest / March 28, 2018

In my new book, THE HIGHLANDER’S GIFT, I had to do a lot of research about archery. The various bows, the parts of an arrow, and whether or not someone can use a longbow if they are without the use of one of their arms. In my story, the heroine, Lady Bella Sutherland, meets the hero, Sir Niall Oliphant, for the first time when they are children, at a skills tournament. She beats him at archery, but not by much! They are both extremely skilled. In fact, as an adult, Bella often practices with a blindfold on, or shooting apples and such off of her maid’s head (who is perfectly confident in this activity!) When Niall and Bella meet up again as adults, where our romance story begins, Niall has recently lost an arm in battle. He no longer uses his bow because of the injury, thinking it impossible. Bella is determined to help him regain that skill, which she knows was a vast source of pleasure to him, and hopes it will build up his confidence, too. How about a few facts I learned while doing research for this story? A bow and arrow can absolutely be used by…

The Complete Guide to Lisa Kleypas’ Series
Readers / March 26, 2018

By Miranda Owen About a million years ago, while hanging out in various online historical romance book groups, people kept extolling the virtues of Lisa Kleypas’ books. Specifically, readers said that nobody writes to-die-for heroes like Lisa Kleypas does. Particular favorites in the book groups were Zachary Bronson from WHERE DREAMS BEGIN and Derek Craven in DREAMING OF YOU. These self-made, passionate men are incredibly complex characters and capture a reader’s imagination. I enjoyed Zachary’s story, but I am firmly and forever Team Alex rather than Team Derek. Over the years, my Lisa Kleypas addiction grew. Whenever there’s a reader poll for top ten favorite heroes, I find a majority of my picks are created by Lisa Kleypas. My favorites include Alex from THEN CAME YOU, Nick Gentry from WORTH ANY PRICE, Simon Hunt and the devilish and delicious Sebastian from the Wallflowers series, and Leo Hathaway in MARRIED BY MORNING. I was ecstatic when I first learned that Lisa Kleypas was coming out with the Ravenels series, since I’m wild for her historical romances. Happily, this series does not disappoint. The deliciously gothic setting of Eversby Priory combined with the passionate Ravenels makes for entertaining stories. The heroines in…

Jenna Ryan | A Good Scare
Author Guest / March 26, 2018

Not every book I write contains supernatural elements, but I believe there’s a suggestion of darkness in all of them, one that harkens back to my childhood. I don’t mean to say there was a lot of darkness in my upbringing. In fact, looking back, those years seem wonderfully sunny and bright. But, oh, I did – and still do – love a good scare. That feeling of being terrified and right on the edge of unsafe began with a visit to my aunt’s boarded-up farmhouse in Saskatchewan. My aunt and uncle lived there when they were first married. Knowing my aunt, it would have been a clean and lovely home. However, by the time my sister and I saw it, everything inside the place was old and rolled and silent as the grave. We didn’t learn why until after we’d scared ourselves silly with thoughts and imaginings of dead bodies trapped inside those rolled-up carpets and ghosts lurking at the rusty handpump that once upon a time would have filled my aunt’s kitchen sink. My newly married aunt discovered a mouse in her house. Huh. How strange is that? Finding a mouse in a farmhouse that was surrounded by…

Anna Schmidt | LAST CHANCE COWBOYS: THE RANCHER
Excerpt / March 23, 2018

Trey had avoided calling on Pete Collins for as long as he could, hoping pressure from the other ranchers would bring him around. Earlier that summer, Colonel Ashwood had questioned Pete about the differences between his version of that day at Deadman’s Point and the testimony of the dead man’s son. Jess had told the family how Collins had hemmed and hawed about maybe being farther away than he’d first thought and how things could look different from a distance. In the end he had retracted his accusations against Trey and apologized profusely to the colonel. He had yet to apologize to Trey. But Trey wasn’t after an apology. What he wanted was to assure himself that Pete intended to observe the uneasy peace. There had not been a single incident since the militia had stepped up patrols and Trey wanted to keep things that way. When he rode under the arches announcing the Collins spread, he saw the rancher talking to two of his hired hands. The three of them were so intent on their conversation, Trey was nearly upon them before they noticed. “Gentlemen,” he said, tipping his fingers to the brim of his hat before dismounting. “Trey…

Stefanie London | Bad Boys
Author Guest / March 23, 2018

Not all bad boys are created equal. The Bad Bachelors app is currently helping with women of New York sort the good from the bad, and the bad from the terrible. It’s a fine line. Personally, I love a little bad sprinkled in with the good. So, I’m here to talk about my three favorite categories of bad boys. The Suit One of my personal favorites. A guy who’s smart, in control, looks incredible and has big dreams and goals. What can I say, ambition is a turn on! The key thing to look out for is how he treats those who work closely with him—if he’s cruel and manipulative, then he’s veered into alphahole territory and you should steer clear. But if he shows kindness (especially if he thinks no one is watching) then you have yourself a winner. Take Reed McMahon, for example. Sure, everyone thinks he’s a womanizer and a player, but he cares about his executive assistant so much he agrees to do some pro bono work for her grandson’s favorite library. And he hates libraries! He’s an alpha Suit with a heart of gold. The Wild Boy These are the guys you mother probably warned…