You’ve probably encountered a character in a book who’s one hundred percent convinced she won’t end up with a particular person (or type of person). And as soon as she said it (especially if the book was shelved in the romance section), you probably thought to yourself, “I know who you’ll end up with by the end of the book!” In my Profiler series, FBI profiler Evelyn Baine is extremely talented at her job and extremely serious. She got into it because her best friend went missing as a child and was never found. Now, all these years later, she sees every case as a chance to bring someone else the kind of closure she never got for herself. So, of course, FBI Hostage Rescue Team agent Kyle “Mac” McKenzie is someone she immediately dismisses as an impossibility: not only is dating a teammate forbidden by the FBI (and Evelyn would never put her career in jeopardy), but he also never seems to be serious. But as the series progresses, that “impossibility” becomes reality. In my latest romantic suspense trilogy, The Lawmen: Bullets and Brawn, every set of heroes and heroines has someone who thinks “this could never happen” about…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Mary Ellen Taylor. Writes: Mary Ellen Taylor novels, including my latest, WINTER COTTAGE, are contemporary “women’s fiction” stories entwined with history that informs their present day plots and, to varying extent, the mysteries at their center. Regardless of the direction the story takes, at heart the books all explore life, love, friends and family and delve into the need we all have to belong and to find our way. About: A native of Virginia, my love for my home state is evident in my contemporary women’s fiction novels. My first four, beginning with THE UNION STREET BAKERY, are set in Alexandria and the town is, in some way, a silent character in each. In my latest, WINTER COTTAGE, Virginia’s Eastern Shore topography and weather are essential to the scenes and actions of that story. I still live in Virginia where I’ve raised my family, built my career and now enjoy an empty nest along with my husband and three miniature dachshunds….

One of the early reviews of THE ARROWS OF THE HEART notes that the heroine, Karyn—while appearing to have been the meek and obedient daughter—has actually always been a square peg in a round hole. When I asked my fan group on Facebook (Jeffe’s Closet) what they’d like me to talk about, one reader suggested Karyn’s unconventional upbringing. It’s true that, in my fantasy world society known for its oppressive conventions, especially regarding the role of women, Karyn af Hardie has grown up in an unusual way. On the surface—especially when she appears in earlier books in the series—Karyn has always seemed like a conventional Dasnarian woman. Her rank in the Dasnarian Empire is very important to her. She clings to her arranged marriage with tenacity because, for a Dasnarian woman, her husband is everything. Since women in this culture cannot handle money, and usually aren’t taught to read or count, having a husband, or father or brothers, to protect and care for them is critical. It’s a matter of survival. Also, like all women of her station and upbringing, Karyn has been carefully taught to defer to men in every way. Defiance is not an option. See again: a…

Writing my latest novel, FREQUENCY, was a blast. The book is a YA retelling of the Pied Piper fairy tale that’s steeped in music—hard rock and EDM, primarily—so it gave me a chance to get weird and imaginative with how different forms of music affect different people in a supernatural way (plus, any chance to reference Motörhead in a novel is a gift from the universe). But one obstacle I kept encountering is that paranormal stuff allows for laziness. How does the hero escape the clutches of the villain? Magic! How does the villain know about the well-laid scheme against them? Werewolf! You get the idea. All these tricks are easy and played out, and as a reader, I hate books where paranormal elements were conveniently placed because the author obviously wanted to knock off early for lunch. So if you’re writing paranormal literature, here are a few questions to ask yourself to keep your writing challenging, entertaining, and grounded in just enough in reality to create real conflict. 1. “What if there was no magic?” The most important question. Back when I was brainstorming worlds for a sci-fi publishing imprint, I had a colleague who asked this all the…

Right after we got engaged, my now-husband and I traveled to India with my mother. We met some of her Indian coworkers, and their eighteen-year-old daughters, who were planning careers in science and engineering. Still, these young women expected to choose husbands from among men vetted for them by parents and match-makers, and then have happy marriages. They told me that their parents had done well for them so far, and they expected their choice of mates would be good as well. For most of recorded history, marriages between young people have been arranged by parents and elders, though fiction often portrays first love and sexual attraction that throws arranged marriages into chaos. In my historical fiction about Viking Age Norway, I have created a mix of arranged and chosen marriages, with the chance of their success having much more to do with the personality and choices of those in the marriage than how it begins. I’m glad not to have had an arranged marriage for myself, but having been married for twelve years now, I think that some of the skills needed to make an arranged marriage work are also helpful in a chosen marriage. In fiction, I love…

As part of our countdown to Readers & ‘ritas 2018, our Meet the Author interviews help you get to know the authors joining us in Texas on November 9-11. Read on to get acquainted with Kishan Paul, and purchase your ticket to meet her in person at Readers & ‘ritas! Pitch us your newest book in one sentence. A mother risks everything to save her son while a man risks everything to protect her. If you could meet one of your characters in real life, who would you choose and what would you do? I would love to meet Alisha, the main character in my The Second Wife series. She both inspires and fascinates me at the same time. I would love to just hang out with her at her ranch. Maybe we could have tea, meet her family, hang out with the animals in her orchard, anything she would want to do. What gets your creative juices flowing when you’re brainstorming a new story? Music is a major source of inspiration for me. I have always found myself moved by the emotions embedded in the lyrics, in the singer’s inflections, and the melody. Sometimes, all it takes is a single…

Hi there! Thanks for having me. There are so many beloved tropes in romance, sometimes it’s hard to choose which ones will fit a particular story. When I’m starting a new book, I always begin with my characters: who they are, what they want most, and how they plan to get it. With COULDN’T ASK FOR MORE, Bryan, the hero, came to me first. A wealthy textiles executive, he’s handsome and successful. Yet, he still feels the need to prove himself to his father by making sure the family business remains prosperous, and he’s willing to do the work to make that happen. When my heroine, Alexis, stepped onto the page, I saw her as a young, driven fashion designer. She has big plans to shake things up inside the fashion industry, but she is savvy enough to know she’ll have to work her way there. She’s not one to pass up a golden opportunity, and the upcoming Carolina Music and Fashion Festival is just that. The small, regional festival will be the perfect launching point for her new fashion line, Krystal Kouture One. Bryan and Alexis have something of a mutual goal—they are both seeking success in their careers, in…

Emma Castle’s latest, MIDNIGHT WITH THE DEVIL, reimagines the Devil as a tortured — and hot — anti-hero looking for the right woman to soften him right up. Yes, even the Devil can thaw for that special someone. Castle stopped by to chat with Miranda Owen about the novel, how she crafted her perfect devilish lead, and what she’s working on next. Miranda Owen: MIDNIGHT WITH THE DEVIL was my introduction to your books. For other readers like me, who might be reading you for the first time, can you tell us a little about yourself? Emma Castle: I’m an Oklahoma girl who loves to write passionate romances that challenge a reader’s preconceived notions about the world. I got bit by the travel bug when I was young, and I’ve traveled to England, Spain, Scotland, France, Italy, Mexico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands and China. I love hanging out with my two dogs, Evie and Fritz when I’m not writing, and I love exercising, reading and going to the movies to relax. Miranda Owen: MIDNIGHT WITH THE DEVIL is a sort of supernatural or “otherworldly” romance. Is that the kind of story you enjoy telling the most? What was your favorite part…

In my latest release, CUT AND RUN, medical examiner Dr. Faith McIntyre is called to the hospital when unconscious and critically injured FBI Agent Macy Crow is brought to the emergency room after a vicious hit and run. The Quantico-based agent is Faith’s mirror image and her existence brings into question Faith’s adoption, which was always shrouded in secrets. Could Macy be the twin sister Faith never knew she had? And what was Macy doing in a dark Austin alley? More importantly, who and what are behind the clues Macy has left that lead Faith and Texas Ranger Mitchell Hayden to the graves of three women who disappeared thirty years before? Is it possible Macy found a connection between those graves and a pregnant girl who has been missing for months? CUT AND RUN is chocked full of emotion, beginning with the opening scene featuring Paige, a pregnant teen who has been locked in a windowless room for months and is days away from going into labor. She’s as terrified of giving birth alone as she is frightened of her brutal jailor. I’m hoping readers feel Paige’s desperation as strongly as I did when I wrote this scene. The relationship between Faith…

October is just a few days away, and the fall TV season is almost in full swing. That means it’s the perfect time to check in with Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime for next month’s streaming selections. If you’re looking forward to “Huluween,” there’s no shortage of horror flicks to be found. Truthfully, all three of the major streaming services are playing up the horror genre this month. It was a quiet summer, but the pace of original series is picking up again with a few that we’ve been eagerly anticipating. Before we jump into the full October lineup, we’re throwing the spotlight on five can’t miss shows. Into the Dark: The Body Is Into the Dark a film or a TV series? Blumhouse’s new original show may be a mixture of both. Each extra-length episode of Into the Dark will be spread across 12 months, as each installment offers a horror tale inspired by a particular holiday. “The Body” hits first, arriving this October with the tale of a contract killer on Halloween night. To get his payday, the killer will have to carry around a body on the spookiest night of the year. Let’s just say that avoiding detection may not be…