Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Eileen Dreyer – Daughters of Myth
Author Guest / March 31, 2022

Okay, so we all know about fairies, right? Tiny, twinkly things that can be found flitting from flower to flower like humanoid pollinators with gossamer wings and pointy ears. Tinkerbell. Merryweather. Peaseblossom. Puck. Yeah. That works for Hollywood and Shakespeare. Not for Ireland. Irish fairies are different. To illustrate that, let me paint a picture. Tucked into the center of my front garden is a paving stone decorated with a painted daisy and the admonition Don’t Piss Off The Fairies. In Ireland, that was never a joke. Irish fairies can be as whimsical and mischievous as any other fairy. There are certainly pixies in the garden, leprechauns in the shoe shop and merpeople in the sea. But there are also those who can also be terrible and fearsome. Think of the Elves in Lord of the Rings. Regal, powerful, sensual. Serious about certain things. The Irish fairies are protectors of the earth, and they don’t take to anybody abusing their turf. The Irish people have so respected that belief, that until recently they rerouted roads and moved buildings to prevent cutting down fairy bushes or destroying fairy forts. Gifts were left on doorsteps to appease fairies, and fences built and…

Anne Bishop Interview – Mixing Fantasy and Mystery
Author Guest , Interviews / March 31, 2022

First, I just want to say that I love this book’s cover! AB: I do too. It fits the atmosphere of the story so well.   As somebody unfamiliar with this series, when I first glanced at the cover and skimmed the description, I assumed the series was primarily a fantasy series. After looking at the description again, I find there are some murder mystery elements as well. How would you describe this book for readers unfamiliar with this series? AB: CROWBONES and LAKE SILENCE, the previous book set in that part of the Others’ world, could be described as urban fantasy cozy mysteries. I was playing with the idea of what a cozy mystery – amateur sleuth(s) finding dead bodies and helping the police solve the crime – would be like in a world ruled by the supernatural beings, and the stories set in the area around Lake Silence are the result. The first five books in that world (the Lakeside Courtyard stories) are urban fantasy. WILD COUNTRY, set in another location in that world, was written over the template of the old Westerns with sheriffs, gamblers, and outlaws. Of course, when the sheriff is a shifter Wolf and…

Wren Michaels Interview – Building a New Paranormal Romance Series
Author Guest , Interviews / March 31, 2022

Your book, THUNDERSTRUCK, is the first book in your new “Thunderbird Brotherhood” series. Do you know how many books you plan on writing for the series?   At this point, there’s going to be four more books for the Thunderbirds, but I’m hoping to do spinoff books for some of the wolves I’ll be introducing in future books, as well as some of the witches which get introduced in book two.   Or are you just planning to see how it goes? Well, that’s always a possibility. In my case, what I plot out and what actually transpires are usually very different. It’s like fighting with an alternate personality, only it’s the characters in your head demanding things of you. So who knows. LOL   Will each book feature a different couple? At this point, yes. But I could see maybe writing another one with Reseda and Kane, which you’ll understand why after reading book two.   How would you describe the dynamic between Reseda and Kane? They’re very push and pull. They feed off each other, taking and giving without even knowing it. They have a lot of banter which was so much fun to write because of who…

Anna Harrington | Author-Reader Match: A RELENTLESS RAKE
Author Guest / March 30, 2022

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Anna Harrington!   Writes: I write spicy Regency romances with dashing heroes and strong females. My latest book is the fourth book in the Lords of the Armory Series, A RELENTLESS RAKE. It’s the story of a math genius bluestocking named Olivia Everett who crosses paths with Alec Sinclair, London’s most notorious rake and a man who is hot on the trail of a revolutionary group named Scepter. He’s determined to uncover her secrets…all her secrets. Yet Alec has more than met his match with Olivia, a woman who brooks no nonsense and knows the truth about rakes and bluestockings…but knowing the truth and coming to terms with it might prove to be two very different – and frustrating – things.     About: Bluestocking author seeks curious readers looking for satisfying stories of love who go wild for history, grand country estates and house parties, London intrigue, and a crowded ball (with lots of gossip in the retiring room and a conveniently located dark garden). Looking for…

Linda Broday | Exclusive Excerpt: A MAN OF LEGEND
Author Guest / March 30, 2022

Just because trouble has come visiting doesn’t mean you have to offer it a place to sit down. That had always been Crockett Legend’s motto and it had served him well. Until now. Looked like it might be too late at this point for any type of homespun cowboy wisdom. The dye had been cast. Rays of an apricot sky through the idling train’s window sent a reminder that his early morning travel could yield yet more surprises and it was best to be prepared. If possible. He rubbed his face with his hands and glanced around at the people still filling the car. A group of men in rough work clothes were talking about going to the oil fields, hoping to find work in the Texas boom towns that had recently sprung up overnight. In fact, the black gold and talk of getting rich seemed on everyone’s minds these days. A swish of delicate fabric brushing his legs interrupted his thoughts as a woman hesitated, probably scanning the car for a choice of empty seats. Finally, she mumbled something under her breath and took the seat across the narrow aisle from him. The faint scent of sage and wildflowers…

Emily E. K. Murdoch | 20 Questions: A GOVERNESS OF WISE YEARS
Author Guest / March 30, 2022

1–What is the title of your latest release? I have quite a few! A GOVERNESS OF UNUSUAL EXPERIENCE came out on 14 January, and I currently have five books available on pre-order: A GOVERNESS OF WISE YEARS, comes out on March 29, THE MISSING HUSBAND comes out on April 26, ADVENT WITH AN ARCHDUKE launches May 1, SCANDAL WITH A SOVEREIGN is live on June 1, and I’m involved in an incredible multi-author boxset that will be published on June 7 called SECRETS, SCANDALS, AND SEDUCTION. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? THE MISSING HUSBAND is the first book in my new de Petras Saga, a multi-generational family saga with romance, mystery, and more! This rambunctious family is determined, rebellious, and packed full of incredible stories. Readers will meet the matriarch, Opal de Petras, in the first book – and her husband, who appears back in her life just as she has given him up for dead and decided to take a lover. Shenanigans ensue! 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I have always written historical romance; I just love losing myself in the past and exploring characters who are faced with…

Danielle Jackson Dresser | Jesse Q. Sutanto Interview
Author Guest , Interviews / March 29, 2022

Danielle Jackson: Welcome to Fresh Fiction, Jesse! We are big fans of your Aunties series and are so excited to celebrate the release of FOUR AUNTIES AND A WEDDING – congrats! What has been the most surprising thing about your publishing journey so far?   Jesse Q. Sutanto:  Oh gosh, to be honest, EVERYTHING has been surprising about my publishing journey! My first book deal, THE OBSESSION, was a humble deal. Everything was about as typical as it went. My second book deal, THEO TAN AND THE FOX SPIRIT, was slightly larger, but still pretty average. Then the following month I sold DIAL A FOR AUNTIES and things just exploded. Suddenly, I was having calls with producers and giant studios, all of whom were clamoring to buy the rights to the TV/film adaptation. It was the kind of story where, if an aspiring author were to say she dreams of having that kind of road to publication, she’d be laughed out of the room because it’s just so ridiculous!   Wedding planning is already a feat, but with her vivacious and nosy aunties “helping,” things quickly get out of hand for Meddy. Were there any aspects of wedding planning and…

Erica Spindler Interview – Suspense, Thrillers, and Strong Female Protagonists
Author Guest , Interviews / March 29, 2022

Your new book, THE DETECTIVE’S DAUGHTER, involves your main character investigating a cold case for personal reasons. I love stories like that. What inspired you to write about that subject? Are you fascinated by cold cases, or true crime stories? I am definitely fascinated by cold cases and true crime! Of course, I’m not alone in that, which explains the popularity of the genre. Cold cases are fascinating because they’re the ultimate mystery, that dangling thread that never gets pulled, the question mark that never becomes a period. The JonBenet Ramsey case comes to mind. We can’t stop wondering what happened to that beautiful little girl, we want answers, closure. We look at the pieces of that crime puzzle, analyzing each, wondering where the investigation went wrong.   In the case of THE DETECTIVE’S DAUGHTER, I was drawn to the idea of a daughter being pulled into the case, now ice cold, that destroyed her father. Between the case – a murder and kidnapping inside a powerful and secretive New Orleans family – and my protagonist’s history with it, I had lots of good stuff work with. In THE DETECTIVE’S DAUGHTER, is the focus more on the mystery itself or,…

Hudson Lin | 20 Questions: GOING PUBLIC
Author Guest / March 29, 2022

1–What is the title of your latest release? GOING PUBLIC   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?  Executive assistant Elvin is used to cleaning up after his playboy boss, Ray. But when a routine business trip uncovers a secret drug ring, not even Elvin can bail Ray out of the mess. They must work together to beat the law and admit their love for each other in the process.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?  I live and work in Toronto, so it made sense to set the book in a city I’m familiar with.   4–Would you hang out with Raymond in real life?  Definitely. Especially if he invites me to his private rooftop pool or we hop on a plane for a dinner and a show on Broadway!   5–What are three words that describe Elvin? Caretaker, Loyal, Ruthlessly Efficient (I cheated )   6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?  The minimum-security prisons in Canada look more like country clubs than jails.   7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? A little of both? To be honest, it changes with every…

Laura Brown | Author-Reader Match: THE UN-ARRANGED MARRIAGE
Author Guest / March 29, 2022

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Laura Brown!   Writes: Hi! I’m so happy to be here! I write contemporary romance and romcoms with heart and heat! I love writing characters who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, as I’m Hard of Hearing myself! My latest novel, The Un-Arranged Marriage, features a hard of hearing heroine and a demisexual hero! It’s a fun enemies-to-lovers, opposites attract romcom with lots of competitions!   About: I’m a not-so-quiet introvert who loves to talk about my favorite books (all the HEA romances) and shows (Once Upon A Time and Property Brothers anyone?). When I’m not on my computer, I’m taking care of my tween and our three cats, especially the kitten who demands all the attention! I married my high school sweetheart and we live in Massachusetts with our family. I love a fun coffee mug and have been consuming way too much coffee this pandemic!   What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: My ideal match for THE UN-ARRANGED MARRIAGE will… Love the enemies to lovers…