Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Complicated Mother-Daughter Relationships in Fiction by Miranda Owen
Author Spotlight / May 6, 2022

The last thing she said to me was why? Why have our swords always been locked in battle, why have we always been fighting? I said we had locked shields not swords. Patsy talking about her mother, Absolutely Fabulous (TV show)   I’ve often thought that a relationship between a mother and daughter can be a little more complex than the relationship between a mother and son. One of the common taunts (depending on your perspective) to daughters is that eventually all daughters become their mothers. That can often be a frightening thought for some young women. From personal experience, things I’ve read, and anecdotes from friends and others, I’ve noticed that there is often an inescapable antagonism between mothers and daughters while the daughters are teenagers or in their early twenties – especially if they are still living together. Thankfully, usually, once the daughters are older and there has been a little time, space, and perspective, the relationships self-correct and get better. As a reader, I’ve enjoyed having this mother-daughter dynamic explored in many ways.   You love your daughter as she is. I failed to do that with you when you were growing up, and it almost killed…

Liz Michalski Interview – The Dark Side of Fairy Tales
Author Guest , Interviews / May 6, 2022

What made you want to do a reimagining of the classic Peter Pan story? Was it always a favorite or, given the dark turn this story takes, not-so-favorite of yours? I’ve always loved fairy tales in general, especially the dark ones. And I’ve always loved Peter Pan — the original is such a slim volume, but so beautiful and complex. But I hadn’t thought of it in years, until I had a crazy dream featuring a Wendy in a stone tower and Peter Pan boys flying in and out of the windows. When I woke up, I thought “Hmmm. That’s interesting,” and started reading everything I could about J.M. Barrie and his work.   Besides Wendy and Peter Pan, do you bring back any of the other characters from the classic? Yes. Tinker Bell makes an appearance, as well as one or two other characters I don’t want to give away!   Your story, like many fairy tales, taps into deep fears that many people have – sickness, a child’s disappearance, aging. Have you entertained the idea of using these elements in a more traditional thriller? Fairy tales were some of the original thrillers. Think about it — missing children,…

Becky Wade Interview – Emotionally Powerful Romance
Author Guest , Interviews / May 6, 2022

Luke Dempsey, your hero in TURN TO ME, is a man who’s been to prison. What made you decide on a hero with that history? Luke’s younger brother died when Luke was 14.  Luke tried to save him, couldn’t, and then blamed himself for Ethan’s death.  That trauma sent him on a reckless and self-destructive path.  I had that path end with a stint in prison for two reasons: One, because I wanted the challenge of prison to toughen him. Two, because I wanted prison to serve as his motivation to get his life in order. When Turn to Me begins, he’s been out for a few months.  He’s cynical and withdrawn but he’s also dead set on never breaking another law.   How would you describe the dynamic between Luke and Finley? Grump and sunshine!  I had a ball writing these two.  Luke’s an irritable bad boy hero type and Finley’s an idealistic, Boho animal lover.   Because there’s some treasure hunting in this story, is there a mix of romance and suspense? Or does one dominate the story more than the other? There’s definitely a blend of romance and mystery with a dash of suspense thrown in.  But…

Suzanne Woods Fisher | 20 Questions: THE SWEET LIFE
Author Guest / May 6, 2022

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE SWEET LIFE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A mom and daughter start an ice cream shop on Cape Cod, with high hopes for success…but you know how complicated that relationship can be. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? My dad grew up on Cape Cod. I’ve traveled there several times and have relatives in Chatham—the jewel of the Cape. What could be better than a summer day in Chatham, Mass? 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? I would definitely hang out with Marnie Dixon, the mom in this story. She’s kind of a middle-aged hippie. Opposite of her daughter Dawn, who’s very literal, very detail minded. On the other hand, I would happily eat Dawn’s ice cream. I’d worry that Marnie would be careless and accidentally cause food poisoning. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Actually, two heroes. Marnie: Spontaneous. Creative. Adventurous. Dawn: Logical. Attention-to-detail. Risk-adverse. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned a lot about the making of ice cream. Quite a lot. My husband attended Penn State’s Ice Cream School (yes…there’s…

Lily Chu | Author-Reader Match: THE STAND-IN
Author Guest / May 6, 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 Lily Chu!   Writes: Fun rom-coms set in Toronto and featuring Asian characters. I love including some glitz and glamour (and a good red lipstick) but I want my characters to also face issues that we encounter in the real world, from mental health challenges to doubts about identity to building relationships and supporting family. And of course, falling in love!   The Stand-In is about Gracie Reed, a biracial Chinese-Canadian who loses her job and reluctantly agrees to help her doppelganger, Chinese movie star Wei Fangli, by impersonating her at events. The money will help move her mother to a better long-term care home, and it’s no hardship to be partnered by Fangli’s co-star and usual escort, actor Sam Yao. However, as Sam and Gracie grow closer, she begins to question herself, and whether Sam sees her for who she is, or only as Fangli’s stand-in.   About: I live in Toronto with my family, which includes two almost toothless cats. One of…