Ellie, the main character in my debut YA contemporary romance, A MESSY, BEAUTIFUL LIFE, is captain of her high school’s improv team. She meets Jason onstage in an improv scene that turns pretty steamy. I love improv, and as an anxiety-prone introvert the principles of improv have been a huge gift in my life—stay present, listen, trust. Really, improv has all the benefits of meditation, but without the pesky sitting-still part. For me, the greatest gift of improv has been meeting some of my best friends, including my husband, Brian. (But no, we did not meet in a steamy improv scene.) Since it’s contemporary romance day at Fresh Fiction, I thought I’d talk about relationships. I don’t profess to be a relationship guru (not at all!), but Brian and I have been friends for 22 years and we’re celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary three days before my book release. We believe so much in the principles of improv that we based our vows on them, and I thought it might be a fun way for non-improvisers to think about their relationships: THE IMPROV GUIDE TO RELATIONSHIPS You are all supporting actors Just as in a good improv scene, no one…

As part of our countdown to Readers & ‘ritas 2017, our Meet theAuthor interview series helps you get to know the authors joining us in Texas on November 10-12. Read on to get acquainted with author Bridget Blackwood, and purchase your tickets to meet her in person at Readers &‘ritas! What book made you fall in love with the genre you write? Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn Kenyon. It was the first time I’d ever read a paranormal romance with such a large world building scope. It was amazing and I wanted more, easily devouring the next dozen Dark- Hunter books. If a movie were made of your most recent book, who would you cast in the lead and why? Dove Cameron would be a great Ianthe (from LOST IN PARADISE, the latest in my World in Shadows series). I’ve seen her play a variety of characters and she always nails the performance like she was born for it. I think she’d be able to portray Ianthe’s fierceness through her vulnerability she wears like armor. She’s very beautiful and younger looking, which lends credit to the deadly allure of Sirens. Sam Claflin is my pick for the male lead. Zander comes…

When seventeen-year-old Haley Cooke goes missing out of her high school, leaving behind only a chilling note that says “if you’re reading this, I’m already dead,” FBI Profiler Evelyn Baine is put on the case. Initially, police thought Haley was grabbed by a stranger, but as Evelyn digs deeper, it seems that the people closest to her are all hiding something. There’s Haley’s mom, Linda. On the surface, she seems to be the devastated parent of a missing child, doing everything she can to bring Haley home. But is Linda more interested in being on the news than finding her daughter? And could there be any truth to her ex-husband’s claims that Haley was so unhappy at home she ran away? Then there’s Haley’s dad, Bill. He seems completely unconcerned about Haley’s disappearance, and Evelyn has to wonder: is it because he really believes Haley is safe on her own, or is he calm because he knows exactly where Haley is for a much more sinister reason? There’s also Haley’s step-father, Pete, a new addition to Haley’s life she didn’t seem to like. Haley’s father claims he’s abusive, but there’s no shortage of bad blood between the new husband and…

Miranda Owen: In DRAGONSWORN, Falcyn and Medea are both warriors and have both known bone-deep grief. Do you prefer writing a hero and heroine who have a lot in common, or who are opposites that are thrown together? Sherrilyn Kenyon: Both 🙂 They each have their own challenges and are fun to write, for different reasons. Miranda Owen: Betrayal and trust are hand-in-hand themes in many of your books. What draws to these themes? Sherrilyn Kenyon: Both are part of life. Sadly, almost everyone goes through betrayal at some point, and it’s learning to trust again that’s so hard and yet so important. I had an extremely traumatic childhood that left me with severe trust issues, so I know exactly how hard it is to let down your guard for anyone. To make yourself vulnerable again after you’ve been hurt. But we’re not islands and people need people. That’s something my characters usually have to learn and explore for themselves. That learning to open up and trust again, even when they’re scared to. Miranda Owen: Because Urian and Stryker are both characters in DRAGONSWORN, I can’t help but think to earlier books with those characters. Since DARK SIDE OF THE…

Miranda Owen: What is it about vampires that capture your imagination? Kate Baxter: I’ve always been a fan of vampires! I read Anne Rice’s INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE when I was 17, and after that, I was hooked. I love the aura of darkness that surrounds them, the intensity of their emotions, and the potential for so much self-inflicted torture. I love to write internal conflict and with vampires, there is so much opportunity to explore their angst. It’s fun to shed a little light on characters who are condemned to live in darkness! Miranda Owen: The mercenary and morally ambiguous character Christian pops up in THE LOST VAMPIRE. After writing about him, and including him in the past books, is he a character you really enjoy writing for – perhaps more so than when he first appeared? Kate Baxter: I absolutely LOVE Christian. Along with Siobhan, he’s one of my favorite characters to write. I definitely consider him a bit of an antihero and with each book, I fall a little more in love with him! He’s flawed and self-destructive and a little selfish. His character has room to grow and at the same time, his character traits have…

Miranda Owen: What had you doing a series about demons, angels, and other biblical themes? Jeaniene Frost : I’ve loved all things paranormal since I was a child. Seriously, a story long told by my parents was that on my first day of Sunday school, I told the pastor that I thought the cross on the wall was to keep the vampires away. Not surprisingly, the first books I wrote featured vampires, but even then, I soon branched out to include other creatures like ghosts, ghouls, witches, revenants, wraiths, sorcerers, necromancers, and even a few demons. However, I first got the idea for the Broken Destiny series the same way I first got the idea for my Night Huntress series: from a dream. I have very vivid dreams, and they’ve ended up being plot fodder for more than a few books. In this particular dream, a young woman woke up trapped in a demon realm after spending the night in a bed and breakfast. Over the next few years, while I was writing my other novels, that story kept growing in my mind. Ironically, the young woman didn’t turn out to be my novel’s heroine. Instead, she was my heroine’s…

Kristen Donnelly: What drew you to writing an older heroine? Sophie Jordan: I’ve been reading romance since I was thirteen …and in that time I’ve read (and loved) countless fresh-right-out-of-the-school-room-historical heroines ranging from 18-21. I’ve read hundreds of them and will likely read hundreds more. As much as I enjoy them, I feel like there is a definite lack of heroines over thirty-five … and that’s what I wanted to write. Life doesn’t end at thirty … so why shouldn’t authors depict more mature women in romance novels? Basically … I wrote what I wanted to read, and that has pretty much been the ingredient to how I decide what to write next since forever. Kristen Donnelly: Was there an inspiration for this story? Sophie Jordan: I introduced Graciela and Colin in my previous novel, WHILE THE DUKE WAS SLEEPING, and they threatened to steal the scene a time or two. The fact that Graciela was older and Colin was younger was just a perk. Kristen Donnelly: You’ve written in a variety of subgenres within Romancelandia – do you have a favorite? Sophie Jordan: No! I don’t … that’s why I keep hopping subgenres. I love them all. Kristen Donnelly:…

Marcos Costa is used to being alone. Tossed into foster care as an infant, he learned from an early age how to survive using his wits. When he was seven, he met two older foster brothers (Cole Walker and Andre Diaz) who he would call his brothers forever. But just five years later, the house caught fire (with Marcos inside) and burned to the ground. On his own again, he bounced around more foster homes until he hit eighteen and was reunited with Cole and Andre. The person he never saw again was the girl who showed up at the foster home a few months before it burned down: Brenna Hartwell. She was his very first crush, and he’s never forgotten her. But he has moved on. As an adult, Marcos still has a close bond with Cole and Andre, but everyone else, he keeps at a distance. It’s worked for him all his life, and it works especially well in his job, as a DEA agent who goes undercover on dangerous operations on a regular basis. His latest assignment is his most dangerous yet. He’s going for a meet – alone – to a drug lord’s hideaway deep in…

It feels like yesterday that Samantha Chase released A SKY FULL OF STARS, but as we all know there is always another book on the horizon. Yes, we have to wait until February for her next Shaughnessy Brothers book, ONE MORE PROMISE (out February, 2018), but as a little treat, Samantha wants to share the cover with us today!   Ambitious Paige Walters is ecstatic when she’s hired to recruit musicians for a literacy campaign—it’s her chance to prove she’s got the chops to make it in the family business. She rolls up her sleeves and gets ready to make this the best campaign ever. Fallen idol Dylan Anders catches wind of the project and thinks it’d be the perfect way to redeem himself. Paige is less than thrilled that Dylan is using the cause for his personal gain—and she makes it clear. But as the campaign has them working side by side, their attraction grows. And so do their challenges… Pre-order ONE MORE PROMISE: Amazon.com | Kindle | BN.com | Powell’s Books | Books-A-Million | Indiebound | Ripped Bodice | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR

Boas & Tiaras has come a long way since its humble (yet fabulous) beginning. What began in 2002 as a group of 6 readers enjoying tea in Duncanville has evolved into an annual event that draws readers and authors from all over the country. On June 10, more than 50 book-loving ladies gathered at the historic Adolphus hotel in downtown Dallas to celebrate Fresh Fiction’s 15th annual Boas & Tiaras tea! Glistening chandeliers, fine china, and sparkling tiaras made everyone feel like a queen—and better yet, lively conversation and abundant laughter made everyone feel like family. For any of you who were not able to join us (and for those of you who attended and want to re-live the fun), read on for a taste of the Boas experience! Before tea was served, guests perused a selection of 15 raffle baskets, proceeds benefiting Genesis Women’s Shelter, and delighted in the gift bags provided by our host authors. Every table was surrounded by ladies dressed to the nines, ready to chat about all things bookish. Tea was served course by course, elegantly plated and attentively brought by waiters in crisp suits. Sandwiches arrived first, dazzling us with flavors like orange zested…