We turn to books for so many reasons, and sometimes that includes the desire to forget, if only for a while, about reality. That’s been my experience this past month (as I know it’s been for others), and I found mixed success in my title choices. Darn those talented writers who keep us reading/listening through their skillful wordcraft and then break our hearts with their actual stories. I’ll save those jaw-gritting titles for the end of this piece and start with the uplifting titles. Three fabulous, best-selling authors have had new releases this spring, and all have been celebrated by fans who love them. Abby Jimenez was first off the block with THE NIGHT WE MET, a real-to-life story about a young woman struggling with issues familiar to many contemporary readers: working part-time gigs in hopes of earning enough to at least pay rent and occasionally eat, thorny relationships with family, and a life-threatening nut allergy that makes every otherwise normal interaction just a bit risky. Good thing she’s got a handsome and charming boyfriend, whom she met the same night she met one of his friends. Too bad the boyfriend sometimes binge-drinks and usually forgets about Larissa’s allergies, but…

I’m the kind of person who always has music playing (my Spotify wrapped numbers are truly unhinged), so I had many different playlists on rotation while writing THE LAKE CLUB. In fact, I had playlists for each individual character (this helped me get into their mindsets/energy) as well as for the book at large, and I’m excited to share a few songs with you now! “Sunshine” by AtmosphereThis song was in my head from the moment I started THE LAKE CLUB. Atmosphere is a band from Minneapolis, and I have great memories of listening to them growing up on Lake Minnetonka. This song is super narrative in style – and I love how it captures one summer day and all the possibilities and freedom that roll in with the heat, even when you might not expect it. Summers always seem like the most magical months of the year (especially in Minnesota, when the rest of the year is frigid), and I think this song in particular captures the feeling that anything can happen when the sun is burning bright. “10,000 Emerald Pools” by BørnsAs soon as I saw the cover for THE LAKE CLUB (gorgeous, right?!), this song came to…

Growing up in Ohio, my high school was bordered by rows of cornfields. I thought I knew a lot about the crop, but I had never heard of a “Corn Palace” until we reached South Dakota during our 2021 Go West trip across the USA. They were celebrating 100 years when we visited. The Corn Palace, commonly advertised as The World’s Only Corn Palace and the Mitchell Corn Palace, is a multi-purpose arena/facility located in Mitchell, South Dakota. A one-of-a-kind destination, at first glance, it’s a stunning Moorish-revival structure. But look closer and you’ll realize the building is decorated with crop art; the colorful murals and designs covering the building are crafted entirely from corn and other grains. It’s not just a seasonal exhibit; it’s a living tradition. Every year, the facade is stripped and redesigned with new art constructed from twelve naturally occurring shades of corn grown by local farmers. Artists’ drawings are transferred to black tar paper labeled with codes corresponding to colors, providing a “corn-by-numbers” pattern showing where each colored cob should be nailed. Corn cobs are split in two lengthwise and nailed to the exterior of the building, using approximately 1.5 million nails and 325,000 ears…

Welcome to Where Everybody Knows Your… Alibi – where we get to know thefictional towns we’d happily move to… if they didn’t have such a suspicious body count.(but does that really matter?) I’m thrilled to welcome Rosalie Spielman this month. Whether you’ve met her through her delightful Hometown Mysteries series, her contributions to the Aloha Lagoon Mysteries, or one of her many appearances in the cozy mystery community, chances are you’ve already discovered her warmth, wit, and love of storytelling. Rosalie’s path to becoming a multiple (yes, MULTIPLE!) award-winning author has been anything but ordinary. Her experiences as an Army brat, Army officer, and spouse have taken her across the globe, introducing her to people from all walks of life – experiences that have undoubtedly influenced the communities and memorable characters that fill the pages of her books. When she’s not writing, Rosalie is busy connecting with readers and fellow authors. She’s a founding member of Facebook’s Murder, They Write, and the host of You Know the Spiel!, where her enthusiasm for books and the cozy mystery genre shines through. Let’s chat with Rosalie about New Oslo, Idaho, population 852, where the Hometown Mysteries take place. I’m already in love…

Excerpt from THE SHROUDED QUEEN by Ashley Tropea: My rescuer stood in front of me protectively, possessively, and snarled. Bain glared but obediently ambled off, disappearing back into the dark. Leaving me alone with my rescuer. This bear was somehow larger than the first, its shoulders reaching much higher than my head. It turned slowly, yellow eyes locking on my still-shaking form, the fur on its neck blue. Without breaking eye contact, it rose up on its hind legs and shifted. In the next breath, Keir stood in front of me, trousers tattered and bare chest heaving. His tan skin glistened with sweat under the light of the stars, and despite the pain lancing through me, my eyes ate up the sight of him, the immense strength and power that radiated off him. His large biceps flexed as he pushed his long braid over his muscled shoulder, veins cording his forearms like vines, and his massive chest rose and fell with each jagged inhale. My own breath hitched as my gaze lowered. Above the rows of strong abs, huge white scars slashed along his rib cage, and bone peered out through the flesh, stark against his skin. Not a fresh…

Music made me a writer – the wordplay, the explosion of feelings, the pure artistry of it all. Songs do so much in so little time, and as a creator myself, I’m forever indebted to music that inspires my work, my characters, and how I think about the world. My new novel, TROPESICK, is a multi-layered love story about the power of storytelling and the magic of forgiveness. Here are five songs that’ll forever remind me of Katie and Tyler’s impossibly complicated second-chance romance. When You Were Young, The KillersTROPESICK is a story about two childhood neighbors: sparkly Kate, the girl next door, and broody Tyler, her brother’s best friend. They had a chance to get their love story right the first time, as teenagers, but Tyler’s angst and battle with drug addiction made that impossible. Told through two timelines, TROPESICK shows these life-altering decisions being made in real time, then re-examines them through the lens of present day, when the characters are adults. To me, this song just feels like Tyler. It’s loud, it’s messy, it’s full of regret, and it so pathetically identifies a single girl as the permanent center of his universe that it hurts. Name, Goo…

What is the title of your latest release?KIERAN. It’s the final book in the Blackwell Brothers’ Redemption trilogy. What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Kieran Blackwell, the youngest son of the Grim Reaper, has two choices – save himself and his brothers or watch the woman he loves die. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?This is the final book in a trilogy. All three sons have been dropped into the fictional small town of Redemption with limited powers, no money, and no way to communicate with the outside. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely. Georgia is an amazing woman, determined to make her bakery a success. She’s kind, loyal, and dependable. Ples, there’d always be yummy treats to enjoy. What are three words that describe your hero?Determined, dangerous, and sexy. What’s something you learned while writing this book?My characters always teach me about human nature. I also had to do some research on bakeries and recipes. Not a hardship. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?I write a rough draft first and then go back and rewrite. What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?I’m not…

Hello! I’m Michelle M. Pillow, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling romantasy author, and I am so excited to share my Fresh Fiction Title Challenge for KING OF THE UNBLESSED, Book 1 of the Realm Immortal series! Think Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings world meets the movie Labyrinth with lots of romance. Dark, swoony, morally gray, anti-hero romance. You’re welcome. K is for Kidnapped. Lady Juliana didn’t exactly plan to cross into an immortal realm of beautiful nightmares, but here we are. (The king may have helped… persuade the situation.)I is for Immortality, which has a way of rewriting fate. Merrick, the dark elfin King of Valdis, has lived long enough to lose everything that once made him good. Now he wants her. Obsess much?N is for Necessary Evil. That’s Merrick’s official title, actually. King of Necessary Evil. He’d like you to know he finds it deeply frustrating.G is for Goblin King energy. But make it brooding, dangerous, and wickedly seductive. O is for Otherworld. A realm of eternal night, shadowy thrones, and ancient magic that will pull you in and not let go.F is for Fated Mates. When Merrick sees Juliana, something in the immortal dark clicks. He…

What is the title of your latest release?SOMEBODY WORTH KILLING What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A deadly assassin disguised as a perfect suburban mom and wife is given the impossible task of killing her own husband, forcing her to choose between the two most important things in her life: her job or her family. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I’m based in Washington State, but my family briefly lived in Texas. When I considered where my mom/wife/secret assassin would live, Texas just felt right. I based it in San Antonio, where my husband was stationed, featuring all my favorite parks and coffee shops and bookstores. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I would! I’m not sure she would want to hang out with me – being someone who identifies as a “psychopath” means she sees friendship in a different way. But she’s smart and darkly humorous and fun. What are three words that describe your hero?Hah, I accidentally answered this in the last question! Nadia is smart in a calculating way, darkly humorous in that she will say what everyone’s thinking, and absolutely fun to spend time with. What’s…

What is the title of your latest release?THE NEXT WIFE What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?From her hiding place the old lady watches as he carries his new wife over the threshold. She had thought the house would lay empty forever. The lamps, the paintings, all the furniture – it was all just as before. He had changed nothing for this new wife. The young bride’s laughter jolts her. As if regard for the past was all forgotten. But this is the present and her mind is whirring with what she has just learned. He had changed something after all, which would allow him to hide in plain sight. He’d changed his name… How did you decide where your book was going to take place?It takes place in the City of Bath. At the time of writing this story I was working at Bath Spa railway station. This story started there. From wondering about all the people who start their journey by getting on a train. To wondering where their journeys end. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Yes. Martha is my heroine in this story. What are three words that describe your hero?Indomitable. Feiesty….