1–What is the title of your latest release? FROM THE VALLEY WE RISE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? French Resistance agent Isabelle Seauve, US Army Chaplain Peter Christiansen, and young maquisard René Amblard each face danger and harrowing choices when the town of Sisteron is bombed during Operation Dragoon in the final summer of World War II. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Setting is always an important part of my novels. Living in France, I was able to visit Sisteron, the city where much of the novel takes place. But my first inspiration (unbeknownst to me at the time) started way back in 1983 when my teammates and I, newly arrived in France, took a group of college-aged Americans to a village near Sisteron called Entrepierres where we spent two weeks lifting stones and digging ditches to help build back this dilapidated village. Heading up the work project was a visionary British missionary who lifted his hands to the sky and challenged us in our thoughts about faith, work, and love. His vision, which became a reality, was to create a retreat center for full-time French pastors and missionaries. God…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE MARRIAGE VENDETTA 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When resentful stay-at-home mom Eliza is sent a suggestive photo of her husband Richard with another woman, she’s just about ready to file for divorce. As a last resort, she visits a marriage therapist, Ms. Early, who Eliza quickly learns is a bit… alternative in her approach. As their sessions unfold, Ms. Early spurs Eliza on to commit a series of bizarre, vengeful acts against Richard, all in the name of “retraining” him. But when therapy takes a risky turn, suspicions grow and alliances shift… How far is Eliza willing to go to save her marriage? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? THE MARRIAGE VENDETTA is a (loose) modern retelling of the doomed relationship between the playwright Richard Brinsley Sheridan and his wife Eliza. I had considered setting the book in Bath in England where the real Eliza grew up, and where she first met Richard. In the end, I changed my mind and decided to set it in Dublin because I’ve lived here more than half my life now and love this city so…

The songs on this list all have, in small or significant ways, a theme of reinvention, either lyrically or in relation to a movie or TV show they’re related to. Reinvention isn’t always about a makeover or moving to Paris. Sometimes, it’s simply about looking inward and re-evaluating how you’ve always done things, the truths you’ve always believed, and seeing it all different.  “Can’t Help Falling in Love with You,” Lick the Tins I actually created the character Dawn 30 years ago, in a screenplay no one ever read that I wrote longhand in a spiral notebook. Originally, she was a backup singer in a garage band who was more talented and badass than anyone gave her credit before until she just went for it. She’s a little baby version of the Dawn we know now, but she was inspired, in part by Watts, the talented tomboy drummer on “Some Kind of Wonderful” – another young woman whose image is framed by what other people think until she decides otherwise. This spirited Celtic version of the Elvis classic is in that 1987 movie’s closing credits, and it was in my head while writing FAMILY & OTHER CALAMITIES. Perfect theme song…

Pride Month is a celebration of love in all its forms, a reminder of the beauty and strength found in diversity, and a call to honor the rich tapestry of identities that make us whole. In the realm of fantasy and paranormal romance, where anything is possible, these stories provide fertile ground for exploring queer love. These genres are uniquely equipped to weave tales of identity, resilience, and connection, set against backdrops of sweeping magic, political intrigue, and otherworldly adventure. With their limitless potential, these stories elevate LGBTQ+ relationships into the realm of the extraordinary, showcasing how love, unrestrained by societal norms or physical boundaries, transcends all. From the fiery passion of enemies-to-lovers arcs to the quiet, tender journeys of self-discovery, fantasy and paranormal romance center queer characters in stories of courage, vulnerability, and joy. These tales aren’t just romances; they’re triumphs of representation, reminders that every person deserves to see their experiences reflected in powerful narratives. This Pride Month, immerse yourself in six unforgettable books that not only feature queer love but make it the heartbeat of their extraordinary worlds. THE JASMINE THRONE Tasha Suri’s The Jasmine Throne is a sweeping epic that combines lush, South Asian-inspired worldbuilding with…

Excerpt from THE LIGHT RUNNER by Ally Walker One-Seven had never ventured out of the building this far, and he was becoming increasingly worried that the man-with-the kind-eyes, who had woken him up from a deep sleep, was doing something that wasn’t exactly OK. So, his body did what it always did when he was nervous and froze up.  He snuck a look up  at the man-with-the-kind-eyes again, trying to understand why he kept muttering to himself, and why he seemed so frantic. Usually, he just held One Seven and gave him treats. And that was great. But today was different. He sure hoped the man knew what he was doing, because now he was making One-Seven sort of scared. Very scared. The man had visited One-Seven and his relatives with that other man, and One Seven had grown somewhat fond of him. Mainly because he brought treats, but also cuz he was gentle. Very gentle. But he didn’t like that other man. He was cold. Like most of the humans he had known.  But the man-with-the-kind-eyes seemed to want to be his friend, so One-Seven sorta looked forward to his visits. But today was different. The man-with-the-kind-eyes seemed very…

1–What is the title of your latest release? JUST EMILIA 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When Emilia Fletcher finds herself trapped inside a Washington, DC Metro elevator, getting out is the least of her problems. Sharing the confined space with her are Em, a troubled teen, and Millie, an elderly woman desperate for reconciliation with her adult daughter. As the hours drag on, hunger, exhaustion, and panic set in, revealing an almost incomprehensible truth: they are the same person. Locked in an uncompromising match of memories, the three women are forced to confront a traumatic event that has shaped their lives. Together, the three women have to untangle their past to reclaim their future. Darkly funny, deeply moving, and razor-sharp, Just Emilia is a gripping exploration of identity, regret, and self-discovery. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The idea initially came to me when I was briefly stuck inside a Washington, DC Metro elevator with a couple of strangers. I doubt it lasted for more than a minute, but that was enough time for me to wonder about who those people were and, should the doors fail to open, would we…

Book Title: REALM OF THIEVES Character Name: Brynla Aihr How would you describe your family or your childhood? It was good…until my father was hung for treason and my mother was sacrificed to the dragon gods. What was your greatest talent? Stealing eggs. Still is my greatest talent. Significant other? Maybe… Biggest challenge in relationships? Letting my guard down. Where do you live? I’d rather not say…I’m a wanted woman. Do you have any enemies? Yes. The government of Esland, the entire convent of the Daughters of Silence, and House Dalgaard How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place? I was repelled at first because it was so unlike anything I’d known. But it does have advantages. And great food. Do you have children, pets, both, or neither? My dog Lemi. What do you do for a living? Steal dragon eggs. Greatest disappointment? Being unable to prevent a few deaths. Greatest source of joy? Lemi! What do you do to entertain yourself or have fun? Ride horses up into the mountains. Drink beer with the Kolbecks. What is your greatest personal failing,…

Book Title: ALL THIS CAN BE TRUE Character Name: Quinn Greaves How would you describe your family or your childhood? It was tough growing up in Mount Solon, Virginia—it was just me and my mom. Her job at the cafeteria at James Madison University didn’t pay much, but there were small perks, like access to the athletic facilities and library, a discount at the bookstore and coffee shop. Still, it was pretty much whole poverty wheel for me: SNAP and WIC cards from the government, free lunches at school, clothes from the local Salvation Army, which in a town so small meant you ran the risk of either being seen by an older girl at school in one of her castoffs or wearing a sweater that had been owned by a forty-year-old woman. For my twelfth birthday, my mom bought me a guitar from Montgomery, and it kind of changed my life. I joined a band in college and became a little famous. And when I made a mistake and needed to leave the band and come home, my mom welcomed me back, no questions asked. Same with when I came out. What was your greatest talent? It used to…

1–What is the title of your latest release? A MURDER FOR MISS HORTENSE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A MURDER FOR MISS HORTENSE is the first in a new crime series starring Miss Hortense, a retired Caribbean nurse from the Windrush generation who has the skill of being able to decipher other people’s secrets with just a glance.  Miss Hortense uses her skills to investigate the investments of the Pardner network – a special community of Black investors, determined to help their community grow. But when an unidentified man is found dead in one of the Pardner’s homes Miss Hortense’s long buried past comes rushing back to greet her, reminding her of one of the worst moments of her life – a crime that took place thirty-five years ago, that was never properly solved. Now, Miss Hortense knows that she is going to have to solve the crime of the past as it connects to this current death, and it will take all of her skills and the mysterious contents of her handbag, to force her community to admit that there is a killer amongst them. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take…

1–What is the title of your latest release? JILL IS NOT HAPPY. I love this title! 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Some secrets keep a couple together. If you ask Jill Tingley, she’ll tell you she and her husband Jack are college sweethearts living the dream in Southern California. Wealthy, popular and genetically blessed, theirs is an enviable life, though they’ve grown distant in recent years. Newly empty nesting with their daughter Maggie away at college, Jill suggests a road trip to reconnect. Jack would rather do anything else than drive to Utah with his wife. He’s only stayed in this marriage because of a shared secret, a tragedy in the past he wanted to keep buried. And for his daughter’s sake. But Jack is finished with the charade of his marriage. He’s filing for divorce as soon as they return, no matter what. But he doesn’t realize what else Jill is hiding. So begins a cat-and-mouse road trip as a cunning wife―think Ripley in yoga pants―and a reluctant husband match wits and drive each other to the edge. But everything will be fine. Jill still loves Jack and believes he’s the only one for her. She’ll…