Every reader is drawn to a genre or a book for a different reason. The titles, the covers, the blurbs the endorsement of anther author they adore. It’s something that catches their eye and sucks them in. For me, it varies with the genre of book and for a cozy mystery the first thing that catches my attention is the title. Mary Lee Ashford has some of the best titles out there, and she follows it with delicious covers and great mysteries, so of course I had to invite her to our cozy little corner for a chat. Kym: Welcome to The Cozy Corner on Fresh Fiction, Mary Lee! Mary Lee: Thanks, Kym. And thank you for having me! Kym: Congrats on the release of your fourth Sugar and Spice mystery, NIGHT OF THE LIVING BREAD! I love your titles, do you come up with them yourself, or do you have a ‘crew’ to help brainstorm these fabulous titles which also includes: GAME OF SCONES, RISKY BISCUITS, and QUICHE OF DEATH. Mary Lee: I come up with some of them myself, but I have to admit that I do tap friends and family to brainstorm ideas. And I’ll also share…
Many romance novels use sibling tropes. The most famous is PRIDE AND PREJUDICE’s Bennet sisters. They must please their mother by marrying well and soon. To please their father, they must stay true to themselves. Jane and Elizabeth lean on each other as they make their ways to happily ever after. In real life romance, siblings also play a role. Prospective spouse picking is a sport. I married my brother’s friend. My cousin introduced her friends, now sisters-in-law, to her three brothers. My mom introduced her brother-in-law to her friend’s sister. Her running joke was to say, “I’m so sorry.” Our siblings know us best. In my family, its all about facial expressions. I know what they’re thinking by looking at them. We were taught to read the room before expressing an opinion, especially with extended family. My parents are gone so my siblings fill the memory holes. They recall teachers, schools, friends, and all things growing up. My brother can recite our old neighborhood down to the houses’ car brands and pets. Family is the always bond that ties us together. They’re there for the first dates, breakups, weddings, and beyond. For better and for worse. About Mary Jo Burke…
St. Ignatius, Iowa was established in 1849 and is the Jameson County seat. It boasts 6,000 people, none of them famous, and is mostly known for beautiful restored Victorian homes and quaint town square. Now, you might think that doesn’t seem all that exciting but let me give you a glimpse through my eyes. Though the homes are lovely, and the town square is one of my favorites, that’s not the best part. The best part is the hometown feel. And though it’s not my actual hometown, I love it every bit as if it were. My name is Rosetta Sugarbaker Calloway, but I’ve always been called Sugar, and I came to St. Ignatius sort of accidently. Not all that long ago I was a highfalutin senior food editor for a major magazine headquarter in the Midwest and had a chance to visit when we were working on a story about bakers who’d won multiple blue ribbons at the Iowa State Fair. Dixie Spicer, from St. Ignatius was one of three who were tied for the most wins. When I met her, we immediately bonded, and I fell in love with her town, her no-nonsense personality, and her baking. As…
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 Brett Battles! Writes: Fun, humorous, suspenseful mysteries; espionage thrillers; a bit of vigilante justice; time travel adventures; apocalyptic thrillers; and when I have time, I’m working on a romance. And I also have this whole urban fantasy novel in my head that keeps wanting to come out. So, I guess a bit of everything. Well, except for grocery shopping lists. I always seem to wing it when I’m at the store. Not recommended. And not letters to the editor. Never done that. Yet. About: I’m a life-long Californian who loves the smell of books both old and new and have a hard time saying no to buying a cool notebook that I will probably never use. I grew up in the Mojave Desert, spent decades in L.A., and now live in beautiful and tranquil Ventura County, where you might find me at a coffee shop, listening to K-Pop and writing books. I am a huge audiobook fan and am constantly listening to one when…
Excerpt of BALD-FACED LIAR by Victoria Helen Stone There was another round of mai tais as Mike ate, but we didn’t really have a choice once Rosco started singing, did we? It was either more alcohol or a retreat to my lair. In the end we did both. I didn’t mean for Mike to spend the whole night, and I’m regretting it now as I carefully unwind my limbs from his and attempt to ooze out of bed like a snail. We walked for almost an hour after dinner as I showed him all the local secrets and pointed out the best spots for food, shopping, and drinks. When we slowed to a halt in front of my place, it was only natural to invite him inside. Only natural to open a bottle of wine. Only natural to make out like a pair of horny teenagers on the couch, then fall into a deep sleep in my bed after sex that was damn impressive for a first time. Not perfect, but I had a great orgasm, and that’s never guaranteed, is it? Sometimes it’s not even hinted at. All in all it was quite a treat, but now I just…
Each Monday the Smashwords store lists the top ten most highly anticipated indie fiction ebooks based on the previous week’s preorder accumulations. Each title on the list is scheduled to release within the next week. To help the talented authors on this list accumulate even more preorders, click the title of the book. The hyperlink will bring you to a Books2Read page where you can order from your preferred ebook retailer. If the preorder is part of a series, click the hyperlinked series title to learn about the other books in the series. Be sure to check back Friday for a list of the Top 25 Bestselling Indie Ebooks.
This month’s guest in the Fresh Fiction Women’s Fiction column is Rebecca Rosenberg, an award-winning author of seven novels who uses her skills as a historian to bring the stories of fascinating but little-known women in history vividly to life. In addition to her busy career as a writer and speaker for the National Women’s History Alliance, Rebecca is also co-owner of Sonoma Lavender, one country’s largest lavender farms. Her new book, SILVER ECHOES, is a work of historical fiction based on the real life of Silver Dollar Tabor. Thanks for joining us today, Rebecca. Please give us a short synopsis of your wonderful new novel. Silver Echoes is a dual-timeline novel from the 1920s dazzling heights of the Flapper era to the 1930s rugged legacy of silver mining based on a true story. Chicago, 1920s: Movie starlet Silver Dollar Tabor’s glittering life shatters after a brutal attack awakens a hidden self, called Echo. Plunging into the city’s dangerous underworld of burlesque speakeasies, she blurs the lines between ambition and destruction, testing her love for screenwriter Carl. This Jazz Age, Prohibition-era tale explores the dark side of fame and the fragility of identity. Colorado, 1932: Haunted by Silver’s disappearance, her…
1–What is the title of your latest release? TIME AFTER TIME 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? It’s a super romantic, slow-burn love story about two young women, an old Victorian house, a green glass stone buried in the front sidewalk, and a mysterious past that unites them all. It’s told in two timelines, a hundred years apart, with dual POVs (Libby and Tish), and a third-person POV that tells the story of Elizabeth and Patricia from the past. It’s a story for anyone who loves romance, for anyone who believes in everlasting love, found family, forgiveness, and taking chances. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The story is set in a fictional Northeastern town. I needed a small town that could be close enough to drive to the city but still be its own separate place, and a setting that would have autumn weather in late September and snow on New Year’s Eve. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! I love Libby and Tish! They are younger than I am, though, so they’d probably shoo me off. Ideally, I’d be hanging with Joe at his junkyard,…
Book Title: A CHARMING TOUCH OF TAROT Character Name: Alyssa Mann How would you describe your family or your childhood?Let’s just say I was raised by two highly accomplished narcissists who treated parenting like an optional side project. I was an only child, which meant a lot of solo dinners, adult conversations I wasn’t supposed to hear, and learning early on how to entertain myself. It wasn’t all bad, but it was lonely. Because of that, I’ve always tried to be everything I never had for Ava. Present. Supportive. A little too involved, if you ask her. But I want her to know she’s never alone—not even on her worst day. What was your greatest talent?I’m a medium and clairvoyant—not that I asked to be. This so-called talent was basically thrust on me after an impromptu visit to a phony psychic. She couldn’t summon a spirit to save her life, but somehow managed to flip the switch on whatever was dormant in me. Now, I’m the proud owner of what I lovingly refer to as the curse of chatting with the dead. Some are snarky, some are straight-up obnoxious, and all of them want something from me. Which, if I’m…
Each Friday the Smashwords store reports the bestselling indie fiction titles based on the previous week’s sales. If an author has more than one title eligible for the list, only the highest performing title will be included. This ensures high-performing titles receive the accolades they deserve, while providing up-and-coming authors the visibility they have earned. Don’t miss Monday’s Top 10 Hot Preorders List, where Smashwords will provide a list of the most highly anticipated ebook preorders.