Book Title: MARBLE HALL MURDERS Character Name: Susan Ryeland How would you describe your family or your childhood? I had an ordinary childhood, damaged by a promiscuous father who, unbelievably, ran off with our nanny when I was nine years old. This made me very close to my sister, Katie, who – though very different to me – is still my best friend. What was your greatest talent? I loved books from the earliest age. I didn’t just read; I devoured stories. As I grew up, I began to see the building blocks of fiction, what makes it work, how it’s created. I knew when I was in my teens that although I can’t write myself, I would be an editor and a publisher. Significant other? A Greek by the name of Andreas Patakis was the love of my life. He was a teacher at the school where my niece and nephew were taught. Sadly, our relationship didn’t work out and we broke up – but we had some wonderful times. Biggest challenge in relationships? I suppose it’s the work-life balance. I love publishing and books and sometimes I’ve allowed that to overwhelm me. Where do you live? I have…

In this week’s Jen’s Jewels, I had the pleasure of catching up with bestselling author Jessie Rosen to chat about her latest novel, ALL THE SIGNS—a heartfelt and adventurous story that blends travel, astrology, and self-discovery. Inspired by her own global quest to meet her “Star Twins,” Jessie brings readers along on a journey from Los Angeles to Venice, Istanbul, and beyond, all while exploring big questions about identity, destiny, and love. You won’t want to miss this inspiring conversation—be sure to read on! Jennifer Vido: Leah’s journey across the globe is both adventurous and deeply personal. What drew you to this story, and why did you choose astrology as a central theme? Jessie Rosen: This novel actually started as a personal mission to find my own Star Twins in the world during a really challenging time in my life. I was searching for answers about who and how I was supposed to be in the world and had already been curious about how astrology might serve as one type of map (I live in Los Angeles where everyone and their mother has an astrologer). But it’s people’s lived experiences that always compel me most, so I made the somewhat…

Chapter 1 May 3, 1918 Camp Greene Army Training Camp Charlotte, North Carolina I first realized I was a star when I was twelve. It was a moment just like this one, where the reverberation of my voice hung glittering in the air, nearly as bright as the spotlights, until the applause swallowed it up in a deafening swell that made my heart all but stop. Adoration is an addiction. Everybody warns about the perils of drink, but nobody thinks to tell a young girl that once she’s become the darling of her town, she’ll want to become the darling of her country and then her world. And once she’s done all that and realized that life off the stage can turn nightmarish in a blink, she’ll crave regular roaring applause or risk absolute despondency. The shouting was riotous tonight. It was my kind of crowd despite my having a persistent headache and a throat that felt much like the strep infections I got frequently in girlhood. I ignored them both. They were only nuisances. Colds came up now and then, determined to ruin all the fun, but I wouldn’t allow it. I couldn’t allow it. I’d never canceled a…

1–What is the title of your latest release? DEEP TIME 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A life-changing raft trip through the Grand Canyon inspires Lauren to become a geologist. She thrives on the adventures which geology affords her: studying undersea volcanoes; shepherding clueless undergraduates in a remote national park; and climbing canyons in Oregon to collect rock samples. When Mount St. Helens awakens, Lauren scouts a perfect site for observing the volcano. On a Saturday in mid-May 1980, Lauren, her husband, and her best friend wait for the mountain to erupt, but Mount St. Helens remains annoyingly quiet. On Sunday the volcano erupts with epic power, and Lauren’s life is upended irreversibly. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The life of a graduate geology student is adventurous, as is that of a working geologist. The settings for Deep Time are the Grand Canyon; East Texas; Atlantic Ocean; Caribbean Sea; Guadalupe Mountains National Park; Oregon; Washington; Mount St. Helens; Colorado. Geologists are outdoor people!      4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Sure, if I could keep up with her! She would also be fun to interview, since she’s…

For two couples, my aunt and uncle and my brother and sister-in-law, this is a milestone year. Both will be celebrating their fiftieth wedding anniversaries. Truly a lifetime together, their names are one word. The ups, downs, and all arounds have filtered through their relationships. Loss of parents, friends, and siblings. The arrival of children, grandchildren, moving away and back, job fluctuations, illness, and retirement, their wedding vows have been tested. Both are having celebrations. The invitations listed that no gifts are necessary, just share a memory or two. Where to start, they’re everywhere. My aunt made my wedding veil, her children are my second set of siblings, and she took me to Ireland. My brother was my trick-or-treating buddy, taught me how to drive, and laughed at my jokes. Their significant others keep our family as sane as possible, which is a major task. Most romance books start with the first encounter. Hate to love, rekindled interest, a bright spark lit between them. In real life, it’s the lasting looks, smiles, even blushes that morph into a true partnership. No map, just a road with many forks, knives, and other utensils that the couple must navigate together. All contributing…

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 Melissa Poett! Writes: I’m a connoisseur of all things YA and have written everything from fantasy to contemporary. My debut novel, THE ENEMY’S DAUGHTER, is a YA reimagining of Tristan and Isolde set in a dystopian world woven with magic. It’s about an elite soldier and a young healer on opposite sides of a decades-long war who end up magically connected and must choose whether to give into their growing attraction to each other . . . or betray the other to save their own people. About: My single goal as an author is to make my readers feel something. You may not remember the names of my characters or titles of my books, but hopefully you’ll remember how I made you swoon over a fictional man or gasp at a plot twist. Occasionally, I may make you want to throw something in rage at the injustices I write about. My hobbies include reading books that destroy me (in both good and sad ways)…

Most Likely to…. Surprise everyone: Pamela Colman Smith, the central character in the Arcana Oracle Series, (MAGICIAN AND FOOL, HIGH PRIESTESS AND EMPRESS, EMPEROR AND HIEROPHANT) is a wild card, commissioned to create an occult tarot deck, while learning the extent of her magical powers. Expect the unexpected! Deviate from the plan: One of Pamela’s familiars is inconsistent in appearance and ability to follow instructions. Found in all three books in the series.  Sympathize with someone when nobody else will: Dame Ellen Terry, the muse in HIGH PRIESTESS AND EMPRESS, is a surrogate mother to Pamela, and a beacon of empathy. Keep their true intentions hidden: Sir Henry Irving, as magician in MAGICIAN AND FOOL and actor-manager of the Lyceum Theatre, strategizes is to keep Pamela, her fellow Lyceum Theatre company members, and the Syndicate guessing.  Coming up with the best strategy: Bram Stoker, muse in EMPEROR AND HIEROPHANT, author of DRACULA and company manager of the Lyceum Theatre, outwits the magicians of the Golden Dawn pursuing Pamela for her magical abilities and tarot deck. Be a protector when it counts most: Ahmed Pascal Kamal, this Egyptologist and muse in EMPEROR AND HIEROPHANT values keeping precious artifacts and people safe…

Book Title: THE LOST QUEEN Character Name: Jolie How would you describe your family or your childhood? I live with my Ong Noi (Grandpa) and Ba Noi (Grandma.) My mother died right after I was born, and my dad took off when I was little, so it’s always just been me and my grandparents. They’re really great. My Ba Noi is the best listener. Ong Noi is a fortuneteller, he comes from a long line of psychics from Vietnam, which used to be really cool to tell people, but not recently, because his readings have been getting a little out there, so people think he’s crazy now… What was your greatest talent? I am a really fast swimmer! I used to be on the swim team. Other than that….when I was little, I used to do these things…I had amazing balance and could walk along brick walls, or even rooftops. I’d never fall. Flowers would grow when I asked them to…the rain would stop if I told it to…..but that hasn’t happened for years. And now I wonder if I just imagined it! Biggest challenge in relationships? It’s hard for me to trust people. I used to have two best…

Fantasy and paranormal romance have always been escapist genres, taking readers to worlds of magic, danger, and epic stakes. But in recent years, these genres have also become powerful vehicles for exploring mental health. By weaving themes of trauma, anxiety, depression, and self-discovery into fantastical narratives, authors are helping to destigmatize mental health struggles while showing how characters can grow through adversity. These stories blend the extraordinary with the deeply human, reminding readers that even in worlds filled with monsters and magic, mental health matters. In these books, mental health is not just a subplot; it’s central to the characters’ journeys. Through the lens of fantasy, authors create spaces where challenges like PTSD or anxiety are tackled with nuance and empathy. These stories can be cathartic, validating, and even healing, offering readers both representation and hope. Below are five books that exemplify the thoughtful integration of mental health into fantastical narratives, each offering a unique perspective on resilience, strength, and healing. HOUSE OF EARTH AND BLOOD Bryce Quinlan’s story is a raw and unflinching look at grief and trauma within an urban fantasy setting. The loss of her closest friends in a sudden and devastating attack leaves her grappling with…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE SHOP DOWN THE LANE, which is the first book in my Letters from Lancaster County series. It’s also my 50th novel to be published! 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? They despise each other in real life, only to fall in love—anonymously—through an Amish circle letter. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The location for this story had Paradise Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania written all over it from the start. First of all, it had to be in Lancaster County to work for the series. Second of all, the book has a birding theme in it—what setting could be more perfect for an Amish romance with a birding theme than Paradise? 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Definitely! She’s one of my favorite characters ever. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Spunky, vulnerable, and determined. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned so much about birds, specifically in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and on the Delaware shore! The story includes a Mennonite/Amish circle letter with a birding theme, which I already mentioned, which was super…