1–What is the title of your latest release? DROUGHT 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? My new queer novel is a dual narrative set on a Kentucky farm, described as “a parable on human connection in unexpected spaces and despite one’s own weighted history. It’s a spiritual cousin to Proulx’s BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN…a beautifully written and deeply evocative novel that lingers long after the final page.” 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I was on a long bus trip in the South and kept passing extended stretches of fields and farms, and the idea of a story on a tobacco farm came to me. And it stuck. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely! He’s the complete opposite of me and has a beautiful soul! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Lonely. Big-hearted. Dreamer. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? How tobacco farming is done and the intensity of this type of labor, particular in other eras. Also, the difficulty of being in a queer love affair in Kentucky in 1950. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I…

1–What is the title of your latest release? NO LIE LASTS FOREVER 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A retired serial killer coaxes a disgraced journalist into finding the imposter trading on his name. When a reporter dies in a shockingly familiar way, the media rushes to announce the return of the PDQ Killer. The city of Denver reels, but no one more than Harry Kugel. After all, he is the PDQ Killer―or was fifteen years ago. And he didn’t do this. Still working to reform his ways, Harry won’t let an amateur murderer ride his twisted coattails and risk drawing the police back his way. To protect his legacy and quiet new life, he’ll have to expose the copycat. Without exposing himself. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The idea came to me when I was living in Denver, where I lived for nearly 40 years. It seemed like a natural fit. Any big city would have worked, but why not set your novel where researching a location is right at hand? 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? The protagonist of No Lie Lasts Forever is seasoned television reporter Flynn Martin….

Hello, I’m Kit Conway and I’m excited to tell you more about my debut novel, CAT FIGHT. Cat Fight tells the story of three suburban women who, over the course of one hot summer, each use the growing hysteria around a big cat sighting to achieve their own agendas—some more sinister than others. I have always been a bit of a word nerd and loved writing acrostic poems at school so I couldn’t resist taking up Fresh Fiction’s Title Challenge! I hope you enjoy my effort! C is for Claws. And cats. And cattiness. Because when peace shatters in suburbia, the claws come out … A is for Action! Not just among the residents of Briar Close, as the action ramps up and the pressure builds, but also ‘Lights! Camera! Action!’ as Cat Fight is being adapted for TV. Read the book before you watch the show! T is for Twig, one of the three (another T!) women at the heart of this story. Twig is a reluctant suburbanite, desperate to draw attention to her unwell daughter’s fundraiser. She lives next door to Emma, a Disney-mom determined to push through her (extremely pink!) home renovation plans. Meanwhile Coralie, trained zoologist,…

1–What is the title of your latest release? UNSHAKEN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? UNSHAKEN is about an Amish girl who witnesses a gang shooting and is forced to into hiding on a ranch in Crittenden County, KY. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This is my third novel for Revell that takes place in Crittenden County, KY. There are a lot of sprawling ranches in this area as well as a small Amish community. This setting lent itself to my story. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Awkward, brave, steadfast 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned quite a bit about building a safe room in a house. That was something new for me! 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? The short answer for this is that I wait until I’m done. I usually have to rewrite a novel several times, though. The first draft is fast, everything else feels like it takes forever. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Baking. Producing something in just an hour or…

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 as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Michelle Griep! Writes: Michelle Griep writes richly immersive historical fiction brimming with adventure, romance, and intrigue. Whether whisking readers through the shadowy alleys of Victorian London or the rigid social circles of Regency England, her stories pulse with tension, heart, and faith. With a knack for crafting complex characters and vividly atmospheric settings, she blends danger and devotion into page-turning tales that keep readers riveted until the very last word. Her new release, OF SILVER AND SECRETS transports you to the English countryside where the mistress of a derelict estate in need of funds and a down-on-his-luck college professor team up to unearth precious artifacts—but both are hiding more secrets than a Roman dig. About: Lover of all things old-fashioned (except dental work), Michelle Griep is on a never-ending quest to bring history to life—preferably with a brooding hero, a dash of danger, and just the right amount of swoon. Fluent in Regency etiquette, Victorian intrigue, and the fine art of making characters suffer before their…

Music has played a huge role in my life, and in an extremely roundabout way that I probably don’t have time to go into right now, I wouldn’t be an author at all if it weren’t for the love I have for certain artists, and the friends I’ve made through our shared love of music. But do you know what else I love? A theme! So here I am, combining the two. While I was looking through my playlist, I realized that a lot of songs on there follow a celestial theme, which tracks, because THE FRIENDSHIP FLING contains a lot of celestial imagery (it makes sense in context, I promise). So, here are five songs from my playlist that encapsulate both the book, and this starry theme. I Revolve (Around You) by Neck Deep This song is about how these two people feel like they’re drifting in space until they meet and get stuck in each other’s orbit – just like Ava and Finn. They’re both a little lost and lonely before they find each other, and they find themselves when they find each other. Also, a fun extra fact for you is that the ‘colliding stars’ lyric from…

1–What is the title of your latest release? BATTLE OF THE BOOKSTORES 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? We like to think of it as You’ve Got Mail meets The Hating Game. Two booksellers with absolutely nothing in common must compete for the same job when their stores are combined by the new owner. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, they’re also chatting with each other online in an anonymous forum for booksellers. And as their rivalry heats up in real life, their online relationship deepens. What could possibly go wrong? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? We knew we wanted to set the book in an area where it might be possible to have two very different bookstores located so close together. We were also excited to set it in a new location from our other books. The Boston area (and Somerville more specifically) was the perfect setting for a cozy bookish vibe–and it allowed us to send the characters to Kennebunkport for some beach time, too! Alison used to live in Somerville, so it helped that she was familiar with the area. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?…

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…