1–What is the title of your latest release? ANOTHER FINE MESS (Bless Your Heart #2) 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? From the publisher: “Another Fine Mess brings the Evans women back around in this unputdownable, crackling, rollicking mystery of humor, heart, and horror.” 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This sequel picks up exactly four weeks after the events of Bless Your Heart, as the remaining Evans women prepare to welcome their first full moon (dun dun dun). 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? The Evans women are modeled after my mother and grandmothers, most of which are now gone. I’d give anything for one more moment with my Ducey and Nana, so absolutely yes! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Each of the Evans women shares the spotlight in this series, but I think they could be described in sum as bold, brave, and determined. They are women who suffer no fools, who take charge of their own fates, and who love each other fiercely, no matter the cost or the consequences. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? One of my favorite discoveries while…

Book Title:  DEADLY GHOST – Angus Brodie and Mikaela Forsythe Murder Mystery Book 12 Character Name:  Lady Antonia Montgomery, Mikaela Forsythe’s great aunt How would you describe your family or your childhood? I do suppose there are some who would consider my childhood most unusual.  I was raised by my father who was directly descended from King William I, William the Conqueror that is.  That was over eight hundred years ago.  Of course it was through his, shall we call it ‘relationship’ with a Saxon woman.  To say the start of our family was somewhat chaotic is an understatement—there was a war going, invasion, pillaging and all that sort of thing.  As for my family, I have never wed… well there was that one brief situation.  The man was quite a bounder, and I persuaded my father to get rid of him.  Not murder, but merely a very long sea voyage.  At my age, anyone who might recall that, is long dead.  Since, I have chosen to ‘enjoy’ my status as a single lady. What was your greatest talent? Oh, my.  I am told there are many.  However, I am most proud of my nieces, such remarkable young women.  And…

For Stella Costa, the war in Tuscany begins over a featherbed. “That’s mine.” Stella’s cousin Livia pushes her aside and hops onto the flowered coverlet, sending dust motes sparkling in the glow of a sunbeam. Livia is sixteen and has burst from her dusty pubescent cocoon into a colorful creature, old and beautiful enough to secure the mayor’s son as a fiancé. But in this moment, Stella watches her nearly grown cousin pout like any five-year-old. “I got here first!” Stella’s younger cousin, Mariasole, scrambles up onto the high bed next to Livia. “Peccato. I’m the oldest.” Livia shoves her little sister sideways until her head flops on the bed and her giggles go muffled in the messy quilt. Stella doesn’t know her two cousins well enough to predict what will happen next. But caution isn’t Stella’s strong suit. Without thinking, she vaults on top of both girls. “I’ll fight you both for it!” she cries, pummeling her fists into the soft bedding. More muffled giggling. Down feathers join the dust, rising and spinning in the light, then landing on the terracotta tiles. Beyond the open shutters, a flock of swifts wheels against the sky’s blue canvas, the silhouette of…

Book title:  MOTHERS OF FATE Character: Deana Wilkes How would you describe your family or your childhood? First, thank you so much for wanting to interview me! It’s an honor to be in such an important publication. And…this first question isn’t easy. In a way, I was lucky. I had a two-parent home with a stay-at-home mother and a banker-father, both of them high-school graduates. My mother was obsessed with keeping our house spotless—but then she literally loved to clean. Although I was an only child, I don’t recall many family activities. I do remember that my mother and her friends were covertly competitive about their children and anything I did, I knew, was supposed to add to her reflected glory with them. My dad just sort of hung out in the background and didn’t say much of anything. They were willing to send me to community college as long as it was to gain a practical skill, in case I didn’t find a husband quickly. You know—that was the seventies, and it’s 2013 now. Even though many  women were talking about their  liberation back then, a lot of us were stuck with our families’ old views and  values and…

1–What is the title of your latest release? LOVE TO HATE YOU 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? An independent bookstore owner looking for true love and a cynical big-chain CEO launch a bookstore-war that may challenge everything they believe about love.  3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted to juxtapose a city with a beach town, so the first part of Love to Hate You takes place in the historic section in a town in Connecticut where the brick-front shops are adorned with striped awnings and overflowing flowerpots. I wanted the neighborhood to feel like a small town in a big city to mirror my heroine (Summer), who owns a small romance and beach reads independent bookstore, compared to the big-box bookstore going in next door that my hero (Wes) owns. She is a warm and open person who believes in true love, and he is a grumpy, boardroom tycoon who believes love is a weakness.  4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. I love how quirky and loyal Summer is. She’s a hopeless romantic who is obsessed with baked goods–kind of like me. 5–What are…

1–What is the title of your latest release? PREYING GAME 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A distress call on the radio of an old car Decorah agent Johah Raider if fixing sends him off on a frantic search for a woman being held captive. With his telepathic abilities, he locates her prison and even “visits” her there, but can he figure out where she is in time to save her life? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I had attended a destination wedding at an old estate on Maryland’s Eastern shore and decided it was the perfect location for my bad guy to be holding my heroine captive. He’s making her do rigorous physical training, so she’ll be ready for him to hunt her when he releases her on the estate’s grounds. He’s sure he’s going to kill her. Jonah has other plans for the hunt. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I wish.  I only write about heroes and heroines I want to know better. That’s why I’m telling their stories. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Jonah is tough, effective, and telepathic. 6–What’s…

1–What is the title of your latest release? ANYWHERE YOU GO 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A small-town waitress and a Broadway press agent swap homes to escape their personal problems, each finding love in the process. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? As this was loosely inspired by the movie The Holiday, I wanted to have two distinct settings for the house swap, but also choose locations that differed from the movie. I decided to use my two main characters’ jobs as the jumping off point. Since one of my best friends in real life is a Broadway press agent, I gave that career to Eleanor, which automatically meant she’d be living in New York City. Then I wanted something that contrasted that, so Tatum became a small-town waitress, pulling on = the three years of my own life that I spent working at a diner. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would definitely hang out with both Eleanor and Tatum. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? For Tatum it’s creative, sensitive, and giving, and for Eleanor it’s driven, protective, and loyal 6–What’s…

1–What is the title of your latest release? FAIR HAVEN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Fair Haven: A picturesque riverside town. A safe, friendly place. And then, one summer afternoon in 1994, Sally Ann Shaffer is electrocuted in her hot tub. Who did it? One of her many lovers? Her husband? A thief? A jealous colleague at her tennis club? The town is suddenly embroiled in suspicion, interpersonal conflict, blackmail, fraud, and murder.  3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Fair Haven is a town near me, plus I loved the idea of murder and intrigue taking place in such a safe place. A bit of authorial irony. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. Chris Clarke shares many of my interests: photography, cooking, opera, sailing. We would have a great time together, and I believe readers will like this talented woman. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Handsome, artistic, brave 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I hadn’t realized how old the Lenni Lenape Indian settlement in Fair Haven was. Very surprising! The area was carbon-dated using oyster middens. 7–Do you edit as…

Is there anything better than curling up with a glass of wine and a hilarious mystery? No, I didn’t think you’d disagree with that. Who would? Okay, if you don’t drink wine, tea or hot chocolate will work…or anything you deem a magic alone time elixir. No judgement here! In December, I took you to the Arkansas small town of Maggody for Joan Hess’ laugh-out-loud series. This time, I want to introduce you to funny lady Donna Andrews. She writes the hilarious Meg Langslow Mysteries. There are 38 books in the series, each with a bird in the title. MURDER WITH PEACOCKS, the first in the series, is a great, giggly introduction, and the second, MURDER WITH PUFFINS is my favorite – mostly because I’m a bit obsessed with puffins (okay…a LOT obsessed with puffins). At any rate, all the books are wonderful and amateur sleuth Meg Langslow passes the SIWTDWW (sleuth I want to drink wine with) test. Give her a try with your own litmus test with whatever beverage you prefer – again, not judging!   MURDER WITH PEACOCKS – When Meg Langslow is roped into being a bridesmaid for the nuptials of her mother, her brother’s fiancee,…

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.