Book Title: CATRIONA Character Name: Coll Barr How would you describe your family or your childhood? An outsider might view my childhood as idyllic, parents who had been childhood sweethearts, living on a cattle farm, a comfortable, tidy home, and a mother who cooked every meal. To my sister, Aileen, and me, it bent more toward disappointing—but only the parts our parents touched. They handed out disapproval like other parents doled out hugs and kisses. We learned from a young age to only count on ourselves for love and support . . . and Thomas MacGregor, our neighbor and best friend. What was your greatest talent? Tracking people who think it’s a good idea to break the law. Even though I’ve been all over the world for jobs, my favorite way to trace someone is through the digital imprints they leave behind. I’m a beast on a computer. Significant other? I fell in love with my best friend’s little sister when she was only nineteen. If I admitted that, the consequences would be severe. Biggest challenge in relationships? The biggest challenge is trusting myself. Where do you live? Bunchrew, Scotland. It’s a small village outside Inverness. Do you have any…

1–What is the title of your latest release? NOTHING EVER HAPPENS HERE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Against the backdrop of a small, snowy Minnesota town, the lives of three women are upended as a murder and a missing person case shock the locals. Café owner, Mack, is searching for her missing husband, Shelby, who has survived a brutal attack, finds herself fighting for her life, and Florence, a resident at the retirement home, along with her small gang of fellow retirees, get overly involved in trying to solve these mysteries until it all comes to a head in a twisty ending that intertwines all three stories. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I really love an atmospheric novel, so I thought a lot about how to introduce setting almost as another character and have it enrich the story and feel very ominous and icy and unwelcoming as a backdrop to the action. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would love to get coffee with Florence and see what trouble she’s getting into. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? There are three protagonists, but…

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.

Love historical fiction with a dash of mystery and friendship? You won’t want to miss my chat with Suzanne Nelson about her compelling new novel, THE LIBRARIANS OF LISBON. Set in World War II Portugal, this story follows two female spies navigating a glittering world of exiled royalty while carrying out dangerous missions. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join us as Suzanne shares the fascinating real-life inspirations behind her characters and takes us on a journey through the glamorous yet perilous streets of wartime Lisbon. Jennifer Vido: What drew you to set your novel in Lisbon during World War II? Suzanne Nelson: Before I wrote this novel, I knew very little about Lisbon and Portugal’s role during World War II. Once I learned that Portugal was neutral during the war, and that it was a “playground” for Allied and Axis spies, pieces of the story began to fall naturally into place. Lisbon, Estoril, and Sintra also became these surreal social meccas for Europe’s exiled royalty, celebrities, artists, and writers. People like the Prince of Romania, the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Peggy Guggenheim, and Marc Chagall stayed in this area, hobnobbing in some of Lisbon’s and Estoril’s most…

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.

Chapter 3 “I need your help.” “What is it, Mac?” I asked him, concerned by the visible tension on his face. “It’s the president,” he said, hanging on to the door facing. “I need help getting him out of bed.” Though I was always willing to help my husband with anything, this just seemed beyond the scope of my job description. “Mac, are you sure?” “You know I can usually handle him on my own, but this morning I’m . . . struggling. I’m afraid if I keep trying, I’m gonna drop him.” He appeared distraught by this, and I immediately dropped the pillow I was fluffing and went to him. I hated to see my husband in such distress, but I was also mindful that helping the president in such a private setting as his bedroom may not be welcomed by the man. “But Mac, won’t he be upset or embarrassed if I showed up to help? Can’t you ask one of the butlers or hallmen?” “No, he doesn’t want anyone in his bedroom but me. I told him about my trouble this morning and he agreed to let you in the room with me.” “All right,” I said,…

1–What is the title of your latest release? BECOMING MARIELLA 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A young Sicilian woman defies centuries of tradition, leaving home to make her way in the United States 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? As a second generation American, with deep ties to Sicily, and to the Bay Area, I chose the locations closest to my heart. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? In a heartbeat.  5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Feisty, smart, determined 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? A deepening of compassion for people, like Mariella’s mother, who lash out when they’re hurt. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? Both, but the best editing happens after it’s done.  Otherwise, for me, it’s hard to move forward, although the temptation to “get it perfect” first is strong. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Oh, well, pasta and chocolate! 9–Describe your writing space/office! The walls are faux painted to look Italian, with artwork on them that has meaning for me. The desk is a long wooden door, spacious. There are four…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE RADIO HOUR 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? N/A 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The book is set in Sydney in 1956 – the year television arrived and signaled the beginning of the end of the golden years of radio in Australia. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? My protagonist is a fifty-year old “spinster”, Martha Berry, who decides that it’s never too late to be who you might have been – and stands up for herself amongst a load of incompetent men. She is very much my kind of gal! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Under-appreciated, smart and loyal. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That one of the most influential women in Australian radio in the 1950s and 1960s – Grace Gibson – was actually a Texan from El Paso! She owned her own production company and made 30,000 episodes of radio serials which sold all over the world. We were canny enough to adopt her as one of our own and she lived here until she died in 1989, aged…

What happens when a stubborn MAGA father, his progressive bookseller daughter, and the ghost of his centrist wife collide in a battle over family, finances, and grudges? In LOUIE ON THE ROCKS (SparkPress, February 4, 2025), author Meredith O’Brien delivers a darkly comedic exploration of political division, generational conflict, and reluctant caregiving. We talked with O’Brien to discuss the inspiration behind her novel, the secrets families keep, and what’s coming next. The Inspiration Behind LOUIE ON THE ROCKS When asked about the setting for LOUIE ON THE ROCKS, O’Brien explained that she pulled from her own surroundings:“I wrote what I know, so I rooted the story in central Massachusetts in communities near me.” But what truly drives the novel is its characters—three very different protagonists: While O’Brien admits she’d probably only hang out with Helen in real life, she built the characters to reflect the complexity of family relationships—where love and resentment exist side by side. Family Secrets and Political Divides As she wrote LOUIE ON THE ROCKS, O’Brien realized just how much people keep from each other:“People rarely share their truths and often have no idea what others are really thinking. We hide more than we share. And that’s…

The Author-Reader Match is a fun “dating-style” profile to introduce readers to authors and their books. Below is the template for the post, along with some links to examples.  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 Maggie Shayne Writes: My latest is The Portal Series: Three epic paranormal romance novels and one novella, in which three sisters, slaves in a Babylonian king’s harem, were executed for practicing witchcraft, and for falling in love. Indira fell for a young priest-in-training, Lilia, for the king’s most trusted soldier, and Magdalena for his son, the prince. Enraged at their death sentence, Lilia’s beloved soldier killed the king, but the execution went on all the same, and he was sentenced to far worse. His soul was stripped by the high priest, and he was pitched into a dark, eternal void. Now, thirty-five centuries later, the sisters have reincarnated, destined to right this ancient wrong. They must find each other again, restore the tormented-one’s soul, reunite with their lost loves, and deliver justice that’s long past…