1–What is the title of your latest release? WE ARE WATCHING 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Have you ever had the feeling that the whole world is out to get you? Well, maybe it is… A normal family is thrown into turmoil when they’re targeted by a violent group of conspiracy theorists. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I live in the Hudson Valley, and I’ve always found it a rich setting for books. I set this one in a fictional Hudson Valley town that is so small, everyone knows each other… or do they? 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Sure. She could definitely use a friend! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Loving, haunted, stronger than she knows (okay, that’s more than one word.) 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? You can make the most outlandish idea plausible if create characters that feel real. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? In the beginning, I do a lot of rewriting, but after I hit the halfway point, I find it easier to just write through…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE OLIGARCH’S DAUGHTER   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? An American guy falls in love with a photographer, not knowing she’s the daughter of a billionaire Russian oligarch.  Then the FBI takes an interest . . . 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It was easy: it had to take place in New York City, because my hero is an up-and-coming Wall Street guy, and his father-in-law runs a hedge fund. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Definitely.  He’s smart, funny, and personable.         5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Oh, I just listed them.  Funny, smart, and personable.  Also really brave. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned that it’s really hard to live under a false identity, off the grid, these days. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I write without editing, then I edit the previous day’s chapter.  So I guess I do both. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Does this count as foodie? – hot fudge sundae.         9–Describe your writing space/office! It’s a converted one-bedroom…

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.

1–What is the title of your latest release? DANCING WOMAN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? An aspiring artist living abroad finds passion for her craft when she enters into a brief love affair with a local musician. When she discovers she is pregnant, she understands that her risky liaison could upend every aspect of her life. In a frantic afternoon of gardening in her yard, she unearths an ancient sculpture which might guide her steps. But it will take great devotion to discern what those steps should be. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The book has a backstory in Virginia, but the present-day action occurs in northern Nigeria. I lived in southern Nigeria growing up. I was interested to see how a white American woman in the early 1960s would acclimate to a Muslim dominated area and what she could learn outside of the U.S. that would give her an intelligence and artistic sensibility that she could not have attained by staying at home. I named her Isabel Hammond. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. Isabel would be one of my best friends. She’s lived…

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.

In this week’s Jen’s Jewels, we turn up the heat with bestselling author Jane Costello, whose latest rom-com IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE blends the chaos of perimenopause with the challenges of motherhood in a hilariously heartfelt tale. Join us as Jane shares the inspiration behind her witty and poignant story, the creation of her dynamic characters, and how she masterfully balances comedy with life’s more serious moments. Whether you’re navigating midlife or simply love a good laugh, you won’t want to miss this engaging conversation about finding joy, love, and self-discovery amidst the beautiful mess of life. Jennifer Vido: It’s IT’S GETTING HOT IN HERE tackles midlife with humor and heart. What inspired you to write a rom-com that blends the chaos of perimenopause with the relatable challenges of being a mother? Jane Costello:  More than anything, this was the book I wanted to read. I’d written bestselling romantic comedy for years in the UK but moved away from the genre to write emotional love stories under the pseudonym Catherine Isaac. But when I hit my late-forties I found myself looking for a smart, funny, uplifting romantic comedy that touched on all the things I was going through myself:…

Hi! I am Lisa F. Rosenberg, author of FINE, I’M A TERRIBLE PERSON. I’m thrilled to be here to tell you about my debut novel! 73-year-old, worn out, former beauty, Aurora Feldenburg, a hapless, broke, divorcee living in the wealthy enclave of Marin County, learns that her father’s widow has died. She decides to drive to Los Angeles to see if there is any money in it for her. Aurora is always ready for the next get rich scheme Aurora’s high-strung daughter, 43-year-old Leyla, is a hypersensitive, insecure, perfectionist, insomniac, damaged from her father’s lifelong abuse and rejection. She is married to a wealthy prince charming, investment banker who specializes in the legal Cannabis industry. Leyla spends her days keeping up with the other Marin uber mom’s, manically pursuing perfection in herself, her home, and her children. When she overhears a conversation at parent’s night at her children’s elite private school, and suspects her husband is embarking on an affair, she decides to sneak into a Cannabis business conference he is attending, also in LA, to spy on him. While at the conference she accidentally ingests 40 mg of THC packed granola bite samples.  Aurora and Leyla’s separate quests intersect…

Book Title: NATURE OF FROST Character Name: Valen How would you describe your family or your childhood? A big fat lie. What was your greatest talent? That really depends on who you ask. Significant other? Officially? No. But there’s really only one person for me. And she knows it. Biggest challenge in relationships? Trust is an issue for me these days. Where do you live? In Derriga. The Winter Lands to be specific. Do you have any enemies? Are you kidding? Everyone loves me! Well, I mean mostly… I suppose there’s one or two out there who aren’t fans. How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place? I’ve been forced to take a job I want no part of. It comes with a shitload of responsibility that I don’t want. So, how do I feel? Not particularly thrilled. Do you have children, pets, both, or neither?   Gods forbid. I can barely keep myself alive much less a child or pet. Don’t get me started on vegetation. What do you do for a living? Apparently, I’m a ruler now. So, I, um…rule?…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE WIND ON HER TONGUE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? I’m famously horrendous at elevator pitches, but here we go: THE WIND ON HER TONGUE is the second book in the Daughter of Three Waters Trilogy. It follows the adventures of Oya, the Yoruba Orisha of the storm, in early America. Both “The Wind on Her Tongue” and my first novel, “Shallow Waters” are works of historical fiction that include many characters who made significant contributions to society. I’m also going to add my publisher’s elevator pitch: In this lyrical and stirring companion to the “spellbinding” (Harper’s Bazaar) “Shallow Waters”, Oya-the Yoruba deity of the weather-is brought to life during 1870s America. “The Wind on Her Tongue” is perfect for fans of “Children of Blood and Bone” and “Black Sun”. Which one do you like better? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Answer: I started off writing THE WIND ON HER TONGUE by researching famous historical figures during the 1870s. Mary Ellen Pleasant jumped off the page for me and I instantly knew that she would have a significant role in my book….

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE INDIGO HEIRESS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A colonial American indigo heiress meets her nemesis in a Scots merchant who saves her from scandal only to have her save his very life in turn. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Since my ancestry is rooted in Britian and colonial Virginia I find that setting fascinating. It was also where many of the movers & shakers of the 18th-century lived. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would love to get to know them as real people though my characters sure seem real enough to me on the page. I’m especially fascinated with my villains! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Smart, cautious, industrious. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned a great deal about how Loyalists to the British Crown viewed our War of Independence. Quite a messy business! I found the wealthy Glasgow merchants based in Scotland fascinating, too. Their ties to Virginia in that era were rich, complex, and deep—and even controversial today. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait…