No, I will not be answering any questions. Put your hand down. Skies, we have not even started the tour yet! Listen, I did not want to do this, but Penelope said, “Dair, as one of the only family members that has actually spent your life in this city, you have an obligation to show these humans around.” I will not mention the threat she made to my person if I did not do it. Something about plants in uncomfortable places. Honestly, she can be such a savage. Well, since we are here, we will start with the palace. The Winter Palace has been home to every generation of the Winter Court’s ruling family since Danu left this world behind to Her children. Yes, yes, look around. As you can see, only the best faerie glass is used for the windows and the marble floor is from the very dwarf city under Crann Mòr. The Winter Court has been the ruling seat of the Night Court since it was founded, and the palace sports enough history in its halls that not even the most diligent human scholars could uncover it all. Not that there are really any humans willing to…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Ex–Chicago detective Carrie Starr is hired as tribal marshal on the reservation where her father was raised and falls into the investigation of a missing college student that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter—the girl she failed to save. When Starr catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer, she must discover whether Deer Woman is there to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters Starr can never bring home. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I was really drawn to the differences between where Carrie Starr comes from (Chicago) and where she ends up in MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN. For her new job as the tribal marshal of the Saliquaw Nation in Oklahoma, Starr rents a rundown duplex Dexter Springs, a small town in the northeast corner of Kansas that is within the 20-minute on-call response radius her role requires. I like to approach the setting as if it is a character,…

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.

This week’s Jen’s Jewels column features debut author Sandra Chwialkowska, who shares the inspiration behind her thrilling new release, THE ENDS OF THINGS. Set against the picturesque backdrop of a tropical vacation, the novel weaves suspense with the intricacies of female friendship. Sandra dives into her creative process, the allure of mystery, and how a seemingly perfect getaway can lead to unexpected revelations. With its intriguing plot and relatable characters, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into a story that will captivate readers from start to finish. Be sure to check it out and uncover what makes THE ENDS OF THINGS a must-read! Jennifer Vido: THE ENDS OF THINGS delves into suspense and female friendship. What inspired you to blend these elements into a single narrative?Sandra Chwialkowska: I love mysteries and suspense stories, so I wanted to write my version of a missing persons investigation. My heroine Laura becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman she meets on vacation, and when that woman disappears, Laura becomes embroiled in the investigation that unfolds. I’m very interested in obsession, specifically female obsession, and I wanted to explore why women sometimes become obsessed with each other. What triggers it? What’s at the root of…

Thank you, Fresh Fiction for having me today. Oh, the options to choose from! Since I’ve been completing a playlist for my new release, SUGAR SNAPPED, (book 2 in my Juli Butler Mystery series) I felt talking about a Song Match was a perfect choice. This is not something that I’ve always done while writing. I create better with silence or nature sounds (ocean and beach sounds are my favorite). But while adding a subplot to Cracker Jacked (book 1), I started writing down songs I heard (usually while driving) that reminded me of the push/pull relationship and history between my main characters Juli and Chase. I was so pleased with the outcome I couldn’t wait to continue the trend with Sugar Snapped. And I have to say, while completing the latest set list I found myself compiling songs for books 3 and beyond! Listening to the playlists while I’m editing is great mood music and when I need to stay grounded in the story, I will listen to them in the car driving to and from work.  I have 12 songs per playlist and today I’m going to touch on 5 of them from the playlist for Sugar Snapped….

From taking on a challenging job to creating a new life after a devastating natural disaster, this month’s books echo January’s theme of new beginnings. We start with THE TIFFANY GIRLS by Shelley Noble.  It’s the dawn of a new century and to promote his work, stained glass artist Louis Tiffany is planning a special exhibit for the Paris World’s Fair.  Among the artists working to make this project a reality are three members of the Women’s Division.  Emilie Pascal, daughter of an art forger who fled Paris, hopes to establish her new life as a craftsman by perfecting Tiffany’s designs.  Grace Griffith is the best copyist, cutting glass pieces to form the exquisite flower designs for which the company is famous.  Overseeing them is Clara Driscoll, manager of the Women’s Division, who while handling her division’s schedule, budget and sometimes fractious employees, has her own dreams of the ultimate glass creation, even though the women workers receive none of the credit for the designs they bring to life.  Full of fascinating detail about the construction of glasswork and with rich background details that bring to life New York and Paris in 1900, Noble‘s book illuminates these women pioneers who…

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.

When I’m writing, I need to have music playing in the background. I curate playlists for each of my novels with songs that either the song fits one of my characters, or it gives a feeling that fits a scene. My playlist for A HAPPY BEGINNING goes from Taylor Swift to Twenty One Pilots, new releases to songs back from the birth of jazz music. I have lost my illusions / I have drowned in your words / I have left my confusion to a cynical world / I am throwing myself at things I don’t understand / Discover enlightenment holding your hand. He tries to stay realistic, but when he finally lets himself believe in Alard’s world, he finds himself. Bonus: True Colors, Cyndi Lauper—covered by Greek Fire: As I’ve personally allowed myself to embrace who I truly am inside, I’ve rediscovered this song and it has more meaning now. I see the song as a person embracing their gender and sexuality outside of society’s norms and being true to themselves. My novel is about three characters embracing who they are and sticking to their choices that will lead them to that happily ever after we all expect at…

Happy New Year! I hope your holidays were replete with that most wonderful gift: guilt-free reading time! I cheat by managing to squeeze in most of my reading via audiobooks since that way I can carry out all the cooking, laundry, and endless dog walking without remorse. And squeeze in I did! I “read” many fantastic books, both new and old, by an array of talented authors, and I’m delighted to tell you about them. Fresh Fiction recently hosted the wonderful Elizabeth Boyle for its Wednesday night video book club (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aC2EH8w2FhI)  to discuss her new book, O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM. Excited by her presentation, I put that title in my basket, hoping Santa would bring a gift card. (He did.) While waiting, however, I read her SOMETHING ABOUT EMMALINE from 2020 and loved it. In turns funny, informative, and oh-so romantic, it tells the story of that stereotypical British aristocrat pressured by his family to marry. To quiet the harpies, Baron Sedgwick invents a sickly wife who must remain in the countryside and names her Emmaline. Imagine his surprise when he starts receiving bills accrued by his wife, Emmaline, busy shopping in London to redecorate his residence! Hijinks and…

Most humans think the fair folk vanished from their lands over a century ago after a bloody war that should’ve driven us all out. But here’s a little secret—some of us never left. Oh, the elves? They’re hiding in plain sight (not that humans are observant enough to notice). Then there’s me, an orc using a glamour to blend in. My name is Magdud, and I don’t just live in Carrus, a city in northeastern Trinth—I run the place. As the magistrate, I spend my days keeping the peace, managing disputes, and making sure this city stays the wealthiest in the kingdom. A bit ironic, considering I used to fight humans. Now, I’m sipping tea in silk pajamas at night, and by day, I’m overseeing trade agreements and tax disputes. If my old commander saw me now, he’d probably keel over—or try to challenge me to a duel. Hard to say. Orcs aren’t known for their flexibility. I used to think humans were my greatest enemy. Living among them now, I’ll admit, they’re not all bad. Not perfect either—but who is? These days, I’ve got my eyes on a different problem. The Elven Council—now there’s a group that deserves watching….