Book Title: THE CALIFORNIA DREAMERS Character Name: Until 17 it is Ronan Avery Merrick…but she’ll become Ava LeClair when she grows up, runs away from her beach-van home, and leaves her family for good – she thinks. How would you describe your family or your childhood? My family of six is my entire world. We don’t go to school or mix with anyone else unless we have to. We follow waves and our father’s whims and odd jobs, and sometimes Mama throws an arrow-shaped seed pod in the air, and when it lands, we go north or south, following wherever it’s pointing. I wouldn’t trade my life for a soul-dead citizen’s. Never. My father, who’s nicknamed Cap because he wears a fishing hat when he’s not surfing, has rules that keep us safe, because outsiders can’t understand our life. Mama’s beautiful and dreamy and answers questions with questions. She leaves a lot. She goes on rambles, and we never know when she’ll return. Sometimes I wish…It doesn’t matter what I wish. She loves us. She has to go off alone. She makes orange-and-clove tinctures and sells them for money. My big brothers, Griffin and Magnus, are twins. But they’re so…

1–What is the title of your latest release? A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? White Lotus meets Bridesmaids in the story of a proposal planner trapped at a luxury mountain spa with the clients from hell. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I needed an isolated place with the more fun elements of Appalachia, where the wealthy would spend their time. Gatlinburg, TN and the surrounding area sort of embodies that. You’ve got the Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum and multimillion dollar homes all in the same place. And that’s how I envisioned the entirely fictional Chickenhawk Valley, a little kitschy, a little luxury.  4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Jess is basically me when I’m planning a vacation, but all the time. So, I think we would have a wonderful, if heavily scheduled, relationship. Jess is considerate and funny, and tries to make sure the people around her are having a good time. It stems from her years as a wedding coordinator, and it’s served her well in life. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Organized, snarky, smart. 6–What’s…

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 Allison Raskin! Writes: Allison writes rom coms that feature painfully relatable protagonists with mental illness. Dive into stories that explore the realistic side of love while still celebrating the magic of finally finding your person. If you are looking for a lot of laughs, good banter and some heartwarming observations about the human mind, her latest novel, SAVE THE DATE, is for you! About: Allison is multi-hyphenate who has written both fiction and non-fiction. You might recognize her from Buzzfeed video or her YouTube channel turned podcast, Just Between Us. Allison has written in pretty much every medium that exists (books, TV, features, scripted podcasts) and she is beyond excited to (finally!) join the romance genre. In addition to her career as a writer, Allison is also a vocal mental health advocate and relationship coach with a master’s degree in psychology. She has an unhealthy fixation with dogs and doesn’t enjoy long walks on the beach due to all the sand. My ideal reader…

1–What is the title of your latest release? PASSION PROJECT 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When prickly Bennet moves to NYC to escape personal tragedy, she collides head-first into a human golden retriever set on dragging her out of her funk with a series of adventures around NYC to find her passion—but when Bennet discovers the passion she’s trying to find might be him, she must overcome her grief or lose him forever. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I knew from the start that this book would be a New York book. I have always been drawn New York City—in fact, the first time my family took a trip to New York, my mom claims that I stepped out of the car and said, “I’m home.” So, naturally, I’m very inspired by New York. It’s a character in and of itself and provides such a rich tapestry for characters to interact with. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I think Bennet and I would have a killer wine and pizza night. Truthfully, we both tend to be a bit anxious, so I think our hangout would…

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.

The teams have gathered to be called Cinderella, Sweet, and Elite. After years of coaches, running drills, endless practice and being challenged mentally and physically, time is up. It all comes down to a few hours on the court to perform on a national stage. Every move analyzed, praised and criticized, especially on social media. Of course, I’m talking about men’s and women’s college basketball. These young people bring their hopes, dreams, and disappointments to bear. So much depends on their collective and individual performances. To me, their personal stories are much more compelling than their basketball skills. Some have endured loss, trauma, and disappointment. The pressure on them would break anyone. And yet, they persevere. All are devoted to their teammates and schools. They want to succeed for the collective glory. Some will forgo their college careers and turn pro. Others may be future Olympians. The balance will go on in their chosen career fields. Even if they lose, they give it their all, no one can ask for more. Looking at them, it’s easy to see heroes and heroines for writing ideas: passionate, loyal, proven, trustworthy, and very tall. About Mary Jo Burke Mary Jo is a USA Today…

Come in darling, it’s perishing out there. So wonderful to see you, and in such auspicious circumstances. A new society column you say? Well, you’ve got me all to yourself until, oh I don’t know, sixish. Then I must dash as Dotty is collecting me – you remember Dotty don’t you? Only so high, glossy bobbed hair, big glasses? She’s an absolute dream of a pal and we’re off to watch one of Bunty Buntington-Howe’s shows at the West End tonight. But until then, as I said, all yours. Have a seat. Drink? Once interviewer and the Hon Cressida are seated, with tea – though martinis were offered – we begin… What do you do for a living? Well, as you know, I’m lucky enough not to have to do anything, but being idle doesn’t suit me. I’m sure it’s the reason for so many of these murders I keep stumbling upon. People just sitting around reading magazines – not ones like yours, of course, darling – and coming up with dastardly plans for their poor, or in most cases, rich, relatives. So, yes, I do like to keep busy, so I help people with their décor. I know that…

I love when established authors switch genres. As a reader I know they’ve been around the block a few times and they know their way between the sheets—of paper, people not cotton or satin! Today’s author was a complete joy to work with and she accommodated my scheduling debacle with class. Molly Harper is a talented storyteller who gets things done and she’s a nice person. It doesn’t get any better than that for a fangirl like me! Kym: Welcome to The Cozy Corner on Fresh Fiction! Molly: Thanks for having me! I’m happy to be here. Kym: Congrats on your new release, A PROPOSAL TO DIE FOR. Your new heroine, Jasmine is a proposal planner, which to be honest, I had to look it up to see if young couples were really doing this, and to my surprise it really a thing. I might be a little out of touch on current wedding trends;) How did the idea for your new release come to life for you? Molly: It all started with Jess’s job. As soon as I heard about proposal planning, I knew there was a character there. It’s really just someone who is professionally thoughtful. They listen…

“Wicked” has filled our screens with images of a green-skinned girl who soon acquires a black hat and a flying broomstick and an attitude—our traditional image of the witch reinforced over countless Halloweens. Though Elphaba is young in this prequel, witches generally are depicted as old. Why?             Witches, wise women, hags, cunning folk, crones. They are all part of an ancient tradition from the time of matriarchal societies—the Triple Goddess, who represents all women in an ever-shifting form, a goddess of new life in spring, of the full moon and summer fruitfulness, and the goddess of winter and darkness and prophecy called the Cailleach in Ireland and Scotland.             This traditional belief morphed over the centuries and empires, but with the spread of Christianity, the divine role of the female was shrunken down to Mary alone. Solely a mother, never the radiant bride nor the powerful ruler of the dark moon. Women were viewed as daughters of Eve, creatures of uncontrolled passions and dangerous frailty. Those who did not submit to the new order were cast out as witches, linked to Satan and evil.             In my historical novel UPON THE CORNER OF THE MOON, about the Macbeths, the…

This week’s Jen’s Jewels shines a spotlight on an unforgettable story that blends humor, heart, and mystery. THE SIDEWAYS LIFE OF DENNY VOSS by Holly Kennedy is a poignant coming-of-age novel wrapped in a compelling family drama, following the journey of Denny Voss—a man with a unique perspective on the world—and his loyal Saint Bernard, George. Their story is as touching as it is thought-provoking, reminding us of the power of resilience, kindness, and seeing life through a different lens. If you love novels that linger in your heart long after you turn the last page, this one is a must-read. Tag me on social media and let me know what you think—I have a feeling you’ll be just as captivated by Denny’s journey as I was! Jennifer Vido: Your novel masterfully combines humor with deeply emotional themes. What inspired you to write Denny Voss’s story? Holly Kennedy: I wrote the first 30 pages of this novel at a writers’ retreat in 2010 and immediately fell in love with Denny. He was stubborn and funny, and he had an undefinable charm. I couldn’t stop thinking about him; I even dreamed about him. He wasn’t a cardboard character, though, and I…