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 Jillian Meadows! Writes: Hello, romance readers! I’m Jillian Meadows, and I write contemporary romance that will make you swoon, smile, and kick your feet squealing! I love writing cozy happily-ever-afters that give readers a front row seat to all the big and small moments that make two people fall in love! My newest release, GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES, is a workplace romance that takes place in a museum, so it’s full of all the nerdy goodness your heart can handle. Our heroine, Millie, is an entomology curator, and she’s fighting against her imposter syndrome and anxiety to apply for her dream job— the head of the entomology department. But after a few less-than-ideal run-ins with Finn, the head of the astronomy department, she discovers he is on her interview panel, and as much as she would like to avoid him, the universe keeps pulling them together. About: I’m a mom of four who currently lives in west Texas, where the heat is unavoidable, but the sunsets…

I love coming up with playlists for my books—it’s such a great way to set the scene and get into my characters’ heads! So without further ado, here are the songs I hear when I think about DEAD BELOW DECK. Super Rich Kids by Frank Ocean What better anthem for a yacht full of (seemingly) privileged prep school friends setting sail on a cruise to the Caribbean? No parents. No supervision. Cases of hard-to-pronounce wine and champagne. Of course, it’s not all fun and laughs for these “super rich kids with nothing but loose ends… super rich kids with nothing but fake friends.” Because when it all comes down to it, Ocean’s song is about yearning for real love—not money. Giselle can definitely relate. Busyhead by Noah Kahan With Maggie’s roots in small-town Vermont, there’s no doubt she keeps Noah Kahan on regular rotation and connects with his songs. But it’s Busyhead that really speaks to the inner turmoil Maggie feels about her family, what she’s doing at Prep—and why she befriends Giselle and joins her on this fateful yacht trip. She understands deeply what it means to keep her secrets and weaknesses hidden, and the consequences of burning bridges…

1–What is the title of your latest release? SERIAL BURN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Fire marshal, Jesslyn McCormick is determined to find the arsonist responsible for the blaze that killed her family 20 years ago. As the anniversary approaches, a string of new fires, including one at her church, reignites old wounds and reveals new evidence. FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is called in to investigate. As they work together, the case intensifies—and so does their chemistry. But when the terrifying truth comes out, she’ll need Nathan and her community to help her survive a nightmare she thought was long behind her. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It’s book 3 in the series so the location was already in place before I started writing. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Oh yes, absolutely. I really like Jesslyn’s character. She’s serious thanks to past tragedy, and very focused on finding who killed her family, but she does have a sense of humor and enjoys hanging out with her friends. So, yeah, we’d be friends in real life. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Driven,…

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.