I love to talk about the soundtracks for my books. It’s a huge part of my writing process. Whether it’s a song I seek out that’s thematically related or something that comes on the radio during a drive, I’ve built entire books off the backs of songs. Every title has a theme song, something that ties to the story. I like to construct the soundtracks in a way that tells the story, too. My playlist for YOU KNOW WHY is no different, though some of the songs may be more recognizable than others. Its backbone is a song I heard at the dentist, under the influence of nitrous oxide, that absolutely made the lights come on for me about a character’s motivations—Then He Kissed Me, by the Crystals. It was a lightning bolt realization, and it changed the entire tenor of the book for me. There is also another oldie but goodie that is vital to the story, and that’s from the Charlie Brown Christmas album, Christmas Time is Here, from the Vince Guaraldi Trio. It plays on a loop in the opening scene of a murder, a poignant juxtaposition of holiday joy against the backdrop of death. Another vital…

What is the title of your latest release?RELATIONSHIP GOALS What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?An infamous star soccer player is forced to fake date a Hollywood starlet, only to develop real feelings for her – just as she learns he was pretending and vows to get even. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I knew I wanted the fame aspect of this fake dating, and I couldn’t think of a better place to set a high-stakes public romance than in L.A. and Hollywood. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Oh my gosh, ABSOLUTELY. Abigail and I would be chaos queens together. What are three words that describe your protagonist?Bubbly, chaotic, and kind. What’s something you learned while writing this book?I did a lot of research for this one, but the thing that I got most intense about was the real-life FIFA scandal – which I ended up not using much of at all, other than a sort of background flavor. There’s a great documentary on Netflix about it – but if you want a soccer documentary Beckham is a lot more fun! Do you edit as you draft or wait…

What is the title of your latest release?THE SHADOW FRIENDS What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?When a Russian defector is murdered at a local global affairs conference, Ingrid’s ex-CIA colleague (and former lover) pulls her back into the spying game in a hunt for the assassin. She can’t reveal the mission to anyone – not even her husband Lloyd – and when she abruptly disappears from Purity, a frantic Lloyd and the rest of the Martini Club must track her down, all the while wondering where Ingrid’s loyalties really lie. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Since this is a series, I knew the story would kick off in the small town of Purity, Maine, where my five former spies have retired. But I also wanted to expand the stage, so I sent my characters to Amsterdam and Madrid, two cities I’m familiar with from my own travels. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Oh yes! I would love to hang out with my five ex-spies, and the reason this became a series was because I didn’t want to leave behind these characters. Since I live in a small town…

What is the title of your latest release?THE PHONE SWAP What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A single, never-been-in-love scientist and a Hollywood heartthrob swap seats on a plane, and when they get home, realize they’ve picked up each other’s phones. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?It sounds quite twee, but sometimes these things just come to me like a bolt from the blue and that was the case for this one! There are parts set in the Arctic, and it genuinely arrived as a “what if?” in my mind and it just felt so right. It’s a book of contrasts in a way. Two very different people from two different worlds, and what could be further from Hollywood and film sets? The Arctic with no phone signal and more animals than people! Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely! I learned a lot while writing Allie. She’s guarded and quite direct, but she’s also really autonomous and comfortable with what she loves, and she really protects it. What are three words that describe your hero?Misunderstood golden retriever. What’s something you learned while writing this book?Besides learning how to be…

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.

What is the title of your latest release?A PINCH OF ASSAULT What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?It’s time to meet the boyfriend’s mother and anything could happen, but finding a dead body was not on Jax’s bingo card. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I have always wanted to write books set in a diner. I worked as a bus girl when I was younger, and the atmosphere just seemed to beg for a murder mystery. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely! What are three words that describe your hero?Trustworthy, quiet, more-fun-than-Jax-realized-she-wanted What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned about retirement homes that have all day bars and how many Manhattans seem to be requested! Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?LOL, both? I tend to edit while I’m writing if it’s glaring but I do also edit the whole thing again before it goes out to my critique partners. What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?Fluff ‘n’ Nutter sandwiches! Describe your writing space/office!Chaos filled with lots of what readers call “Muses” and electric candles that I call “beacons” so that when they’re…

Welcome to Burrsville, traveler. If you missed the sign coming into town, you could be forgiven – it’s grown over with Virginia creeper, and no one has thought to cut it down, and no one will. There is not much use for a sign. People who find their way here do so by accident. You will not find a hotel here; there never was one. There was a diner, once, but the dust is so thick on the windows you can no longer peer through, and if you go around the back you can see where the bear broke in and ate the frozen waffles and the jars of jam, and when he’d had his fill the raccoons and possums and mice came for the rest. There are stranger and hungrier things than that in Burrsville. If you go down Main Street, you will see what’s left, the secondhand stores and the Army recruiter, the smoke shop and the bottle-and-can return. You will see the empty husks of the churches – the crumbling stone of the Catholic church, where I met the devil once, and the collapsed steeple of the Pentecostal, open to the sky, hollow as a throat. If…

There is something timeless about settling down with a good cozy mystery. These stories invite readers into charming communities filled with memorable characters, hidden secrets, and clever puzzles that keep the pages turning. While a crime is at the center of the story, the focus is rarely on violence. Instead, the heart of a cozy mystery is the journey of uncovering the truth. One of the defining features of the genre is the amateur sleuth. Rather than a professional detective, mystery is often solved by someone with an everyday career, such as a bookstore owner, baker, gardener, or librarian. Their curiosity, determination, and knowledge of their community allow them to notice clues that others overlook. The setting is just as important as the mystery itself. Cozy mysteries often take place in small towns, villages, or unique vacation destinations where everyone knows one another. These close-knit communities create an atmosphere that feels welcoming while also providing plenty of suspects, secrets, and unexpected twists. As both a reader and a writer, I appreciate what makes this genre so special. I am currently working on my own cozy mystery and have gained an even greater appreciation for the careful balance of clues, suspects,…

Music is one theme that resonates consistently throughout my multicultural coming-of-age novel, RAINS OF MERCY. This is understandable because the male protagonist is a young teenager who sings in the choir and one who turns out to be a famous afrogospel artist much later in the story. As a lover of afrogospel music myself (although my voice is far from pitch-perfect), I was careful deciding what songs would be best suited for RAINS OF MERCY’s playlist. I wanted songs that would convey the heart of the book, as well as remind the readers of the peculiarities of the culture through which the story is told. So, I knew, in the middle of an autumn night, whilst contending against sleep as I remained determined to hit my set word count, the first song on my list would have to be I Am Your Beloved by Jonathan and Melissa Helser. I Am Your Beloved is one song that has blessed me personally in too many ways to count, and it perfectly encapsulates the heart of RAINS OF MERCY. I Am Your Beloved carries a soft tenderness that reminds us of God’s love for us, and it reminds us that God is eager…

Welcome back to Jen’s Jewels, your weekly must-read featuring the hottest fiction! This week, I’m thrilled to share MY SISTER IS GOING TO KILL ME by Nina Simon. I read an early copy of this book while vacationing in Santa Fe, New Mexico – and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. The wild, rugged setting of the story felt surprisingly close to where I was reading, and I couldn’t help but imagine myself right alongside these sisters as they found themselves in one dangerous situation after another. If you love family drama, adventure, and a thriller that will keep you turning the pages, MY SISTER IS GOING TO KILL ME belongs on your TBR. You can thank me later. Read on! LIGHTNING ROUND What’s your favorite way to spend a slow August afternoon?Reading a library book while lounging in a net woven into a redwood tree by my house… 80 feet up in the air. What snack, drink, or sweet treat always finds its way to your desk when writing?Yorkshire Gold black tea with half-and-half. What’s one thing that instantly helps you slip into a creative mindset?Sitting down at my kitchen table on a quiet morning as the fog…