1–What is the title of your latest release? THE TRIP 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Four friends take the vacation of a lifetime to Thailand, only to discover someone has been following them…It’s a thriller dealing with themes of class, friendship, status, domestic abuse and con artists. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wrote a lot of THE TRIP in the covid lockdown, and at the time I was desperate to be out of my apartment and somewhere exciting! I did a lot of research into Bangkok and Koh Samet, and ended up taking a vacation there this year, after the book was finished – I prayed I had got the details right! I loved it there – it’s a real sensory experience, and I hope I did it justice. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? My novel has four protagonists – Holly, Saskia, Theo and Lucas, and the book flits between them. I enjoyed writing Saskia the most; I’m not sure I’d hang out with her, she has a pretty troubled past, but I might hang out with Lucas. He’s overall the nicest of the…

Who’s most likely to be impulsive? Answer: Willa. My cheesemonger protagonist doesn’t stop until she solves the case, even if it means jumping into some precarious situations. Who’s most likely to break a serious mood with a joke? Answer: Baz. The local handyman and Willa’s next-door neighbor quickly becomes like a brother to her—sometimes annoying but always able to make her smile. Who’s most likely to be the first to want to investigate? Answer: Archie. Willa’s cheesemonger-in-training also has a penchant for investigating. In CASE OF THE BLEUS, he suggests naming their Scooby Doo-like sleuthing group, hence Team Cheese was born. Who’s most likely to be overlooked and underestimated? Answer: Mrs. Schultz. Willa’s Curds & Whey crew member and friend, she’s smack dab in her sixties and knows this often allows her to go unnoticed—all the better to eavesdrop, like she did in CHEDDAR OFF DEAD. As a retired drama teacher, she’s also quite good at putting on a performance, as she did when they needed a diversion in CASE OF THE BLEUS. Who would suspect a nice older lady of faking a sprained ankle? Who’s most likely to want Willa to stop sleuthing? Answer: Detective Heath doesn’t like when…

My name is Theodora Wainsworth. Everyone calls me Teddy because in Texas no one is called Theodora. I say Texas, but I grew up in Bird Isle, an island village off the Texas Gulf. We call the Gulf the third coast which is practically a state of its own. We are famous for Whooping Cranes, deep sea fishing, kite surfing and hurricanes. Every year thousands of visitors come to our town to enjoy the miles of beaches, the warm water, the gentle waves.  The sand sculpture competition is held annually. I’ve never entered the contest, but my friends have. I have this thing about sandcastles—most of the time they’re ruined by the tide. That’s why I wish I’d had a chance to tell my mother that the saying on the beach is “tide and chance happens to us all”, not “time and chance.” She might get a kick out of the quip.  Back to business, Bird Isle hosts a Whooping Crane festival in February each year. The last wild flock of the endangered Whooping Cranes migrate to their wintering grounds to enjoy the company of Winter Texans aka Snowbirds who flock to the Gulf each year as well. The birds—Avian…

For the “scary” month of October, we look at several novels set in the growing-anxiety era of the 1930’s, where even the members of the upper class British society portrayed in these stories sense that a fractured world and a fragile peace are threatened—and worry how that will affect the rest of their lives. We begin with fictionalized accounts of real people in Emily Hourican’s AN INVITATION TO THE KENNEDYS.  The story is told in alternating viewpoints between Kathleen ‘Kick’ Kennedy, daughter of the new US ambassador to England, and Honor and Lady Brigid Guinness, scions of a socially prominent family.  “Kick” is delighted to be in England; with the older brothers on whom Joseph Kennedy normally focuses back in the US, she dreams of winning her exacting father’s attention and approval. Her social success pleases him, marked by her invitation to a select house party at Kelveden Hall, where she becomes friends with Lady Brigid, the niece of their host “Chips” Channon and his wife, Brigid’s sister Honor. Chip has great plans of matching his niece with fellow guest Prince Frederick of Prussia, heir to the German emperor, whom he thinks might make a bargain with Hitler to share…

Get ready to immerse yourself in the heartwarming magic of the holiday season! In my latest Jen’s Jewels author interview, I chat with bestselling author Jenny Hale about her enchanting new release, THE NOEL BRIDGE. This moving tale, set in the Smoky Mountains, weaves together themes of healing, hope, and the power of love—perfect for cozying up with this Christmas. Discover the inspiration behind the magical covered bridge, dive into the emotional journeys of Alicia and Leo, and learn how Jenny masterfully balances mystery, romance, and a touch of holiday wonder. Jennifer Vido: Your holiday stories always evoke such strong emotions. What inspired this novel’s magical idea of a covered bridge that heals the sick and mends the broken? Jenny Hale:  While maintaining a secular story, I wanted to build a novel that asked people to assess their own beliefs by posing a question: Is there a place anywhere that could help us find our connection to our beliefs? Christmas is already a time when we turn our focus toward our faith, so I figured it would be nice backdrop for a book like this. Then, I needed a place. And what’s more romantic and Christmassy than a covered bridge?…

1–What is the title of your latest release? INTO THE SUNSET, it’s book #3 of the Western Light Series 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Maeve O’Toole gets asked to help babysit while her friend faces her deepest fear-being locked in an insane asylum. Dakota Harlan gets asked to come along to fight on their side. He needs to get away as he’s got a feuding family of hillbillies trying to kill him. He ends up doing a lot of babysitting and she ends up shooting someone. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The book is mostly set in Wyoming because my secondary character needs a place where women’s rights are respected as her tyrant husband wants to lock her in an insane asylum until she agrees to hand over the money her daughter inherited. Wyoming was the first state to grant women the right to vote and give them full legal rights, so she’s hoping that helps protect her. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. Maeve would make a loyal friend. Dakota has learned to be very tough but he’s got a soft heart that he’s…

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.

1–What is the title of your latest release? The December Market 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? In the snowy town of Shelter Springs, shop owner Amanda Taylor is still grieving the fiancé she lost a decade ago. Sparks fly when she re-connects with Rafe Arredondo, a widowed firefighter reluctant to open his heart again — but their shared painful history threatens to keep them apart. As Christmas magic fills the air, Amanda and Rafe must decide if they can let go of the past and embrace a second chance at love. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This was easy as THE DECEMBER MARKET is a follow-up to my previous book, CHRISTMAS AT THE SHELTER INN and is set in the same small town of Shelter Springs, Idaho. I created this town as a spinoff to my Haven Point series, set in the same general area on the shores of the fictional Lake Haven. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Definitely! I loved Amanda, who is trying hard to help her community become a better place by organizing the town’s benefit holiday market every year. 5–What are…

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 as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Jennifer Chance! Writes: Jennifer Chance writes richly imagined adventures that combine epic fantasy, fast-paced adventure, and swoon-worthy romance! Whether you want to explore the super-secret paranormal academies tucked into Boston’s most elite neighborhood, hit the beach with a royal family still dedicated to serving the Greek gods, or dive into her newest high-fantasy adventure of glorious tournament battles, slow-burn romance, gilded palaces, enormous monsters and dark-and-twisty magic… she’s got a story for you! About: From her first ill-advised romance mashup of Indiana Jones and Empire Strikes Back at age 12, Jennifer Chance has never met a genre she hasn’t wanted to bend. Good Will Hunting meets Harry Potter? Check (Touch of the Mage). Princess Diaries meets Percy Jackson? Check (Courted). And now, with her newest book? Take your pick: Godzilla meets Game of Thrones? Mulan meets Wheel of Time? Twelfth Night meets Fourth Wing? Check, check, and check. (Court of Talons). My ideal reader match for my latest book, COURT OF TALONS must love: What to…

Before there was a Winter King, there was a Summer Queen—Gwendolyn of Cornwall, a warrior princess who raised an army to unite a nation. First, give the heroine a triple blessing/curse at her birth (a la Sleeping Beauty) —three Fae gifts: a prophecy for her future, a gift of “Reflection,” and a golden mane. Essentially, Gwendolyn’s hair turns to gold, provided it is cut by her one true love, but anyone who gazes upon her face will see his/her own heart reflected in her countenance. Depending upon their true nature, she is the loveliest woman in the land… or the most hideous—a cruel jest of the capricious Fae, for unless a man’s heart is true, Gwendolyn is destined to be coveted for her crown, yet despised for her face. Now, give this curse to a true-life heroine, add a hot Fae into the mix, along with a few trolls and other creatures, then re-imagine them all into a true historical event, richly imbued with Celtic legend and lore, and you’ve got The Goldenchild Prophecy. I’m SO sad to end this series, but so thrilled to have had the opportunity to tell Gwendolyn of Cornwall’s story. I first came across her…