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.

Chapter 3 “I need your help.” “What is it, Mac?” I asked him, concerned by the visible tension on his face. “It’s the president,” he said, hanging on to the door facing. “I need help getting him out of bed.” Though I was always willing to help my husband with anything, this just seemed beyond the scope of my job description. “Mac, are you sure?” “You know I can usually handle him on my own, but this morning I’m . . . struggling. I’m afraid if I keep trying, I’m gonna drop him.” He appeared distraught by this, and I immediately dropped the pillow I was fluffing and went to him. I hated to see my husband in such distress, but I was also mindful that helping the president in such a private setting as his bedroom may not be welcomed by the man. “But Mac, won’t he be upset or embarrassed if I showed up to help? Can’t you ask one of the butlers or hallmen?” “No, he doesn’t want anyone in his bedroom but me. I told him about my trouble this morning and he agreed to let you in the room with me.” “All right,” I said,…

1–What is the title of your latest release? BECOMING MARIELLA 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A young Sicilian woman defies centuries of tradition, leaving home to make her way in the United States 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? As a second generation American, with deep ties to Sicily, and to the Bay Area, I chose the locations closest to my heart. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? In a heartbeat.  5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Feisty, smart, determined 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? A deepening of compassion for people, like Mariella’s mother, who lash out when they’re hurt. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? Both, but the best editing happens after it’s done.  Otherwise, for me, it’s hard to move forward, although the temptation to “get it perfect” first is strong. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Oh, well, pasta and chocolate! 9–Describe your writing space/office! The walls are faux painted to look Italian, with artwork on them that has meaning for me. The desk is a long wooden door, spacious. There are four…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE RADIO HOUR 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? N/A 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The book is set in Sydney in 1956 – the year television arrived and signaled the beginning of the end of the golden years of radio in Australia. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? My protagonist is a fifty-year old “spinster”, Martha Berry, who decides that it’s never too late to be who you might have been – and stands up for herself amongst a load of incompetent men. She is very much my kind of gal! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Under-appreciated, smart and loyal. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That one of the most influential women in Australian radio in the 1950s and 1960s – Grace Gibson – was actually a Texan from El Paso! She owned her own production company and made 30,000 episodes of radio serials which sold all over the world. We were canny enough to adopt her as one of our own and she lived here until she died in 1989, aged…

What happens when a stubborn MAGA father, his progressive bookseller daughter, and the ghost of his centrist wife collide in a battle over family, finances, and grudges? In LOUIE ON THE ROCKS (SparkPress, February 4, 2025), author Meredith O’Brien delivers a darkly comedic exploration of political division, generational conflict, and reluctant caregiving. We talked with O’Brien to discuss the inspiration behind her novel, the secrets families keep, and what’s coming next. The Inspiration Behind LOUIE ON THE ROCKS When asked about the setting for LOUIE ON THE ROCKS, O’Brien explained that she pulled from her own surroundings:“I wrote what I know, so I rooted the story in central Massachusetts in communities near me.” But what truly drives the novel is its characters—three very different protagonists: While O’Brien admits she’d probably only hang out with Helen in real life, she built the characters to reflect the complexity of family relationships—where love and resentment exist side by side. Family Secrets and Political Divides As she wrote LOUIE ON THE ROCKS, O’Brien realized just how much people keep from each other:“People rarely share their truths and often have no idea what others are really thinking. We hide more than we share. And that’s…

The Author-Reader Match is a fun “dating-style” profile to introduce readers to authors and their books. Below is the template for the post, along with some links to examples.  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 Maggie Shayne Writes: My latest is The Portal Series: Three epic paranormal romance novels and one novella, in which three sisters, slaves in a Babylonian king’s harem, were executed for practicing witchcraft, and for falling in love. Indira fell for a young priest-in-training, Lilia, for the king’s most trusted soldier, and Magdalena for his son, the prince. Enraged at their death sentence, Lilia’s beloved soldier killed the king, but the execution went on all the same, and he was sentenced to far worse. His soul was stripped by the high priest, and he was pitched into a dark, eternal void. Now, thirty-five centuries later, the sisters have reincarnated, destined to right this ancient wrong. They must find each other again, restore the tormented-one’s soul, reunite with their lost loves, and deliver justice that’s long past…

I’ve heard rumors that there are writers in the world who can write without music, but I have to confess I’m not usually one of them. Perhaps it’s the lack of quiet spaces living in the heart of a city, but I’ve always found it difficult to summon fantasy worlds when all I hear are the sounds of planes taking off, fire trucks hurrying to the rescue, and my neighbors re-shingling their houses. On an almost daily basis, I put my headphones in and let the music transport me to wild worlds filled with magic. CHILDREN OF LIGHT AND SHADOW by Ryan Kirk The Legend of Adani #4 A new generation of warriors arises Two generations have passed since Elian, Samora, and the united wandering clans fought against the greatest threat their world had ever seen. The land has known peace, and in that peace, humanity has flourished, regaining much of what had been lost during the endless years of war. Now an elder of her own clan, Samora has never believed the war against the Debru was over, but even she isn’t prepared for the overwhelming strength of the foe that appears one sunny day to enslave humanity. She…

1–What is the title of your latest release? QUEEN OF DIAMONDS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Peaky Blinders but with women thieves, who discover a life of crime in 1920s London is about love, loss and loyalty to the gang. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Alice Diamond and The Forty Thieves belong in London so that was easy! The timeline of the 1920s is to reveal how she put her gang together – plus, the Roaring Twenties in London has such a great juxtaposition of poverty and glamour, it’s just irresistible. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes, and it would be a wild ride. Although, I’d draw the line at stealing, so I probably wouldn’t last long in Alice Diamond’s criminal gang. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Dangerous, determined, diva 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? The secrets of the gang’s true criminal history in Victorian London and in the 1920s. These women were notorious! 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I tend to edit as I go along, writing chronologically, combing back…

1–What is the title of your latest release? LAST TWILIGHT IN PARIS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? In 1953 London, Louise finds a half heart necklace in a thrift shop which she recognizes as the one she saw her friend Franny, an entertainer, holding hours before she was killed when Louise was volunteering in Europe with the Red Cross during World War II.  Louise traces the necklace’s origin in a desperate attempt to find out the truth about what happened to Franny and discovers a mysterious connection to a department store in Paris with a tragic wartime past. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? When I learned the history of Levitan, the furniture store in central Paris where Jews were imprisoned and forced to sort, and in some cases sell, plunder from Jewish homes to the Germans, I was astounded. I knew the location would be central to my next book. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Definitely. But would she hang out with me?? 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Searching. Curious. Determined. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? In addition to…

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 Helen Hardt! Writes: Dark and passionate romance with heart-wrenching emotion and twists that will keep you turning the pages. ALWAYS is book six in the Follow Me series, and it’s an emotional rollercoaster you don’t want to miss! About: #1 New York Times bestselling author seeks passionate readers ready to dive into steamy romances and heart-stopping twists. As a master storyteller with a love for brooding heroes and resilient heroines, I’m here to bring you emotional depth, intense chemistry, and unforgettable plots. I’m a sucker for well-crafted characters, unexpected twists, and stories that leave you breathless. If you’re ready for late-night binge reads and a rollercoaster of emotions, let’s create some sparks on the page. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: I’m looking for readers who crave emotional intensity, heart-pounding passion, and characters with deep, dark secrets. If you’re someone who loves steamy romance, unexpected twists, and stories that keep you up until three a.m., we might just be a perfect…