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.

1–What is the title of your latest release? The fourth book in the Modern Midwife Mysteries series is MURDER AT FIRST LIGHT. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? It’s autumn in the New England seaside town of Langford, and Maeve O’Reilly Kensington, a modern nurse midwife, is starting a dual appointment between Creighton Memorial and Rosemont College. One morning, during an early row on the bay, she sees a jogger stagger from the town’s iconic lighthouse and collapse. He dies despite all attempts to rescue him, and questions surface. At first, it looked like natural causes, but was it foul play? Maeve and her sister Meg wade into the land of the “Yummy Mummies” to look for clues. Will they solve the case? And more importantly, can they escape the killer? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Maeve lives in the quintessential seaside village of Langford, in New England, where the mystery occurs. By coincidence, Langford shares some features with the charming coastal town in New England where I live. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would love to hang out with Maeve, her sister Meg, and…

It’s the most, murdery time of the year! Okay, so maybe it’s not. But there are a lot of cozy Christmas capers that come out every year, and I love reading them. There’s just something about a snowstorm, a cozy fire, and murder that makes me want to curl up with a good book at this time of year. Since there are so many out there, here are a few I’d like to recommend: The book I’m going to read – THE MOST WONDERFUL CRIME OF THE YEAR by Ally Carter Ally Carter is one of my favorite authors. She’s also a lot of fun to crawl through the ducts of the International Spy Museum with, but that was a long time ago and my knees wouldn’t allow me to do that again. I’m really excited to start her latest tonight: Meet Maggie Chase and Ethan Wyatt: She’s the new Queen of the Cozy Mystery. He’s Mr. Big-time Thriller Guy. But when they both accept a cryptic invitation to attend a Christmas house party at the English estate of a reclusive fan, neither is expecting their host to be the most powerful author in the world: Eleanor Ashley, the Duchess of…

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? AN ENCHANTED KNIGHT: Book One of The Cursed Kingdom series 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A woman with the power to guide spirits. A cursed knight trapped in time. Can Gwen break the enchantment that binds Tristan—or will love trap them both forever? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This was an easy choice. My favorite country is Scotland and most of my historical romances take place there, so choosing the country was easy. The second thing was picking a castle that would work for the story. One that is away from the city in a small town, so it wouldn’t be affected by the changes of time. I chose a real place, Dunimarle Castle in Culross, Scotland. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! I would love to talk to someone who lived in 1600s Scotland. It would be amazing to hear how life was back then and then use it for my writing. And well, he’s also a hunk… there’s that. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Strong, Leader, Handsome 6–What’s something you learned while…

Book Title:  THE SECRET DAUGHTER Character Name: Zoë Benoit How would you describe your family or your childhood? There was only me and my mother, and we were very poor. We lived in London, in the slums.  Maman escaped from Revolutionary France when she was 11 — her parents and older brother went to the guillotine. She did whatever she could to survive — drawing chalk pictures on the footpath. She wanted to be an artist but instead became an artist’s model, where my father, a so-called gentleman found and seduced her. When she fell pregnant with me, he abandoned her. What a swine, eh? So I grew up in the backstreets of London, speaking English outside, and French with my mother. She died young, and I ended up in an orphan asylum, where they changed my name because they said it was too foreign. I hated it there. But that was where my half-sister, Clarissa found me — she came looking for an orphan to train up as a maid — and she found me instead. What was your greatest talent? I can draw and paint, like my mother, and because I grew up in the streets, I can…

Most Likely to… Show up at a critical moment. Cal Newfellow (THE PERFECT WITNESS). As the owner of Secure One, Cal is ex-army and a former mercenary who knows when his team needs him. Just ask Mina, Roman, and Marlise. Help a stranger. Marlise Newfellow (GOING ROGUE IN RED RYE COUNTY & THE PERFECT WITNESS). As a former victim of sex trafficking, she was helped by a stranger (Mina Jacobs) and now returns that favor whenever she can. That’s what Cal loves about her the most. Think outside the box to solve a problem. Delilah Hartman (HOLIDAY UNDER WRAPS). Delilah spent six years on the run from her former employer, so she’s the very definition of thinking outside the box to solve a problem. In fact, she ended up putting herself into a box and mailing it to her former lover to get the help she needed to finally be free. Motivate people Selina Colvert (THE MASQUERADING TWIN) Selina is Secure One’s resident medical professional and a willing ear for her teammates. Whether they need patching up or propping up, Selina is the person they turn to for both. She’s professional, concise, clear-headed, and always willing to put the team’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.

This time of year, gift buying guides are everywhere. This one I’ve come up with is a little more personal. Every Christmas and birthday, I get my sister-in-law something – with a healthy helping of books I think she might like as well. There are a lot of things I might not do well, but I can usually make a good book recommendation. This particular list is full of paranormal romances I may or may not have gotten her (hopefully she’s not reading this), along with a few classics that I would recommend to anybody. These are books that might chase the winter blues away. This first book is not the first book in the series, but I will die on the rock that some series have books that can be read in any order. I firmly believe that Shelly Laurenston’s Pride series is one of those. The other day, a library patron was relentlessly berating me over the availability of free candy at the circulation desk. The tone took a turn toward the personally offensive. A co-worker remarked “How rude!”, after hearing my tale of woe. That instantly made me think of one of the shifter characters from Laurenston’s Pride series. Hybrid wild dog…

Welcome to this week’s edition of Jen’s Jewels, where we dive into the heartwarming and adventurous world of Megan Tady’s latest novel, BLUEBIRD DAY. Set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Swiss Alps, this compelling story blends humor, heart, and high stakes as a mother and daughter tackle their estranged relationship amidst a whirlwind of skiing competitions and an unexpected avalanche. With themes of ambition, reconciliation, and the power of shared experiences, Megan offers readers a captivating tale of family, resilience, and self-discovery. Don’t miss this behind-the-scenes glimpse into her creative process and the inspirations that brought BLUEBIRD DAY to life! Jen: What inspired you to write BLUEBIRD DAY? Are you a skier yourself, or did you have to dive into the world of competitive skiing through research? Megan: I liked the idea of exploring a mother and daughter working through an estrangement, but I wanted to give them something to do together besides just hash out their grievances. Walls can unwittingly come down when you’re working toward a shared goal—especially a physical goal that requires sweat and strength—which is why I chose a fitness contest as the impetus for getting them back together. And then, when their trip takes a turn,…