Welcome, book lovers, to this week’s edition of Jen’s Jewels! Today, we’re diving into the captivating world of THE LOVE ELIXIR OF AUGUSTA STERN by Lynda Cohen Loigman. Imagine a tale that spans decades, from the vibrant streets of 1920s Brooklyn to a lively Florida retirement community in the 1980s. At its heart is Augusta Stern, a remarkable 80-year-old protagonist whose journey of love, loss, and unexpected second chances will leave you spellbound. With a dash of magical realism, a sprinkle of historical intrigue, and a heap of heart, Loigman’s novel promises to be a literary elixir you won’t want to miss. Join me as we uncover the inspiration behind this enchanting story, explore the intricate research that brings its settings to life, and discover why it’s never too late for love or redemption. Get ready for a conversation as rich and complex as Augusta herself! Jen: Augusta Stern is a fascinating character, balancing her past and present while navigating life’s unexpected turns. What inspired you to create a protagonist who is on the cusp of turning eighty, and how did you approach writing her journey of self-discovery? Lynda: The inspiration for Augusta came from stories I had heard about…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE BOOK OF WITCHING 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A dual narrative gothic thriller set on Orkney about a real-life witch trial from 1594 and a book that contains the history of evil, found by a girl in the present-day. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I have wanted to write about the witch trial of Alison Balfour for the longest time, so it made sense that I base the book in Orkney. I went there for research and absolutely loved it. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! Alison is a true hero. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Alison is steadfast, courageous, and full of integrity 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned a lot about 16th century Orcadian politics! I became fascinated by the social context at the time of the witch trial and am really, really glad I followed my hunch, because it turns out that this played into the real-life  narrative a lot more than I had expected. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are…

THE PROPHECY – Taylor Swift This song has defined A REIGN OF ROSE the most for me. Not only does the title speak to fundamental crucible Arwen will have to face—the unavoidable prophecy that’s irrevocably shaped the last year of her life—but the lyrics tell the story of a woman begging to be freed from a fate she fears. Though Taylor is singing about failed love, it sounds like Arwen’s inner monologue to me. “I guess a lesser woman would’ve lost hope. A greater woman wouldn’t beg, but I looked to the sky and said, please. I’ve been on my knees, change the prophecy.” EMPIRE NOW – Hozier If I ever share a book playlist that doesn’t have Hozier, Taylor, or Florence on it, you’ll know that was made an imposter. And this one happens to have all three! This is Hozier’s most A Reign of Rose song. He sings about how past informs to future, history is doomed to repeat itself unless someone is brave enough to make a change, and the power of revolution. It’s a hopeful song lyrically, but the melody reminds us that to get to that brighter future, we must make sacrifices. Arwen and Kane…

I never listen to music while I’m writing. But that doesn’t mean music isn’t an integral part of my writing process. Far from it…I always assign songs to specific chapters or certain events set within a chapter. Sometimes the song comes first and inspires me as a write a scene, while other times I’ve already written something and then I hear a song and know it perfectly captures the mood I’m trying to convey. To celebrate the publication of REALM UNITED, the final book in my YA romantasy Felserpent Chronicles series, I’d love to share 5 songs and tell you how they tie into the book. There won’t be any spoilers from REALM UNITED, but there are small spoilers from the previous two books. Song #1: Sibling Rivalry by PUP Goes with Chapter 5: Kyra and Seren’s fight We get a lot more of Kyra’s family in this book, and we delve pretty deep into Kyra’s relationship with her younger sister, Seren. Even when they’re filled with love, sibling relationships aren’t always easy. Seren has kept a lot of things inside her that explode in this chapter, and the lyrics of this song perfectly capture her feelings: I’m not tryna…

1–What is the title of your latest release? The Lost Portal: Mirror Realm Series Book II 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Hadley Caldwell, ex-demon huntress turned dream-host, has just been given an impossible task: find the Portal of Osiris, or face the gods’ eternal wrath. She and her band of huntress sisters embark on an epic quest spanning oceans, dreams, and time. But to defeat the gods, Hadley must first confront her troubled past. The Lost Portal is a mythology-inspired fantasy full of mystery, adventure, family drama, and sisterhood.  3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The end of book one (The Last Huntress), hints at the involvement of an Egyptian god, so getting the characters to Egypt was essential. Having been to Cairo, I was excited to incorporate some of my own experience into the girls’ adventures. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? One hundred percent! Hadley’s drop-dead gorgeous looks are the least interesting thing about her. She spent her childhood learning how to pick locks, hotwire cars, and physically defend herself while other kids her age were busy making friends and having fun. But she’s never…

1–What is the title of your latest release? The Wedding Engagement 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Planning a wedding is so romantic – except when it’s not yours and you’re planning it with the guy you’re secretly crushing on. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This a follow up to my book The Ex-Mas Holidays (though it can be read as a stand-alone). I set the series in the Scottish Highlands because I live in Scotland and wanted a Scottish setting. I liked the idea of a backdrop of a small town in the highlands for winter in my first book and springtime in this book. There will hopefully be a summer book to come in the future too… 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes. Liv is the cool dichotomy of a Jane Austen fan who is a karate blackbelt. She also loves tea and scones and I’m always up for having those! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Quirky, empathic, and kickass. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? In Nigeria they have an insult whereby if you are called a “Dundee…

1–What is the title of your latest release? O Little Town of Bethlehem 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Everyone deserves a second chance at Christmas, even the infamous and unredeemable Madeline Drake.  But when a snowy accident topples her through a slip in time, Madeline wakes to find herself in tiny, turn of the century, Bethlehem, Wyoming. Her arrival sends a ripple of change through the tenaciously rooted lives of the town’s odd collection of lost souls, and now it is Madeline who must find a way to earn their trust if she has any hope of making her way home.  A cozy magical story of the power of finding kindred spirits in the most unlikely of places, this story is as if The Midnight Library and It’s a Wonderful Life twined together like a candy cane and landed in your stocking.  3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I didn’t decide, the story idea did. About 14 years ago—while stuck on a long car trip across Wyoming– with the kids whining endlessly from the backseat (we’ve all been there)—a spark of an idea hit me and I spent the rest of…

What I love about this playlist is that several songs were suggested by people who got to read the book early and their choices told me that they really got Faolan Kelly and her story. RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW is a genre-blending kind of book, part western, part horror, part fantasy. It’s a story about one young person howling out their grief and who (or what) answers back. At times, it’s bloody, but it’s funny and hopeful, too. I feel like this playlist gives you a good idea about what kind of vibes you’d be stepping into when you crack open the book, and I hope you love it as much as I do. Mood to Burn Bridges by Neko Case There are a lot of reasons why this song works. The opening is all about people in your town being so happy to see you fail that she’s “surprised they don’t come up and thank me.” Which is essentially the first chapter of RED IN TOOTH AND CLAW. Case’s response to her neighbors in the chorus is also Faolan Kelly’s attitude all the way: “’Cause my mood to burn bridges/ Is not unlike my mood to dig ditches/…

What are the holidays without classic jingles, carols, hymns, and pop songs? Christmas music makes even the most Grinch-like heart beat a little faster – probably. I mean, in I’LL BE GONE FOR CHRISTMAS, one of the protagonists, Clover, is the quintessential Grinch, and roving carolers make her rageful but…anyway, I love Christmas songs, and I listened to a ton while working on this book, so here are a few of my favorites: Chosen Family by Carlie Hanson One of the biggest themes in the novel is chosen family and finding your place, and this is one of the most beautiful modern Christmas songs I’ve heard. In the lyrics are the words, “It’s funny how the safest landings /Need you to jump,” which is true for both Clover and Bee, who swap homes and travel across the county, completely out of their comfort zones, to find themselves again. Can You Stand the Rain by New Edition One of my favorite Christmas films of all time is Best Man Holiday, during which the men of the movie perform a choreographed dance to “Can You Stand the Rain” by New Edition. It’s super cheesy and incredibly random, but I don’t care, and…

Releasing Oct. 8 – Oct. 15, 2024 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.