Music speaks to writers in a way that few other mediums can, creating a vibe and an emotional state that perfectly captures what they’re trying to accomplish within a scene. These five songs really tell the shape and trajectory of the journey that Kate goes through during my debut murder-mystery/rom-com mash-up, SHE DOESN’T HAVE A CLUE. By turns funny, zany, sexy, and serious, these songs are the perfect backdrop for your CLUE read-a-thon. Mother, Mother – Tracy Bonham When we first meet our intrepid amateur sleuth, Kate Valentine, she’s trying her absolute hardest to be fine. Her fiancé has left her, she’s six months overdue on her next bestselling mystery novel, and now she’s got to attend her ex’s lavish weekend wedding at his new bride’s private island (yes, the whole damn island). And what has she got? An apartment of increasingly questionable leftover take out, a brand new dress that she’s hoping will hold in a whole lot more than just her cleavage for the weekend, and the personal mantra that “everything is FINE.” I can well imagine the chorus of this song literally screaming through Kate’s head as she hops on the yacht to Hempstead Island. Stick Season…

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 Letizia Lorini! Writes: Funny and emotional romcoms full of unexpected turns and twists. You can always expect my books to surprise you, and my characters to have layers you’ll peel through the chapters. My first series, Love & Other Recipes, features foodie themes and characters: chefs, bakers, and even candy-makers! About: A passionate storyteller, I love happily ever afters and worlds in which I can get lost. My writing explores human emotions, imperfect characters and a winded path to growth. My inspiration comes from 90s romcoms, music, and endless daydreaming. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me lost in a good book, chugging “just one more” coffee, or planning my next trip. Born and raised in Italy, I now live in Sweden with my partner and a fluffy white pup (and seventeen plants at the time of writing, though there’s no telling how quickly my collection will grow.) What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: What to expect if we’re compatible: THE…

Every book I write, I create a playlist for each chapter. Like a good soundtrack for a movie or TV show, a playlist enriches my writing and, I hope, for readers who enjoy them, it enriches the reading experience, too. While I have a dedicated song for each chapter in ONCE SMITTEN, TWICE SHY that you can listen to here, here are five songs that I particularly love and whose connection to their chapters I’m excited to talk about! “mona lisa,” mxmtoon In Chapter 1, Juliet is wrestling with restlessness, a sense that she wants her life’s path to shift, after having spent over half a year focusing on healing from a rough breakup and an emotionally toxic relationship. She’s a romance reader, a lover of happy endings, but she’s put that part of her life on the back burner for fear of getting hurt again. The song’s sweet yet also melancholic tenor fits perfectly with her longing for change that’s at war with her fear of embracing it, and the lyrics couldn’t fit her situation better: I’m so tired of being a book on the shelf / Tired of stories for somebody else / Think that I’m ready 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 Jillian Meadows! Writes: Hello, romance readers! I’m Jillian Meadows, and I write contemporary romance that will make you swoon, smile, and kick your feet squealing! I love writing cozy happily-ever-afters that give readers a front row seat to all the big and small moments that make two people fall in love! My newest release, GIVE ME BUTTERFLIES, is a workplace romance that takes place in a museum, so it’s full of all the nerdy goodness your heart can handle. Our heroine, Millie, is an entomology curator, and she’s fighting against her imposter syndrome and anxiety to apply for her dream job— the head of the entomology department. But after a few less-than-ideal run-ins with Finn, the head of the astronomy department, she discovers he is on her interview panel, and as much as she would like to avoid him, the universe keeps pulling them together. About: I’m a mom of four who currently lives in west Texas, where the heat is unavoidable, but the sunsets…

I love coming up with playlists for my books—it’s such a great way to set the scene and get into my characters’ heads! So without further ado, here are the songs I hear when I think about DEAD BELOW DECK. Super Rich Kids by Frank Ocean What better anthem for a yacht full of (seemingly) privileged prep school friends setting sail on a cruise to the Caribbean? No parents. No supervision. Cases of hard-to-pronounce wine and champagne. Of course, it’s not all fun and laughs for these “super rich kids with nothing but loose ends… super rich kids with nothing but fake friends.” Because when it all comes down to it, Ocean’s song is about yearning for real love—not money. Giselle can definitely relate. Busyhead by Noah Kahan With Maggie’s roots in small-town Vermont, there’s no doubt she keeps Noah Kahan on regular rotation and connects with his songs. But it’s Busyhead that really speaks to the inner turmoil Maggie feels about her family, what she’s doing at Prep—and why she befriends Giselle and joins her on this fateful yacht trip. She understands deeply what it means to keep her secrets and weaknesses hidden, and the consequences of burning bridges…

1–What is the title of your latest release? SERIAL BURN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Fire marshal, Jesslyn McCormick is determined to find the arsonist responsible for the blaze that killed her family 20 years ago. As the anniversary approaches, a string of new fires, including one at her church, reignites old wounds and reveals new evidence. FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is called in to investigate. As they work together, the case intensifies—and so does their chemistry. But when the terrifying truth comes out, she’ll need Nathan and her community to help her survive a nightmare she thought was long behind her. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It’s book 3 in the series so the location was already in place before I started writing. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Oh yes, absolutely. I really like Jesslyn’s character. She’s serious thanks to past tragedy, and very focused on finding who killed her family, but she does have a sense of humor and enjoys hanging out with her friends. So, yeah, we’d be friends in real life. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Driven,…

No, I will not be answering any questions. Put your hand down. Skies, we have not even started the tour yet! Listen, I did not want to do this, but Penelope said, “Dair, as one of the only family members that has actually spent your life in this city, you have an obligation to show these humans around.” I will not mention the threat she made to my person if I did not do it. Something about plants in uncomfortable places. Honestly, she can be such a savage. Well, since we are here, we will start with the palace. The Winter Palace has been home to every generation of the Winter Court’s ruling family since Danu left this world behind to Her children. Yes, yes, look around. As you can see, only the best faerie glass is used for the windows and the marble floor is from the very dwarf city under Crann Mòr. The Winter Court has been the ruling seat of the Night Court since it was founded, and the palace sports enough history in its halls that not even the most diligent human scholars could uncover it all. Not that there are really any humans willing to…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Ex–Chicago detective Carrie Starr is hired as tribal marshal on the reservation where her father was raised and falls into the investigation of a missing college student that leaves her drowning in memories of her daughter—the girl she failed to save. When Starr catches a glimpse of a figure from her father’s stories, with the body of a woman and the antlers of a deer, she must discover whether Deer Woman is there to guide her or to seek vengeance for the lost daughters Starr can never bring home. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I was really drawn to the differences between where Carrie Starr comes from (Chicago) and where she ends up in MASK OF THE DEER WOMAN. For her new job as the tribal marshal of the Saliquaw Nation in Oklahoma, Starr rents a rundown duplex Dexter Springs, a small town in the northeast corner of Kansas that is within the 20-minute on-call response radius her role requires. I like to approach the setting as if it is a character,…

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.

This week’s Jen’s Jewels column features debut author Sandra Chwialkowska, who shares the inspiration behind her thrilling new release, THE ENDS OF THINGS. Set against the picturesque backdrop of a tropical vacation, the novel weaves suspense with the intricacies of female friendship. Sandra dives into her creative process, the allure of mystery, and how a seemingly perfect getaway can lead to unexpected revelations. With its intriguing plot and relatable characters, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into a story that will captivate readers from start to finish. Be sure to check it out and uncover what makes THE ENDS OF THINGS a must-read! Jennifer Vido: THE ENDS OF THINGS delves into suspense and female friendship. What inspired you to blend these elements into a single narrative?Sandra Chwialkowska: I love mysteries and suspense stories, so I wanted to write my version of a missing persons investigation. My heroine Laura becomes obsessed with a mysterious woman she meets on vacation, and when that woman disappears, Laura becomes embroiled in the investigation that unfolds. I’m very interested in obsession, specifically female obsession, and I wanted to explore why women sometimes become obsessed with each other. What triggers it? What’s at the root of…