My mom was a big mystery fan. Agatha Christie and Mary Higgins Clark were her go to authors. To my junior high self, it was uncool to read my mom’s books. To outwit or intrigue me, she suggested MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS was too complicated for her to understand. A dead body on a snow stranded train with most of the suspects women. She didn’t get it. As a service to her, I read the book. No spoilers, simply a mystery writing master class. Since then, I’ve been hooked on whodunits. Not only for the stories, but life lessons. First impressions are usually right, trust those Spidey senses. Be quiet and listen to what is said and unsaid. Observing adornments and body language add to the full picture of each person. So much free information is offered up. Everything is small stuff, details matter. Beauty and pain can hide in the shadows. Everyone has secrets, for good and for bad. All add to their story and its up to you to accept or reject them where they stand. Most importantly, life is full of problems and challenges. Be able to step back, push aside the emotions of the moment,…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE BODY BROKERS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Attorney Jason Feldman’s world is shattered when his girlfriend dies of a fentanyl overdose. His journey to the truth will take him into the belly of the beast, where life is cheap and the reality, catastrophic. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I grew up in Pittsburgh, and being intimately familiar with its beauty, quirks, and nuance, the primary setting was never in doubt. I chose Kensington (Philadelphia) because I am very familiar with the community struggles around fentanyl. With its proximity to Pittsburgh, it was the perfect choice. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes. As a lawyer in addiction recovery like Jason, I understand the chaos and uncertainty that can accompany it. That creates shared experiences. He is also a Pittsburgh guy to the core, so we’d have lots to talk about and similar local interests like Pittsburgh Pirates games and great local food. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Defiant, methodical, pragmatic 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? The most interesting/compelling characters can be…

From Madrigals and Mayhem by Elizabeth Penney. Copyright © 2024 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Publishing Group. Chapter 2 Daisy and I crowded through the doorway to see a young man wearing jeans and a sweater sprawled on an orange vinyl sofa, his eyes at half-mast. Empty plastic drink bottles lay scattered on the floor and a bakery box sat on the coffee table. Party for one? The young man groaned, clutching his stomach, and a whiff of vomit drifted to my nose. Ugh. I bumped into Daisy, who was also backing away. “Who is he?” I asked. “Is he drunk?” I couldn’t think why else he would be so sick. “Maybe.” Watching where she stepped, Charlotte made her way to the sofa. “Barnaby.” She pushed at his shoulder. “Barnaby. You need to leave.” “Is he your boyfriend?” Daisy asked. “No. My grandfather’s step-grandson.” Charlotte peered closely at Barnaby’s face. “He doesn’t look right. His face is green.” With a sigh, Daisy edged past me and went over to the sofa. “It could be alcohol poisoning. We’d better call an ambulance.” “If so, where is the alcohol?” Charlotte pointed out. “I only see energy drinks.”…

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.

THE CLOSE UP is about Zoe Ann Weiss, a novelist down on her luck in LA – once the hottest new thing, now she’s desperate to get back on top. When she runs into an old flame, who’s now a famous actor, it feels like the stars have realigned in her favor, but Zoe’s about to find out that when it comes to fame, it’s more a case of being careful of what you wish for. There’s a dark side to everyone knowing your name – including the stalker who’s now tracking Zoe’s every step. T – TWISTY H – HEART PUMPING E – ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY C – CLUES L – LOVE/LUST O – OBSESSION S – SELF-DESTRUCTION E – EERIE U – UNEXPECTED P – PRESS  THE CLOSE-UP by Pip Drysdale A struggling author discovers the dark side of fame when a stalker begins reenacting violent events from her thriller in this electrifying and twisty new novel. When Zoe Ann Weiss moves to Los Angeles to pursue her dream of becoming a writer, her whole future is wide open. But then Zach, the bartender and aspiring actor she’s falling for, ghosts her. Her debut novel, a thriller, fails. And she has writer’s block…

As twenty-first century Western women, we enjoy a freedom to choose the direction of our lives which our predecessors in ages past would truly envy.  But even during the years when the paths open to women were restricted and their options dictated by family and social norms, there were iconoclasts who refused to settle for the conventional.  Women whose successes in the face of societal opposition paved the way for the freedoms we now enjoy. We begin chronologically with THE DIAMOND OF LONDON by Andrea Penrose, which explores in depth the early life that made Lady Hester Stanhope into the explorer and adventurer for which she is famed. Though born to a life of privilege, like every woman of her time, Hetty was expected to find a husband, manage a household and raise children.  But fiercely intelligent, determined and adventurous, Hetty knew from an early age that she wanted more.  On the advice of social arbitrar Beau Brummel, she conquers Society by accentuating her differences, breaking norms by smoking in public, drinking brandy—and contesting the opinions of men.  She’s protected by her uncle, renowned statesman William Pitt the Younger, for whom, when he becomes Prime Minister, she acts as private…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MARRY ME, MARQUESS,book 5 in the Ladies Least Likely series 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? To protect himself from marriage-minded mamas, marquess’s heir and aspiring antiquarian Leo Westrop persuades Lillian Gower to fake a betrothal, promising to help her publish her botanical book—but not revealing he targeted her because he hopes her famed antiquarian parents will help his career. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted a time when antiquarian and botanical fields were growing, but there was still much to be discovered. The other Ladies Least Likely books are set in Britain in the later decades of the 18th century, so that’s where I began. When I learned that William Cunnington was excavating at Stonehenge in 1798, that historical tidbit became the linchpin for my setting. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would! Lillian especially, as she is funny, smart, and perceptive. I think we’d get along well, though I would imagine she and Leo would make a great couple friend also. They’d be a lot of fun at dinner parties. 5–What are three words that…

Welcome back, book lovers! This week’s Jen’s Jewels features the delightful Bonnie Kistler, whose latest thriller SHELL GAMES had me turning pages long past my bedtime. When a glamorous Florida real estate mogul’s surprise engagement leads to shocking accusations on her wedding night, her daughter Julie must navigate a maze of family secrets and mounting suspicions. As Bonnie and I chatted about mother-daughter relationships, climate change, and the art of keeping readers guessing, I discovered just how many fascinating layers she wove into this sun-soaked psychological thriller. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and join us as we dig into the story behind SHELL GAMES – I promise you won’t want to miss this conversation! Jennifer Vido: SHELL GAMES is a captivating psychological thriller with complex family dynamics. What inspired you to write a story about a mother-daughter relationship twisted by deception and doubt? Bonnie Kistler: It was a circuitous route. I first had the idea of a woman on her wedding night who claims that her husband has just confessed to a notorious unsolved crime––the Tylenol Murders. He denies that he either did it or confessed to it, and the authorities quickly absolve him, which makes the woman believe…

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? MODERN FAIRYTALE! It comes from a line Selena Gomez sings in her song “The Heart Wants What It Wants” that I thought was cool. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Beneath the city of Toronto lies a secret, magical kingdom called Fairhaven—one Princess Esme finds dreadfully dull. She spends her days pulling pranks and ruining parties, much to her father, King Tedros’s dismay. When she sabotages the anniversary ball, he finally takes the advice of the other families and kicks her out of Fairhaven to teach her a lesson. Esme can return one day, but only if she follows a strict list her father has written. She must change her spoiled ways and help people, live on her own, and overcome her selfishness – among other goals. When she meets Noah Crawford, a humanitarian who works for a local philanthropy company, she thinks she’s hit the jackpot. She plans to use him and work for his organization to convince her father she’s changed…but things don’t always go according to plan. Soon, she discovers one of the Senators from Fairhaven wants to bring magic to Earth to rule over it, her…