1–What is the title of your latest release? A GRIM REAPER’S GUIDE TO CATCHING A KILLER 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A pregnant grim reaper has to solve a murder. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I knew I wanted this book to have a magical realism feel to it, and since the premise itself is somewhat lacking in the realism department, I felt like a generic American town would best lend itself to a grounded setting. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely, though I would be dropping subtle hints to go to therapy every hang, 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Messy, insecure, big-hearted 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Timelines are hard! I can’t elaborate too much without giving away the ending, but there’s a reason I went with writing and stay far away from numbers when I can. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I do a bit of both. Often, I’ll clean things a bit up as I go, just the bits that jump out at and/or annoy me, and then…

Book Title: HOUSE OF FIRE AND MAGIC Character Name:  Dash Coeur de Noir   How would you describe your family or your childhood? Turbulent, but they put the “fun” in dysfunctional.   What was your greatest talent? Pissing off everyone and making them want to hunt me down and mount my unicorn skull on their wall.   Significant other? Tanis   Biggest challenge in relationships? Making them see me as something more than the Unicorn High King. I will not be controlled, and I am not a pet to be tamed.   Where do you live? In my palace.   Do you have any enemies? Far too many to count. That’s the problem with being the High King. Everyone wants my throne and the only way to get it is to go through me. Good luck.   How do you feel about the place where you are now? Is there something you are particularly attached to, or particularly repelled by, in this place? I do not tolerate court drama and/or intrigue. I’ve been known to snatch off body parts of those who try it.   Do you have children, pets, both, or neither? I’m feeling as if I should count my…

Book Title: MAKE THE SEASON BRIGHT Character Name: Charlotte Donovan   How would you describe your family or your childhood? First of all, family is a stretch. I was raised by a single mother who would rather write about murder than interact with me. You might’ve heard of her—she probably wrote your favorite thriller novel. She’s good at them, no doubt. No so good at her own progeny, as it turns out. I had the Fairbrooks though. They lived next door, and they were the kind of family lonely kids like me dreamed about. Loving. Warm. Funny. Actually asked questions about their kid’s day. Anyway, they were my family. Them and their daughter Brighton. Always have been.   What was your greatest talent? I play violin. Very well. I think that’s all I need to say on the matter.   Significant other? Good lord, how much time do you have? I’ve only ever loved one person—Brighton Fairbrook. She was family, my best friend, my first love, my fiancée. She was never my wife though. Yes, I can see you wincing. Because how does a fiancée not end up a wife? Well, when one of them leaves the other at the…

I’ve been pulling together playlists for hours for THE FABLED EARTH since the day I began to draft the book a few years ago. The contemporary timeline in this novel takes place during the 1950s. A second timeline flashes back to a summer in 1932. You can imagine the fun I’ve had with those tunes! The characters range in age and class, with some coming from wealthy northern families and others coming from rural Appalachia, and so the music ranged far and wide. I found it nearly impossible to narrow this list down to only a few songs and that’s what gave me the idea to ask some of the early readers for their thoughts. We each chose one favorite and I pulled this mini list together like a sort of group project. In these songs, we hope you’ll hear something of the haunted and heartbreaking story of Cleo Woodbine, imagine the crumbling grandeur of the old Carnegie summer mansions, delight in the folksy sounds of fiddle tunes and the storytelling of Irish crooners, and groove to the audacity of early Rock-n-Roll. And finally, I hope you love the final song, the one that I listened to most often while…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE COLONY CLUB 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When young Gilded Age society matron Daisy Harriman is refused a room at the Waldorf because they don’t cater to unaccompanied females, she takes matters into her own hands. She establishes the Colony Club, the first women’s club in Manhattan, where visiting women can stay overnight and dine with their friends; where they can discuss new ideas, take on social issues, and make their voices heard. Against the wishes of the city’s patriarchy, the religious leaders of the time, and other women who believe with their husbands that a woman’s place is in the home, even the murder trial of the century, Daisy persevered, and The Colony Club still exists today. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Since it’s based on an actual historic event, Manhattan was the choice, but within Manhattan, I concentrated on several separate spheres, the Fifth Avenue male inhabited architectural firm of McKim, Mead, and White. The uptown mansions of Daisy’s society lady friends, Greenwich Village, home of actors, artists and literary figures, and a Brooklyn working class neighborhood, 4–Would you…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE USUAL SILENCE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A psychologist encounters a young patient who holds the secret to her past. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? My first five novels all take place in the fictional Adirondack town of Wedeskyull, and when I launched a new series, I knew Wedeskyull would be the setting for it too. It has a remoteness, a majesty and a drama embedded in the wilderness, that accentuates suspense. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Although Arles Shepherd has some traits that make her…difficult, as Meg Ryan called herself in When Harry Met Sally —for instance, Arles will tell it like it is even when others might tend toward politeness—she comes by these traits honestly. She has suffered trauma, and doesn’t feel like pulling any more punches, especially with men. But she inspires a wry laugh in me when she goes off, and I would totally hang out with her and cheer her on. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Bold. Brave. Bruised. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That…

Book Title: SOME LIKE IT COLD Character Names: Jasper Montgomery and Arthur Lancaster   Interviewer: Thank you for sitting down with me, I’ve never been to Lake Pristine before. I’m enjoying the small-town life for the day. It’s a beautiful place. Can I just clarify who I have with me today? Jasper Montgomery and Arthur Lancaster? Jasper: Yes, that’s correct.   Interviewer: And you’re… you’re Jasper? Sorry, unusual name for a girl. (Awkward silence for about fifteen seconds.) Interviewer: And you’re how old? Arthur? Arthur (somewhat indifferently): Eighteen.   Interviewer: Both eighteen? Okay, I’ll take that slightly intimidating look as a ‘yes’, Arthur. Ha. Um. Okay, yes. And you’ve both lived here, in Lake Pristine, your whole lives? Jasper (smiling): Yes. Arthur: Liar.   Interviewer: I— Jasper: I’m sorry, Arthur? Something to say? Arthur: You moved to the city last year. Jasper: For college! Arthur: Yeah, so you’ve been living at college for eighteen months now, Princess. We haven’t heard one word from you in that entire time.   Interviewer: So, you’re back for the holidays, Jasper? Jasper (still speaking to Arthur): I’m sorry I don’t run every decision I make past you, Grumble. Arthur: You should. You wouldn’t be…

Every new book brings with it a new opportunity to procrastinate by making a new book playlist. I kid! Actually, I find playlists hugely helpful. Since I write, revise, and promote a book over a period of months or even years, nothing helps me get into the headspace of a book the way music does. In my latest book, BAD REPUTATION, a Hollywood himbo’s attempted comeback via a steamy adaptation of a historical novel hits a snag when he falls for the show’s new intimacy coordinator. And its playlist is hopping.   Cinema – Benny Benassi and Gary Go I dig the electro-beat of this song. It feels like audible bubble gum, and that’s definitely the vibe of parts of this book. But the lyrics also resonate with BAD REPUTATION. “You are my cinema, I could watch you forever”: the singer is using a metaphor, but that’s exactly what Maggie thinks about Cole.   Comeback Kid – Sleigh Bells The working title of BAD REPUTATION was Comeback Kid, and I used to listen to this song every writing session to get started. Both Cole and Maggie have bad reputations that aren’t earned, and they both want a fresh start. “I…

1–What is the title of your latest release? BETRAYAL AT BLACKTHORN PARK 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Betrayal at Blackthorn Park follows Evelyne Redfern, a newly minted field agent working in intelligence for the British government, on her first mission during World War 2. To say she’s underwhelmed by her seemingly simple assignment to assess the security of a secret government weapons facility in the countryside would be an understatement, but her task becomes a lot more intriguing when she stumbles over a dead body and has to put all of her crime-solving skills to the test to uncover a murderer who could threaten Britain’s fate in the war. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I have always loved the country house murder mysteries of the golden age of detective fiction, so I knew I wanted to write a book that was a nod to those stories. While I was doing some background research for the Evelyne Redfern series, I stumbled across The Firs, which was a real-life country house that was transformed into a weapons development, testing, and manufacturing facility for the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the war. The…

1–What is the title of your latest release? SUNFLOWERS, SCARECROWS, AND SCANDAL 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The Halloween season for florist Gwen Stevens takes a menacing turn when she finds a dead body dressed as a scarecrow on display in front of City Hall! With a muddy mix of suspects and false confessions creating complications for the police, it’s up to Gwen to sort out the truth and catch a killer…before this trick-or-treat turns deadly again! 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin and knew I wanted to set a series in the Midwest. I decided to create a fictional town and after much brainstorming, decided on the name Star Junction. It captures all the charm I want the readers to experience when reading these books. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely! Gwen is a great friend. She’s kind, loyal, and smart. She’s also funny and gets herself into sticky situations. I think she’d be really fun to hang out with. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Determined, curious, and witty. 6–What’s something you learned…