Book Title: DEAD, WHITE, AND BLUE –  Northwoods Mysteries Book Two Character Name: Emmy Cooper   How would you describe your family or your childhood? My family is pretty great. My parents, Paul and Claire Cooper, raised my younger brother, Noah, and me right here on the lake resort we own and operate. Until I was about five years old, we lived in what we call “the apartment,” which is connected to the lodge. Then, they built a private home set apart from the cottages, so we didn’t feel like we had to share our entire lives with guests. Considering my brother and I are both adopted, we’re both so thankful that these are the parents who chose to love us. I guess you can say I had a wonderful, loving childhood. Plus, look at all the fun things to do in our own backyard!   What was your greatest talent? I wish I could say singing, but no one would agree with that. My bestie, Whitney, is the one with the pipes! Well, Whitney and our buddy Marcus. I suppose my talent is finding an old piece of furniture or something someone has donated to a thrift store and…

I’m so thrilled that the talented author, Cathy Lamb, is joining us this month! Cathy and I go way back, having had our first books published at about the same time and by the same publisher back in the early 2000s. Cathy is known for crafting insightful, empowering works of women’s fiction featuring complex, relatable characters with strong voices who overcome big problems, but without ever losing their sense of humor or appreciation for life’s absurdities. Her most recent book, TEN KIDS, TWO LOVEBIRDS, AND SINGING MERMAID, is a feel-good story set in California in the 1970’s, told through the eyes of Jesse, a lovable eleven-year-old protagonist. Welcome, Cathy! I understand that your new book, TEN KIDS, TWO LOVEBIRDS, AND  SINGING MERMAID, was inspired by events and settings in your childhood. Can you tell us more about that? As well as how the plot developed from there? TEN KIDS, TWO LOVEBIRDS, AND SINGING MERMAID was inspired by my childhood on Deauville Drive in Huntington Beach, California. I lived there until I was 10. The families in the book are not my family. The first scene in the book, where Annie, the mother, finds out her husband is cheating on her…

Hard to Fake, Book 1, Denver Kodiaks Series by Piper Lawson The Woman by the Lake by Kristen Ashley A Most Efficient Murder, Book 1, The Mr. Quayle Mysteries by Anthony Slayton Sharing Shane by Hannah Murray Promise of a Lifetime by N. Alikyan A Tempest of Shadows, Book 1, A Tempest of Shadows Series by Brenda K. Davies Nantucket Solstice, Book 10, A Nantucket Sunset Series by Katie Winters Her Wild Cowboy Billionaire, Book 6, Montana Billionaires Series by Cynthia Woolf Second Chances, Book 2, Beaumont Creek Series by Samantha Baca The Duke Wins a Bride, Book 1, Inconvenient Brides Series by Nina Jarrett Lawson Holland Thrillers Books 1-3 by M. P. MacDougall The Uncommon Courtships Series by Regina Scott A Fraudulent Encounter, Book 3, Crime and Passion Stalk City Hall Series by Valerie J. Clarizio Loved by the Alpha, Book 2, The Alpha King’s Breeder Series by Bella Moondragon Sapphire Scars, Book 3, Jewelry Box Series by Pepper Winters The Housemaid by Sarah A. Denzil Fang: Colony: Nyx #1 (Intergalactic Dating Agency), Book 1, Colony: Nyx Series by Demelza Carlton Garridan’s Mate, Book 6, Etherya’s Earth Series by Rebecca Hefner You’re Mine, Book 6, Crave and Claimed Series…

“Would you like to address the way I walk, as well?” Felix drawled. After all, Alice had addressed just about everything else about him in the last two hours. “No,” she said. “We don’t have time, number one. And number two, I rather like the way you walk.” That sent a wave of pleasure through him. As they strode back across the road heading out to his estate, he asked, “You do, do you?” “Yes, I do,” she replied, keeping her gaze firmly ahead. “There’s something rather roguish about it. You walk around the world as if you own it all, which I think a man who’s very good with horses might do.” Then she gave him a look, which was quite mischievous. “But I am not entirely certain.” “Do I really?” he asked, taking those words in, his stomach tightening. “Do you what?” she queried. “Walk about as if I own the world.” She let out a snort of a laugh. “You didn’t know?” “No, I didn’t know,” he admitted, dismayed. “There’s apparently a vast many things about myself that I don’t know.” Her violet gaze turned upon him, sparking with interest. “You go through the world as if…

Fresh Fiction: Hello, and welcome to a new Fresh Fiction Interview! Fresh Fiction is THE place to get the scoop on fabulous new releases and hang out with some of your favorite characters! And on that note, today we’re visiting with M.J. Holliday-Whitefeather and Gilley Gillespie, stars of the Ghost Hunter Mysteries series by Victoria Laurie. M.J. & Gilley, welcome and hello!   M.J.: Thank you so much. It’s great to be here! Gilley: Are there snacks? I was told there’d be a catered lunch. FF: Ha, ha, Gilley, ever the hungry foil! Gilley: You try running for your life on a regular basis and see how many calories your body needs to keep on truckin’! M.J.: Excuse him, he’s in hangry diva mode this morning . . . (M.J. digs through her handbag and retrieves a Twix bar. Hands it to her bestie.) Here, Gil. Eat this. Gilley: Finally! Some sustenance! FF: Now that we’ve got everyone’s appetite taken care of, let’s start with some questions. M.J.: Bring it. Gilley: Mmfrmvrf! FF: Should we wait for him to finish eating his candy bar? M.J.: Nah. If he chokes, I know the Heimlich. FF: Um . . . okay ….

Sisters of the Moon – Fleetwood Mac UNDER YOUR SPELL starts with Clemmie at a low point in her life – she’s lost her job, her boyfriend, and she’s about to lose her home. While commiserating with her sisters (and plenty of wine) they decide to dust off an old childhood game – casting a ‘spell’ to make three wishes for the broken hearted and a curse against the heartbreaker. Fleetwood Mac are the perfect soundtrack to their drunken witchy happenings!   Written by a Woman – Mae Muller Ladies and Gentlemen… Theo Eliott. I love this song, because Theo really is your newest book boyfriend. “Your shoulders, your hands, oh you must be a man written by a woman.” Swoon.   Growing Sideways – Noah Kahan Therapy plays an important part in the book, and I love this Noah Kahan song, which I think really speaks to where Clemmie starts out in the book. Thanks to her bad relationship with her famous dad, and a terrible experience with her first love, Clemmie is incredibly risk-averse, and keeps her life small and safe while those around her are thriving. As Noah sings, “’Cause everyone’s growing and everyone’s healthy, I’m terrified…

Climbing into my ancient Volvo, I turned the key, and the engine sputtered, followed by a thunk. I closed my eyes and tried again, opening them to discover smoke billowing from the hood. “No!” I jumped out of the car, but before I could hit the latch button to open it up and see what the problem was, I saw the first flame. “Nooo!” My car was on fire. Of course it was, because my life was hell—a flame’s natural habitat. I tried to stay calm as I bent to rummage in my purse for my phone. The pendant fell into my line of sight, and I shoved it out of the way. Spotting my phone on the front seat, I silently cursed and prayed to the gods for help as I opened the door to grab it. But a god didn’t answer. “That can’t be good,” an amused voice murmured in my ear, the heat of his breath tickling its shell. I whipped around, colliding into Gage, who caught me smoothly. “What are you doing here?” “You rang.” “I didn’t.” But he tapped the pendant. “Your prayers have been answered. You were asking the gods for help.” The stupid…

Music is incredibly important to me—not just when it comes to writing, but in every facet of my life. So, when I find a song that reminds me of the story I happen to be working on at the time, it goes onto its designated playlist. These are songs I listen to not when drafting or revising (that’s when I turn to video game soundtracks), but rather when I’m stuck and need to brainstorm, or when I just want to experience the Vibes. Below is a sample of what you’ll find on the WE SHALL BE MONSTERS playlist:   Frankenstein by Rina Sawayama WSBM is pitched as Frankenstein meets Indian mythology, and this song by the wonderfully talented Rina Sawayama captures the essence of it perfectly. I mean, look at the lyrics: “I’m trying to be normal, but trauma is immortal/And none of this is your fault” and “I don’t want to be a monster anymore.” It really plays into the story and its themes of resurrection, monstrousness, and absolution. Plus, it’s an absolute banger.   Which Witch by Florence + the Machine I have to admit something: all of my book playlists have at least one song by Florence…

1–What is the title of your latest release? YOU’RE SAFE HERE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? You’re Safe Here imagines what the wellness industry looks like forty years in the future, told from the perspective of three women whose lives converge in unexpected ways around a new technology. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The location was the first thing I knew about the book—I had a flash of a woman floating in an isolated, futuristic pod in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and went from there. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would love to spend time with Maggie, who the book opens with, but don’t think I’m quite cool enough for her partner Noa. As for Emmett, the third woman in my story, I’m not sure that I could trust her… 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? The story alternates between the story of three women, so I’ll give you one for each: naive, hurt, and dogged. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I began drafting this book when I was 25 and published it at 32—I learned so…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE HANGMAN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Julia Vargas is a cop hunting the Hangman serial killer, the same case linked to her father’s mysterious death 30 years ago. When new evidence surfaces, she joins forces with her ex-lover, Detective Tobias Novak. As they race to uncover the truth, the Hangman closes in, forcing Julia to confront her past and the killer. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I set a series of books in downtown Richmond, Virginia because of the historic buildings, industrial buildings, and urban vibe.  Great place to set a mystery. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I sure would!  Julia is a tough as nails gal who has a great sense of humor and sharp wit. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Determined, relentless and courageous. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? This book was chocked full of forensic details.  This novel involved a current that dovetailed into a 30-year-old cold case.  I enjoyed studying how time can be a disadvantage and an asset when solving a cold case.  For instance,…