Song 1: “Love Buzz” by Nirvana: Everything about this Nirvana cover—the guitar, bass, drums, and Kurt Cobain’s voice—feels to Gita like her body’s secret language to cut through her shame and allow connection with her inner strength, resilience, and motivation to push past mere survival. She listens to this song in chapter 6, and it helps her begin to work through and conceptualize moving past a bad experience with a guy.   Song 2: “Would?” by Alice in Chains: Because of her particular childhood adversity, Gita lacks the language to conceptualize or describe all of her feelings and thoughts, especially when in certain situations with guys, and the music and lyrics in this haunting song feel to her like “wicked sex,” like the obedience she needs to have with men when they want something from her. In chapter 12, a guy invites her to his room at a frat party and plays this song on his boombox, and Gita feels compelled to do what he wants without consciously realizing it.   Song 3: “Kinda I Want To” by Nine Inch Nails: The music and lyrics represent the back and forth Gita goes through between two parts of her brain: the…

1–What is the title of your latest release? TO THE BONE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? This gripping, shocking, and exquisitely crafted survival story reveals the truth of America’s colonial history in a powerful new way—visceral and breathtaking. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It had to take place in Jamestown, Virginia, because it’s based on historical fact! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Maybe! She’s about the age of my oldest son. Maybe they would be friends! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Naive, rebellious, and curious. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? All about “The Starving Time,” when an estimated 90% of settlers starved in the Jamestown Colony. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? Both! I am a pantser with OCD. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Real bakery bread, especially if it’s heirloom sourdough. 9–Describe your writing space/office! I’m just redoing it now! When it’s done it will have an ikea dining table as my desk, a bookshelf for my finished books, and green wallpaper on one wall, my first attempt at wallpapering! 10–Who…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MADEMOISELLE EIFFEL 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? It’s the story of Claire Eiffel, oldest daughter of the famous architect Gustave Eiffel and the role she played in his life and success after the death of her mother when Claire was only fourteen. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It’s the story of the birth of the Eiffel Tower—Toujours Paris! It couldn’t be set anywhere else? 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. I would hire her to be my PR manager in a heartbeat. She was a project manager from the word go! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Resolute, loyal, creative. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Claire lived with her dad for the rest of his life—even after she was married. Her husband moved in with them and paid rent for the use of specific rooms in Gustave’s gargantuan house. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I try to re-read and polish as I go in small bouts, but I am all about forward momentum. If…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE BOOKLOVER’S LIBRARY 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A heartwarming story about a mother and daughter in wartime England and the power of books that brings them together 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The Booklover’s Library is set in Nottingham, England, which not only offers a different landscape than London, but has a system of caves beneath the city, which helped shelter Nottingham’s residents during air raids. The city is also where the first Booklover’s Library opened. The Booklover’s Library was a real place – a lending library set inside the Boots’ Chemists all throughout England. This was during the time of the marriage bar (when women had to quit their jobs when they married), and the women who worked as librarians in the Booklover’s Libraries loved their jobs so much, they had longer engagements than any other profession! When I found that out and read about their many quirky customers (many who inspired characters in this book), I knew I had to set this story in Nottingham, in the flagship store for the Booklover’s Library. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in…

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 Aurora Palit!   Writes: fun, compelling romance full of laughter, hope, and big love. Aurora adores tender, romantic moments and banter as a love language, and her debut, SUNSHINE AND SPICE, has plenty of both: when two complete opposites agree to fake date in order to solve their cultural dilemmas, they find the only force more powerful than an immigrant mother’s matchmaking schemes might just be true love.   About: Swipe right if you can handle a dessert-obsessed South Asian Canadian who loves dancing, apologizing (it’s the Canadian way), Caribbean music, and travelling (unique architecture makes me swoon). I also like unhinged humor (think Parks and Recreation), books with spice, elastic waistbands, delicious one pot recipes, and impulsive decisions at the hair salon that turn out right. Let’s skip the small talk and dive into meaningful conversations about Bridgerton, millennial trauma, and how the world needs more happily ever afters.   You’ll love SUNSHINE AND SPICE if you’re into: opposites attract a grumpy hero…

1–What is the title of your latest release? Fast & Reckless   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Six years ago, Mira made a mistake that forced her exile from the world of Formula One. Now she’s back as her father’s assistant and determined to make up for the past. Will, the talented new driver for her father’s team, flamed out early in his career and is battling his way back to the top. He’s the last man Mira should want, but giving in to their undeniable attraction could spell disaster for both of them.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Formula One is an international sport, with every race taking place in a different country. It sets the stage all on its own!   4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Oh, for sure. She and I would probably be great work friends. We’re both hyper-organized and take everything way too seriously.   5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Determined, hard-working, and vulnerable   6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Oh, what didn’t I learn? Formula One is a highly technical sport. There…

1–What is the title of your latest release? HOW TO HIDE IN PLAIN SIGHT 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The runaway youngest child of a big, wealthy, dysfunctional family returns to their private island for a wedding and is forced to reckon with the family she left behind, the OCD that has plagued her since childhood, and a first love she thought long over. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I based it on an area where my family spent a lot of time when I was growing up. It’s a part of Ontario that’s close to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and I think it’s one of the most beautiful and magical places in the world. And I chose to set it on a remote island because it is a location the main character cannot escape—which is exactly how she feels about her own mind. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I already do! Eliot’s brain is my brain, and I’m forced to hang out with my brain all day long—for better or for worse. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Creative, afraid, loving…

1–What is the title of your latest release? NEGATIVE GIRL 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Former punk-turned-PI Martin Wade and his hipster assistant, Valerie Jacks, have to each reckon with their brutal pasts when the daughter of Martin’s old bandmate is found dead in the river. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The earliest drafts took place in New York City, similar to my first novel, The Big Rewind. But I found that the city couldn’t give me the atmosphere I really needed to make the book sing, so I relocated it to Perrine, a fictional city in Upstate NY, where the characters had a little more room to maneuver and breathe. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely! I’d probably bug Martin with all my questions about his past life as a musician, and Valerie just seems like she’d be really fun to have tacos with. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? For Martin: Stoic, smart, charming. For Valerie: Loyal, scrappy, intuitive. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Patience! I wrote The Big Rewind, in eight months while working full time.  Negative…

Who is most likely to adopt a stray animal? Lupé has a soft spot for the overlooked and unwanted. She can see in people what others can’t and is always willing to give a second chance and. A little extra TLC to those who need it most.   Which character is most likely to join a protest for a cause they believe in? Zoë is a staunch feminist and would absolutely be at the front of the crowds fighting for what she believes in.   Who’s most likely to host an epic girls’ night with a surprise twist? As the sorority queen bee, Priscilla is the perfect cocktail of organization, charisma and has a special talent for making everyone feel like the life of the party.   Who is the ultimate problem-solver when it comes to drama or dilemmas? Chanel is a quick thinker. She can pull a solution out of thin air, no matter what kind of chaos or hot mess the squad gets into.   Who’s most likely to pull off an epic prank that no one saw coming? Val has the kind of creative brainwaves that no one can predict.   Who’s known for being the life…

A Tempest of Thieves, Book 2, Tempest of Shadows by Brenda K. Davies Beauty’s Beasts, Book 4, Fiercely Filthy Fairy Tales by Calista Jayne Salvation, Book 6, The Draax Series by Elizabeth Kelly Lily of the Valley by Megan Derr Buying the Omega, Book 2, The Sanctuary Series by Jade Marshall A Sister’s Amish Courtship by Jennifer (J.E.B.) Spredemann The Absent Sculptor by G R Jordan Cooper by Sandra Alex Revenge at the Rodeo by Jamie L. Adams Nobody Loves an Incubus by Dylan James     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.