Byline: Nicki Clark, OutwardBound   Hey there, adventure enthusiasts! OutwardBound’s Nicki Clark here, coming to you from the super undiscovered kingdom of Ouros, nestled right beside the scenic shores of Greece. If you thought Greece was the pinnacle of Aegean beauty, buckle up! Ouros takes it up a notch with its pristine ancient temples and a vibrant vibe that will sweep you off your feet. Let’s dive into the heart of Ouros, the bustling capital city, Timiménos—this is where the royal Andris family lives, and trust me, it’s where you want to start your adventure. Imagine walking through streets lined with bright, colorful shops, flowers everywhere and food bursting with color and flavor…only to end up at the top of some promontory that just happens to sport a perfectly preserved Greek temple! Seriously, it’s as if the gods themselves had an Airbnb here and just stepped out for a coffee. So not kidding.   The countryside? Get ready to lose yourself in a giant painting that’s alive with colors and textures. Everywhere you look, there’s a snapshot waiting to happen. From the emerald green hills rolling under a bold blue sky to quaint villages dotting the landscape, Ouros is a…

All my projects have a dedicated playlist. Not only because I love listening to music while I walk or make dinner or just about any time, but because a song can really help me focus or fall in or out of a certain mood/scene. Most of the songs on one of my writing playlists are for brainstorming, meant to evoke a feeling for me about a certain character or certain scene while I chew on problems, but a few are the kind I put on repeat for hours at a time while I draft. These I’ve chosen to share are a mix of the two!   Bleeding Love by Leona Lewis — Blood & Fury is at its heart about a handful of very, very melodramatic, passionate teenagers having to be bigger than they know how to be, fix huge problems they didn’t even make in the first place (except Caspian, he also made several of the problems). To draw that out in the playlist I wanted several big bold love ballads, and this one is sooo so melodramatic I am not sure I could love it more?  www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_weSk0BonM   Fire for You by Cannons — This was the first…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE HEDGE WITCH (The Witches of Star Island, #1) 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The Hedge Witch is for anyone who loves witches, sisters, past lives, generational curses, and soul mates. If you want a book that meshes modern witches, 18th Century ghosts, and Medieval healers, you’ve found it. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This is a weird answer! When I first thought of this world, I was driving in my car during a summer thunderstorm and an image of a witch standing on the edge of the ocean appeared to me. From there I came up with the idea of creating a fictional island so I could play with the setting more than if it had been a real place, but I did do a quite a bit of research on Nantucket since it’s supposed to be close by. I wanted Star Island to feel rooted in the real world. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? 100%. I would get monthly tarot readings from Laurel. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Confident, magical, loyal 6–What’s…

Book Title: UNIVERSE OF LOST MESSAGES Character Name: Shakespear (Shake) Cardinale   How would you describe your family or your childhood? Mind-blowing, on both counts. My life began in the greater Boston area a couple of decades after the time you’re living in, during the 2040s. My family was really poor, and very close knit. We became friends with a certain rebel named Jarat, who had some powerful enemies. Our house was attacked by the people who were trying to destroy him. The only person who survived was a terrified four-year-old kid—me. Thanks to Jarat, I was adopted by a lonely woman named Petra. She happened to be the CEO of one of the most powerful media companies on planet Earth. It was a kind of pauper-turned-prince situation for me, and really weird at first—not only because of the wealth, but I was deeply traumatized. Around the time when I started to feel relatively stable, life got a lot stranger. My little sister, Izzie, arrived. Izzie isn’t normal. She is what’s known as a Charismite. In other words, she has extremely powerful gifts of charisma and can get people to do almost anything with very little effort. As a kid,…

Book Title: HIGH PRIESTESS AND EMPRESS, Book Two, Arcana Oracle Series Character Name: Ellen Terry   How would you describe your family or your childhood? My renowned actor parents had 11 eleven children, nine of who grew to adulthood. Five of us, myself, Florence, Marion, Kate, and Fred, all became stage actors, so it was a chaotic household when we were children touring the provinces. I will admit there was some rancor when I became the most celebrated actress of the age, but being generous with my purse has helped melt some of the jealousy.   What was your greatest talent? Oh, some would say that it’s my Shakespearean interpretation of Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing or Portia in The Merchant of Venice, but truly I believe my tact and diplomacy are my greatest talents. Otherwise, having two illegitimate children would have immediately disqualified me to be presented to Queen Victorian, much less be considered for the title of Dame Ellen Terry.   Significant other? Which one? There have been so many, but I suppose when you get married at sixteen to the famous painter George Watts, it’s an indicator that there will be many significant lovers in your…

1–What is the title of your latest release? BEACH CUTE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Three girls end up on the same holiday, swapping their problems for some Spanish sun… and an accidental digital detox! It’s coming-of-age story about female friendship, and a romance with a sexy Spanish bartender! 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I love the idea of “the geographic cure” – that people think a change of location will fix something. And, really, is there much that some seaside and sangria wouldn’t fix…? 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Definitely! I love to write flawed characters, but that’s because it makes them feel more human and relateable. And maybe I’m biased because I wrote their jokes, but I think they’re pretty funny, too. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Since I’ve got three protagonists, I’ll go with one word for each! Luna – gentle; Rory – chaotic; Jodie – driven. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Definitely that while you can’t actually run away from your problems, sometimes you need a change of pace or some outside perspective to help…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE LIBRARY THIEF 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A bookbinder’s daughter solves a mysterious death in the late 1890s. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? There is always someone I love from the places I write about. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. We would get our hair braided together. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Audacious. Canny. Vengeful. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? My primary school is on the same road where transgender icon Stella Boulton was born. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? Totally done… Most of the time. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Korean fried chicken. 9–Describe your writing space/office! In an alcove of my living room, next to a walnut bureau where I still handwrite my letters and postcards, I have an L-shaped white desk with a monitor in the middle and a laptop on either side for different purposes. On the wall I have pictures of Grace Jones, Muhammad Ali, Emma Hamilton, and a photograph of myself wearing matronly nightwear in…

1–What is the title of your latest release? CORNERED AT THE CORRAL is book four in the Ghost Town Mysteries series. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Manager of a ghost town, Lily has found fulfillment and even rekindled a romance with her high school crush. Trouble during a festival sets off a chain of events, thrusting her into yet another mystery. When a body is discovered in the river, Lily embarks on a secret mission to protect the matriarch’s grandson from being wrongly accused. As Lily delves into a century-old family feud, she stumbles upon a secret so well-hidden that someone is willing to kill to keep it buried. Lily must use all her wit and cunning to unravel the truth before it’s too late. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I grew up in California and enjoy visiting ghost towns. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes, she would make a great friend especially in times of trouble. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Determined, trustworthy, and dedicated. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Amateur sleuthing is not for the faint-hearted. 7–Do…

1–What is the title of your latest release? AKMARAL 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A nomad woman warrior of the Central Asian steppes must make peace with making war. Akmaral is a foray into the ancient past, inspired by Greek myths of Amazon women warriors and archaeology that proves that they were real. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The setting for Akmaral was inspired by several fascinating archaeological discoveries made in Central Asia: the Ice Maiden found in the high mountains of southern Siberia, and the “Golden Man,” a warrior burial found in Kazakhstan that researchers believe might actually be a woman. These burials and many others prove that the legends of Amazon women warriors told by the ancient Greeks weren’t just fantasy. The landscape in this remote region is breathtaking—rugged, remote, and beautiful with emerald green pastures surrounded by snow-capped peaks. And the artifacts that accompanied the burials, rich with gold, weaponry, and fascinating bronze mirrors, presented a tantalizing window into a time when women didn’t have to fight for their rights or go against the norm to be powerful and respected. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist…

1–What is the title of your latest release? COLLIDE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? COLLIDE is a hockey romance that follows Summer Preston, an aspiring sports psychologist who is faced with an unexpected ultimatum from her professor, catapulting her into the world of college hockey. She must work closely with Aiden Crawford, the captain of the hockey team, to fulfill her sports psychology dream or veer far away from the god-awful sport. Aiden, on the other hand, is thrust into this research ordeal when a reckless mistake by his team jeopardizes their entire season. It’s the last thing he wants to do, especially since the girl leading the project looks like she would wield his skates as a weapon. Summer can’t stand his blasé approach to life, and Aiden doesn’t understand her uptight, scheduled one. They are off to a rocky start, and provoking each other is what they do best. What will happen when they finally collide? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? College hockey is very prominent in the east coast, so it made choosing the setting for Collide a no brainer. The setting also allows for other Ivy…