1–What is the title of your latest release? HUNTING COLTON’S WITNESS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Social wallflower Vivian Maylor’s life is turned upside down when her disastrous online date leaves her a witness to his attempted murder—and leaves her an eyewitness in Detective Nate Colton’s case. An eyewitness now targeted by the killers. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? One of the reasons I love writing Colton books for Harlequin is that all the information is given to me, including the location. This time it’s Owl Creek, Idaho. I’m a born and bred California girl and I tend to write stories in my home state, so this was actually a fun place to research. It’s now on my list of places to visit. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely! Both of them. I’m not sure I can write characters I wouldn’t want to hang out with. But Nate Colton is just a good guy. He puts his family first, even when that causes serious complications, and he’s dedicated to his job. He’s someone who believes right is right and wrong is wrong. As for Vivian,…

Whenever I embark on a new historical novel, I begin with two specific tasks. First, I create a private Pinterest board with images of locations, fashions, and so on; and second, I create a playlist. The Pinterest board helps me zero in on the physical aspects of the book’s setting; and the playlist helps me find the emotional truths of the story. I had so much fun creating a playlist for my new release, THE FORGOTTEN ITALIAN RESTAURANT, a sweeping, multi-generational story of an Italian village destroyed by the Nazis during World War 2, and the heroic actions of a young girl who decides, despite her terror, to believe in the future. Below are a few of the songs that inspired me as I wrote.   Can’t Behave by Courtney Jaye. This upbeat song, which figures prominently in the movie Aquamarine, tells the story of a girl who knows her boyfriend is cheating on her and yet holds out hope that he will change. She says that she will leave him— “one day.” I feel so drawn to this poor girl, who knows she should walk away but just can’t. This also describes the present-day protagonist in The Forgotten Italian…

1–What is the title of your latest release? ’TIL HEIST DO US PART 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A misfit heist crew are forced to do one last heist to save their friend from the clutches of a ruthless mob boss. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The main villain of the story is a ruthless mob boss so Chicago, one of my favorite cities, was the perfect fit. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I try to write characters that I would love to be friends with or that resonate with me in some way, and Simi is the one I would most like to hang out with in real life. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Loyal, resilient, fun. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned about the incredible bunkers billionaires build under their mansions in case of an apocalypse or nuclear war. They can exceed $50 million in cost and span over 10,000 sq ft in size. They contain swimming pools, saunas, hydroponic gardens, libraries, wine cellars, cinemas, games rooms, staff quarters, multiple kitchens and lounges, museums and art…

1–What is the title of your latest release? ALL THE MISSING GIRLS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? In ALL THE MISSING GIRLS, crime reporter Mari Alvarez has just 48 hours to sneak into Cuba undetected and find her missing sister. With no contacts and an ice-cold trail of cryptic clues, Mari must navigate a maze of lies, deception, and sinister Brujeria to uncover the truth before it’s too late. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I met my husband while reporting a story in Cuba. I also discovered a magical town outside of Havana, Cuba full or art by one artist who lived there. It’s called Fusterlandia and it’s beautiful.  The artist opens his house for tourists to visit. I wondered what would happen if I renamed it Oshunvilla and made it a dark place where girls disappeared.  That was the seed for this book. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes, she’s a feisty reporter with a good heart looking to use her platform to do good.  I respect that. I’d loosen her up though. She’s a little serious. That’s why I gave her a funny…

Buried on a Sundae, Book 4, Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries by Lena Gregory Our Chance, Book 33, Curvy Women Wanted Series by Sam Crescent Carver by Winter Sloane Their Beloved Princess by Calista Jayne Seduced by the Sheikh, Book 2, The Sheikhs’ Convenient Brides Series by Diana Fraser Return of the Alpha, Book 8, Katu Wolves Series by Jade Marshall Reluctant Wizard by Jeffe Kennedy My So-Called Luck by Jennifer Fischetto Aria by Michael R. Hicks Pranks, Payback & Poison, Book 8, Katie and Maverick Cozy Mysteries by Mary Seifert     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…

What is the title of your latest release? HOLDING OUT FOR A GYRO   What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Grumpy romance-cynic Chelsea has a weakness for delicious foods. Dared to open herself up to a total stranger for one evening, she stumbles into sunshine romance-junkie Bas, who just happens to be the chef at the gourmet grocery store she’s addicted to. They have an instant connection, but she’s not going to let just any guy sweep her off her feet.   How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The idea for this book came from an actual bar dare one night out with friends in Charlottesville, Virginia, and I couldn’t imagine setting it anywhere else. I’ve always wanted to set a book in my hometown.   Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Definitely. I’m always game for shenanigans. Also, hanging with Chelsea guarantees there will be lots of good food around, not that she’ll cook any of it.   What are three words that describe your hero? Romantic Greek chef   What’s something you learned while writing this book? Since Bas is second-generation Greek, I wanted to learn…

Welcome to Daybreak Island, Massachusetts! This place has been my home for my entire life, and let me tell you, there is no better place to live. I can’t wait to show you around. This is one of the prettiest coastal areas in the country. I may be biased, but I don’t think so. From pretty much anywhere on the island, you’re surrounded by water as far as you can see. If you love the ocean, there’s really no better place to be. Of course, the island has changed a lot over the years, but I’m not one of those old guys who grumbles and grouches about change being bad. I’m smart enough to know that when things stop changing, they die. So I’m grateful to have my granddaughters here, actively being part of that change. We live in Daybreak Harbor, the biggest town on the island. We have the major ferry port here, so visitors usually start and end in our town. And we’re lucky enough to live right near the ferry. I get to keep an eye on a lot of the action, which makes me happy. As the former police chief, I like to know what’s going…

1–What is the title of your latest release? WE LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? London disco vampires! (But the core of the story is about a friendship between two women that goes completely off the rails…they just happen to be vampires that open a nightclub together.) 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I’ve spent a lot of extended time in London (my husband is half-English) and it’s my favorite city in the world. Plus, I thought it would add more color and depth to the historical and vampirical elements of the story. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes. I love party girls. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Amber Wells is…fun-loving, tempestuous and sly. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Knowing your characters backward and forward is essential for figuring out big plot problems. Time crafting their personalities and back stories and hopes and dreams is never wasted. It always comes back around in some way when drafting. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I try not to edit as I draft,…

I grew up on a 50-acre sheep ranch where – with two older brothers – I was not encouraged to play princess games. There was work to be done. Usually, my work consisted of following my grandfather around the hilly ranch with his sheep dog while he mended fences, moved sheep to other parts of the ranch, and patiently answering my endless list of questions. Yes, he was something of a saint. So was my grandmother, but she was always busy canning, cleaning, tending their large garden, or sewing. She wasn’t nearly as exciting as exploring the outside world with my grandfather. When I wasn’t “working” and my brothers were at school, I was roaming the ranch alone. Climbing rocks, skirting the edge of a 3-acre eucalyptus grove (it scared me), exploring the strip of our property near the road where locals left stripped, derelict cars. I spent many an hour playing in a rusty Volkswagen Beetle and Audi sedan. If you’re wondering how old I was, I was a toddler, age 2-4. Where were my parents? Or my grandparents during my wanderings? My dad was no longer in the picture and while my mom worked as a teacher, my…

Book Title: ENSNARING THE SIREN – Haven Cove #3 Character Name: Nireed   A features editor at the Haven Cove Daily joins Nireed, a mermaid that lives off the coast of Haven Cove, Maine, for a dockside interview. Reader discretion is advised: This interview contains dark humor and candid realities about vicious merfolk life.   Nireed, can you tell us about where you live? (Interviewee flicks tail) The ocean? Where your pod lives within the ocean. In an underwater city, about a day’s swim from here. Our foreparents carved it into the side of a sea cliff, creating the tunnels and caverns where we live. How often do you encounter humans? For a long time, never. We stick to the deep as much as possible. It’s quieter there. Your boats are noisy. Is that why you’re wearing earplugs? There’s a lot of shipping traffic in the harbor today.  Yes. It hurts to be too close. Do you want to talk about the mermaid study you were a part of at the Haven Cove Marine Research Center? The Haven Cove Daily has covered it extensively in the past, including an exposé on the study’s ethical issues, but we’ve never heard your…