1–What is the title of your latest release? FRIENDS IN NAPA 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The White Lotus (HBO) meets Friends from College (Netflix). I pitched the book I wanted to read — privileged people behaving badly in wine country. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I’ve been to Napa and the wine regions that surround it more times than I can count. Napa Valley looms large in the popular imagination and while it can be all romantic, rolling hills and resplendent wine tastings and meals, it can also get messy. I wanted to spotlight both sides of Napa, as it pertains to tourists. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? FIN has several protagonists and they’re all problematic. Maybe V. At least she’s a good yoga teacher. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonists? Gutsy, gregarious, delusional. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? If I don’t have a deadline, it doesn’t get done. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I line edit as I draft but more substantive stuff happens afterwards. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?…

You describe your female protagonist in A SPARTAN’S SORROW as “a mother, a queen, a villain”. I’m intrigued. Can you elaborate on that? As an author, what kind of women are you most inspired to write about? Who are some of your favorite female characters in literature? So often, people in general are given a single title. Sometimes this is linked to their professions, a teacher, a nurse, a diplomat. Sometimes we describe them by their appearance, or a single personality trait; the shy one, the redhead, etc. Even when describing friends or close acquaintances, we choose this single word, when in truth there is no person in history who can be defined in such simple terms. Though I used three terms here for Clytemnestra, she was so much more, and all those complex aspects of her are deeply interwoven. I am most inspired to write about the voices who have not been heard enough. Those that are subplots in another story when in truth, they deserve their own. I am drawn to characters who break the molds like the Amazon Queens did. In more modern literature, I love characters who fight on moral ground, like Kathy H in Never…

Below are some songs that the author was inspired by or feel capture her book THE BOOK OF THORNS.   Running Up That Hill – Kate Bush This Kate Bush song from the 80s had a huge resurgence last year thanks to the show Stranger Things and then on TikTok. But it also was on the soundtrack of the 2018 miniseries adaptation of Vanity Fair. It’s no secret that my book was heavily influenced by Thackeray’s novel, and I have watched every movie and television adaptation of it. This song plays during the pivotal scene of the British army departing from Brussels to meet Napoleon on the battlefield at Waterloo. It imprinted on me while I was watching the miniseries, and subsequently became a staple of my writing playlist. It definitely fits with how Cornelia feels when Henri goes into battle, wishing that she could take his place to save him.   Cam Ye O’er Frae France – Steeleye Span I love Steeleye Span. I love their folk-rock takes on medieval and traditional songs, and Maddy Prior’s beautiful voice. So I’m always looking for an excuse to play their music, and one of theirs in particular kept running through my…

1–What is the title of your latest release? RELATIVE STRANGERS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Relative Strangers is a modern-day homage to Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility featuring two half-Korean sisters, their former hippie chick mother, and a deliciously diverse cast of potential love interests. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Inspired by the country cottage in Sense and Sensibility, I wanted a bucolic setting where my characters could find peace, love and happiness. Fun fact: Arcadia is based on a real-life cancer retreat center in Northern California. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely! Amelia is loosely modeled after my younger sister, who happens to be my favorite person on earth to hang out with. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Adventurous, impulsive, voracious. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That sex scenes make me squirm! The first draft of the book included a couple of steamy moments, and I edited them out. I’m definitely a PG-13 kind of gal. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I’m constantly editing and re-editing even though I know…

Avenging Angel by Kristen Ashley Kash & Bella, Book 6, The Wolf’s Mate Generations Series by R.E. Butler When Ben Loved Tim by Jay Bell A Wedding in Wildflower Lane by Laura Briggs Shadow’s Whisper by Nicole R. Taylor The Star of Senegal by Richard Turner An Englischer’s Amish Courtship by Jennifer (J.E.B.) Spredemann Impurrfections by Kaje Harper Morphotrophic by Greg Egan Missed in Texas by Sandy Appleyard     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.

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE DIE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Scaffolded on three realities—the ancient wisdom of the Mahabharata, our current sociopolitical reality, and the near future—The Die is a fast-paced story about friendship, courage, and democracy. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It’s set in Silicon Valley because that’s a place that already has one foot in the future. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Of course. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Courageous, compassionate, caring 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned it is possible to write about things before they happen. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I edit as I write, then edit more later. Writing is just a process of editing and re-editing. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Chocolate 9–Describe your most interesting writing space/office! I often write in bed, as I fall asleep. I’ve also been known to write while dreaming. 10–Who is an author you admire? David Levithan 11–Is there a book that changed your life? Memories, Dreams and Reflections, by Carl Jung…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE RED RIVER SLAYER 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The FBI can’t find the maniac killing women and dropping them in rivers around the country. When one of those women landed in Secure One’s backyard, they took matters into their own hands. Someone has to stop this serial killer, even if that someone is one of the women he tortured. Powerhouse crime fiction in an unexpected package makes The Red River Slayer explosive! 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This is part of a series, so I knew some of it would happen in Minnesota. I decided on St. Paul as I needed a place where the Mississippi would flow past and, since St. Paul has old stately homes, also a place where a senator may reside. The part that happens in Pennsylvania was also set up in a previous book, so that was just a matter of getting the characters out there safely. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! I love Charlotte. She’s down to earth and cares about others, even after the horrors she’s been through….

1–What is the title of your latest release? NOSY NEIGHBORS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Nosy Neighbors is about two neighbors at war, 77-year-old Dorothy Darling and 25-year-old Kat Bennett, who become unlikely allies when their building is threatened with demolition, and even more unlikely amateur sleuths when one of their neighbors is viciously attacked in his home. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? After much deliberation, I decided to set the story in Chalcot, a fictional village I’d written about in my first novel, THE LAST CHANCE LIBRARY. It was fun to include some little cameos from the characters featured in my first novel! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I think it would be good fun to hang out with Dorothy and Kat, although they’d certainly keep me on my toes. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Dorothy is stubborn, cantankerous, and lonely. Kat is secretive, lost and kind-hearted. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I found this book the hardest of any of my books so far, but as a result I learned to trust my instincts and not give…

1–What is the title of your latest release? HOW TO PLOT A PLAYBACK 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? In this book for lovers of sitcoms and romcoms, Lavender Rhodes has been unintentionally muddling Finn Masters’ plans for years—now he’s the writer for the beloved character she plays on television, and it’s time for payback.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It was chosen for me, given Lavender Rhodes is one of the stars of the nation’s beloved sitcom, Neighbors, and Finn is a writer for the show. LA was the logical spot.   4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Oh absolutely. Both Finn and Lavender were wonderfully down to earth, as you’ll see as the plot thickens. I’d love to find myself in an LA dog park on a warm Saturday afternoon with them, chasing around their wild and crazy pets with coffee swinging.   5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? For Finn, he is kind-hearted (despite his best efforts not to be), loyal, and intelligent. For Lavender, she is optimistic, merciful, and steady.   6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? My…

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