Matlock House, April 1804 Smythe opened the double doors. “My lord.” The countess glanced at the earl; he extended his arm. She rested her hand upon his forearm and stepped forward. Fitzwilliam held up both his arms. Phoebe on his right; his left belonged to Ellie. “Thankfully, we are not three,” Ellie whispered. “Brother would need a third arm,” Phoebe said. Ellie made a small sound and hid it at once. A throat clearing—their mother’s—silenced them. They entered the dining room. The earl seated the countess. Fitzwilliam seated his sisters, then sat between them. The round table was a novelty—Lady Matlock’s scheme, Lord Matlock’s constant rebuke. The first course—soup—was served, then the footmen withdrew and left the table to family. Ellie leant forward at once, eyes bright with excitement. “Will you truly see Paris first?” Phoebe answered for him. “He will see Calais first. Then he will stare at the road as if it has offended him.” Fitzwilliam lifted his gaze to her. “If it does, I shall forgive it.” Ellie’s spoon paused halfway to her mouth. “Then Paris?” Phoebe’s eyes lit. “He will. He must. Everyone goes.” “Not everyone,” Lady Matlock said, quiet. Phoebe turned at once, eager. “But…

Excerpt from MEET ME IN ITALY by Brenda Novak: Charlotte had packed a suitcase and moved back in with her parents, who lived in Newport Beach, while Cliff was gone. She wasn’t going to stay where she wasn’t wanted; it’d been his money that’d bought the house in the first place. But even after living an entire week in her old bedroom, whenever she opened her eyes and took in her surroundings, she felt strange, as if she’d stepped into a time capsule. Her parents hadn’t changed a thing since she’d graduated from high school and left home. Her yearbooks were stacked in the closet, the cluttered bulletin board above her desk held, among other things, a picture of her and Doug Green at senior prom, along with the dried-out corsage he’d given her, various notes from the friends she’d been closest to at the time, her SAT results, her acceptance to Stanford and her old book lists, which were extensive because she knew, in order to become a writer, she needed to be well-read. That she’d been able to achieve her dream of getting published by a major publisher and hitting The New York Times bestseller list so easily…

What is the title of your latest release?WITNESS PROTECTION What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A man placed in hiding by the US government risks all for the sake of justice. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Coastal Georgia – I’m familiar with the area and needed a port city because of drug smuggling. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?No, I’m happily married. What are three words that describe your hero?Brave, resourceful, discerning What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned the ins and outs of the federal witness protection program. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?Mostly wait until the first draft is complete What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?Fried shrimp – only if they’re fresh. Describe your writing space/office!It’s a small bedroom that was former used to display homemade quilts. Who is an author you admire?Earnest Hemingway Is there a book that changed your life?Self Editing for Fiction Writers – it taught me how to craft a novel. Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out your book was going to be published). Or, for indie authors, when…

What is the title of your latest release?THE WRITE OFF What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Two rival authors are forced to confront a decade of love and heartbreak when they are forced together at a weekend book festival on their old college campus. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I attended The University of Arizona as a student and later returned to The Tucson Festival of Books as an author, so it was only natural to write a book about authors set in the same places I love so much. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Yes! We would meet up for coffee and writing dates and inevitably spend the entire time talking about writing, publishing, and book boyfriends. What are three words that describe your hero?Devoted, charismatic, funny What’s something you learned while writing this book?I have a lot of big feelings about the publishing industry, and I had fun exploring those through my characters’ very different experiences in publishing. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?A little of both depending on the book, but I’m a big believer that editing as I…

What is the title of your latest release?A DEAL WITH A DEBUTANTE (Book 1 of the London’s Most Eligible Series) What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?American heiress Calliope Hart has been sent to London to find an aristocratic husband. Edward Chase, the Earl of Hayward, must marry to save his estate. What begins as a business arrangement develops into something more, but can Calliope trust Edward with her heart, and can Edward truly win her love when she’s convinced he only wants her fortune? How did you decide where your book was going to take place?This series was inspired by the real-life stories of American heiresses who were shipped to England (usually by their mothers) during the Gilded and Edwardian Ages with the hopes of snagging aristocratic titles by offering American money to gentleman whose estates were failing. The most famous example of this was Consuelo Vanderbilt, who was set up by her mother Alva with the Duke of Marlborough which, unfortunately, led to a very unhappy marriage. I wanted to take this idea and turn it on its head by writing about an heiress who has no intention of going through with marrying someone for a title,…

What is the title of your latest release?THE MUSEUM OF UNUSUAL OCCURRENCE What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Welcome to the Museum of Unusual Occurrence – a place full of strange exhibits and even stranger murders. The first in the new Psychic City mystery series. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I was eight months pregnant in October 2020 and watched a Halloween-ish movie more or less every night. Most horror movies are too much for me, but I like a creepy, charming vibe. There was a lot of Tim Burton in rotation plus Hocus-Pocus, Practical Magic, and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit. I decided that my next mystery novel would have an eerie, fun vibe. Then I remembered learning about Cassadaga, Florida when I lived in Gainesville. It’s known as the “psychic capital of the world” and only certified mediums can live there. I used Cassadaga as my setting inspiration. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Definitely. Although Aly might not want to hang out with me. She’s rather reclusive and likes it that way. What are three words that describe your hero?Loyal, resourceful, and cynical. What’s…

What is the title of your latest release?YOURS ALWAYS What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A dating app engineer reconnects with her ex only to discover that he’s the prime suspect in his ex-girlfriend’s disappearance. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I thought the tension between the burgeoning tech community and old money culture in Austin, Texas would make for an interesting setting. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?It depends on who you consider the story’s heroine to be… What are three words that describe your hero?Based on who I consider the heroine, I’d say stubborn, sardonic, and perspective. What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned how due diligence works (shoutout to my lawyer husband). Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?I edit as I go! I usually write chapters in chunks of three or four and then go back and edit before moving forward. What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?A really good omakase Describe your writing space/office!I do the vast majority of writing in my bedroom, where I have a simple desk from Target, a really nice chair from Steelcase, and lots…

Today’s bestselling author is near and dear to my heart. I’ve followed her since her first Lola Cruz Mystery, (I met her during her first book tour at TCU Barnes and Noble!) devoured her Magical Dressmaking Mysteries, adored her Book Magic novels, and every book since, including her Writerspark Resource Books for authors. She’s one of the most loving, and giving authors you could ever meet, always offering a huge smile and a bigger hug. Combine that spirit with the attention to detail of a high school English teacher and a magical imagination, Melissa Bourbon, transports her readers into her worlds of family, folklore, women’s fiction and mystery with ease. If you haven’t read any of her books, this is your chance to start with her new adventure into A historical fantasy filled with the complexity of family secrets and intrigue under a new pseudonym Ivy Cassidy. THE HOUSE OF SPELLS AND SECRETS is a delightful read that captivated me from the first page to the last. Kym: Welcome back to the Cozy Corner, Ivy!Ivy: Thank you so much for having me back. I love the vibe of the Cozy Corner. It’s almost like you can hear the echo of…

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.

Spring brings activities, timelines, and commitments. In other words, besides normal life, people come out to play. Save the dates are in my mailbox and inbox. Graduations, weddings, and the usual summer flings, I’m getting booked up. I’m a diligent list maker and spiral calendar aficionado. Writing stuff down is my jam. When my children were younger, I color coded the calendar with everything they had planned. I posted the monthly pages in the kitchen, encouraging them to keep track of their lives. So proud to see both still use the calendar posted in the kitchen trope. Being a prompt responder, people compliment my RSVPing skills. It may be why I’m added to some invitation lists too. For those who use snail mail, I’m the test case to see if someone received the paper copy. Task management is also in my wheelhouse. For all the activities, I plan what I’m bringing food wise and or gift wise. My mother drilled into me that you never arrive at someone’s house empty handed. Flowers, candy, or a hostess requested item, usually food. I have a large family so filling out the menu is required. I appreciate the invitations and the inclusion. Now…