Ancient Promises, Book 6, Cider Falls Shifters Series by R.E. Butler Malice, Matrimony, and Murder: A Limited-Edition Collection of 25 Wedding Cozy Mystery and Crime Fiction Stories by Joslyn Chase, et al. Hope for the Holidays by Daryl Wood Gerber Murder Comes Home, Book 3, Hometown Mysteries by Rosalie Spielman Right Place, Wrong Duke, Book 0, Midnight in Scotland Series by Elisa Braden Breaker by Winter Sloane A Thirst for Franc by Theresa Paolo A Christmas Amish Courtship by Jennifer (J.E.B.) Spredemann Traitor, Book 12, Kirsten Stewart Thrillers by G R Jordan Body at the Bakery by Kelly Hashway   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…

PART ONE: SUMMER IN THE CITY – CHAPTER 2   Still in the middle of enjoying our punch-drunk Wall Street intern gallows humor, we both turned as someone suddenly appeared before our booth. The men who lined Stella’s famous zinc bar usually ran older, fifty- or sixtysomething Hollywood or European types, their wrinkles smoothed away with plastic surgery, fake tans, and impeccable clothes. But with his tousled strawberry blond hair and beard, the cute twentysomething guy standing by our booth looked more like an aging frat boy than a millionaire. When I noticed he was very thin, I thought maybe he was a model. Though he wasn’t really tall enough. Everybody was someone at Stella’s. It was an ironclad rule. Well, except for snuck-in stowaways like me, of course. “May I?” he said, sitting down next me. As I reluctantly scooted over, I turned to see that Priscilla’s face was as puzzled as my own. “And you are?” Priscilla said. I was taking in the guy’s vacant expression and glassy eyes when I noticed that the sleeve of the suit jacket he was wearing was opened up from the wrist to the elbow. Then I caught a whiff of body…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE BEAUTIFUL AND THE WILD 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A cryptic text leads Liv Russo to suspect that her dead husband may actually be alive and living in the Alaskan wilderness. Heading north with her developmentally delayed young son, Liv soon discovers that the most dangerous thing in the wild may not be starvation, cold or grizzly bears but the person you love. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? My husband and I spent seven weeks traveling through Alaska and the Yukon in our van. We hiked, fished, and camped along rushing rivers without another person in sight. When I was thinking about plot and about where someone could disappear if they wanted to hide, the wilderness of Alaska came to mind first. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes. I love being around women who don’t back down from a challenge. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Wounded, determined, resourceful 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned from readings and interviews that, despite every good intention, envy and jealousy are among the…

1–What is the title of your latest release? KNOWING YOU 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? At the 1909 Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle, two old friends are brought together after ten years to solve a mystery surrounding antique Japanese armor only to realize that the feelings they have for each other are much more than that of friends. However, big obstacles stand in their way, obstacles that only God has the power to overcome. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I learned about the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in Seattle and thought it would make an amazing setting for a 3-book series.  Knowing You is the third book in that series. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would totally hang out with May Parker. She’s half Japanese and doesn’t know a lot about her past because her Japanese mother refuses to talk about it. She longs to know about her ancestry, however. She’s also an artist and woman of Christian faith. I think we’d have a great time together exploring Japanese history. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Creative, loving, and faithful 6–What’s something you learned while…

1–What is the title of your latest release? SACRIFICES FOR KINGDOMS (Book One in the Sacrifices for Kingdoms trilogy) 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A sensual love story about a sophisticated philanthropic beauty from exotic Trinidad, a modern, socially-conscious European Prince, and the other loves, lives—and lies—that threaten their potentially idyllic life. Filled with passion, mystery, controversy, and danger, their unique journey crosses continents and cultures, places, and races. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I’ve lived on two British islands, Trinidad and the UK, traveled the world from a young age, and have lived 45 years now in the US. I am fortunate to have been exposed to a multitude of cultural influences throughout my life. As a result, my book had to be international. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? You bet! I believe she could change the world for the better! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Sagacious, Passionate, Courageous. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Patience. Perseverance. That each of us is our own Kingdom, for which we make Sacrifices. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until…

Mine To Honor, Book 7, Southern Wedding Series by Natasha Madison Gilded Curses, Book 9, The Shadow Realms Series by Brenda K. Davies Honest Secrets, Book 2, Payback Mountain Series by Diane Benefiel Dying for a Living Complete Boxset (Books 1-7) by Kory M. Shrum Killer’s Kiss, Book 11, The Lizzie Grace Series by Keri Arthur Sam, Book 4, Shadow Ops Team Series by Makenna Jameison The Alpha’s Inferno, Book 2, Shifters of Grey Ridge Series by Reece Barden His Prize, Gruco Crime Family Series by Nicole Cypher Queen of Chaos, Book 5, Legacy of the Nine Realms Series by Amelia Hutchins Bachelors of Clear Creek trilogy boxset by Lisa Renee Instant Karma by David Michie Grump Next Door, Book 9, Love Next Door Series by Sam Crescent A Kaleidoscope of Butterflies by Christina Lee Burn, Book 8, Smoke Series by Abbi Glines Spymaster, Book 18, Dragon Knights Series by Bianca D’Arc Hidden Danger, Book 1, Guardians Unleashed Series by Jerusha Agen Tuck & Roll, Book 4, Sons of Redemption MC Series by Shay Michaelson Caroline Saves the Blacksmith, Book 5, Inconvenient Brides Series by Nina Jarrett Billionaire Lumberjack’s Baby, Book 2, Lumberjacks in Love Series by Gwyn McNamee The…

1–What is the title of your latest release? BOND CRUSHED 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A five-hundred-year-old vampire finally finds her mate—a disappointing human musician who falls short of her exacting social standards. Can she overcome her prejudice and save them both from the vampire hunters who stalk their every move? And can he forgive her for abandoning him before it’s too late? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted to see the characters interact in locations where one was at home and the other was very much out of their comfort zone. Cote d’Azur and Ocean City offered coastal settings that clash spectacularly. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely not! But I would respect her. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Hard, calculating, ruthless. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? The protagonist is obsessed with moths and regularly recites information about them, so I learned a lot of interesting moth facts. Did you know a male moth can smell a female moth from more than seven miles away? 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally…

EXCERPT: THE HOUSE OF STARLIGHT AND SHADOW (The Mirror Kingdom Chronicles #1) by Coreene Callahan   Somewhere in Philadelphia   Taking pictures of a couple through the window of a trashy motel wasn’t Truly Langford-Bardot’s idea of fun. Problem was, given recent income opportunities, it appeared to be her new job. How she’d gone from celebrated photographer to Mrs. Reeser’s only chance of landing a seven-figure divorce settlement wasn’t a mystery. She’d put herself here, slouched in the bucket seat of her ’71 Barracuda, telephoto lens pointed at the lily-white ass of a man who should know better. Or at least possessed enough grey matter to close the blinds. Stupid. Also… gross. Lifting the travel mug perched between her knees, she washed the bad taste out of her mouth, then framed another shot. Her camera shutter fired. The rapid clicking erupted through her open window to drift undisturbed down the sidewalk. Cracked concrete. Chilly autumn air. Just another late night in an about-to-slide-over-the-edge-into-poverty neighborhood. Shifting forward, she tilted her Canon for a better angle. She checked the images on the digital screen and… There it was — the money shot. Double, extra disgusting. She hated the cheater assignments. Freelancing for…

What is the title of your latest release? THE RAKE AND THE ROSE   What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A pamphlet writer determined to expose the world of rakes is shocked to find she’s falling in love with one!   How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Because of the subject matter, London was definitely the best choice! That’s where all the Clubs were!   Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely. She’s whip smart, kind, and strong.   What are three words that describe your hero? Determined, sexy, empathetic.   What’s something you learned while writing this book? That most of the exclusive clubs for mistresses to meet rakes were in St. John’s Wood during the period this is set in.   Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I am totally done and then go back!   What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? It changes. But I love hot baths and amazing books.   Describe your writing space/office! Anywhere I can dictate or bring my laptop! Usually, parks, my car (no really!), and coffee shops.   Who is an author you…

Copyright © 2023 by James Spooner and Chris L. Terry, Excerpt from the story Glow by Camille A. Collins in the anthology BLACK PUNK NOW III. I was fourteen and in eighth grade, the very same age as George Stinney, when I learned he was the youngest person ever sentenced to death in America. He was so small the electric chair helmet slid around his head and they had to make adjustments before blasting the poor kid to kingdom come. The idea that a young Black boy would have brutally killed two white girls for no reason must have been just as preposterous to the people who wrongfully charged him as it was to anyone else with a single brain cell—but, as I wrote in my first history paper, “being Black means being expendable in America.” I got a D on the paper. My history teacher, Mrs. Sneed, asked to see me after class. “It’s a solid paper, Essie, but I just can’t get past the last sentence. It’s a very jarring remark and we talked so much about grounding things in fact. Please keep facts, dates, and statistics in mind next time. I think you’ll be much happier with…