Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Kate Pearsall | Sister with Unique Abilities Investigate Disappearances
Author Guest / October 12, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? BITTERSWEET IN THE HOLLOW 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Bittersweet in the Hollow is the story of Linden, a girl who can taste the emotions of others and lives in a rural Appalachian town under the shadow of the forest where she disappeared the previous summer. She has no memory of what happened, but when another girl goes missing exactly one year later Linden enlists the help of her sisters, each with their own unique ability, to find out who or what is responsible. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The setting in Bittersweet in the Hollow is so important because the backbone of the story is rooted in Appalachian folklore and folk magic traditions. I also wanted the town of Caball Hollow to feel like a true character, so I loosely based it on the small town where my mother grew up, and much of our family still lives, in West Virginia. As it’s a place I know well, I was able to include lots of details that make it come alive. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?…

Caroline George | Author-Reader Match: CURSES AND OTHER BURIED THINGS
Author Guest / October 11, 2023

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Caroline George!   Writes: Hi there! I write a wide range of young adult novels, everything from historical romance to murder mystery. Despite their differences, my books have strong messages and experiment with voice and story structure. I feel incredibly privileged whenever someone reads my work. To have a person’s attention for however many hours is something I don’t take for granted. I strive to offer wisdom, encouragement, and compassion through my books so that people feel seen and understood. My latest YA novel CURSES AND OTHER BURIED THINGS takes place in the Okefenokee Swamp of South Georgia and focuses on Susana Prather, a teenage girl with a curse spanning generations. The story is wholly based off my own family’s Southern folklore.   About: Although born and raised in Georgia, I now live in a rural community in Central Wyoming, where I work for a ranch. When I’m not writing or filming cowboys, I can be found singing at my local haunt or hiking…

Cindy Stark | Title Challenge: BREATHLESS
Author Guest / October 11, 2023

Hi everyone! I’m Cindy Stark, and I’m excited to tell you about the latest in my Aspen series of small-town heartwarming romances with a side of sexy, BREATHLESS. A traumatic incident in Laurel’s childhood left her with major trust issues, and she keeps people at arm’s length by throwing herself into writing about outdoor adventures and taking care of rescue animals. But her best friend knows Laurel secretly longs for love, and she sets her up on a blind date that rocks Laurel’s safe little world. Her first impression of Charlie is that he’s just another ladies’ man, which is so not what she needs. But life keeps throwing them together, and even though Laurel tries to resist, there’s some serious chemistry brewing, and she begins to question her initial reaction. Could Charlie actually be the stable, anchoring kind of guy she secretly wants but has never let herself have? Laurel takes death-defying risks as part of her job, but will she dare to gamble with her guarded heart to find out if Charlie might be the real deal?   B is for Brewery. Charlie owns the restaurant attached to Laurel’s best friend’s brewery, making it impossible for her to…

Kerry Winfrey | Faking Christmas
Author Guest / October 11, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? FAKING CHRISTMAS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Laurel tells a little white lie that makes her boss think she owns a farm that’s actually owned by her twin sister. When her boss invites himself over for Christmas, she has to pretend that she can cook, care for animals, and be married to her nemesis, Max. Faking Christmas is inspired by one of my favorite movies, the 1945 comedy Christmas in Connecticut. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I set all my books in Ohio because I live here and I love it, so it was an easy decision to set this one in Columbus and rural Ohio. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. Laurel may not know how to cook, but she’s a lot of fun. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Determined, loyal, optimistic 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned way more than I ever expected to about goats, because Laurel’s sister owns a few and Laurel has to pretend she knows how to feed and milk them. 7–Do you edit…

Sarah Fox | Title Challenge: BAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT
Author Guest / October 11, 2023

Hi! I’m Sarah Fox, author of the True Confections Mysteries. BAKING SPIRITS BRIGHT is the second book in the series and I’m excited to share more about it through this title challenge!   B is for Becca, the series protagonist, a chocolatier A is for actress, Becca’s former profession K is for kitties named Truffles and Binx I is for in the Venice of North America, a canal town in Vermont N is for nefarious intentions of a killer on the loose G is for gondolas on the canals in spring, summer, and fall   S is for Sawyer, a local cop and Becca’s life-long friend P is for Pops, Becca’s beloved grandfather I is for ice slide, like the one in Snowflake Canyon R is for recipes for truffles and bonbons I is for intrigue, wrapped up in a mystery T is for Twilight Hills, the TV show Becca once starred in S is for Shadow Lake, located at the western edge of town   B is for baking competition, one that turns deadly R is for red herrings mixed in with clues I is for ice skating on the frozen canals G is for Gossip Grannies, who spread…

Jade May | An Erotic Enemies-to-lovers Romance, with a Hint of Kink, a Touch of Angst and Includes a Happily Ever After
Author Guest / October 11, 2023

What is the title of your latest release? TEMPTED BY EDEN   What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Tempted by Eden is a contemporary enemies to lovers, erotic romance with a hint of kink, a touch of angst and includes a happily ever after. It’s centered around a woman named Cora who finds herself living a double life as she works at a kinky gentlemen’s club by night and as a PR specialist by day. It includes some of my favorite tropes to read and write; enemies to lovers, boss/employee, billionaire boss and alpha hero.   What are three words that describe your protagonist? Cora is sassy, strong and a survivor!   What’s something you learned while writing this book? Everyone’s author journey is different, there is no ‘right’ path. After speaking to fellow romance authors, every single one of their experiences have been unique to them. Some have written eight manuscripts before feeling ready to submit and pitch to a publisher. Others have received many rejection letters, before landing a contract. And others have seen huge success self-publishing and have bypassed the traditional publishing route. I’m a firm believer that everything will happen when it’s supposed to….

Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone | Good Girl Tries Reinvent Herself On the Set of a Spicy Santa Claus Movie
Author Guest / October 10, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? A HOLLY JOLLY EVER AFTER 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Good Girl Winnie Baker is ready to reinvent herself on the set of a spicy Santa Claus movie, but it turns out filming fake sex scenes is really hard when you’ve never had good sex in real life.  Enter Winnie’s co-star, Kallum Lieberman, former boy band member, current Midwest pizza mogul with a dad bod, who is more than willing to give Winnie off-camera lessons in spice.  For art, course!  They say practice makes perfect, but what happens when the practice feels too good to stop? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? We created the small town of Christmas Notch, Vermont to escape the year that was 2020.  Our first book in this series, A Merry Little Meet Cute, showcases this twee, forever-Christmas town with its quirky cast of characters, and we were excited to return in A Holly Jolly Ever After to some of our favorite haunts (including our Christmas-themed strip club, The North Pole). 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Kallum is the pizza-slinging, former Funny One…

Jenn McKinlay | It’s Christmas and a Country Singer’s Manager is Murdered
Author Guest / October 10, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? SUGAR PLUM POISONED 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? It’s Christmas time and a country singer’s manager is murdered. Because she’s friends with the cupcake bakers, they feel that they have to prove her innocence before her career is frosted for good. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It’s a series, so Scottsdale, AZ is where the bakery is located and where the mysteries take place. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. She bakes cupcakes for a living. She has to be my friend! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Smart, talented, and funny. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Sugar plums are not plums! Who knew? They’re actually little oval or plum shaped candies. I had no idea! 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I wait until the manuscript is done. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Cake. Always cake. 9–Describe your writing space/office! I have an office in my house that is full of bookcases and my desk is set so that I can look out the…

Chloe Liese | Author-Reader Match: BETTER HATE THAN NEVER
Author Guest / October 10, 2023

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Chloe Liese! Writes: Chloe writes contemporary romances affirming her belief that everyone deserves a love story. Her stories pack a punch of heat, heart, and humor, and often feature characters who are neurodivergent like herself. About: Chloe enjoys walks in nature, the smell of new books, and the sound of rain. She takes her coffee hot and black, and is both a dog and cat person.   What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: enemies to lovers steamy slow burn romance feisty banter and simmering tension characters with real-life conditions like neurodivergence and chronic illness rom-com laughs and comedic hijinks paired with emotional depth and sensual physical intimacy What to expect if we’re compatible: tearing through an interconnected standalone series (once you finish the Wilmots, there are 6 Bergman Brothers to read!) a heightened appreciation for the payoff of prolonged sensual tension in slow-burns a newfound love of dirty talk nicknames and cute, romantic nicknames BETTER HATE THAN NEVER by Chloe Liese Childhood enemies discover…

Kay Costales | A Con Artist Faces Demons, Witches, and Love
Author Guest / October 9, 2023

1–What is the title of your latest release? WHEN THEY BECKON 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A con artist must navigate the schemes of a criminal organization and burgeoning dark magic while facing demons, witches, and love. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I love fantasy stories and I love stories with characters and settings beyond the plethora of European-inspired ones. But as the child of immigrants, I ached for a character I could relate to. Someone who was born and raised away from their family’s homeland and has to navigate a place where she doesn’t fully belong, while longing for the homeland as some far-off place that exists in her dreams. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Probably not. Salome is a big rule-breaker while I am more of a rule follower. She’s trouble, and I’m cozy at home. She’s… so much that I’m not and that’s why I love writing her. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Bold, adventurous, passionate. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned just how much I longed to see the diaspora experience in a fantasy…