1–What is the title of your latest release? THE LITTLE ITALIAN HOTEL 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When a radio relationship expert’s own marriage falls apart, she invites four heartbroken strangers to join her in Italy, for a holiday of hope, fun and healing. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted to set the story somewhere I’ve personally been to and gorgeous Italy fitted the bill. I loved spending time in Venice, Bologna and Florence this time around, even if it was on paper rather than in real life. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Absolutely. Ginny Splinter is the radio host of Just Ask Ginny, a show where she solves listeners’ problems live on air. She’s very caring and kind, if a little too hooked on helping others, but I’d love to share a glass of wine with her. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Caring, helpful, organized 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I leaned that Italians don’t use the letter “x” to represent a kiss at the end of a letter or message. We do this in the UK…

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 Katharine Schellman!   Writes: Gritty, glamorous Jazz Age mysteries filled with smart, gutsy sleuths; a tangled bit of romance; and intricate, twisting plots that you won’t want to put down until you find out who is guilty.   About: When I’m not writing or curled up with a stack of books, you can usually find me digging in my garden, drinking yet another cup of tea, or letting my kids convince me to play boardgames with all the wrong rules. I currently live and write in the mountains of Virginia, where I make the best Rice Krispie treats you’ll ever eat, take naps whenever I can, and accidentally murder all my houseplants.   You’ll love THE LAST DROP OF HEMLOCK if you’re ready for: Jazz Age glamor at an underground speakeasy known as the Nightingale Feisty, determined characters that you will root for in spite of their flaws A twisty mystery filled with murder, midnight heists, mob bosses, and the discovery that no one…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MICKEY CHAMBERS SHAKES IT UP 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A widowed bar owner who, upon returning to college at 42, inadvertently hires the 33-year-old woman who turns out to be his teacher to help tend bar at his struggling establishment. He’s a grump and she looks for the sunnier side of life. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Columbus Georgia was an easy choice because this story is actually based on my time working at an Irish pub there. I only lasted a year at Scruffy Murphy’s but it made a huge impact on my life. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Yes! I feel like I can learn a lot from her can-do attitude. It might take her a little longer to reach her goals, but she works really hard to get there. She asks herself “can I do it?” and then dares herself to try. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Loyal, Protective, Hopeful He’s very loyal to his late-wife, and strives to protect the legacy (bar) she left behind, but he feels increasingly…

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 Jennifer J. Chow! Writes: Cozy mysteries filled with hope and heritage. HOT POT MURDER features Yale and Celine Yee, cousins with opposite personalities who run a food stall at a night market. When their hot pot dinner with local restaurant owners results in a – literally – shocking end, the two are ready to help serve justice. About: A SoCal gal who loves matcha hot – or on the rocks – I enjoy dolphin watching on the beach and taking copious photos of flowers. When not reading or writing, I can be found checking out new boba shops. I’m looking for readers who delight in: Fun whodunit plots Cultural tidbits and factoids Close-knit family ties Quirky sidekicks and characters Numerous foodie descriptions What to expect if we’re compatible: Punny jokes and titles Free recipes in my culinary cozies Explorations of a lesser-known Los Angeles Characters who gain much-needed insight A sweet dash of romance HOT POT MURDER by Jennifer J. Chow L.A. Night Market #2 Trouble…

1–What is the title of your latest release? My Lovelight series releases this summer with LOVELIGHT FARMS, IN THE WEEDS, and MIXED SIGNALS. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Business Casual is the fourth and final installment of the Lovelight series and features two opposites who want to get each other out of their systems but keep finding themselves thrust back together no matter how hard they try. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted to create a cozy, happy world to disappear into when I was feeling lonely or sad. Lovelight Farms and the town of Inglewild is very much a place of my heart and I wish it were real every single day. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely. Stella, Layla, Evelyn, and Nova are all slices of myself and what I hope to be. I love writing strong, confident, motivated women. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Vulnerable, kind, besotted. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned to let my characters lead and to love the journey. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are…

1–What is the title of your latest release? A LITTLE RAY OF SUNSHINE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A kid walks into the cute little bookstore you own with your grandfather. Turns out he’s the son you placed for adoption 18 years ago. Surprise! Your secret is out, and all of a sudden, your whole family – and the whole town – realizes there’s more to you than they thought. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Cape Cod is the place I love best in the world. My ashes will be scattered there. As the setting for a book, well, it’s got everything – locals, summer people, the ocean, the beautiful towns, lovely restaurants. There are glacial ponds and salt marshes, glorious sunsets, whales, seals, sharks, and the sky is achingly blue. What better place for a reader to take a mental vacation? 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? OH, absolutely. She and I would slay on trivia night. We would eat, watch Game of Thrones reruns and read in her charming little bookstore. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Kind, funny, hungry. Food always…

Perfect Together by Kristen Ashley The Bratva’s Nanny, Book 11, The Nannies Series by Sam Crescent A Toast for Laurent by Theresa Paolo Love & Violence by Jade Marshall and Lila Fox Four for a Boy, Book 4, The Magpie Rhyme Series Louise Collins Playboy in a Kilt, Book 3, Kilted Hearts Series by Kait Nolan First Blood by Faedra Rose Seriously Dead, Book 2, Ghosts of Carrington Series by Maddie James For Love & Basketball by Nicole Vidal The Cursed Princes (The Complete Trilogy) by Jaymi Hanako   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? DOUBLE INDEMNITY 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Was Matt Thompson’s death while deer hunting an accident, suicide, or murder? Read the novel to find out. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? All my novels take place in Georgia, South Carolina, or North Carolina, which are the places I’ve lived and can describe with texture and nuance. You should feel like you’re there as you turn the page. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I’d love having lunch with Connor Grantham, the minister forced to become detective in the novel. He’s much smarter than I am so I could learn a lot from him. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Thinker, woodsman, emerging romantic. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Figuring out what really happened in the story was complicated, even for me as the creator. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? Both, but the major edit happens after the first draft is done. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Any kind of smoked meat and banana pudding that tastes…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE SIBERIA JOB 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Based on the true story of an American investor and his Czech partner going into the wild west of 90s Russia to make a killing on undervalued assets, getting tangled up with the Russian Mafia, ex-KGB agents and corrupt governments officials, hitting a billion-dollar jackpot but barely getting out alive. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Since Siberia Job is based on a real story, I had a lot of remarkable real-life locations to work with – the wildest spots in post-Communist Moscow, a gangster’s yacht on the Caspian Sea, the Trans-Siberian Railway, forgotten tiny villages a thousand miles from civilization – remarkable stuff! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I would and I have! 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Real (that is, he’s based on a real guy), brilliant, cool-headed. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Just how crazy post-Soviet Russia was – very much like the American Wild West – a fascinating, lawless, action-packed, violent goldrush. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait…

Book Title: MURDER AT THE MINE Character Name: Lily Cranston   How would you describe your family or your childhood? I had a wonderful childhood. The middle child of three girls, I grew up on a dairy farm in northern California. The three of us are like poster children for the birth order philosophy– perfectionist/independent/charmer. Mom and dad were the best, but sadly they both died while on a skiing vacation in Colorado over a decade ago. My younger sister and I take care of the family farm, minus the cattle. Our older sister is married to the town sheriff.   Significant other? If my older sister, Pat, had her way, the county crime scene investigator would be my significant other. I’m not opposed to the idea, only our past history is a bit complicated.   Biggest challenge in relationships I don’t do confrontations well. It’s something I’m learning to deal with.   Where do you live? In the historical western community called Grady, California. We’re known for our ghost town and mine. It’s named after Thomas Grady, the man who first discovered gold in what is now a popular tourist destination.   Do you have any enemies? Wow, none…