Hi! I’m Heather Cumiskey, author of THE SOONER I GO. I’m thrilled to be here and share my Fresh Fiction “Title Challenge” for a sneak peek inside my upcoming suspenseful new adult romance along with an excerpt from the book: Three accomplices out for revengeHidden pastEvil wins until it doesn’t Slow burn romanceOnly child syndromeOff-limits crushNever-ending secretsEnemies to loversRomantic suspense with a plot twist It ends with lies Good Samaritan complexOne night, three deaths THE SOONER I GO by Heather Cumiskey A Novel Perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Paige Toon, this suspenseful new adult romance follows an eighteen-year-old woman reeling from loss as she’s drawn into an unexpected attraction—one that might expose the secrets she’s tried to bury. Seven months after her boyfriend and parents die tragically on the same night, eighteen-year-old Brynn—once an aspiring singer, now desperate for any paying gig that will keep her from ending up on the streets—sets out to rebuild her shattered world. At her new ad agency job, she’s distracted by enigmatic twenty-year-old Micah. Their enemies-to-lovers attraction ignites as both struggle with secrets that could jeopardize far more than just their budding relationship. After things turn romantic with Brynn, Micah’s psychosis becomes harder to…

Hi all! My name is Lena Gregory, and I’m excited to share a little bit about A SCOOP OF DECEIT the eighth story in my Coffee & Cream Café Mystery series with you. A is for Again. Dani and her friends once again find themselves embroiled in a murder investigation. S is for Spring. Spring has finally sprung on the east end of Long Island and brought with it sunny skies, a hint of warmth, and murder. C is for Chin Wagging. The Watchogue rumor mill is working overtime after Sebastian Krane is found stabbed in the back. O is for Outrage! Dani and her friends are outraged when a man backs into Mrs. Delaney’s car and then files a lawsuit against her. O is for Other. Someone other than Dani’s mom had it out for Sebastian Krane, and Dani plans to prove it. P is for Pushing. Will Dani be in danger of pushing up daisies herself before she can find the killer? O is for Oh, my! And the surprise that comes at Sunday dinner, along with a startling revelation for Dani. F is for Fat Chance. Dani’s polite response to insistence that she back off her own…

PROLOGUE 4 March 2013 Ealing, London He can breathe today. Every exhale and inhale no longer felt as though barbed wire was being dragged across his lungs, but it’s still painful to open his swollen eyes. He tries to focus but all he can see is shadows. He can’t see her, but he can smell her. He gazes at the shadow which he knows is his wife, Deborah. Family and friends no longer pop in for a chat and a drink or to sit idly in the garden on the long summer nights but instead visit him as a patient. They talk in hushed, pained and pitiful whispers; unsure how to sit in a room that is no longer used for living but for end-of-life care. The leather creaks as Deborah rises from the armchair. ‘He looks like he’s turned a corner,’ Deborah whispers and gently places a hand on his leg. ‘The doctor came by this morning and was really pleased.’ ‘We often find patients make a vast improvement when they’re being cared for at home. Less stress, familiar smells.’ He feels gloved fingers rest on the dry and flaccid skin on his right arm and he smiles. He…

What is the title of your latest release?HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE WOODS What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Basic Instinct. But with bears! How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I had two reasons for setting this book in the wilderness: first and foremost, and very pragmatically, it’s an elegant solution to the thriller writer’s biggest problem, which is “how do I prevent these characters from pulling out an iPhone and ruining everything.” The second is that the wilderness is a character unto itself, and a place that reveals the true character of the people who travel through it. There’s no better place to find out who you are – or to learn the truth of who someone else is – than in the woods. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I would prefer not to. What are three words that describe your hero?Contents may explode. What’s something you learned while writing this book?A poem about how to survive a bear attack. It goes like this:If black, fight back.If brown, lie down.If white… goodnight. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?I always start by reworking…

What is the title of your latest release?THE PIE & MASH DETECTIVE AGENCY What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A young couple sign up for a private detective class, thinking it’ll be a fun adventure – but soon find themselves tangled in a cold case that’s haunted the British countryside for decades. Who is Nellie Thorne – the young woman who’s been reported missing five times in fifty years? Mystery, secrets, and unexpected twists await as the newly-formed Pie & Mash Detective Agency uncover a past that refuses to stay buried. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?It’s set in Kent (The Garden of England) – where I grew up. Would you hang out with your heroines in real life?Definitely. I wish we could go to the pub together. What are three words that describe your heroes?Loveable, funny and inexperienced! What’s something you learned while writing this book?That writing is the easy bit. It feels like 80% of the work is editing! Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?Minimal editing while drafting! But equally, I wouldn’t leave something as is if I didn’t consider it readable. What’s your…

It’s the luck of the Irish month and I hope it brings you joy, along with some more sunshine and higher temperatures, at least here on the east coast. I’m freezing! But that’s also the perfect time to curl up with a blanket, a cup of something steamy, and a very good cozy mystery! Here are some recommendations if you’re on the hunt. First up we have DEATH OF AN IRISH DRUID (The Dublin Driver Mysteries Book 6) by Catie Murphy This whole series is a hoot and I highly recommend them all, but this one in particular gave me a case of the giggles and surprise and I couldn’t love that more. From the twists and turns to the main character’s humor and those cute dogs, I had a wonderful drive at the leisure of this wonderful limo driver and part time sleuth! Next up, I am always amused and pleased to read about book events and other writers, so I have to recommend DEATH BY THE BOOK: Totally addictive cozy mystery Irish fiction (A Mercy McCarthy Mystery Book 2 by Lucy Connelly This is a delightful series that covers all of my loves in one rollicking time. From…

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.

LIGHTNING ROUND In three words, describe the vibe of your book.Faith, Hope and Love What’s your ideal writing fuel: coffee, tea, wine, or chaos?Ice Water Plotter, pantser, or organized mess?Detailed Plotter If your book had a theme song, what would it be?How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You. What small habit or ritual makes you feel most “lucky” when you sit down to write?I pray before I work and that blesses me and sets the day right. THE DEEP DIVE Every book has an origin story. What was the “lightning strike” moment that made you say, “I have to write this”?I saw a picture of the heroine and a story idea just came to mind. Here’s the photo. Tell me about a scene you rewrote multiple times. What made it so tricky, and how did you finally crack it?The first time the hero and heroine meet, I wanted it to be a special moment. Not necessarily a love at first sight, but definitely something unforgettable. I had the heroine faint from the heat and the hero, a doctor, catches her. Your protagonist: Did they arrive fully formed, or did you uncover them layer by layer? What surprised you…

Each Friday the Smashwords store reports the bestselling indie fiction titles based on the previous week’s sales. If an author has more than one title eligible for the list, only the highest performing title will be included. This ensures high-performing titles receive the accolades they deserve, while providing up-and-coming authors the visibility they have earned. Don’t miss Monday’s Top 10 Hot Preorders List, where Smashwords will provide a list of the most highly anticipated ebook preorders.

Book Title: THE WOMAN AND HER STARSCharacter Name: Caroline Herschel How would you describe your family or your childhood?Alas, my childhood is not a time I reflect upon with joy. I was born in Hanover (Germany) in 1750 and, before I reached the age of ten, I contracted smallpox and then typhus. To avoid exposing her, my father, sister and eight brothers to the diseases, my mother closeted me in a small, dark room for several weeks. The fever, pain and itching were intense, and I prayed for release but, above all, I was traumatized by the notion of dying alone. Although I was permanently scarred by the pox and my growth ceased, remarkably, I recovered. However, my misery wasn’t over. Rather than celebrating my survival, my mother inflicted further suffering by declaring me not worthy of being educated. I was granted none of the lessons, music training, and instruction my siblings received. No man, argued my mother, would want a woman with a blemished face and legs too short to climb aboard a wagon without a mounting block. I was unsuitable for marriage and my destiny, she decreed, was to be the family servant. I was put to work…