Writers are often told to “write what you know.” But I’ve always preferred to write what I want to know. I’ve never been an FBI profiler or moved to a remote Alaskan town to escape memories of losing my Army unit. I’ve never negotiated with a mass shooter or been held hostage in the heavily guarded compound of a cult. But I’ve written characters who’ve had all of these experiences. I believe in writing with as much realism as possible (with certain exceptions, like not detailing exactly how to build a bomb when my explosives expert is defusing one). And since I can’t write these experiences directly from what I already know, or my own lived experiences, I need to do a lot of research. But the research is half the fun. Quite often, my stories are born from what fascinates me. One of my most popular characters, FBI profiler Evelyn Baine, was created because I wanted to create a character who could tell you a lot about who committed a crime not from the physical evidence, but from the behavioral evidence (think of that as what a crime scene can tell you about who a person is, just from…

1–What is the title of your latest release? GONE LIKE YESTERDAY 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Is it a long elevator ride? Zahra is a listless college prep coach, and Sammie is a budding teenage activist. The two women share an unexpected commonality –beautiful, mysterious moths that have been singing to Zahra for years have more recently begun giving Sammie the eerie feeling of being watched. When Zahra’s brother, Derrick, goes missing, Zahra and Sammie embark on a road trip from New York to Atlanta, Zahra’s hometown, in search of him. In order to find Derrick and uncover the truth, they must discover what the moths want with them, and what that answer means for their individual and collective futures. It’s a novel that asks what we owe to our families, what we owe to our ancestors, and what we owe to ourselves. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? They were places I had serious questions for and strong feelings about. Also, I knew they would be interesting in juxtaposition to one another–New York and Atlanta! 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Definitely! She’s a little hard-headed,…

Raw Desires, Book 3, Cyborg Unity series by Cynthia Sax One for the Road and Death by Patti Larsen Dissolution, Book 14, Eagle Elite series by Rachel Van Dyken Merry Wrath Mysteries Boxed Set Vol. VIII (Books 22-24) Merry Wrath Mysteries by Leslie Langtry Saving 6, Book 3, Boys of Tommen series by Chloe Walsh Tank’s Promise, Book 6, Ruthless Reapers MC series by Winter Sloane Legionary: The Emperor’s Shield, Book 9, Legionary series by Gordon Doherty Heart Sick by Monica James Infernal Alliances by Thomas K. Carpenter Holding out for a Hero by Kimberly Zant     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…

H is for our heroine, Tessa Treslow, mechanic and retired US Army Lieutenant Colonel. O is for New Oslo, Idaho, Tessa’s hometown. M is for murder. Tessa finds a murdered stranger, the scene (and her finger) pointing firmly at Tessa’s best friend, sheriff’s deputy Freddie Frederickson. E is for Edna. Tessa lives and works with her feisty Aunt Edna.   I is for investigating. Tessa has to help Freddie prove her innocence. S is for She-canics. Aunt Edna and Tessa have started a new car renovation business: Band of Sisters Services (BOSS) “Call the She-canics!”   W is for who is the real grandchild? The murder victim claims to be Freddie’s illegitimate cousin. H is for Nick Hunt, the handsome new flame who has been romancing Tessa. E is for Sheriff Joe Eriksson, Tessa’s high school ex-boyfriend. R is for Rosie the Riveter. Tessa’s grandmother (Aunt Edna’s mother) was a Rosie and they have a ceremony to celebrate her, which is interrupted by the soon-to-be murder victim. E is for Nick, being evasive…   T is for truth. What is the truth about Freddie’s grandfather? H is for Historical society mavens, Olive and Ginny Prunn, who try to assist with…

Grier and the Governess, Book 2, The Brazen Beauties series by Sophie Barnes I Heard You Scream by Emerald O’Brien Josh and Gemma Make a Baby, Book 1, Josh and Gemma series, by Sarah Ready Last Chance County Omnibus – 1, Books 1-5 in the Last Chance County Omnibus series, by Lisa Phillips The Unrestrained Series Omnibus Collection by S. E. Lund The Steamborn Trilogy Box Set by Eric Asher SEAL’s Choice, Coronado Team 2 series, by Makenna Jameison The Score, Book 3, Off-Campus series, by Elle Kennedy Turning Thirty-Twelve by Sandy James Dark Salvation, Book 7, Black Hoods MC series, by Avelyn Paige Red Rain by Lara Bernhardt The Gorgon Agenda, SPI Files series, by Lisa Shearin Archibald Lox Volume 1: The Missing Princess, Archibald Lox volumes, by Darren Shan Binding 13, Book 1, Boys of Tommen series, by Chloe Walsh Best Years of your Life by Jen Craven Cruel Mate, Book 18, The Alpha Shifter Collection series, by Sam Crescent Souls Collide, Book 3, Collide series, by Kristina Beck Chase the Sunset, Book 9, Devil’s Knights 2nd Generation series, by Winter Travers Hoofin’ It, Book 2, A Magical Romantic Comedy (with a body count) series, by R.J. Blain…

1–What is the title of your latest release? NOT THE PLAN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Isadora Maris is damn good at her job. After nearly a decade in state politics, she’ll soon be managing her boss’s campaign for U.S. representative and will finally land her dream role: congressional aide in Washington, D.C., where she can really make a difference. But Isadora’s cool professionalism is knocked off-kilter when she meets the gorgeous and intelligent Karim Sarda. The catch? Their bosses are fierce political rivals, and Isadora can’t tarnish her reputation by flirting with the enemy—no matter how flushed she feels whenever he enters the room. Still processing the wounds from his former marriage, Karim is ready for a fresh start. But he can’t hide his attraction to Isadora’s commanding presence and her softer side beneath the surface. When the two succumb to their undeniable chemistry, their initial desire grows into something more—something real where each can vulnerably share their personal traumas and challenges. But as Karim’s boss seeks control of the California Senate, Isadora questions if she can truly trust Karim and worries that everything she worked for could be destroyed. Will workplace politics shatter their chance…

1–What is the title of your latest release? NOT YOUR EX’S HEXES 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A willful witch & her broody not-so-one-night stand come to terms with the fact that even though love was never part of their arrangement, love—and fate—had other plans. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? New York City is one of my absolute favorite cities, and there’s so much to see and explore…perfect for a witchy family and their supernatural friends. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely! I may have based her off someone I know. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Broody. Moody. Drool-worthy. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That there really is such a thing as a No Pants Subway Ride in NYC. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? My goal is to always write straight though first, but that never seems to happen, so I go through spurts of both. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? It’s all about the nachos! But during the holidays, it HAS to be my grandma’s Opera Fudge. 9–Describe your writing…

If you enjoy fast-paced paranormal romance with brutal warriors who soften for only one woman, THE PHANTOM is the book for you. Let me tell you a little about it…   T— T is for tattoos. Roux, the hero, is covered in them. For his kind, gods of war known as the Astra Planeta, these tattoos are actually stains on his soul, manifested in his flesh. They move over his skin and if anyone stares at one long enough, they’ll relive the memory that caused it, as if they are Roux. H—H is for headless. So. Yeah. There’s lots of decapitation in this story thanks to a war among immortals. But in a fun way. E—E is for enemies to lovers. True enemies. Like, heroine hates hero with every fiber of her being. Until she doesn’t hate him, of course… P—P is for plot twists. Who can be trusted? No one, that’s who. H— H is for harpy. No, horny. No, harpy. Heroine is part harpy warrior, part phantom seductress, with the ability to possess anyone. Among other things. Though she shouldn’t crave the male who killed her beloved consort…though Roux shouldn’t hunger for the female determined to slay him, neither…

1–What is the title of your latest release? OF MANNERS AND MURDER 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When Violet’s aunt absconds with her newest paramour, she leaves her role as “Miss Hermione,” in Violet’s hands and Violet quickly discovers that when you represent the best-loved Agony Aunt in the Empire, manners—and murder—are all in a day’s work. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Agony Aunts (we call them advice columnists in the US) have a long history, but since I’m especially interested in Victorian England, I knew that’s where and when I wanted my story to take place. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes.  When Violet’s not sleuthing, she’s writing.  And when she’s not writing, she’s reading or visiting museums.  We have a lot in common and would have a whole lot to talk about. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? She says it herself in the opening lines of the book: “I Violet Manville, am level-headed.  Commonsensical.  Well-ordered of both habit and mind.” 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? There’s always so much I learn from each book I write!  With…

1–What is the title of your latest release? KISSING THE HIGHLAND TWIN 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When Lord Andrew MacGalloway agrees to attend a house party, posing as his twin, he does so with good intentions. But carefully laid plans tend to go awry when one is impersonating his brother. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? This is the fourth book in the series, and though it is a stand-alone, Stack Castle has been mentioned in every book thus far. Stack Castle is an enormous (fictional) medieval fortress and was styled after Alnwick Castle in Northumberland. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Oh, definitely, yes. Regenia is the sweetest person, clever and unpretentious. I’d love to chat with her over a cup of tea! 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Generous, Tenacious, and Adaptable. (of course, he’s handsome and swoon-worthy but those are very superficial descriptors). 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned how to make a torch with tree pitch! 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? In the morning I usually edit what…