1–What is the title of your latest release? THE SELF-MADE WIDOW   2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? How much of your life are you willing to destroy to see justice prevail? To prove one of her friends is a murderer, amateur sleuth-savant Andrea Stern is going to face some hard choices that could have long-lasting ramifications for her friends and her family.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It is a sequel to my first novel, Suburban Dicks, so it’s set in the same New Jersey suburban locations of West Windsor, Plainsboro, and Princeton, though I also expanded that to have chunks of the book take place in Manhattan as well.   4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Probably not, since I’m 25 years older than they are, but when I was their age, they were my social circle!   5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? Arrogant. Insecure. Honestly, there are LOTS of other words, since I think Andrea Stern is a wonderfully complex, and sometimes confounding, character.   6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? That there aren’t as many undetectable ways…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MURDER AT THE WEDDING, Modern Midwife Mysteries book #1 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A modern-day nurse-midwife living in coastal New England witnesses the death of the chief obstetrician at his daughter’s lavish wedding and races against time to clear the name of an old family friend. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Where’s a better place for a murder mystery? A coastal New England town with rocky shores, a magnificent oceanfront, and a mix of old and new citizens is ripe for murder. 4–Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life? Absolutely! Maeve O’Reilly Kensington has the qualities I would want in a friend, and life would never be boring. 5–What are three words that describe your sleuth? Intelligent, compassionate, family-oriented 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Write an outline but be prepared that your characters may decide to veer off course. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I write the first draft entirely without editing, but I note things I want to add. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Ice cream….

1–What is the title of your latest release? MURDER AT THE MASKED BALL 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? When a dear friend is suspected of murdering an earl in 1923 London, intrepid debutante Kitty Worthington jumps in to investigate. Can she catch the killer before her friend dances one last jig at the end of a noose? 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I set my mysteries in early 1920s London because the British post-Great War era, with its myriad of challenges, intrigues me. 4–Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life? Absolutely! Kitty Worthington has an irreverent sense of humor, and she constantly challenges societal mores. 5–What are three words that describe your sleuth? She’s smart, courageous, honorable, and kind. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? The historical aspects of family planning issues in 1920s England. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I divide my books into 4 parts. Each part is roughly 10 chapters. I write and edit each part before moving on to the next one. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Popcorn with lots of butter. 9–Describe…

SMOKE AND OTHER STORMS is described as a “western fantasy adventure”. How would you describe the setting for this story? I think of it as the American Wild West meets 1800’s Australia. Half of the people are there to prospect and mine, the other half are violent prisoners shipped from back east so the cities don’t have to deal with them. However, the weather is savage and the bulk of the west is unmapped and toxic. It’s a do or die, kill or be killed environment, which is why the family bond the characters have is so important, they keep each other safe and alive.   What was you inspiration for this book? I grew up with all sisters and wanted to write a book that celebrates the bond between women. I also wanted it to be fun and I really love the desert, so that part was obvious. I started thinking about treasure hunt, action-adventure stories like Indiana Jones and National Treasure (still one of my favorite movies). We hardly ever get to see why the antagonists are really after the gold. We’re usually just left to assume it’s because they’re greedy. I wanted to explore the human side…

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 as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Gillian Libby!   Writes: FOUR WAYS TO WEAR A DRESS is a contemporary romance that’s a little like a grown-up Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. When Millie Ward gets fired (again) she packs up a forgotten lucky dress she and her closest friends once shared and goes off to start a new more adventurous life, full of surfing and long lost crushes.   About: A writer and mom of two, plus two dogs, who loves a good dress and a good occasion to wear one.   What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Anyone looking for a fun, sexy, summer romance with a lucky dress that might help Millie get lucky in more ways than one.   What to expect if we’re compatible: Fun settings that take you on an adventure without ever leaving home. Steamy romance and swoon-worthy main characters. Friends that have your back Modern storylines Happily Ever Afters and a forever book boyfriend FOUR WAYS TO WEAR A DRESS by Gillian Libby You are…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MUDDLED THROUGH: Maine Clambake Mystery #10 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Mud season takes on a whole new meaning in the coastal town of Busman’s Harbor, Maine, when local business owners sling dirt at one another in a heated feud over a proposed pedestrian mall. Vandalism is one thing, but murder means Julia Snowden of the Snowden Family Clambake steps in to clean up the case . . . 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The Maine Clambake Mysteries center around Busman’s Harbor, a town on Maine’s midcoast. 4–Would you hang out with your sleuth in real life? Absolutely! 5–What are three words that describe your sleuth? Smart, determined, kind 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? For this book I got to learn all about making pottery, the art and the business side. Three fabulous potters patiently answered all my questions. I also learned about the female photographers throughout the history was National Geographic Magazine, which was absolutely fascinating. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? When writing a first draft I never look back….

1–What is the title of your latest release? DECEIVER OF MINDS (SPECTR 3.5) 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A federal exorcist falls in love with the demon he must destroy. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? All the SPECTR books take place in the south. For this series, I chose New Orleans solely so I could have the vampire lead a vampire tour. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? I’d hang out with Caleb and Gray any day. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? There are three in this series, so I’ll pick Gray: direct, hungry, and sweet. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Abandoned buildings in New Orleans, where most of the action takes place. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? It depends. I put off editing as much as possible until I’m done, so I only have to do one revision sweep, but if something radically changes as I’m writing, I’ll go back and rework the manuscript so I’m on solid footing for the third act. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Does craft beer…

I absolutely loved the ending solution to MILLION DOLLAR DEMON, so much in fact I was worried how TROUBLE WITH THE CURSED would handle the consequences surrounding Constance. Any hints about where you’ll take us with her next? Thank you! I’m so pleased that the ending to MILLION DOLLAR DEMON was satisfying. I’ve had to become more inventive when it comes to giving Rachel more powerful antagonists to tackle and yet avoid the temptation to simply kill them off. The quirky solutions she employs is what makes Rachel, Rachel. I don’t want to give too much away, but I will say that the erratic, undead vampire is not gone. She appears in the next book, poised to step into Rachel’s story once more. Just how big a part she will be playing remains to be seen. I have ideas, but until I get them on paper, they are as changeable as the weather. One question I’ve been dying to ask ever since starting The Hollows series… why tomatoes?! The Hollows began much more tongue-in-cheek than it is now. Actually, it was a lot more, much of it pruned out before DEAD WITCH WALKING hit the shelf. That a GMO tomato…

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 A.N. Payton! Writes: I write fantasy romance, with a hint of steampunk. My debut novel, HELLFIRE AND HONEY, is about a witch princess named Sal forced to surrender to her sworn enemy, the vampire king Kadence. As the pair work through a tumultuous peace, and unexpected romance, something much worse marches toward them – a demon army thirsting for death. Will the kingdoms work together to defeat the horde, or will hellfire consume them all? About: I enjoy a good cup of tea (or coffee, I’m not picky!) while frantically chasing around my toddler and our sweet Australian Shepard mix doggie. When I’m not writing or reading, I’m either playing video games with my husband (probably Halo or Sea of Thieves) or sleeping. I’m searching for readers that love enemies-to-lovers tropes, bad boys you just can’t get over, and strong female characters that don’t have to rely on a man. My Ideal Reader Match Must Love: Enemies to lovers = hot, hot, hot Steamy…

Award-winning author Regina Scott is about to celebrate her 60th release, with NEVER ROMANCE A ROGUE, so we at Fresh Fiction thought it would be a good time to get to know her characters better. So, let’s play a little game we call “The Character Most Likely.”   Most likely to speak her own mind, regardless of the situation? ANSWER: Jane Kimball (NEVER DOUBT A DUKE). She may be a cavalry officer’s widow, but she never learned to follow orders.   Most likely to try to play by the rules? ANSWER: Lady Larissa Dryden (NEVER PURSUE A PRINCE). Her mother and grandmother drummed into her what it means to be a lady, though she’s learning what it means to follow her heart.   Most likely to be overlooked and underestimated? ANSWER: Lady Calantha Dryden (NEVER COURT A COUNT). With Callie’s quiet nature and pale coloring, she tends to disappear in company. People say the most outrageous things in her hearing as a result, and she remembers every word.   Most likely to play matchmaker? ANSWER: Meredith Thorn and her cat, Fortune (any of the Fortune’s Brides books, though ALWAYS KISS AT CHRISTMAS is Meredith’s origin story). They operate an employment…