Most people know what science fiction (sci-fi) is. We think of Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury, Poul Anderson—as well as a host of current sci-fi writers with their sometimes dry and detailed explanations. But what is science fantasy? The first time I read the phrase, I was certain it was a typo. I had no idea what that genre was or if I was even interested in writing it. According to Wikipedia, science fantasy is a “mixed genre…which simultaneously draws upon and/or combines tropes and elements from both science fiction and fantasy.” And that means…? I’ll use movie and television to explain, rather than books to illustrate since many of us have seen them or at least know about them. “Elements from both science fiction and fantasy” should conjure up images of Avatar or even The Martian—if you take out the techie details. My mind immediately goes to my favorite, Star Trek. I grew up on that television show. And yes, I was smitten with Captain Kirk. According to the late iconic science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke, Star Trek is “science fantasy…because of its scientifically improbable elements.” Eh? What do you mean, improbable? As a regular consumer of the show,…

A paranormal romance series with an urban fantasy tone… When I started writing, I wanted to create something different. Something unique, yet believable. I merged magic–both light and dark–with the “real world”. Witches and demons live and work among humans. Although humans know about witches, they choose not to believe in supernatural powers and they believe demons can’t break out of hell. Ignorance is bliss and all that. For centuries, the magickin–magic born beings–communities had allowed and backed up the humans’ choice of not knowing. They live in peace with the don’t-tell-and-we-won’t-ask relationship, not bringing any extra attention to themselves. Now that peace is being threatened. Again. The demons are back with a new leader and a new hunger for world dominance. And the Divinities are the humans and magickins only hope for survival. It begins with Ayden and Kalissa’s story, FORGOTTEN VISIONS. Childhood sweethearts that were separated by a spell for fifteen years are brought back together by tragic events to fight in the war between witches and demons. FORGOTTEN VISIONS by Lia Davis The Divinities #1 Kalissa Bradenton isn’t your average coffee shop owner. Born to an elite witch bloodline with a rare genetic mutation, she’s a Divinity…

Inspiration comes in all forms. Some listen to music on a twenty-four hour basis, others take long strolls to connect with nature. What do I do? I watch endless amounts of TV in, dare I say, impressive amounts of time. The term binge-watching is a phenomenon that has hooked our nation and changed the way we view television. In a way, it’s made us impatient, but there is also something so terribly satisfying about just hunkering down and powering through some epic television, one episode at a time. My new book, To Mate a soldier, is a paranormal romance set in an alternate world where shifters and other fascinating creatures are the main power in a modern society. In honor of my release in January I’m listing my top five binge-worthy paranormal TV shows. Here goes! Sense 8 A bit about the show: Eight strangers around the world, born on the exact same day and time, are connected mentally and emotionally to each other. They use each other’s strengths to help one another and must fight those hunting them. Diverse cast, new concept, weird yet sexy mental orgies. The OA A blind girl who went missing for seven years turns…

Coming up with character names for a story falls just shy of coming up with a book title on my fun meter. Love it! Sometimes the names are deliberate. For instance, Lisa in my grim reaper series is named after my sister, and the main characters in my new release, Properly Groomed, are real-life people I know. Sometimes I’m looking for something unique, sometimes common, but always easy to read and understand. Don’t get me wrong, I adore Lord of the Rings, but seriously Mr. Tolkien, Gimli, son of Glóin, nephew of Óin, and the first cousin once removed (of Balin, Lord of Moria, and his brother Dwalin. I spent more time trying to figure out how to pronounce the names than reading the actual story. But to be fair, that’s fantasy, which has its own rules, and today I’m talking about romance. So where is the best place to find name inspiration for romance characters? Why Tinder, the casual dating site, of course. On the Tinder website there’s no worry of getting caught up in lengthy bios or detailed likes and hobbies, just a lot of pictures and names. If you’re attracted to the person swipe right, if not—swipe…

  WICKED COWBOY CHARM by Carolyn Brown Lucky Penny Ranch #4 ONE BLIZZARD, ONE BUNKHOUSE, AND A WHOLE LOTTA TROUBLE . . . Josie Dawson is new in town, but it doesn’t take a local to know that Deke Sullivan is trouble–in a smokin’ hot package. He’s sweet, sexy, and has charmed just about every woman in Dry Creek, Texas. Well, Josie won’t be next. She’ll keep her distance, even if he is great with babies and makes a mean cup of homemade hot chocolate. Deke Sullivan really is a one-woman type of guy. He just had to do a lot of looking to find that one woman. Now he thinks he’s found her and he won’t let a strong, sassy gal like Josie slip away. Just when he’s wondering how to convince her he only has eyes for her, they get stranded in a tiny cabin during a major blizzard. If Deke can melt her heart before they dig out of the snow, he’ll be the luckiest cowboy in Texas . . . Romance Contemporary | Romance Western [Forever, On Sale: January 31, 2017, Paperback / e-Book, ISBN: 9781455534968 / eISBN: 9781455534982] Josie could hardly take her eyes off…

Everyone has a favorite baseball song and Heidi McLaughlin is no exception. As the author of the Boys of Summer series and big baseball fan, she’s got her go-to tunes ready to go for the season. Top 5 songs for baseball in the Boys of Summer series. Sweet Caroline by Neil Diamond (not really baseball but played at the Red Sox games) Centerfield by John Fogerty Cheap Seats by Alabama The Greatest by Kenny Rogers Glory Days by Bruce Springsteen What tunes do you hum or associate with the summer sport of baseball? About Heidi McLaughlin Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Originally from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, and a Highland West/mini schnauzer, Jill. When she isn’t writing stories, you’ll find her sitting court-side during either daughter’s basketball games. Virtuous Paradox | Boys of Summer WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER HOME RUN by Heidi McLaughlin Boys of Summer #2 Cooper Bailey finally has a shot at being a major league ballplayer, but it will take all his focus and energy during…

Hello, everyone! I’m so excited to be featured at Fresh Fiction today. What a great way to start the new year! How many of you went out this New Year’s Eve to a party or bar and had some random stranger saunter up to you, lean in, and unload the cheesiest or raunchiest pick-up line? Maybe it hasn’t recently happened to you, but perhaps at some point in your life you may have been the unfortunate victim of a bad pick-up line. How do you handle it? Do you laugh in their face? Play along and meet someone new who possesses an interesting sense of humor? Or do you ignore them, hoping they go away? For me, controlling the knee-jerk reaction of being rude and laughing in their face would be incredibly tough. In FALLING FOR THE PLAYER, my upcoming New Adult release from Entangled Publishing’s Embrace line, my two protagonists, Max and Patrick meet for the first time at a bar. Patrick is a star running back for his college football team, and Max…well, Max is a straight A, pre-law student. Total opposites. So what could be more fun than placing these two together for a chance meeting, then…

I live in West Wales and run a farm with my husband and eighteen year-old son. I love escaping to the world of my stories when I’m writing and the two jobs complement each other well, although they do keep me rather busy! When I do take time out I love visiting old castles or grand houses where I can indulge my other passion of photography. Guilty pleasure? Living on a farm means early mornings are the norm, so having a lie in. ~It doesn’t happen very often though. What’s in your coffee/tea? I love my morning coffee with frothy milk. Last picture you took? The sun coming up as I walked my dog across the fields. Biggest Fear? Heights. If you could have a superpower, what would it be? Being able to read superfast – then I could keep up with all the fabulous books out there! Least favorite food? Not keen on baked beans. Favorite junk food? A cheeseburger and fries. Favorite meal? I love Italian food. Biggest pet peeve? Miserable shop assistants. First author hero? Jane Austen Last book you read? Joanne Dannon’s An Unforgettable Holiday. Favorite 80’s song or artist? Now that’s a hard one, but…

MIDNIGHT OBSESSION by Melinda Leigh Midnight Series #4 In Wall Street Journal bestselling author Melinda Leigh’s edgy new thriller, Louisa Hancock thought she was safe…but there’s a new killer in town. When a mysterious package lands on Louisa Hancock’s doorstep, the Philadelphia museum curator can hardly anticipate the nightmare that’s about to envelop her. The package is addressed to her father—an expert in Viking culture—and inside is a ninth-century sword, a chilling thank-you note, and photos of two dead bodies in a tableau evoking a Nordic funeral. The gruesome images match a recent crime scene. But before the police can investigate the killer’s connection to Louisa’s father, Ward Hancock vanishes. Sports bar owner Conor Sullivan wants nothing more than to spend his life with Louisa. Devoted and protective, he refuses to leave her side after her father’s disappearance. When a troubled young boxer he’s been coaching is suspected of the murders, Conor is pulled in even deeper. Desperate, Louisa and Conor take it upon themselves to find her father, but soon another ritualistic slaying makes it clear there’s a Viking-obsessed serial killer on the loose. And he has a new target: Louisa. Romance Suspense [Montlake Romance, On Sale: January 3,…

In the Second Chance Cat mysteries you can always count on three things when it comes to those senior sleuths known as the Angels. One, they’re actually pretty good detectives. Two, they drink gallons of tea. And three, a cup of tea tastes better with a little something sweet on the side—at least according to Rose Jackson. Rose is often the source of those sweet treats, anything from oatmeal cookies to cinnamon coffeecake to her popular banana bread. Ingredients: 1 cup of mashed bananas ⅓ cup butter or margarine ⅔ cup white sugar 2 eggs 1 ¾ cups flour 1 ¼ teaspoons cream of tartar ¾ teaspoon baking soda ¼ teaspoon salt Instructions: Grease a loaf pan. Preheat oven to 350° F. Cream the butter, sugar and eggs until light and fluffy. Whisk together the flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt. Add alternately with the mashed bananas to the creamed ingredients. Mix well. Pour into the loaf pan and bake for 45 to 50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes in the pan then remove and cool on a wire rack. Enjoy! TELLING TAILS by Sofie Ryan Second Chance Cat Mystery The New York Times bestselling author of A Whisker…