Book Title: FAR FROM THE A-LISTCharacter Name: Michaela Turner How would you describe your family or your childhood?This is what everyone wants to know, isn’t it? Obviously, you saw my childhood play out on TV as little Daisy from Breyer’s Town. No, I won’t say her catchphrase for you and no, I didn’t actually have a gumball machine in my bedroom. If you’re curious about my real life and my childhood off screen, well, pick up my mother’s tell-all. Everyone else has. What was your greatest talent?My mother would say it’s acting. She’d say I was born to be a star. I guess the Emmy voters agreed. Significant other?How much time do you have? I’m sure you want to hear about my current relationship with Burke Sanders. You don’t get to date the hottest guy in baseball without everyone feeling like it’s their business, especially when you’re Page Six’s favorite fodder. The tabloids have enough on me, though, so I think I’ll leave it at that. Biggest challenge in relationships?Look, everyone thinks I’m supposed to be one of two things: what little Daisy should have been when she grew up, or that hot party girl from the tabloids. No matter…

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.

In her latest novel, bestselling author Julie Klassen transports readers to the hauntingly beautiful village of Painswick, weaving together Regency romance, classic whodunit intrigue, and rich historical atmosphere. Inspired by a spontaneous stay at an old English manor, Julie brings to life a story filled with mystery, heart, and a heroine whose journey is as compelling as the setting itself. I had the pleasure of chatting with Julie about the origins of her story, the influences behind its Gothic charm, and what she hopes readers will carry with them long after the final page. Jen: What first inspired you to write this novel? Was it a character, a setting like Painswick Court, or the idea of blending Regency romance with a whodunit mystery?Julie: For this book, the setting inspired me. My husband and I first visited Painswick in England a few years ago and were both charmed by the village and especially by its beautiful churchyard. In a moment of spontaneity, we ventured into the old manor house adjacent to the church, which was at that point acting as a B & B and asked if they had any rooms available. That stay helped inspire this novel. The manor has…

October may have belonged to fangs and fog, but the whole year reminded me why paranormal and fantasy romance endures. These books let love walk around with teeth, with talons, with wings, yet still speak softly about care and choice. They blended indie audacity with trad polish, took us from small Southern packs to snow-bitten mountains, from dungeon cells to holiday streets. Some burned hot, some slow-simmered, all of them insisted that tenderness is not the absence of danger, it is the promise you keep inside it. Below are some that stayed with me long after the lights were out and the kettle had cooled. A REBEL WITHOUT CLAWS – Juliette Cross Juliette Cross kicks off a next-gen spin-off of Stay a Spell with bad-boy werewolf Ronan Reed and Aura witch Celine Cruz colliding in Louisiana pack country. There is wolf cage-fighting, a protective Blood Moon family orbit, and that delicious problem where the girl who fixes everyone else meets the one man who unravels her careful rules. The setup is pure catnip for fated-mates fans, with a sultry Southern vibe and plenty of pack politics. Even better, the tone lands equal parts rowdy and tender, with an emphasis on…

Music (just like writing) remains a deeply personal form of creative expression. When writing MS. PEACOCK’S MISTLETOE SOCIETY, I wrote about the importance of second chances and courage. Sometimes for ourselves and sometimes for others. As always, the playlist wasn’t far behind. Hint: The songs below are tied to the book’s plot. “Linger”The CranberriesWhen we first meet Ms. Peacock, she’s still recovering from a long, epic love. A romance that lingers in her bones. The song “Linger” perfectly embodies her unwillingness to move forward, even though she has so much to embrace in her near future. The lyrics also emphasize our stubborn heroine’s steadfast personality and sensitive nature (even though she tries her best to show a tough exterior). “Rhiannon”Fleetwood MacAs the novel progresses, we begin to see the importance of strong female friendships and inner courage. Ms. Peacock starts to embrace her new team while attempting to unravel one of the most mind-boggling mysteries that her small but mighty secret sleuthing society has ever strived to solve. “You Were Meant For Me”JewelMs. Peacock grows smitten with one of the top suspects, and chaos unfolds within the ranks of the distinguished sleuthing society. Can we trust an outsider? Is it…

It’s December and many of us are looking out at snow covered landscapes. I thought you might want to armchair travel with me through a different kind of landscape, one of sand but not the sands of a warm beach by the ocean. Instead, I’m taking us to Coral Sand Dunes State Park in Utah. In August 2021, after spending the morning wandering among the hoodoos of Bryce Canyon, we drove southwest, chasing a different kind of wonder: the Coral Pink Sand Dunes State Park, Utah. The name alone sounds like something from a dream and standing at the base of those windswept rose-colored hills, we discovered it was exactly that. From the parking area, the dunes looked deceptively gentle, a soft ripple of red against the sky. But the moment we stepped onto the sand; we knew the climb would be its own adventure. Each foot sank deeply, swallowing our steps and testing muscles we didn’t realize we’d been neglecting. In a photo from our visit, you can see one of us standing ankle-deep with every stride, the footprints behind us already softened by the breeze. There are no stairs, no handrails, no guided switchbacks. Just you, the open…

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 Emy McGuire! Book:NO ONE ABOARD. What is more dangerous to a family? A stormy ocean… or each other? Likes:Swords, sailing, women’s stories, eating lemons like oranges, and connecting to people Writes:Delicious and decadent domestic thrillers (and someday soon, queer dark fantasy) About:I am a debut author new to the literary scene, and hopeful to find my soulmate readers! I grew up in Colorado, but my heart belongs to the ocean. I sailed across the Atlantic when I was twenty, and I graduated from New College of Florida with a degree in theatre and creative writing. I have toured the United States performing in the Edgar Allan Poe Speakeasy, played Queen Elizabeth I at multiple renaissance fairs, and written a queer pirate musical that is a newcoming TikTok sensation. Now that I am a published author, I hope to be able to continue telling stories for the rest of my life. You should swipe right on me if you like:• Glistening and haunting narratives• Dysfunctional,…

What is the title of your latest release?INNOCENCE ROAD What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Set in far West Texas, INNOCENCE ROAD is the story of Leanne Everhart, a police detective who is trying to track down a serial killer whose crime spree spans two decades. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I love the setting of this story—Marfa, Texas, near Big Bend. It’s such a ruggedly beautiful place, and it’s the perfect backdrop for this family saga. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Yes. Leanne is the kind of person you want to have a margarita with and hear about all the crazy cases she’s worked over the years. What are three words that describe your protagonist?Gritty. Resourceful. Determined. What’s something you learned while writing this book?I loved learning all about the mythical ranching culture of far West Texas. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?I edit as I go. When I sit down to write, I get back into the mindset by reading and editing what I wrote last time so that the story starts moving through my head again. What’s your favorite…

What is the title of your latest release?HOW TO GRIEVE LIKE A VICTORIAN What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?After losing her husband, bestselling author and British Literature professor, Dr. Lizzie Wells, turns into a hot mess as she copes by mourning Victorian-style—widow weeds, black jet jewelry. Confused after almost-kissing her late husband’s best friend, Lizzie hares off to London. What follows is a fun, romantic escape where Lizzie learns that there’s hope, happiness, and second chances after hitting rock bottom. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Answer: Because she’s a British Literature professor, her grief journey will take her to England where she can immerse herself in the world she’s studied for years. Also, Queen Victoria pretty much set the rules for how widows were to grieve, so that that also made sense. As the book progresses, her journey takes her onward to Bronte territory. The moors are such a beautiful and haunting landscape and the place where the Bronte sisters wrote their novels about loss, love, and heartbreak. I couldn’t imagine Lizzie’s journey ending up anywhere but there. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely! All my good friends…

“How can you write another historical series?” “Where do your ideas keep coming from?” Ah, so many times I’ve heard these questions. My immediate inclination is to shrug and say “got me.” But that isn’t fair and all the writers who shared their skills and training with me would roll their eyes and shake their heads. I think one thing necessary to write lasting fiction is to start out as a storyteller.  I love to hear stories. My Dad was a storyteller, so I came by it honestly. My mother said some of my early words were “read to me.” So this has been going on for some time. As soon as I learned to read, I always had my nose in a book. And then I started to write my own stories, leading into the dream of someday writing horse books for young girls. I got my first pony, Polly, when I was five so loving horses has gone on for a long time too. Have you ever read a book laying on the rump of a full-sized horse? Another thing my parents taught me was the value of tools. I grew up on farms, and tools of all…