1–What’s the name of your latest release? For Letter or Worse, the second installment in my Stationery Shop series. Readers need not have read book 1, Last Pen Standing, to dive in! And fun fact: this is my 20th cozy mystery, releasing in 2020! So I’m extra pleased to be here on Fresh Fiction answering these 20 questions. 2–What is it about? For Letter or Worse follows Delta Douglas, co-owner of stationery shop WANTED in Tundish, Montana. Delta is excited to host a 3D cardmaking workshop for the birthday of former model Lena Laroy, but when Lena is threatened during the party and a dead body turns up, Delta must engage her Paper Posse crafting friends and wildlife guide Jonas with his former K9 Spud to weed through the clues and catch the killer. 3–What word best describes your main character(s)? Just one word?! Hmmm. . . Energetic! 4–What makes your story relatable? Delta recently moved to Tundish and has to settle in her new town, learn the ropes of running her own business, make new friends and figure out if her relationship with Jonas is taking a romantic turn. Her struggles and dilemmas, her setbacks and victories as she…

Hi! My name is Denise Swanson and I’m really excited to participate in this fun challenge!  My newest mystery, WINNER CAKE ALL, is the third book in my Chef-to-Go series.  This series is perfect for readers of culinary cozy mysteries and small-town cozy mysteries. Dani Sloan will have to solve the murder of a bride to clear her almost-boyfriend’s name. Once again, it looks like Dani will get a slice of the action. . . In the small town of Normalton, IL, there aren’t a lot of opportunities for business owner Dani Sloan to cater big-ticket events. But that’s about to change–a client named Yvette Joubert is marrying Franklin Whittaker, the richest guy around, and they want Dani to cater their engagement party! The swanky event is the perfect opportunity to put Dani on the map for wealthier clients. But when a storm hits the party after guests arrive, it becomes clear that more than the dinner is ruined: Yvette is found dead beneath the marquee. Is her death a tragic accident, or a perfectly orchestrated murder? Then the case gets even juicier–it turns out that Yvette’s ex-husband is Spencer Drake, Dani’s almost-boyfriend, and the police start circling. Now Dani…

Everyone needs a little charm in their life. Whether it comes from grandma, the old man next door, or a best friend, it will never be turned away. It’s what makes the cozy genre welcome on any reading list. Today’s feature is full of delightful Southern charm wrapped in lovable characters, recipes and a few grisly crime scenes–the perfect go-to ingredients when a reader needs a break from the real world. And don’t worry, Kate Young just keeps on giving after the last page, because then it’ll be time to rush into the kitchen and whip up some of her fabulous goodies!  Kym: Welcome to the Cozy Corner, Kate! Kate: Thanks so much for having me. I’m thrilled to be here.  In May you released your second Marygene Brown Mystery, Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse, which is set the adorable island community of Peach Cove Georgia. Is there a real Peach Cove that you’ve modeled your island after? Peach Cove is loosely based on and inspired by both Seaside, Florida, and Savannah, Georgia. I took the small community feel of Seaside and combined it with the old southern roots of Savannah.  I love that Marygene’s mother haunts her–don’t all parents leave…

Like the main character in Safe House, I moved to Cornwall on the south-western coast of England recently. Only I wasn’t running away from my past, or starting over again with a new identity. And, as far as I know, no-one is after me to make me pay for past misdemeanours! I’ve always been devoted to Cornwall, having been on holidays here when I was a child to quaintly named villages such as Mousehole, and explored the ruins of Tintagel Castle imagining myself an Arthurian Knight. One of my all-time favourite books is based here too–Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier. The new adaptation is soon to be released by Netflix and I wonder whether people’s interest in books based here will increase. I hope more people will fall in love with Cornwall, just as I have. If you’ve got a hankering to read more Cornish novels after Rebecca and SAFE HOUSE, here are five of the best. 1-Jumping straight in with the best non-fiction book I’ve ever read. The Salt Path by Raynor Winn. Raynor and her terminally ill husband walked the entire South West coastal path after losing their home and being left almost penniless. Not just Cornwall but…

Jen: What inspired you to write THE SILENT CONSPIRACY? LC: Jack and Taylor’s story wasn’t finished in THE NETWORK and I wanted to continue it with a new storyline in THE SILENT CONSPIRACY. Themes that I felt drawn to include were those of bias in the media, the health care crisis in this country, and the continuing theme of spiritual warfare. As both characters are investigative journalists, there are so many different stories that could pull them in. I’m also very attached to both characters and was excited to have the opportunity to have their journey continue. For those readers not familiar with THE NETWORK, what is the premise of the story? In THE NETWORK, a shadowy group is manipulating society through the media, entertainment, and legislature. Jack Logan, an investigative reporter, is drawn into the conspiracy when Senator Malcolm Phillips comes to him with a desperate plea to protect his wife, Taylor. Taylor is the one woman Jack truly loved, and when Jack hears the news that the senator has indeed been found dead, he springs into action. Jack and Taylor embark on a harrowing search for the truth as they are pursued by unknown assassins until they uncover…

Hi, Jane! Welcome to Fresh Fiction. Please introduce yourself and tell us about your new book, TIES THAT TETHER.  I’m a Nigerian-Canadian author, and my debut novel, TIES THAT TETHER, is a contemporary romance about a Nigerian woman who promises her dying father she will marry a Nigerian man even after immigrating to Canada. But when she meets and falls for a man who is Spanish, she’s caught between her family’s wishes and her own. As a result, she tries to reconcile her identity as a Nigerian woman and her identity as an immigrant. This is your debut romance–congratulations! What has your journey into publishing been like?   Like many writers, I’ve had to deal with a lot of rejections before getting to this point. I wrote two books in two different genres–literary fiction and paranormal romance–before moving to contemporary romance. I learned a lot from those two novels that didn’t get published, and in 2016, I started writing my third novel, TIES THAT TETHER. I knew this one was something special, but I knew it wasn’t perfect. In 2018, I entered Pitch Wars, a mentorship program for writers. I was selected to be mentored by someone who completely understood…

I open the door. The guy is tall—probably six foot one or two—and fit, like a runner. He’s clean-shaven and good-looking. “Hello,” I say. “Hi. I’m Zack Bradley.” His eyes are like little pieces of sky, and a dimple winks in his jaw as he smiles. The smile transforms him from attractive to devastating. “Are you Brooke Adams?” Chill bumps chase up my arms, and it’s not cold outside. He looks familiar, but his name doesn’t ring any bells. “Uh, no. She’s not here right now.” For some reason, I can’t bring myself to say, She’s dead. His smile fades into disappointment. “Can you tell me when she’ll be back?” “Not, um, really. Is there something I can help you with?” I realize I sound like a clerk at a shoe store. I smile and stretch out my hand. “I’m her best friend, Quinn Langston.” “Nice to meet you.” He takes my hand, and my palm is encased in warmth. More goose bumps instantly prickle up my neck. It’s definitely a sign of something, but I don’t know what. “Her phone doesn’t seem to be working,” he says. Miss Margaret has Brooke’s cell phone. I’m not sure if she’s already…

One of the most asked questions any author gets is, “Where do your ideas come from?” My answer is always the same–everywhere. I’ve gotten ideas from magazine articles and television shows, snippets of overheard conversation, ideas that pop into my head just before I go to sleep at night–some authors dream their plots, but I’ve never been that lucky–and music. All I can share are my experiences, but I’ve found that something I see or hear sparks my imagination. For example, I did an online quiz once: Which Carnival Ride Are You? I could have answered without taking the quiz, but I did it and got the answer I’d anticipated–a carousel. Not exactly adventurous. But it got me thinking about the carved animals on these rides. Not all of them are pretty horses. Then I started asking the “what if” questions. What if they were wild and exotic animals? What if they were really trapped immortal warriors, placed there by a curse meant to protect them? And what if there was a way for them to escape? Those questions became the foundation of my Hade’s Carnival series featuring a curse, the devil himself, immortal shapeshifting warriors, betrayal, and redemption. Not…

We are THRILLED to feature a DOUBLE COVER REVEAL from USA Today bestselling author, Priscilla Oliveras! What a treat–especially because she’s also sharing an exclusive excerpt from the highly-anticipated second book in the Keys to Love series, ANCHORED HEARTS. Read on to see the gorgeous covers and to read more about her upcoming releases.  *** For me, one of the best moments of author life is when my publisher and I finalize a cover for one of my upcoming books. Even though I’ve spent countless hours pecking away at the keyboard striving to bring my characters to life, seeing that cover makes the book feel more real. A giddiness tickles my chest. A palpable excitement courses through me at the thought of sharing the image that captures the essence of the love story. Getting a chance to share a DOUBLE cover reveal for my novella HOLIDAY HOME RUN and ANCHORED HEARTS, book 2 in my Keys to Love series, thanks to Fresh Fiction is. . .  ¡Bueno, it’s fantastico! Definitely a first time I’ll always remember! HOLIDAY HOME RUN features Julia Fernandez, a cousin of my beloved Fernandez sisters in the MATCHED TO PERFECTION series. Julia’s an event planner, in…

Scandinavia. . . Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. . . are beautiful countries. Until COVID raised its ugly head this year, most travelers chose cruise ships for these destinations since all the major cities can be accessed by ship as well as the spectacular fjords, but taking a bus/land tour with a much smaller group of people has its benefits. It presents the opportunity to learn more about the people and the land than what a short day excursion while in port can provide. Denmark is, as they say, “flat as a pancake” and everyone (everyone!) owns a bicycle.  Part of the reason is that there is a 150 percent surcharge on personal cars, although the Danes can get a “business” plate. Cycling also keeps them incredibly fit and healthy in spite of a penchant for ice cream and waffles. Historically, the Danes were powerful, having control of both Norway and Sweden for centuries. (Remember Hamlet?)  Odense is the home of Hans Christian Anderson and a museum there has beautiful editions of The Little Mermaid. Sweden is very pastoral, with forests and a huge lake (Lake Vattern) that nearly bisects the country. Stockholm is actually a city of many islands crisscrossed…