Book Title: THE GOOD MOTHER TESTCharacter: Emily Meredith Logan Tell us about your childhood, Emily.I grew up in a modest home in Burbank, maybe in the top ten percent of truly carefree children (not without some hang ups, but nothing serious). My parents and teachers said I was multi-talented and I made friends at my own slow pace. Burbank is arguably the crown jewel of the two-million strong urban/suburban sprawl called San Fernando Valley (thanks to Tom Petty, aka “The Valley”). Crown Jewel because both Warner Brothers and Disney Studios are located here. So are lots of middle-class homes with mortgages. I grew up an only child on a sweet residential street where Mom stayed home, and Dad taught at a community college. When I was 18, in the mortgage crisis of 2007, my father lost his job and the bank foreclosed on our house. Our serenity turned into what I call a phase of chaotic readjustment. For my senior year, we ended up living in public housing in Reseda, not far from Burbank but a world apart. What does a family go through, having to start over?We were suddenly anxious about money and the future. Like my dad, I…

Happy month of Love! With all the hearts and candies and cupids shooting arrows, I’m still here for a little murder and mayhem in the mix! So let’s jump into a few of the stories that might warm your heart while also handing you the justice you want and the laughs you need. First up we have HEARTSTRINGS AND HIJINKS: A Delightful Valentine’s Day Cozy Mystery Caper (A Hattie and Moose Cozy Mystery) by Greta Sinclair. This delightful book just dropped a few days ago and it was a blast to read – quick, fun, and engrossing. The music, the pets, the love interest! I laughed and gasped and was thoroughly entertained with the way the twists and turns just kept on coming! Next, we have BE MY VALENCRIME (The Juniper Junction Cozy Holiday Mystery Series) by Amy M. Reade. This one is a little older but I’m a sucker for going back and reading stories that I loved even if I already know who the culprit is. Juniper Junction is a great setting, and the characters are so much fun to reconnect with. Lilly is a wonderful, motherly sleuth who is all about digging in and finding out what’s…

I’m pinching myself that the 22nd book in my Bakeshop Mysteries is out in the world. I’ve spent the last fifteen years writing about delectable treats, savory pastries, and a side of murder. It’s such a gift to be able to return to Torte, my fictional bakeshop, year after year. The characters have become more like dear friends or family to me. Every time I sit down to write a new book, it feels like coming home again. So much so that sometimes I have to remind myself they’re entirely in my head and that I can’t just pop into the bakeshop and say hi to the team while grabbing a strawberry almond scone and a honey lavender latte. Without further ado, here’s a little taste of THE WHISKING HOUR. T is for Torte, which is so much more than a bakeshop. It’s a community gathering space and a place where everyone who walks through the front door is treated like family.  H is for home. Jules found her way back to Ashland and rediscovered what home means. E is for eclectic. Ashland is filled with eclectic artists, playwrights, actors, musicians, writers, and bakers. W is for whipping. As a…

When Leslie Budewitz created the Spice Shop Mysteries, and set it in Seattle’s Pike Place, she captured lighting in a bottle. Pike Place, a vibrant waterfront market, is alive with exotic fruits and vegetables, fresh seafood, artisan crafts, massive flower bouquets, and the original Starbucks. There are over 500 shops, restaurants and vendor stalls. It’s fascinating, overwhelming and unforgettable, a Technicolor dream of a market.Leslie explains her fascination with the setting. I fell in love with Pike Place Market when I was a freshman at Seattle University, ages ago. Totally eye-popping to this Montana kid! It was just a few years after Seattle voters had agreed to tax themselves to save the Market, founded in 1907, from urban removal. The vote created a historical preservation district and led to a much-needed upgrade of the infrastructure, while preserving the founders’ mission to create a place where locals could “meet the producers.” The Market was pretty funky back then, but I loved every inch of it – the sights, smells, sounds, and of course, the taste. I shopped and ate there regularly, both in my student days and later as a young lawyer working close by. I asked Leslie how Pike Place…

What is the title of your latest release?A LONG DARK NIGHT What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A young woman returns home to her rural Alaskan town and is pulled into dangerous events at her brother’s workplace. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Because I wanted to include dogsledding, I knew it had to be somewhere with cold, snowy winters. The oil drilling was another element that required a specific location, and I settled on Alaska. I’m fascinated by Alaska – how large, remote, and wild so much of the land is. I love to research when I write my stories, and I knew Alaska was somewhere I would have fun learning about. The town of Whitespur is fictional, but I was inspired by real places close to the arctic circle, like Coldfoot. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Yes, I think we’d have fun talking about food and trying new recipes! What are three words that describe your hero?Nina: Brave, determined, nosy.Grant: Kind, anxious, loyal. What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned a lot about dog sledding terminology and how sled dogs are trained. Do you edit as…

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 of the Top 25 Bestselling Indie Ebooks.

Many readers know the story of the woman at the well,butA DEEPER WELL by Jill Eileen Smith invites us to truly see her. This week’s Jen’s Jewels selection offers a richly researched, deeply compassionate reimagining that brings Scripture, history, and heart together in a powerful way. LIGHTNING ROUND What’s your ideal writing fuel: coffee, tea, wine, or chaos? I drink water all day. It sits in a thermos on my desk as I write. Plotter, pantser, or “organized mess”? I’m a mix of both plotter and pantser. I have to have an outline and cast my characters, including pictures of them, before I begin writing. I get to know the story and the characters as I write. What time of day does your creativity peak? Writing happens mostly during the day. I can’t pinpoint when the words are creative or just trying to get something on the page. Creativity doesn’t have a peak time for me. THE DEEP DIVE Every book has an origin story. What was the “lightning strike” moment that made you say, “I have to write this”? There was no “lightning strike” moment for this book. I rarely have one of those. I look at Scripture to…

TAMING LADY TEMPERANCE Excerpt: Deputy James Paxton’s jaw tightened as he transformed his mosey into a march and lengthened his stride to hurry to his target. The irate female jabbing a pointed finger toward Milton Taggert’s chest. “I will not ‘make myself scarce,’ Mr. Taggert. I will make myself heard. I have the right of free speech, and I will exercise that right wherever and however I choose. I choose here and now.” The finger jabbed toward the ground to enumerate her point, easing a bit of James’s anxiety over the likelihood of said digit being snapped in two by the irate tavern owner. Milton Taggert had moved to Albany from The Flat after the railroad came through and had a roughness around his edges that didn’t bode well for single-minded women too blinded by their ideals to identify the danger right in front of them. “My customers have rights, too,” Taggert growled. “Like the right to spend their evenings as they see fit without being insulted by some sour-faced teetotalling old biddy who wouldn’t know a good time if it bit her on the nose.” Miss O’Sullivan’s stubborn chin ticked up a notch. “The demon drink you serve only…

Book Title: A DEEPER WELLCharacter Name: Nessa bat Raanan How would you describe your family or your childhood?We are like any other family in Sychar, I suppose. I’m the youngest in a family of four daughters and one son. My father would have preferred more sons. I am his favorite daughter because they say I am beautiful. I can fetch a greater bride-price when the time comes. My cousin Lavi came to live with us when I was young—his parent died and he was left with no one except us. Lavi always makes me laugh. What was your greatest talent?I learned to weave and am quite skilled at it. I love working with the colors and the patterns and seeing the cloth form beneath my fingers. Significant other?If I’d had my way, I would have married Lavi when I was finally old enough to beget. My life did not turn out the way I’d hoped. Biggest challenge in relationships?Living in peace with my mothers-in-law and sisters-in-law. Men act so foolishly around me, whereas women resent me—most women. There are a few exceptions like my best friend Gali and my sister Yaffa. Where do you live?The town of Sychar in Samaria….

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.