What is the title of your latest release?THE DAY I LOST YOU What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?THE DAY I LOST YOU tells the gripping story of two women who both claim to be the mother of one little boy. One of them of course is lying, but the rug will be pulled out from underneath you when you discover who and why’. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I’ve set previous books in London, but wanted a change, and my editor agreed that as I live in Oxford, it would make sense to set it here. It’s actually set just outside, in the Chiltern Hills near where I live. The story opens in Spain, though, on a stretch of coast that I wanted to visit, so it made sense to go there for research. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I would definitely want to be friends with my lawyer character, Sarah Kellerman. She is super clever and switched on, though, and she may find me a bit scatty. What are three words that describe your hero?Sarah is clever, empathetic and bold. What’s something you learned while writing this…

Welcome, readers. Today I am interviewing Lester Young McKinley. Lester is a fictional, yet important, character in a series of books by me, Michael Sears, TOWER OF BABEL, LOVE THE STRANGER, and a third that’s somewhere in the editing process. Call it TBA for now. Me: Can we start with your name? I imagine it is not by chance that you were named for one of the great jazz saxophonists.Lester: Not just one of…THE great. The GOAT. “Pres.” Billie Holliday gave him that nickname because he was the President of the Saxophone. My father worked at the old Colony Music store on Broadway. He got to know all those guys. Those ‘cats’, my father would say. Some of them lived in the neighborhood. I’d wake up early on a Sunday morning and my father would be just getting home and me mums would be cooking eggs and cornbread for him and a few musicians who’d followed him home. Me: What neighborhood was that?Lester: We had an apartment in St. Albans, just off Linden Boulevard. Southern Queens, for the out-of-towners. A lot of jazz musicians lived in Queens. Me: Was your father a musician?Lester: A music lover. Mums played piano a…

We’ve had some snow here, and I love it! Well, I love it as long as I don’t have to drive in it – let’s be honest. But snowy days are made for reading, cuddled up in your favorite blanket with a cup of something steaming-ly good, both beverage and book. So, let’s dive into what could be on your gift list or TBR in the coming month of shorter days, which hopefully means longer reading time. First up, we have CHRISTMAS MOVIE MYSTERY: A Cozy Cat Detective Whodunit for the Holidays (The Detective Whiskers Cozy Mystery Series) by Chris Abernathy. If you like your cozies very cozy and full of heartwarming fun, this is the one for you! It’s the last in the series but they can all be read as standalones. Give it a try and be taken away to Paradise Cove for a mystery that will leave you feeling merry! Next up, we have DON’T TOY WITH ME: A Christmas Cozy Mystery (Fun-Size Mysteries) by Diane Kelly is a delightful romp for your holiday cheer! It’s a short story and just the right size while you’re waiting to make cookies or have a quick break between wrapping…

Cozy mystery meets word search in the perfect killer combo! Abby Jones is ready for a fresh start in Cranberry Creek—new town, her own bookstore, new life. But when a famous author is murdered at the bookstore’s grand opening, Abby must turn sleuth to save her dream and uncover the killer. With 50 word search puzzles! Order today: funster.com/stacks About the Puzzle Master: Charles Timmerman is the founder of Funster.com, a word game website that was selected as a Yahoo! Pick of the Year, and the bestselling author of more than one hundred puzzle books that have sold over three million copies. His titles include The Everything Easy Large-Print Crosswords Book (Volumes 2–9), The Everything Giant Book of Word Searches (Volumes 1–12), Funster 100+ Large Print Easy Crossword Puzzles, and Funster 250+ Large Print Word Search Puzzles for Adults.

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 Meg Donohue! Writes:Hello! I’m the USA Today bestselling author of six novels, including THE MEMORY GARDENER, DOG CRAZY, and ALL THE SUMMER GIRLS. I write with warmth and humor about love, hope, family, friendship, loss, and forgiveness. My love for animals is woven into my stories, as is my appreciation of nature—particularly gardens and beaches. My latest novel, THE MEMORY GARDENER, follows a gardener with an uncanny ability to know exactly which scent among the flowers she grows will return a person to a long-forgotten memory. It’s a cozy and heartwarming tale sure to charm fans of Chocolat, Garden Spells, and The Scent Keeper. About:Born and raised in Philadelphia, I now live in the heart of San Francisco with my husband, three daughters, and Wally, our enormous, oddball Labrador. If you visit, you’re likely to find me writing with Wally under my desk, reading a cozy story by the fire, weeding my tiny urban garden, walking on the beach, or shaking a fresh dirty…

Hi all! I’m Audrey Wick, author of A HOME FOR THE RANGER, a sweet love story between a Texas state park ranger and a park patron who frequents the trails. Today, I’m taking over the Fresh Fiction Author Blog with a special recipe to share. In my latest heartwarming novel, the park rangers who work at Cottonwood Creek State Park have to stay alert. Coffee helps! At park headquarters, they can fill up their cups, but to keep things interesting, they sometimes take their coffee in ways other than black. Here’s a fun, easy recipe for Whipped Hot Chocolate Coffee. It’s perfect for a pick-me-up or as a cozy treat. To make it, you only need 3 ingredients:• half cup hot coffee• 1 ounce envelope instant hot cocoa mix (such as Swiss Miss)• 5 tablespoons heavy whipping cream Directions:• Combine hot cocoa mix and heavy whipping cream in a bowl.• Whip with a hand mixer until firm.• Pour this into your half cup of hot coffee and enjoy! Additives:• If you have a favorite flavor coffee syrup (peppermint? mocha? caramel?) or sweetener, feel free to add this into the hot coffee and stir. Sip slowly and savor indulgently! Happy Holidays…

As we head into the holiday season and settle in with our favorite cozy reads, this week’s Jen’s Jewels features a delightful chat with author Julie Doar about her atmospheric thriller THE GALLAGHER PLACE. Set in the hauntingly beautiful Hudson Valley, Julie’s story weaves family secrets, sibling tensions, and a mystery that hooks you from the very first page. We talked about everything from her inspiration for that chilling opening, to the evolution of her unforgettable protagonist, Marlowe Fisher, to the real-life memories that shaped the book’s mood and setting. I’m excited to share this behind-the-scenes look at a novel you won’t want to miss! Jen: What was the initial spark of inspiration behind this story?Julie: I love to read murder mysteries, and I always wanted to write a classic opening in which a body is discovered at the very beginning. I was with family for the holidays, and we were taking a walk, and I just thought: “What if in the next field or in the woods…there is a body?” It all started from that idea of a family – with secrets and tensions and layers – being forced to confront an act of violence. Jen: Marlowe Fisher is…

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.

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 Brionni Nwosu! Writes:Hi! I write emotionally rich, time-spanning fiction where history, love, and the supernatural collide. My debut novel, THE WONDROUS LIFE AND LOVES OF NELLA CARTER, blends historical fiction, magical realism, and an unforgettable heroine who bargains with Death himself. Expect sweeping romance, resonant prose, and a story that ultimately insists on the goodness of humanity. If you love immersive worlds, big feelings, and books that leave you hopeful, you’re in the right place. About:Originally from Atlanta, I currently live in Nashville with my husband and three kids, where I spend my days and weeks in creative pursuits. I have a deep love of all things planning or tracker-related. Give me a Google Sheet, and I’m in heaven. This is one of my favorite forms of procrastination, and I identify as one of the chronically online (#group7). I love collecting and curating social media content for ideas and making plans for future stories. I’m a lover of strawberry cupcakes, Albanese Gummies, sugary sweet…

Book Title: MURDER AMONG THE STACKSCharacter Name: Abby Jones How would you describe your family or your childhood?Oh gosh, my family is small compared to what you might consider a “regular” family, but we were very close knit. My favorite memories as a child are of Christmas, sitting at the table with my Aunt Edna, who would burp Jingle Bells when my mother wasn’t paying attention. I would describe my childhood as content, until Mom passed away when I was in my teens. After that, I moved in with Aunt Edna, and things went from content to crazy—in a mostly good way. What was your greatest talent?I have a gift for knowing exactly what type of book a shopper in my bookstore wants to read at any given moment. That guy by the armchair nook? Manga. The woman hovering near the science-fiction section? Dystopian romantasy. Who knew that was a thing, right? Significant other?Currently single, thank you very much. That’s what happens when you get your heart steam-rolled by a cheater. Regrets. I have so many regrets. Like not cutting up his ties when I had the chance, but I guess hindsight is 20/20. Biggest challenge in relationships?Cheating. And a…