“Sisters, as you know, also have a unique relationship. This is the person who has known you your entire life, who should love you and stand by you no matter what, and yet it’s your sister who knows exactly where to drive the knife to hurt you the most.” Lisa See, author When I was younger, I was all about trying to fix what was wrong in my life. Smoothing out the rough edges. If I couldn’t fix my flaws, I’d figure out a way to hide ’em. As I’ve aged, I’ve accepted the messiness of life. Sometimes we fall, Humpty-Dumpty-style, and break, and the pieces don’t fit back together again. As an author, I love to delve into complicated relationships. Family relationships. Friendships. Does he-doesn’t she romantic entanglements. You want to try to unravel some problematic relationships? Try to understand the bonds between sisters. Some sisters are each other’s designated best friends, with their phone numbers on speed dial so they chat with each other multiple times a day. Some sisters are so hostile toward one another that they haven’t seen or spoken to one another in years. And some sisters are an oil and water mix of the…

1–What’s the name of your latest release? The Sunday Girl 2–What’s it about? It’s an answer to the question: what would happen if a good girl snapped? 3–What word best describes your main character? Flawed. 4–What makes your story relatable? Most of us have had one really terrible breakup where, in our darker moments, we’ve toyed with the idea of revenge. Most of us, however, don’t actually go through with it. Not so for Taylor Bishop! And so, through her we get to live vicariously… 5–Who are the people your main character turns to when they need help? One of the key themes of The Sunday Girl is how abusive relationships isolate us and make it almost impossible to ask for help. But when Taylor does reach out, it’s to her best friend, her mother and, briefly, the police. 6–What do you love about the setting of your book. Well it’s set in London, and London is a second home for me. 7–Are you a plotter (follow an outline) or a pantster (write by the seat of your pants)? I’m a hybrid. I go in with an outline knowing how it begins, a couple of things that happen in the…

1–What’s the name of your latest release?  ARCTIC BITE, book 2 of the Forgotten Brotherhood series. 2–What is it about?  The Forgotten Brotherhood are a group of paranormal assassins. They aren’t the monsters lurking under the bed. They’re the ones that kill them. 3–What word best describes your heroine?  The word that best describes Cassie Dobbs is strong. She’s seen and done more than most people can imagine. To walk away from it all, knowing it will mean her death takes strength, courage, and commitment. 4–What makes your hero irresistible?  Alexei is huge and quiet. Most people assume he’s all muscle and none too bright. That is a huge mistake. As he likes to say, he’s the total bear package—strength and determination mixed with a keen intellect and curiosity. He’s laidback and surprisingly loveable in spite of being one of the most dangerous assassins on the planet. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help?  Cassie has cut all ties with her past in order to survive. Alexei is a loner with no family and only the Brotherhood to call on, and they’re not exactly a social group, but he knows they’ll have his back…

To DNF: in which you Do Not Finish a book. Once upon a time, I was a diligent reader who started a book and then finished it dutifully, whether I liked it or not. There were times when I was the one of only a few people in my book club who slogged through a long tome or truly dismal narrative because I felt some sort of duty to the author who took the time to write a book. Ah, to be young and not as cynical. Now, I have a job that entails reading every single day (what a bore, right? Kidding, it’s a dream!), I’m a mother to a very precocious daughter (she’s a clearly a genius), I like to binge-watch TV (I will neither confirm nor deny that I finished the latest season of Nailed It! in one sitting), and I’m also trying to write my own book (it’s still a work in progress). Not to mention, we’re in the middle of a global pandemic and concentration has suddenly become a concept I can’t seem to grasp. But one thing has saved my sanity, one thing has brought me sweet relief. I’ve started to DNF books. Sometimes…

1–What’s the name of your latest release?  The Library of Legends 2–What is it about?  The story begins in 1937 when China and Japan are at war. The main character, Lian, must follow her university when they evacuate, before they get bombed out. The students, professors and staff begin a thousand-mile walk to safety, carrying their belongings, school supplies, even kitchenware. And they also carry the Library of Legends, a priceless ancient collection of Chinese myths.   It turns out the mythical creatures described in the Library of Legends are also on the move, and that a celestial being travels with the students. As for Lian, she finds friendships and possibly romance. But family secrets make her a victim of political manipulation and she must distance herself from her classmates. Especially when one of them is found murdered. 3–What word best describes your main character(s)?  Cautious. Because of her family’s past, she is careful who she associates with. 4–What makes your story relatable?  Readers are telling me that right now, the story echoes their own feelings about living in uncertain times. 5–Who are the people your main characters turn to when they need help?  Their classmates, who are their community….

The king smiled. “Lady Marjorie, I bid you welcome. Forgive me for not seeing you sooner, but I had a great many matters of state to attend to.” His tone was affable, but as he moved toward her, she could hear a clinking sound, and her heart sank. The convent prioress’s cold warning had been true. James did wear an iron chain of penance under his doublet, in sorrow over his father’s death. Like the courtiers downstairs, he would never forget the high treason Lord Hepburn had been party to. “Your Grace,” she whispered, curtsying deeply. “It is an. . . an honor to be here.” “Your chamber is comfortable?” “It is lovely. The tapestries are beautiful.” “Good, good. There is someone I wish you to meet,” said the king, gesturing to his right. “Of course. . .” Marjorie’s voice trailed off as her mouth abruptly forgot how to form words. She was being introduced to Lady Janet Fraser? One of the most influential women in Scotland? That would be a mark of favor, surely. Confusion turned her mind to mud, but there was no mistaking the stunning beauty now standing in front of her. That blazing-red hair, not quite…

I had a release day plan. Since Heired Lines takes place in England, I was going to take the day off with some of my friends and have high tea at the Chocolate Angel Tea Room (where Fresh Fiction has their own tea’s). But then COVID-19 happened. It’s affected a lot of our plans and I figured I could mope about it, or I could do something. That’s when my daughters and I decided to have our own high tea. Due to certain things being out of stock, our own lack of baking skills, and the fact that my children are seven and nine and picky, we modified our menu a bit to the traditional high tea. We’ve also made it easy for the average reader to follow along and have their own High Quaran-Tea with us! High teas are usually served on a three-tier stand with the first course on the bottom, the second course in the middle, and the third course on top. Of course, we don’t actually have a three-tier stand so we are borrowing one from a friend. If a friend doesn’t have one, you can actually stack teacups and saucers to make the three tiers….

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-ReaderMatch” where we introduce you to authors as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Sarah Ballance! Writes: Finding Mr. Right Next Door, a smoldering friends-to-lovers firefighter romance filled with banter, swoon-worthy moments, kitchen fails, dating disasters, and hilariously inappropriate comments from a grandma who tells it like it is. About: Sarah Ballance is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and supernatural romance and romantic suspense. She’s been married to her own romantic hero for what he calls a “long, long time” (and no, he’ll never hear the end of saying that). Together they have six children. . . and clearly too much time on their hands. She currently writes for Entangled Publishing and enjoys long quarantine-inspired walks from one end of the house to the other, dodging the dog’s overzealous morning zoomies, and removing the used coffee pods her husband leaves in the machine. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Must be able to laugh at yourself, even (okay, especially) in the bedroom Must tolerate relentless banter from adoring friends Must love takeout (real food stands no chance in…

Who wouldn’t love to read a nice contemporary on-the-road romance right now? Roll down the windows, turn up the tunes, and set your eyes on the horizon with my debut novel, This Wandering Heart. The first book in the Madison River Romance is a second chance love story with what may come across as a too-good-to-be-true hero (I make no apologies) and a relatable heroine with conflicting desires and a haunting history. Take a trip with Robbie and Keira as they revisit their past and hope for a future filled with wonder, wilderness, and a whole lot of wandering. Teacher of geography, Keira Knudsen, has never seen a road she didn’t want to drive or a land she didn’t want to visit. With a History of childhood abuse, she finds safety in Isolation and solo travel where no one can control or harm her anymore. But none of her high school students would ever guess she is the popular, yet anonymous, Social Media influencer Kat * Wanderfull. Guided by her decade-old road Atlas that doubles as her journal, she visits rustic locations, old cities, and National Parks. Unfortunately, to make her Dream come true, and finally Escape her past once…

It was then that Kerry walked by the back kitchen opening, and she paused at the doorway. “Errol! What are you doing here?” she said, stepping into the main lounge. The boy brightened at the sight of Kerry, his entire face opening up and his demeanor changing as he smiled at her. But then, as if remembering his mission, he quickly sobered. “Hi, Miss Kerry. I just wanted to come by to say how sorry I am about Ms. Joy.” Kerry stepped forward and took the boy into her arms in a hug. “Oh, Errol. Thank you so much. That is so kind of you.” Errol pulled back and unclenched his fists from the bag he was holding. He looked up at Kerry with a sad longing in his eyes and Jesse could see he was debating a question. “Will the shop be open again for us kids to come in for a lesson?” Kerry looked around at Jesse and his brothers, then back at Errol. “Errol, I’m not sure. The family has to do some figuring out about that.” Errol let out a breath and looked at Jesse. The boy nodded soberly as if he fully understood, despite his…