What is the title of your latest release?HOW TO SURVIVE IN THE WOODS What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Basic Instinct. But with bears! How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I had two reasons for setting this book in the wilderness: first and foremost, and very pragmatically, it’s an elegant solution to the thriller writer’s biggest problem, which is “how do I prevent these characters from pulling out an iPhone and ruining everything.” The second is that the wilderness is a character unto itself, and a place that reveals the true character of the people who travel through it. There’s no better place to find out who you are – or to learn the truth of who someone else is – than in the woods. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I would prefer not to. What are three words that describe your hero?Contents may explode. What’s something you learned while writing this book?A poem about how to survive a bear attack. It goes like this:If black, fight back.If brown, lie down.If white… goodnight. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?I always start by reworking…

What is the title of your latest release?THE PIE & MASH DETECTIVE AGENCY What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A young couple sign up for a private detective class, thinking it’ll be a fun adventure – but soon find themselves tangled in a cold case that’s haunted the British countryside for decades. Who is Nellie Thorne – the young woman who’s been reported missing five times in fifty years? Mystery, secrets, and unexpected twists await as the newly-formed Pie & Mash Detective Agency uncover a past that refuses to stay buried. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?It’s set in Kent (The Garden of England) – where I grew up. Would you hang out with your heroines in real life?Definitely. I wish we could go to the pub together. What are three words that describe your heroes?Loveable, funny and inexperienced! What’s something you learned while writing this book?That writing is the easy bit. It feels like 80% of the work is editing! Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?Minimal editing while drafting! But equally, I wouldn’t leave something as is if I didn’t consider it readable. What’s your…

It’s the luck of the Irish month and I hope it brings you joy, along with some more sunshine and higher temperatures, at least here on the east coast. I’m freezing! But that’s also the perfect time to curl up with a blanket, a cup of something steamy, and a very good cozy mystery! Here are some recommendations if you’re on the hunt. First up we have DEATH OF AN IRISH DRUID (The Dublin Driver Mysteries Book 6) by Catie Murphy This whole series is a hoot and I highly recommend them all, but this one in particular gave me a case of the giggles and surprise and I couldn’t love that more. From the twists and turns to the main character’s humor and those cute dogs, I had a wonderful drive at the leisure of this wonderful limo driver and part time sleuth! Next up, I am always amused and pleased to read about book events and other writers, so I have to recommend DEATH BY THE BOOK: Totally addictive cozy mystery Irish fiction (A Mercy McCarthy Mystery Book 2 by Lucy Connelly This is a delightful series that covers all of my loves in one rollicking time. From…

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.

LIGHTNING ROUND In three words, describe the vibe of your book.Faith, Hope and Love What’s your ideal writing fuel: coffee, tea, wine, or chaos?Ice Water Plotter, pantser, or organized mess?Detailed Plotter If your book had a theme song, what would it be?How Sweet It Is To Be Loved By You. What small habit or ritual makes you feel most “lucky” when you sit down to write?I pray before I work and that blesses me and sets the day right. THE DEEP DIVE Every book has an origin story. What was the “lightning strike” moment that made you say, “I have to write this”?I saw a picture of the heroine and a story idea just came to mind. Here’s the photo. Tell me about a scene you rewrote multiple times. What made it so tricky, and how did you finally crack it?The first time the hero and heroine meet, I wanted it to be a special moment. Not necessarily a love at first sight, but definitely something unforgettable. I had the heroine faint from the heat and the hero, a doctor, catches her. Your protagonist: Did they arrive fully formed, or did you uncover them layer by layer? What surprised you…

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.

Book Title: THE WOMAN AND HER STARSCharacter Name: Caroline Herschel How would you describe your family or your childhood?Alas, my childhood is not a time I reflect upon with joy. I was born in Hanover (Germany) in 1750 and, before I reached the age of ten, I contracted smallpox and then typhus. To avoid exposing her, my father, sister and eight brothers to the diseases, my mother closeted me in a small, dark room for several weeks. The fever, pain and itching were intense, and I prayed for release but, above all, I was traumatized by the notion of dying alone. Although I was permanently scarred by the pox and my growth ceased, remarkably, I recovered. However, my misery wasn’t over. Rather than celebrating my survival, my mother inflicted further suffering by declaring me not worthy of being educated. I was granted none of the lessons, music training, and instruction my siblings received. No man, argued my mother, would want a woman with a blemished face and legs too short to climb aboard a wagon without a mounting block. I was unsuitable for marriage and my destiny, she decreed, was to be the family servant. I was put to work…

Hello, my name is Celia Applebaum and my sisters and I inherited our father’s Arcadia Rare Bookshop here on Book Row. Book Row is really several blocks between Union Square and Astor Place in Manhattan. You wouldn’t recognize it today, but here in 1915, it’s famous throughout the world and attracts every kind of book lover from international dealers to street urchins with sticky fingers. Right now I’m just coming out of Cooper Union, which is at the south end of the Row. It’s the first free college in the states and I’ve just finished listening to a talk by Margaret Sanger. I’m running late – I seem to always be running late – so I have to hurry, but I want to show you all the wonderful things and people of Book Row. Across the street from Astor Place is Bible House, a large building which prints huge amounts of bibles as well as other liturgical books. Half way across the Avenue is an island that is an entrance to the subway. It’s still there for you to see today. But you won’t have seen Wanamaker’s Department store. Oh, it is grand. And so big it takes up two…

What is the title of your latest release?A GHASTLY CATASTROPHE What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Veronica and Stoker, a pair of intrepid Victorian natural scientists, return for their tenth adventure as they investigate a villain who may or may not be undead. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Most of the Veronica Speedwell books take place in London and it was a natural choice for this adventure, but I did get them out of the city for a few little diversions. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Only if she were tipsy. A sober Veronica would be A LOT. What are three words that describe your hero?Loyal, resourceful, irresistible. What’s something you learned while writing this book?That in some parts of the world, people are still very much afraid of vampires. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?Generally, I wait until the draft is finished. I only rework a section in progress if it’s going to have a significant impact on the scenes to come. What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?A full English breakfast. Describe your writing space/office!I work on the top floor of the…

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 Emma Hamm! Writes:Princess Jessamine and her powerful lover Elric, God of Death, join forces to save her plague-stricken kingdom. Murdered at her own wedding, Princess Jessamine never expected a mysterious god to ressurect her, a favor she would soon repay. Back in the flesh, the pair leads a coven of witches to challenge the usurper who stole her throne. Fraught with evil and traitors around every corner, Jessamine’s world is in turmoil. Jessamine and Elric must prepare their coven to meet the kingdom’s forces in battle – before her bloodthirsty ex-fiance learns to harness the power of the gods. The only thing is, Jessamine may have to accept that fighting for her kingdom might mean fighting against it… Toggling between the point-of-view of the strong-willed princess and her dark-hearted lover, Jessamine’s quest for revenge must go on… and her love is about to be tested. The twisted pair are joined by a found family of magical characters all bent on worshipping their god and…