“You cook?”  He seemed surprised. She shoved her glasses up on her nose, and hooked her hair back over her ear.  “My grandmother grew up on a farm outside Dallas.  She was a fantastic cook.  She raised me, so yes, I like to cook.”  She smiled.  “I’m really good at it.” A low groan slipped from Jax’s throat.  “What if we stop at the store and pick up whatever you need?” She laughed.  “We don’t have to do that.  I keep a lot of stuff in the pantry.  I can make pasta or something.  Do you like Italian?” “Hell, yes.” She smiled.  “I’ll make a salad to go with it and we’ll be fine.” Except that when Mindy unlocked her front door and Jax shoved it open, thoughts of supper shot right out the window.  The entire apartment looked as if an earthquake or a tornado had totaled the place. *** “Oh, my God!” Jax’s HK.45 slid easily out of its holster.   “Stay here.”  He started forward, the gun gripped in both hands, panning the living room for any sign the intruders might still be there. “Oh, God, Muffin!”  Mindy bolted forward, but Jax’s arm shot out, blocking her way….

Hello Everyone! Thanks so much for finding me here! I’m writing from chilly D.C. and dreaming of sunny South Beach! Have you been? Did you love it? Where did you stay? What did you do? One of my favorite reasons for visiting South Beach is the music. Victor Hugo is quoted as saying, “Music expresses that which cannot be said and on which it is impossible to be silent.” I love how music can evoke so many emotions and create moods from absolute silence. Music bridges cultures and feelings, and unpacking all the ways music can change a person is truly magical. Plenty of articles exist regarding the benefits of music, and according to Harvard Men’s Health Watch, “Bright, cheerful music can make people of all ages feel happy, energetic, and alert.” My latest release, Reforming the CEO, started with a song, and as I worked on the first draft, so many songs reminded me of my characters. Every love song and break up song hit me in the heart, and like many other authors and many times before, I created a playlist to put me in the moment when writing. The list changed while I was writing – at…

Jen Vido: What inspired you to write Finding Home Again? Brenda Jackson: In Book 1 of the Catalina Cove Series, which was titled Love in Catalina Cove (October 30, 2018), I introduced secondary characters, Bryce Witherspoon and Kaegan Chambray. It was quite obvious they had history that hadn’t ended well, and I felt it was time to tell their story When Kaegan Chambray returns to Catalina Cove to run the family business, what’s his biggest fear? His biggest fear was failing as a business owner. He’d never intended to take over his family’s shipping company and knew the people who had worked for his father would depend on him. He believed they deserved to get paid fairly for the hard work they did and for their years of loyalty to a man who Kaegan at times felt didn’t always appreciate them. He wanted to be a better boss to them than his father had been. How does Bryce Witherspoon feel about Kaegan’s reappearance? She’s not happy about it at first, but then she comes to accept that there’s not and never would be anything between her and Kaegan again, and it was time to move on with her life. A…

Hey ya’ll! Sara Wolf here! I’m super psyched to write this for Fresh Fiction, mostly because they’re a. Awesome and b. It means FIND ME THEIR BONES is almost released to the world at large! Mostly, I wanted to talk about a super serious topic today. I think the question I get most – no matter where I go in the world – is ‘how do you write a book?’, followed quickly by ‘I could never write one’. It’s maybe the hardest question to answer, because I’m not entirely sure how I write a book, either. This might out me as a complete pantser (which isn’t bad!) but it also outs me as the sort of writer who doesn’t really think things through. I always tell people who ask this question ‘I write books because I have to’, and that’s true! When I was thirteen, I came to the horrible screeching revelation that magic wasn’t actually real. The sort of magic you see in books, that always sweeps some unsuspecting down-on-their-luck teenager away to another world. I realized that would never happen to me, and that I’d always been waiting for that to happen to me, and so I launched…

One of the questions I hear a lot is, “How do I come up with an idea that someone hasn’t already done?” We talk a lot about rewrites in fiction, and the idea that nothing is really new. Everyone’s heard the basic story types–man against man, man against self, man against nature, etc. etc. And of course, we’ve seen retellings, for everything from fairy tales from villain points of view to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. It’s possible there really is nothing truly new out there, and that’s something that can be hard for writers to sit with. So much of what we pride ourselves on is our creativity. We love the idea that we might have come up with an idea that nobody else has had before, that nobody else could have. We rush to get the idea out on paper and into the world because we’re terrified that if we don’t, someone else might get there first, and then our story will be meaningless. We feel like it only matters if nobody else has come up with the idea before. People will ask you a lot what’s different about your book. What makes it stand out? What are…

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 as a reader you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present A.C. Arthur! Writes: I write paranormal and contemporary romance featuring hunky guys, strong women, and sweeping passion! Awaken the Dragon, the first book in my Legion dragon shifter series releases Nov. 4th, and A Private Affair is my upcoming workplace romance coming January 1st. About: While writing is my first love, I’m a paralegal by day and a wife, mother and grandmother twenty-four-seven. I’ve written over 85 romance novels and enjoy reading (of course), watching romantic movies and going to Disney World. I don’t drink, but I do curse. I like black and white movies but am not a big fan of popcorn. What I’m looking for in my ideal reader match: Someone who loves big families and the drama that brews between them A reader who’s not afraid of vampires, dragons, and demons, oh my! Readers who block off everything on their schedule to read a book because seconds after they start they must know how it ends Someone who…

Big congratulations are in order for bestselling author ROBYN CARR, who was inducted to the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame yesterday! She chatted with us about this honor and much more. . .  — Congratulations on this incredible honor, Robyn! How does it feel to be in the Nevada Writers Hall of Fame?  Robyn: It’s very humbling to think that I could be chosen from so many wonderful writers. Of course I’m honored and proud. Nevada has been my home for 20 years now. Of all the places and series you’ve created, which one do you sometimes wish actually existed? Just for fun, of course. . . Robyn: I, like my readers, wish I could at least visit Virgin River. The strength of that community is heartening and I believe the residents take comfort in knowing they’re never alone. And, though the town is fictional, that part of Northern California is not and its beauty is breathtaking. And it’s a rugged land that demands much of its residents; they have to be tough and determined, yet another reason being able to depend on your neighbors really counts. What’s the greatest piece of career advice you’ve received? And on the other side, what’s the…

Fresh Fiction Senior Reviewer Debbie Wiley Hi Lauren! Thank you for joining us today at Fresh Fiction! I love cozy mysteries, especially ones centered around a bookstore so MURDER IN THE FIRST EDITION is a real treat for me to read. Can you tell our readers a little something about the storyline and the inspiration behind it? Hi, thank you for inviting me. It’s a pleasure to be here. The inspiration behind my Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series came to me a number of years ago. I had a good friend who owned a small used bookshop and being the book lover I am. It became my second home.  Her shop was my vision of the perfect bookstore–old and rare books, a reading corner, charming knick-knacks, and a bay window display that she decorated to highlight the season and one that never failed to attract passersby.  When I had more time to devote to writing, my old reading friend, Agatha Christie emerged, and the first image that came to mind was my real-life friend Maggie and her bookshop. From there, Addie’s was born. Even though, Beyond the Page Books & Curios is an expanded version of my friends, it’s…

Thank you so much for having me here on Fresh Fiction today! I’m Heather McCollum, mother of three overly dramatic kids, wife of one Highland hero, ovarian cancer slayer, lover of chai lattes and dragonflies, and author of Scottish historical romances. My twenty-first book, THE HIGHLAND OUTLAW, was just released on October 21st (I love coincidences!). I’m often asked where I get my ideas. I feel like ideas are just floating around out in the world everywhere, and I have fun picking them out of the tangle of must-dos and everyday occurrences. It means that I’m sometimes hyperaware of my surroundings. The worlds around us are our own personal settings, just like settings for characters in books. Just like I need to recognize the sights, smells, and sounds in my books, I try to take those all in while living my life. Then I let my mind wander and expound upon those details. For example, I walk my dog each morning through my suburban neighborhood. Being the conscientious dog owner, I pick up her poop and drop the biodegradable baggie in the neighborhood dog waste cans set along the streets. Almost every time I lift that lid to toss it…

To start off, can you tell us a little about your book, DIRTY LETTERS?  Two childhood pen pals are reunited when Griffin has a bit too much to drink one night and writes to Luca, the girl who suddenly stopped writing him eight years earlier. When he realizes why she stopped writing, they rekindle their relationship from afar and resume writing back and forth, this time as adults. Of course, now their letters are a bit steamier. Things get complicated when Luca suggests they meet in person. What were your biggest inspirations for DIRTY LETTERS?  Vi: I actually had a penpal when I was in grade school, a lot like Luca.  So did my kids! Penelope: Thinking back to childhood and the letters my friends and I would write back before there wasn’t any internet certainly inspired parts of the book. Also, music from groups like ABBA, inspired other parts. Why will readers fall in love with Griffin?  Because he’s rough on the outside but an old softie on the inside. Because his love for Luca is unwavering and transcends time. How did you get to know Luca? Did she ever surprise you?  Luca was a fun character to write….