As a reader, I think there is so much the description on the back of a book doesn’t convey about a story. Can you briefly explain to readers, especially readers who might not have read any of your previous books, what the heart or focus of SIMPLICITY BY THE SEA is?SIMPLICITY BY THE SEA is the third and final book in the Gull Island trilogy. It’s the story of Delaney and Luke, two thirty-somethings who are questioning the life they’ve built and what’s next. Delaney is a marketing executive who works in Virginia’s wine country. She returns home to Gull Island for her best friend’s wedding, where she meets Luke Sullivan, a charter captain and single dad, who is struggling to balance his professional and personal lives. When sparks fly, both must decide whether love means abandoning their carefully laid plans or finally building the life they’ve been afraid to want. I confess that I’m a sucker for witty banter and fab dialogue between characters in a novel. What would you say was your favorite element of writing SIMPLICITY BY THE SEA? The settings, the dialogue, the character development, or something else?This is an easy question to answer – it’s…

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.

With our country preparing to celebrate its 250th anniversary, I couldn’t think of a better book to feature than THE BELLE OF CHATHAM by Laura Frantz. History lovers, prepare to be swept into the heart of the American Revolution, where loyalty is tested, espionage lurks around every corner, and love rises amid the turmoil. Richly researched and deeply emotional, this novel is a timely tribute to the Patriots who shaped our nation and the personal sacrifices behind their courage. LIGHTNING ROUND THE DEEP DIVE THE PERSONAL TOUCH LOOKING AHEAD BONUS: The Author’s Playlist Optional but fun: Share 3-5 songs that capture the mood of your book or that you listened to while writing. I’ll include them in the post! Music sure sets the stage for writing and reading! Spotify has playlists for many of my novels, including THE BELLE OF CHATHAM. Here’s the link if you’d like to listen: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3oLuR9mTZsG51lr3Za4Rkr?si=ecEXYfnlSAmNZ9RDwFPndQ&pi=VjdWJ8JDQ7yr6 Thank you so much for sharing your insights and creativity. I can’t wait for readers to discover your new release. Happy writing! Love written interviews and so appreciate your insightful, fresh questions! Thank you! THE BELLE OF CHATHAM by Laura Frantz Narrator: Pilar Witherspoon A Colonial-Era Historical Romance Set During the American Revolution…

I don’t listen to music while I write, but I do create a playlist for each of my books and listen to it on the go. Each song reflects the theme or mood of the story. In listening to these songs throughout my day, I find myself ruminating on the story and approaching my writing time with excitement. Below are five songs on the playlist for my novel On Living Stone. Song 1: “Heaven’s Eyes” by Jillian EdwardsThis sweet and poignant song beautifully encapsulates my heroine’s journey. Because of her unusual eye color, quick tongue, and wild temperament, Salome is often mocked and labeled as “the girl with no future.” She pushes against this label even as she wrestles with how others view her. With a tendency to prove herself and silence her critics, Salome must eventually learn to view herself “through Heaven’s eyes.” She has nothing to prove and everything to receive. She is fully seen while also fully loved by her Maker. His words of approval over her are louder, stronger, and definitive, silencing all other voices. Song 2: “Wait For You” by Myles SmithAfter the birth of their second son, Salome slips into depression. In ancient times,…

What is the title of your latest release?WHEN WE WERE BRILLIANT What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?In a bid to be taken seriously, Marilyn Monroe and photographer Eve Arnold make a deal that will change their lives. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I write my novels around actual events in the lives of famous people, so in this case, where the lives of Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold intersected determined where the book was set. That place, mostly, was New York, with side trips to Marilyn’s movie locations and Eve’s photo shoots as a documentary photographer. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Oh, most definitely. I grew close to both Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold over the two and a half years that I wrote about them. My job was to understand why they did what they did, so it was important to understand the roots of their shortcomings. I might love them even more after knowing their flaws and what they had to overcome. What are three words that describe your hero?Marilyn Monroe: Tenacious, Brilliant, TranscendentEve Arnold: Tenacious, Brilliant, TranscendentAlthough my two heroes look and sound radically different,…

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.

The great William Shakespeare supposedly wrote, “better three hours too soon than a minute too late.” As I type these words, I literally finished J.D. Robb’s newest gift, STOLEN IN DEATH, five minutes ago. If you read these same words the day they appear online, release day for STOLEN IN DEATH will still be a week or two away. But heed the Bard’s advice: order it now! Knowing I may be stoned for my honesty, I have not read every volume in the series. But I have read many of them (all the early and recent offerings), and I somehow love each book more than the one before. STOLEN IN DEATH is, of course, about a murder, but the enduring love story between Eve and Roarke is front and center here, as a shadowy figure from Roarke’s past tries to demolish the happiness the two have found together.  Given the tumult of our own world, I am grateful to the author for presenting a future more akin to the world we knew a few years back. Law enforcement entities both domestic and international work together in pursuit of justice, people still shop in person, and AI remains a tool and…

The catastrophe of World War I caused huge societal changes all over the world.  In this month’s selection of stories, we witness the turmoil in Russia, two sisters’ journey from Australia to Gallipoli to the Western Front, and fictionalized stories of two real people, one a nurse who developed procedures for treating the sick that are still followed today, the other a flawed politician at the height of British power. We begin with two friends, one American, the other Russian, who meet in Paris in Martha Hall Kelly’s LOST ROSES.   Despite rumors of war in early 1914, Eliza Ferriday is delighted to visit her friend Sofya Streshnayya, a cousin of the Romanovs, in St. Petersburg.  But her tour is cut short when war is declared and the Russian rulers begin to lose control. Sofya flees with her family to their country estate, while Eliza escapes back to New York.  Thinking to avoid revolution, Sofya’s family unwittingly brings it into their home when they hire local peasant Varinka to care for Sofya’s young son Max, for Varinka’s mother’s apprentice is a Red party member who seeks the destruction of all the Russian nobility. When revolutionaries take over the Streshnayya estate, Varinka…

During our 109-day RV trip in 2021, my top ten wish list included a stay at a California winery. Thanks to the Harvest Hosts program, that wish led us to Sicilia Vineyards in Yuba City—which became one of the most memorable stops of our journey. Harvest Hosts is a membership program for RV travelers that offers overnight stays at wineries, breweries, farms, and other unique destinations across the United States. While the one-night stay is complimentary, guests support their hosts by making a purchase, usually around $20. Stays are dry camping, meaning RVs must be fully self-contained—a trade-off that rewards travelers with unforgettable settings. Sicilia Vineyards sits at the base of the Sutter Buttes and is owned and operated by David Smith and Sandie Adams. Modeled after traditional Italian vineyards, the property feels transported straight from the countryside of Italy. As we drove down the long, winding driveway, vineyards stretched out on both sides, gradually revealing the beauty of the estate, like curtains lifting on a stage. Near the house, the grapevines are netted for protection, adding to the authentic vineyard feel. Sandie greeted us on arrival and helped us position our motorhome beside the vines, a quiet, serene and…

One unforgettable wedding weekend where nothing goes according to plan. Unexpected sparks fly between people who were definitely not supposed to fall for each other. Raffi, the supposed playboy, is not living up to his reputation at all, and Ani the wedding planner is trying not to be intrigued. Every glance and grudge adds fuel to the sparks between Raffi and Ani. X-rated spicy scenes. Well, R-rated at least! Slow burn romance, with tension for pages and pages and pages. Wedding chaos with paparazzi getting a front-row seat. Exes, enemies, and almost-lovers falling head over heels for each other (sometimes literally). Dancing under glittering fairy lights with a guy who knows how to move. Disaster, thy name is fountain. In Raffi’s presence, Ani stops bracing for impact and starts reaching for possibility. Napa countryside drives in his vintage Jaguar. Guaranteed drama, heart, and a bouquet’s worth of happily-ever-after energy. OUR EX’S WEDDING by Taleen Voskuni Two people who can’t stand each other must come together to plan their mutual ex’s wedding in this new romantic comedy by Taleen Voskuni, author of Lavash at First Sight. Ani Avakian was supposed to be the Bay Area’s premier Armenian wedding planner by now. But after a…