Welcome to a new year! Here are some fun older books to take a look at if you need some escape! FLARED STIFF by Julie Anne LindseyFirst up is Julia Anne Lindsey’s Bonnie and Clyde series. The laughs, the hijinks, the relationships, and solved murders. It’s all a recipe for me to be pulled right into this series and away from anything I’m actually supposed to be doing. I love the setting, the charm, and the way that the author gives us such a view right into the living room of Bonnie and her cat Clyde so that I want to go see if she’s available for a quick dinner! After she finds the killer, of course. CROUCHING LIZARD LEAPING LOON by Donna AndrewsDonna Andrews is next with her delightful Meg Langslow Mysteries. Crouching Lizard Leaping Loon was the first book I read in this series and then I had to go back and start from the beginning and wait (im)patiently between each release for the next one. I love the way Meg handles things and how she puts the pieces together. I often finish the books in this series and think “I could have figured it out if I…

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.

What is the title of your latest release?BEHIND THESE FOUR WALLS What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A woman sets out to uncover the truth behind her best friend’s disappearance and expose the power family she knows is behind it. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I decided where the book would take place as soon as I started thinking about the story. The setting is one of the first things I think about after the idea of a story or character takes hold of me. Then, I start thinking about what area would be the best backdrop for the story. I needed a place that was heavily secluded, beautiful, where a very wealthy family could have their property and kind of run the town around it without too much worry. My sister lives in Charlottesville and when I went to visit her there, traveling up the mountain to see her…yeah that image and fear of falling down the edge stuck with me and I knew I’d set this story there. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I’d definitely hang out with Isla. I think she’s really cool and a survivor….

This week’s Jen’s Jewels column takes readers to the island of Hawai’i. In THE SHARK HOUSE, Sara Ackerman weaves a haunting mystery as a string of rare shark attacks draws marine biologist Minnow Gray back to the Kohala coast and to a devastating secret from her past involving her father and a great white shark. LIGHTNING ROUND In three words, describe the vibe of your book.Sharky, mysterious, soulful Plotter, pantser, or “organized mess”?Converted plotter. What time of day does your creativity peak?Early morning, soon after waking, is my favorite time to write. THE DEEP DIVE Every book has an origin story. What was the “lightning strike” moment that made you say, “I have to write this”?It was when I was snorkeling around these graceful white tip reef sharks down in south Kona (in the wild, not on a shark tour) a few years back, and I was surpised at how uninterested in us they were. They were just doing their thing. I thought, I need to write a shark novel. It sort of just popped into my head. It seemed essential that I do this and I was so happy my agent was on board. Your protagonist: Did they arrive…

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: ANNEKE JANS IN THE NEW WORLDCharacter Name: Marritje Jans How would you describe your family or your childhood?I don’t remember my father, but my mother, Tryn Jonas, was the first midwife in New Amsterdam. Tough as nails, she’s the one that talked my sister Anneke and me into upping stakes and trying our luck in the New World. What was your greatest talent?I’m cheerful to a fault. I also know a way to keep from having babies every eighteen months if that’s of interest to you. Significant other?I’ve had three husbands. Tymen Jansen was my favorite. He was the chief shipwright here. When he died, I married another carpenter, but he accidentally swung an adze into his leg, so then I married Govert. My sister Anneke said some harsh things about him, called him a murderer and whatnot, but since he was the richest man in town, I didn’t much care. Biggest challenge in relationships?Men die so young. Where do you live?I used to live in New Amsterdam, but then the English invaded, so now I live in New York. Govert and I built ourselves a mansion fit for a pirate here on the strand. Do you have…

Destiny is the cheat code of the heart. Say the words fated mate, soulmark, or bond and a story charges itself with inevitability. Readers know a collision is coming, which lets authors focus on how and why instead of if. The trope promises recognition without audition, intimacy that arrives preloaded with weight, and a test of character once the universe has had its say. When it works, fate is not a shortcut but a crucible. Choice still matters. The pull brings lovers together, then demands they earn what destiny only begins. SLAVE TO SENSATION — Nalini Singh In Singh’s series opener, a Psy empath who has been trained to feel nothing collides with a changeling alpha whose world runs on touch, scent, and pack bonds. The mating drive in his species is biological and inescapable, while her culture treats emotion like a disease. That friction turns the fated trope into a high-stakes negotiation about safety, autonomy, and the cost of awakening. What sets this apart is craft. The romance tracks alongside a conspiracy thriller, and every tender beat is laced with sensory detail that makes the bond feel physical and specific. Consent is explicit, boundaries are named, and the happily…

What is the title of your latest release?THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Long standing family feud, a mysterious pact, murder by psychic means, weird art colony, and a dog named Bruce. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?A good portion of this book takes place in the amazing Red Rock country of Arizona. I love the area because it’s both dramatic and mysterious. Vortex territory! (Also some nice hotel spas) Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely. She’s the kick-ass librarian I always wanted to be. A role model. What are three words that describe your hero?Honorable. Smart. Determined. What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned that putting a dog into a book is risky because the dog keeps trying to take over. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?Both. My process is somewhat chaotic, to be honest. What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?Pretzels. Describe your writing space/office!Chaotic, like my process. Lots of sticky notes stuck on the computer. Who is an author you admire?Susan Elizabeth Phillips. Every scene she writes is a very short story. Is there…

What is the title of your latest release?DRAGON CURSED What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Declared humanity’s savior reborn, Isola Thaz should have a legendary power to slay dragons—instead, she may be cursed to become one of the vicious beasts she’s meant to destroy. She enters the Tribunal hoping to prove her destiny. But she ends up uncovering Vingard’s darkest lies. Now Isola must confront who she is, what she’s fighting for, and whether salvation lies in protecting the world as she knows it… or burning it down. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I really liked the idea of creating a story that had a major component of survival against inhospitable nature. Where the atmosphere of the world itself asks, “What will people do when pushed to their limits?” I wanted something that was other-world fantasy (because that’s what I love) but with dystopian vibes. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely. While no one is perfect, Isola genuinely cares about the people around her – especially her friends. I think she’d be very happy to get a break, too, and just enjoy a cup of tea. What are three…

Call Me Maybe by Carly Rae JepsenPoppy Peterson is the publicist of the NFL’s most promising quarterback (and her childhood best friend), Cash Curran. He makes an impulsive and public pass at America’s popstar darling, Lyric Adair, which Poppy would’ve at least liked a heads up about first. “Call Me Maybe” is Poppy’s ringtone and it’s first mentioned on the page when Lyric’s notorious publicist Rosaline Sinclair calls Poppy about said public pass. Poppy is ready to face Rosaline’s wrath but instead learns that Lyric is equally interested. It’s such a fun, upbeat song that really captures Poppy’s personality and adds a moment of levity and humor to a scene where she’s dealing with a massive case of nerves. It also hints at the romance between Poppy and Rosaline. Mastermind by Taylor SwiftThis is such a fitting song for Rosaline! She’s a publicist at the top of her game, responsible for shaping the public perception surrounding her client and sort of surrogate little sister, Lyric. Publicity is an art form to Rosaline, and she makes crafting a narrative look effortless, even though she puts a lot of effort in. All of her behind-the-scenes machinations come from a place of caring…