What is the title of your latest release?A SCOT FOR BETHAN, book 6 and last of the Welsh Rebels series. What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Betrothed to a stranger at age 14, Bethan will have to wait seven years to meet her groom—only to fall for his uncle. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Easy. Bethan is Welsh, Cameron is Scottish, so the book is set half in Wales and half in Scotland, as well as on the road between the two places. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Absolutely! But I might try to get Cameron for myself… What are three words that describe your protagonists?Bethan is determined, full of hope and honest about what she feels. Cameron is protective, honourable and scorching hot! What’s something you learned while writing this book?A few words of Scottish Gaelic. I’m a lover of languages. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?A bit of both. I reread a lot, move things about constantly. What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?Cheese with crusty bread. Very French. Describe your writing space/office!I write in my living room, mostly on the sofa,…

This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m chatting with the #1 international bestselling author Matthew Blake about his mesmerizing new thriller, A MURDER IN PARIS. Set against the opulent yet haunting backdrop of the famed Hotel Lutetia, this gripping story intertwines memory, mystery, and the lingering echoes of the past. With dual timelines spanning World War II and the present day, Blake masterfully explores how truth and guilt ripple across generations. In our conversation, he shares the inspiration behind the novel, the fascinating science of memory, and why the past is never quite as it seems. Jen: What inspired A MURDER IN PARIS?Matthew: I listened to a podcast episode about the Hotel Lutetia and the incredible history of the place. I’d always wanted to set a psychological thriller in a hotel and I knew as soon as I listened to the podcast that I’d found the perfect precinct for a psychological thriller. It’s a glamorous destination hotel but with secrets in the walls. Jen: Since Olivia is a memory expert, I imagine you had to dive deep into the science of memory. What surprised you most during your research?Matthew: The thing that surprised me most was how untrustworthy our memories are….

What is the title of your latest release?THE HONG KONG WIDOW What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?THE HONG KONG WIDOW is about a young woman in 1950s Hong Kong who enters a séance competition at a haunted house, a competition that eventually becomes an urban legend. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I lived for a year in Hong Kong, and had been toying with the idea of setting a book there for ages. I knew I wanted to incorporate some element of my own family history and Chinese heritage, as well, and a significant portion of the novel takes place in Shanghai. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?In the story we encounter my protagonist at three different periods in her life (as a child, as a young woman, and as an elderly grandmother), and by now I feel like I’ve lived her entire lifetime along with her. I adore her. So, yes. What are three words that describe your protagonist?curious, determined, vulnerable. What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned that I could scare myself while writing a spooky scene. Do you edit as you draft or…

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.

What is the title of your latest release?IN THE LIGHT OF THE SUN What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?IN THE LIGHT OF THE SUN is the story of two sisters, separated by oceans and global conflict, who are bonded through music and love in this gripping novel based on true events from World War II. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?The novel is inspired by my mother’s family’s story. My mom was eleven years old when the Japanese bombed the US airbases near her home in the Philippines. Her family fled into the mountainous jungles of Luzon seeking refuge at a relative’s home and remained there for the duration of the war. One of her older sisters was voice training in Italy with their grandmother, a former soprano, with two Italian opera companies. Both sisters experienced the war, but on two very different warfronts. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely! Both Caramina and Rosa are strong young women. Hanging out with them would, undoubtedly, be a fun and interesting time. What are three words that describe your hero?Caramina is a dreamer, a songbird, and idealistic. Rosa is sophisticated,…

This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m thrilled to welcome back New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne as we talk about her newest holiday romance, SNOW KISSED. Set in the charming town of Shelter Springs, the story follows Holly, a single mom facing custody struggles, and Ryan, a man working through a complicated past. RaeAnne shares the inspiration behind the book, the holiday traditions that bring her joy, and what readers can look forward to next from this fan-favorite author. Jen: Many readers love small-town holiday romances because of the cozy setting. How did you create the charm of Shelter Springs, and is it inspired by a real place?RaeAnne: Shelter Springs is actually a spin-off series to an older series of mine, Haven Point, which is loosely based on McCall, Idaho. That is a lovely community set on a gorgeous lake similar to Haven Point. I needed a neighboring town for a couple of Haven Point traditions, so I created Shelter Springs. When I decided to create a new series exclusively for my holiday titles, it made sense to use Shelter Springs as I had already created some of the infrastructure for the town. Jen: What sparked the idea for…

Music plays such an important role in my writing, without it I’d just be some girl who daydreams a lot. It’s integral, I make a playlist for every book I write before I do the actual writing. I have to. The music informs almost every scene, and it certainly keeps me in the correct headspace for the scenes that require emotion. I’ve included my top five songs for ONE KILLER NIGHT that fueled the entire vibe of this book. These dreams – HeartThis song inspired not only the meet-cute for ONE KILLER NIGHT, but also their first kiss. I listened on repeat. There was just something about the etherealness of the melody that felt like two people getting swept off their feet. It also reminded me of something random you’d hear in the middle of the night at a convenience store so that was perfect for the Goldie and Noah set up. Diet Pepsi – Addison RaeI don’t care what anyone says, this is the sexiest song of the year. It felt like lust, and desire all wrapped up in an autotuned summer with a breathy voice. I loved it, so it was the song that played on repeat when…

What is the title of your latest release?DEAD & BREAKFAST What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A married vampire couple who run a struggling B&B in small town Oregon must prove their innocence when the anti-paranormal mayor shows up dead in their garden with bite marks on his neck. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?DEAD & BREAKFAST is set in the fictional town of Trident Falls, Oregon. Rosiee has been a lifelong Oregonian, so setting the book there felt quite natural. Plus, we wanted to evoke both the idyllic countryside retirement vibe and engage with the realities of being queer in rural Oregon. Arthur and Sal love their town, even when it doesn’t love them back, and the community they build there is small but mighty–reminiscent of so many across the state that we wanted to pay homage to. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?We would absolutely visit Arthur and Sal at their B&B and chat about the best ways to solve murders (and make puns) over tea and snacks. Arthur is an amazing cook, and Sal is always a fun time. We’d just make sure to leave before…

What is the title of your latest release?UPTON ARMS: A RETIREMENT HOME FOR SUPERNATURALS What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?You’ve been promised immortality only to learn sore joints, achy back and diminished powers can mean only one thing – you’re aging and facing late-onset death. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?The location of Upton Arms is a secret, since mortals would freak out knowing mythical creatures (some of them dangerous) are closer than the local dollar store. Sharp-eyed readers will notice that the weather mirrors a certain desert metropolis, where I lived while writing the book. Any resemblance between the hellish heat in the novel and what I faced as a resident is intentional. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Yes, as long as he kept his fangs to himself. Not that he would be tempted by my iron-poor blood. What are three words that describe your protagonist?Unlikely bloodsucking hero. What’s something you learned while writing this book?How much fun it is to write about insecurities as they apply to beings at the top of the food chain. Even a centuries-old vampire can question his choices. Other than the…

October is when the veil thins and our TBRs get fangs, and romance gets a little wild. The best monster love stories don’t just offer jump scares and claw marks; they ask who earns the label monster and what we would trade to be truly seen. These are courtships at the treeline, in palaces where chandeliers drip wax and history, in apartments where the undead share a toothbrush cup and a mortgage. They are tender, hungry, a little feral. So pour something red and let’s toast to lovers who choose each other in the dark, then make a home there. When the nights sharpen and the porch lights flicker, I plan to build a quilted little den, put on a smoke-and-cedar playlist, and let the kettle keep time. Halloween can have the streets and the rustle of costumes; I will be inside with a bowl of candy meant for visitors, a stack of monster romances within arm’s reach, and the pleasant certainty that tonight’s frights stay safely on the page. These stories are my October ritual, a reminder that love can be soft even when it keeps its shadows. I want to read until the wind forgets the window, until…