When I start a new book, two things are essential to the process. First, a Pinterest board with images that I turn into a wallpaper collage for my desktop/laptop, and secondly a playlist. While I don’t necessarily listen to the playlist while I’m drafting, I listen while I’m doing other things (dishes, laundry), to keep my brain in the world of the story and puzzle out any plot problems I may have. Here’s a selection of songs from the GHOST BUSINESS playlist! “Cool Little Bars” by Ashley McBrydeSophie meets Tristan at The Haunt, Boneyard Key’s local watering hole/oyster bar/steel drum karaoke venue. They build a flirty rapport that would be great if Tristan didn’t find out later that night that they’re business rivals. There’s still a cigarette machine by the shuffleboardA coin-drop jukebox full of songs you don’t hear much anymoreNames and dates carved right into the tabletopsAn old pickle jar sittin’ on the bar where your money goes “Guilty as Sin?” by Taylor SwiftThe only thing worse than having some stranger come to town to try and steal Sophie’s livelihood? Having dirty dreams about him. Dreams that linger the next day, making it super awkward when she runs into him. And worse still…

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 Ann Rose! Writes:I write stories about complicated women finding love in sometimes unusual situations. I love playing with structure and time, and I always hope to include something surprising in the end. If readers figure out that twist ahead of time? Bravo! They get a gold star. My current novel, A HEXCELLENT CHANCE TO FALL IN LOVE, is a cozy sapphic Halloween story where time is definitely of the essence. (Can she break the curse before her seasonal Halloween store vanishes for the year along with everyone’s memories of her?) About:As for me… what’s there to say? I’m a California native who lives in Texas, but you can’t take the California out of the girl. I left my heart behind and miss it very much. Which is probably why most of my books are set there. I love iced coffee, tacos, cozy blankets, quiet moments, and according to the group chat my best friends are some of my best assets—which I cannot argue with….

Alice’s Theme by Danny ElfmanNo shocker here! With HOUSE OF HEARTS being so heavily inspired by Alice in Wonderland, it would be borderline illegal for me not to include at least one Alice song in my playlist! This song is truly perfect—it’s haunting and whimsical, and I love the way the intensity builds throughout the piece’s progression. Without getting into spoiler territory, I can tell you that it was heavy in my soundtrack rotation for Act Three! Symphony No.6, op.74, TH 30, B minor (Pathétique)Calvin actually plays this in the book! It’s one of the first instances where Violet glimpses the real him. In many ways, Calvin tries to control his “persona” and keep his more vulnerable self at bay, but he’s an open book when he’s behind the keys: The overall composition has “Calvin” written all over it. Dramatic, consuming, maudlin. (…) His fingers fly across the keys in a Dionysian riot and the music produced is equal measures haunting and romantic. (…) Somewhere within the third movement the melody falls off. The piece collapses in on itself like a house of cards and Calvin pushes away from the keys with a snarl. “Pathetic is right,” he mutters beneath…

Book Title: LOVE BITESCharacter Name: Hanna Harvey How would you describe your family or your childhood?Do I have to?? Kidding! Mostly. Seeing as my dad was tragically un-alived in a super-sus car accident before I’d even hit puberty and my mother is probably mentioned in least five chapters of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, my Oma—grandma, if you don’t sprechen Deutsche, was my whole world. If only I hadn’t been so blinded by her exceptional potato salad that I failed to realize she kept a rolling pin by the kitchen door for more than just fending off her many would-be suitors. What was your greatest talent?Emotional support snack acquisition, without question. Significant other?Define significant. If we’re talking significant as in: I significantly want to launch myself at my annoyingly attractive, infuriatingly secretive, potentially non-human boss like a Velcro koala, then…yes? Biggest challenge in relationships?You mean other than the tendency to launch myself at probably paranormal paramours like a Velcro koala? Where do you live?In a perpetual state of regret about my late-night cupboard raids, mostly. Do you have any enemies?Overhead lighting, non-elastic waistbands, and at least one slightly unhinged entity harboring stalking tendencies and blood grudge. How…

What is the title of your latest release?WICKED BELIEVER What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Neftlix’s Lucifer meets 50 Shades of Gray in this scorching hot sequel to ORIGINAL SINNER, where the devil and his newly immortal fiancée must navigate the underhanded celestial politics of a God-abandoned NYC. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I chose to set ORIGINAL SINNER in NYC because it was the perfect location for a mix of celestial and celebrity drama set to a high-fashion background. Think The Devil Wears Prada meets Lucifer and BDSM—so keeping the sequel, WICKED BELIEVER, set in the city was the natural choice. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Absolutely. Though I have a feeling Lucifer and I would butt heads. But Charlotte would easily be my bestie. What are three words that describe your protagonist?Three words that describe Charlotte are: resilient, resourceful, and driven. Three words that describe Lucifer are: strategic, overconfident, and sexy. What’s something you learned while writing this book?My life’s journey has really paralleled Charlotte’s in many ways, so I’d say I learned to that I can be stronger than I thought I could be. Do you…

The scent of new notebooks, the creak of classroom doors, and the whispered promises of hidden secrets means it’s September, and there’s no better time to dive into academy romances in paranormal fiction. These stories blend the thrill of discovering magical worlds with the intensity of school life, where relationships ignite, rivalries simmer, and danger lurks just outside the dormitory walls. Whether it’s spellbinding academies or institutions teeming with supernatural intrigue, the settings make the perfect backdrop for slow-burn romance, forbidden love, and characters who are finding themselves amid the chaos. Academy settings let us relive the highs and lows of school through a fantastical lens, throwing in the drama of paranormal creatures, secret societies, and life-or-death stakes. These books remind us that self-discovery often takes center stage during those school years, even in a world filled with vampires, witches, and demigods. Let’s head back to class with some of the best academy romances in the genre, perfect for your fall reading list. CRAVE Step into Katmere Academy, a gothic castle in the Alaskan wilderness where danger, and desire, waits around every corner. When Grace, a mortal, is thrown into this supernatural world of vampires, witches, and shapeshifters, she quickly…

Eight Authors, Eight Heroines, One Unforgettable Club The Busty Bodice Club Eight sisters. Eight curves of fate. And one father’s final wish: live boldly, love recklessly, and never hide the curves of your lives—or your bodies. Raised under the strict rules of an overprotective parent, the Harrington sisters were taught to stay quiet, proper, and out of trouble. But with their father’s last letters, everything changes. Each voluptuous beauty is handed a task designed to push her beyond society’s rigid corsets and into passion, scandal, and adventure. From scandalous portraits and secret wagers…to daring rescues and forbidden kisses…the Busty Bodice Club isn’t just about finding love. It’s about embracing every lush curve, every wild desire, and every reckless chance at happiness. The series is also about eight writers, each with her own voice and vision, drawing together in a collaboration that challenges each to bring their best to the keyboard. No, we haven’t worked together before and it is refreshing to be bouncing story ideas off of such fabulous professionals. Eliana Piers is the Canadian who developed the series. Eliana is known for a fast pace read featuring fun banter. She is also the most organized writer I have ever…

What is the title of your latest release?A RATHER PECULIAR POISONING What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?It’s Bridgerton meets Knives Out. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I set it in a sprawling English manor that was big enough to hide plenty of secrets. The estate also rests between a forest (for hunting parties) and a lake (for boat parties). Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Yes, I’d love to explore a city with Della, cook alongside Sadie, or fall in love with the lake with Eloise. What are three words that describe your protagonist?I have four main characters: Della, Sadie, Eloise, and Violet. Can I pick one word for each instead? Della is smart. Sadie is sweet. Eloise is clever. Violet is ambitious. What’s something you learned while writing this book?When the word “cologne” was first used and if I could use it in 1910. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?I know everyone says you shouldn’t, but I 100% edit as I draft. I’m trying not to for my current work in progress to see if it helps me draft faster though….

Most people have heard of the Grand Canyon and have also heard of Yellowstone National Park. Both draw thousands of people to visit during the warm seasons. But have you heard of the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, WY? This was one of my top five favorite places to visit in Yellowstone on our 109-day go west trip. It also has one of the top three things I look for when we travel – a waterfall! I love watching them and listening to them. There you can find the upper falls and lower falls of the Yellowstone River. With two rims to visit, multiple viewpoints, and several hiking trails, there is a lot to do here. We drove to each overlook and then hiked up to the best viewpoints. I believe Lookout Point at the North Rim is the most visited. This is one I would not want to miss. The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River is located south of Canyon Village and is accessible by car via the North Rim Drive, South Rim Drive, and Brink of the Upper Falls Drive. There is also a hiking trail from the Canyon Lodge area out to the North Rim. If you…

What is the title of your latest release?GIRL NEXT DOOR What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A twenty-something freelance writer discovers that her childhood next-door neighbor is the anonymous author behind a wildly successful queer romance based on their senior year of high school—except they were never actually together in real life. It’s sort of my love letter to the rom-com genre. I’m also secretly hoping it’s a rom-com for rom-com skeptics. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I wanted to write a setting that I knew, so I “invented” a suburban Long Island town similar to the one where I grew up—though there are notable differences. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Definitely. We would have so many embarrassing stories to tell each other. What are three words that describe your protagonist?Clumsy, funny, kind. What’s something you learned while writing this book?That the Bosphorus is a strait, not a river. GIRL NEXT DOOR has a running joke about the Byzantine Empire in it, which is just as weird as it sounds. Don’t worry, it’s an extremely small element of the plot. But thank you to my copy editor for pointing…