What is the title of your latest release?THE EIGHT HEARTBREAKS OF HANUKKAH What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A Hanukkah retelling of A CHRISTMAS CAROL! How did you decide where your book was going to take place?There’s nothing more magical than New York City around the holidays—so, of course, I set THE EIGHT HEARTBREAKS OF HANUKKAH there! Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely! What are three words that describe your hero?Dependable, kindhearted, charming What’s something you learned while writing this book?Less is more. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?A combination. I try not to edit as much on a first draft, but sometimes it’s inevitable. What’s your favorite foodie indulgence?Chocolate cake. Describe your writing space/office!I have a small office crammed full of my books, awards, and a large doggy bed loaded down with toys for my one-year-old husky puppy. Who is an author you admire?Heidi Shertok. Not only is she incredibly talented, but she’s an all-around great human being. Is there a book that changed your life?My first book., The Matzah Ball, absolutely changed my life. Tell us about when you got “the call.” (when you found out…

Since ECHOES OF A SILENT SONG features music and musicians in both the past and present timelines, how could I not share a playlist with all of you? Here are some of the choral pieces that inspired and informed parts of this book, although I will warn the reader it is extremely difficult to avoid some spoilers here. If you’re a spoiler-phobe, bookmark this article and come back to it after you’ve read Echoes! The Times They Are A-Changin’ (Bob Dylan arr. Adam Podd)  This utterly gorgeous modern choral arrangement of Bob Dylan’s classic tune perfectly encapsulates this story’s two timelines: modern day and the late 1960s. Our past heroine, Iris, struggles with meeting her parents’ expectations of her and flourishing into who she truly is, so the line Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command felt very apt. (Fun fact: I had the privilege of playing piano for this with our auditioned choir last school year!) O Love (Elaine Hagenberg)  Hagenberg is one of my favorite modern choral composers, and her style is similar to how I imagine Callum’s compositional style. The text was written in 1882 by George Matheson, a blind Scottish minister, and contains a…

What is the title of your latest release?THE REDEMPTION OF THE DUKE What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Faith is shocked when a Duke offers her a position as his aunt’s companion after her brother died in battle. He wants to make amends for a tragic mistake, but Faith is not interested in being rescued. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I like to choose different settings for my books, and it had been a while since I’d used London. Plus, it was easier for the Duke to keep annoying Faith until she said yes to his plans. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?I definitely would! I usually write characters I like, even if they have to learn a lesson or two as they become the people they were meant to be. What are three words that describe your protagonist?Faith is stubborn, independent, and intelligent. What’s something you learned while writing this book?That I would never want to be a lady’s companion—unless it would be with a woman as nice as the Duke’s aunt. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?When I begin writing…

Book Title: RESCUE YOU, Love in Brighton Village Book 5Character Name: Max How would you describe your family or your childhood?It wasn’t the greatest. Some people didn’t treat me good. I ended up in an awful place Lark calls a shelter. So loud and so many bad smells. Twice. Lark saved me. What was your greatest talent?Knowing where I belong. Significant other?Well, I don’t know what that means, but even though Lark is great, Caleb is my person. He’s the one I’ve been looking for all my life. And now that I’ve found him, I won’t let him go. Biggest challenge in relationships?It took him forever to see he needed me. Where do you live?Right now? In the tiny home by the lake. I love it there. I can run around all I want. At night, Caleb makes a fire, and we just sit there vegging. He feeds me bacon. That’s the life. Do you have any enemies?Me? Of course not! Everybody loves me. Well, maybe not the guy I bit because he wasn’t my guy. But everybody else. How do you feel about the place where you are now?I love being wherever my guy is—the store, the tiny house,…

This week on Jen’s Jewels, I’m thrilled to welcome Nekesa Afia, the talented author behind AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE, a gripping dual-timeline mystery that sweeps readers from the shimmering heart of 1930s Hollywood to a young dancer’s emotional journey in the present day. With its intoxicating blend of glamour, danger, and deeply personal stakes, this stunning novel explores the fierce pursuit of dreams—no matter the cost. Join us as Nekesa shares the inspiration behind her unforgettable characters, the challenges of crafting a story across eras, and what’s next on her creative horizon. Jen: What first inspired you to write AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE? The story beautifully blends mystery, emotion, and the glamour of Old Hollywood.Nekesa: I have always loved classic films. I love a good classic musical, and I knew that it was a world I wanted to explore. I started this novel years ago, in the liminal space of trying to get an agent. For a really long time, it focused on a film star dead in a bed, and a private investigator hired to look into her death. It spiraled from there: a year after the death, five years, ten years, and the investigator became a…

Book Title: THE PRESENCE MALIGNCharacter Name: Claude Carstairs While the Deep Man Trilogy (THE DEEP MAN, THE SILENT HAND and THE PRESENCE MALIGN) chronicles the exploits of Captain Saef Sinclair-Maru, Claude Carstairs forms a vital presence in all three books. Despite Claude’s obsessive attention to fashion trends and social happenings, he remains Saef’s most trusted friend, and also serves as Saef’s second when matters of the Honor Code must be settled with swords. He is also the only person closely connected with Saef Sinclair-Maru who would willingly submit to a Q&A session. How would you describe your family or your childhood?Ah! Family! Childhood! Both were splendid despite the location of the Family Estate on the unfashionable planet of Battersea. Such carefree days… until I moved off to Imperial City, where I learned everything that is important from my maternal uncle, Ellery Spedding… What was your greatest talent?My greatest talent? I have so many it’s difficult to choose… Any party I organize is sure to be a success, for instance, but I think my friends would agree I have a particular genius where it concerns fashion. Significant other?Every beautiful young creature who enters my life is significant in their way, for…

This week on Jen’s Jewels, we’re stepping into the twinkling lights and heartfelt reflections of the holiday season with author Lindsay Gibson. Her latest release, CHRISTMAS IN FOCUS, captures the magic of second chances, sisterhood, and rediscovering one’s purpose against the charming backdrop of snowy Vermont. Join us as Lindsay shares how a move from New England to South Carolina sparked this emotional journey of love, loss, and learning to see life through a new lens. Jen: Was there a specific moment, place, or experience that sparked the idea for CHRISTMAS IN FOCUS?Lindsay: CHRISTMAS IN FOCUS was inspired during my move from New England to coastal South Carolina—a season of change that made me reflect on what I was leaving behind. Like Millie finding her confidence behind the camera, I found mine as a writer, learning that sometimes you have to shift your view to truly see what matters. Jen: Millie is an aspiring photographer on the verge of giving up. What drew you to a character at a crossroads in her life?Lindsay: I was drawn to Millie because I deeply understood that feeling of standing at a crossroads—of wondering if your creative path still has room for you. Around…

Sabine: Hello, Pablo. Thanks for sitting down with me today. I’m looking forward to readers getting to know you a little better. You’re a member of the notorious Diaz family. How are you related to Enrique Diaz?Pablo: I’m Tío Enrique’s oldest nephew. My father, Luis, is my tío’s younger brother. Sabine: Are you an only child?Pablo: No, I had a younger brother who was a police officer for New York City. He—ah—had an unfortunate accident around the time his former childhood best friend, Laura, and her husband, Maksim—the head of the bratva—had twins. Sabine: Has your family been in New York long?Pablo: My father and tío went to boarding school and university here, but they were raised in Colombia just like my mother and tías. They all moved to the U.S. as adults. My mother moved here after she and Papá got married. One of my cousins was born here, and the other three were born in Bogotá. Sabine: Is it hard being known as the jefe de jefe’s—boss of boss’s—nephew? Your family seems to get a lot of attention.Pablo: When your family is as wealthy as mine and has such varied business endeavors, it’s difficult not to draw attention….

What is the title of your latest release?AT DEATH’S DOUGH What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Love, loot, and lethal secrets—when Delilah O’Leary’s romantic Valentine’s Day turns into a hunt for a gangster’s lost treasure, she and her detective boyfriend Calvin Capone—great-grandson of the infamous Chicago mobster—must crack the case. I think I could manage to say all that in an elevator, as long as the building we’re in has at least four floors. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I didn’t! When I pitched the series, I set it in Hyde Park on the south side of Chicago. My editor nudged me to move it to a small town. I had to make a quick pivot to a place where all the elements I’d crafted (deep-dish pizzeria, cop descended from Al Capone, mobster lore) still made sense. Luckily, Lake Geneva, Wisconsin (lightly fictionalized in the books as “Geneva Bay”) turned out to be an even better setting than I could’ve dreamed. It has all the elements I wanted, plus the benefit of being a small town on a stunning lake, ringed by mansions. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Absolutely….

What is the title of your latest release?PICKLE PERFECT What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A tropical vacation in Costa Rica takes an unexpected turn when Lulu’s rival – her sexy ex-boyfriend – turns out to be the adventure tour’s pickleball pro. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?My family and I lived in Costa Rica for five years recently while I taught at an international high school. Every weekend, we would go on adventures: the same ziplining, waterfall rappelling, white-water rafting trips that Lulu and Tyler experience. I love the flora and fauna and communities of Costa Rica and want to share my delight. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Probably not with Lulu—she’s a little too organized for me. I’d always be disappointing her when I showed up late to meet her for lunch. She’d have already finished her Cobb salad.I’d be much more likely to hang out with Gwendy, the hilarious, menopausal, wise-cracking wonder-woman. She’s always up for a spontaneous adventure. I have friendships with several Gwendies in my real life! What are three words that describe your protagonist?Responsible, vulnerable, klutzy, unaware how funny she is. (Yep. I…