What is the title of your latest release? DAMNED IF I DO What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? The devil’s right-hand woman must convince her long-lost, reincarnated husband to renounce their vows so she can wed a prince from Hell. Think Sweet Home Alabama, but with a supernatural twist. How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I knew I wanted to set DAMNED IF I DO in a small town, and I grew up not far from the fictional town where I ultimately decided to set the book, so I had a bit of real-life experience to draw from. Also, Effie and Finn are originally from Scotland, and I thought there was something poetic about the Appalachian mountains and the Scottish Highlands being part of the same ancient mountain range. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Oh, 1000%. Effie’s smart and sassy and I’d love to raid her closet. What are three words that describe your hero? Loyal, tenacious, and romantic. What’s something you learned while writing this book? Without sharing spoilers, I will say that I learned a fair amount about the various breeds of chickens. Do you…

What is the title of your latest release? WITCH DAUGHTER What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? WITCH DAUGHTER is a Persian mythology retelling about the story of Tahmineh—a witch princess who desperately tries to stop a tragic prophecy in which her husband and son kill each other on the battlefield.  How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I’m a Zoroastrian author of Indian and Persian heritage. While I’ve already written books exploring my Indian ancestry, I’d never really written about the Persian side. Once I finished my 5th book, I spent over a year researching about ancient Iran and Zoroastrian mythology, knowing fully well that my next book would be set in ancient pre-Islamic Iran.  Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Would I hang out with a misunderstood and fiercely protective witch princess who also walks into people’s dreams while they sleep? Hell, yes, I would.   What are three words that describe your hero? Chivalrous. Honorable. Warrior.  What’s something you learned while writing this book? That women in ancient Iran had far more agency than I’d expected! Even in mythology, they chose the men they wanted to marry, actively…

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?BURNING THE RAVEN TREE What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?In a northern Michigan town shadowed by an ancient oak hung with shoes, locals whisper that Colwyn Cueny is a child killer and forest witch cursed by the past. But when disgraced Chicago attorney Marcus Lenarsic comes to board with her, he discovers a broken survivor—not a monster—buried beneath a decade of fear and rumor. To survive the reckoning coming, Marcus must untangle truth from the dangerous old myths before the past claims another victim. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Northern Michigan is a natural place for lonely, wide open spaces hiding old secrets…plus that’s where I first saw one of the creepy shoe trees that the story centers on. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely. Colwyn befriended a raven…and I have a bizarre fascination with the wolf bird. What are three words that describe your hero?loyal, gentle, smart What’s something you learned while writing this book?I’m a total research nut, so I learned a ton of things about the mental health institutions in the mid-20th century (they were super broken), as…

I should preface this review by saying I did not go to the planet of Gildnaria by choice. I was trafficked from my own planet (Earth) to the Onead spaceport and sold to a Triad of Gildnarians, so my stay on the planet was neither desired nor voluntary. Did this influence my view of this hellacious backwater? Probably. But even if I had chosen this destination for a pleasure jaunt, luxury vacation is definitely not Gildnaria’s vibe. If you like– then maybe Gildnaria is right for you. Unfortunately, I found both the planet and its inhabitants to be extremely inhospitable to humans. I didn’t see another interplanetary tourist during my entire stay. The Gildnarians themselves regarded me as a strange curiosity. Most of them had never seen or heard of a human, which, in itself, is perhaps not that unusual. Reactions to my presence were all over the gamut–everything from polite disinterest to active hostility and even marriage proposals from strangers. I was lucky to find a few kind souls who felt sorry for my predicament, because I’m not sure if I would have survived this place intact without them. Instead of green vegetation like we have on Earth, the…

What is the title of your latest release?INCARNATE What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Dorothy Wagner has always wanted to be popular but she’s not like other girls. She creates Isabella, an online persona that’s everything she’s not and is rewarded with a tidal wave of attention that shoots her to the top of the charts… but at what price? It’s The Picture of Dorian Gray for the internet age. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?The story was inspired in part by real-life: the field of “deep fakes” (making realistic-looking but totally fake video content) was revolutionized by a VFX artist who went on to start a company bringing his services to the film and TV industry. I knew Dorothy was going to end up in Los Angeles! Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I think Dorothy is the kind of person who is captivating at first glance, not because she’s a charmer but because she is focused and driven and obviously really smart. There’s a lot to like, even admire. But you see, over time, that something’s not quite right. What are three words that describe your hero?Brilliant. But…

Excerpted from DARK MESSIAH by Sara Z. Carson: The first thing I noticed, when the doors opened, was his hair. It was cartoonishly blue-black, greased into a flawless pompadour. Next, his sunglasses. He looked seven feet tall, larger and more gorgeous than everyone around him. Majestic, a miracle. He waited in the entranceway, the band started up, and we all stood, as we were supposed to. Dad energetically strutted down the center aisle, shaking hands and hugging members as they cheered, raised their hands, and stomped their feet. An infectious sense of belonging took hold, charging the air; each breath I took in and then exhaled made my entire body tingle. It felt as though my whole life had led to that moment, that everything before it was a lie. If I told you the song was “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” but instead everyone sang, “What a Friend We Have in Father,” would you believe me? Could I possibly believe myself, saying it now? What a friend we have in Father, all our sins and griefs to bear. What a privilege to carry everything to Dad in prayer. O what peace we often forfeit, o what needless…

Welcome back to Jen’s Jewels, your go-to destination for discovering your next great read. This week, I’m thrilled to shine the spotlight on THE GATES OF MIDNIGHT by New York Times bestselling author Helene Wecker. The final installment in the award-winning The Golem and the Jinni trilogy, this captivating conclusion brings readers back to the unforgettable world of Chava and Ahmad. Filled with magic, history, friendship, and love, THE GATES OF MIDNIGHT is a fitting finale to a beloved series. Read on as Helene takes us behind the scenes, sharing the inspiration behind the book and the characters that have captured readers’ hearts. LIGHTNING ROUND What’s your favorite way to spend a crisp September afternoon?Tidying up the garden! I grow vegetables and flowers (poorly) in my yard, and by September all the summer crops are pretty much done for. I spend at least one full weekend every autumn clearing all the wilted plants out of the beds and giving the shrubs a serious pruning. Then later in the fall, I gather up the fallen leaves from the trees behind our house and use them to mulch the beds. What’s your go-to fall drink, snack, or sweet treat while writing?Around here…

One of the first things I do when I start writing a new book is create a playlist. I add songs that remind me of the vibe of the story, the setting, and the emotional journey that the characters undertake. The playlist grows and changes while I’m writing and rewriting, and I often listen to it when I’m not writing, to keep the world of the story in my head when I’m doing other things. Here’s a selection of songs from the WELL VERSED playlist! “Take a Giant Step” by the Monkees (First of all, how is this song SIXTY years old? What is time??) This encapsulates Alex’s point of view, when he realizes how much he broke Caitlin’s heart the first time around. He’s determined to help her see the joy of Faire—and life—again. Though you’ve played at love and lostAnd sorrow’s turned your heart to frostI will melt your heart again There’s just no percentage in remembering the pastIt’s time you learned to live again at last “Labyrinth” by Taylor Swift Caitlin doesn’t want to fall in love again … especially not with the man who broke her heart years ago. But the more he tries to atone,…

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 CLEO COYLE! Writes: As Cleo Coyle, my husband and I write the New York Times bestselling Coffeehouse Mysteries, a fun series of “edge of your seat” murder mysteries that are packed with the kind of personal stakes that make you want to read “just one more chapter!” Our stories are set in and around a charming, landmark coffeehouse in New York’s historic Greenwich Village, a quiet, tree-lined haven from the busier parts of the city. Hard-working single-mom Clare Cosi runs this century-old shop while doing her best to mother her quirky staff and manage the crazy challenges of her personal life. Because Clare cares deeply about the community she serves, when bad things happen, she jumps in, doing all she can to help her friends and neighbors.Take our newest Coffeehouse release, EAT, DRINK, AND GET BURIED. Clare and her barista crew are hired to cater a glittering rooftop party, but the stunning view from the balcony ends in a shocking murder, and the person framed for this…