I love Halloween! I decorate my house, have a huge party, watch monster movies all month and most importantly, I read Halloween mysteries. Which is why I’d like to share a favorite with you. Leslie Meier’s Lucy Stone mysteries are a favorite and she has a few Halloween themed mysteries that will get you in the Halloween spirit. One word of warning, it is a long series and I usually read in order, because the character changes, grows, and so on through the course of the series. But that being said, you could read these out of order. I’ve included what number these books are in the series so you know where they land. Number 3 in the series – It’s October in Maine, and everyone in Tinker’s Cove is preparing for the annual Halloween festival. While Lucy Stone is whipping up orange-frosted cupcakes, recycling tutus for her daughters’ Halloween costumes, helping her son with his pre-teen rebellion, and breast-feeding her brand-new bay, an arsonist is loose in Tinker’s Cove. When the latest fire claims the life of the owner of the town’s oldest house, arson turns into murder. . . While the townsfolk work to transform a dilapidated mansion…

How did you organize all of this?It’s taken well over a year of preparation and diligent planning to get everything set up for the Busty Bodice Club – an eight-book series coming in April ’26. The covers, the theme, the authors…it was all diligently planned. I wanted the set to be bright, bold, and beautiful. And I wanted truly curvy women on the covers. After being part of several sets, I did my best to make it easy for authors to say yes and jump in. I wanted to have everything well organized and communication clear and consistent. So I’ve taken tips from other sets I’ve been in and incorporated them into this one. What motivated you to pick the themes that you did?I currently write under two pen names, Lana Piers and Eliana Piers. Lana Piers writes contemporary romance and I see a lot of body positive representation in that genre, but in historical romance (with Eliana Piers) I’ve only seen one other series that has promoted curvy heroines. I’m sure there are more out there, but I’ve only seen one. I wanted to do a multi-author project to bring more attention to curvy FMCs. Hence the start of…

What is the title of your latest release?MANHATTAN TRIPTYCH What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?40 years in the friendship of three women, up to the moment one of them disappears. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?It required no decision on my part. Manhattan is as much a part of the story as anything else, the way it has so drastically changed since the ‘70s. As the women change, so does the city. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I would, but I would hang on for dear life to my husband. What are three words that describe your hero?There are three heroines, really. Diane is very smart and a bit self-destructive, Nikki’s reckless choices in her early twenties caused her to seek shelter early in conventionalism, and Orla is a passionate dreamer. (I know, that’s more than three words.) What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned that moving back and forth in time can work if you have a very firm grip on where you’re going. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?I constantly edit. Each morning when I pick up…

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…