Who doesn’t love a review? I recently had my yearly employee review. It’s like an annual medical physical, but with less blood and more sweat and tears. My boss pointed out that no one is allowed to get a perfect score. So she arbitrarily chose a category and deducted five points. She selected productivity but pointed out it was the third one on the list and three is her favorite number. Science! Reviews have become a huge business. Websites are devoted to them for hotels, restaurants, movies, and every product imaginable. Even individuals are subject to them. I’ve been asked to give a shout out to the person who helped me in a store or my server in a restaurant. Even my dentist reminds me of my hygienist’s name, in case I have a suggestion. Since I’m not a member of the medical profession and have no useful knowledge to impart, I keep things light. Authors drop subtle hints that boil down to please recommend my book. Even best-selling authors get scathing reviews, or worse, spoilers. If you’ve finished a murder mystery, and delighted with the big twist at the end, let everyone else be surprised too. If I figure…

In this week’s Jen’s Jewels column on FreshFiction.com, I chat with Savannah Carlisle about her newest coastal romance, IF I’D HAVE KNOWN. From Gigi and Austin’s witty banter-turned-romance to the intriguing Salty Breeze B&B inheritance mystery, Savannah gives readers a behind-the-scenes look at her inspiration, writing process, and the surprises that shaped the story. She also shares her dream casting, the playlist that fueled her writing, and a sneak peek at what’s to come in the next seaside installment. Cozy up with your favorite fall drink and get ready to fall in love with this charming small-town series. Jen: What inspired you to write IF I’D HAVE KNOWN, and how does it connect to the first book in your coastal romance series?Savannah: When I first wrote The Summer of Starting Over, I wasn’t planning on turning it into a series. I wrote a big supporting cast because I love shows like Virgin River and Sweet Magnolias that have a tight-knit community. In the midst of writing the first book, however, I fell in love with the idea of Austin and Gigi getting together. By the time I was editing that book, I knew there was going to be a series,…

Welcome to LITTLE HORTON, the one town in America where Halloween isn’t just a party. It’s a way of life.   If you live in North Wisconsin, I can already picture some raised eyebrows. “Little H’? Isn’t that the town where all these people keep dying, and something awful always seems to happen when October 31st comes a-knocking?” You’ve heard the tales. You know the nursery rhymes. Jeremy Krone was on a roll when he left homeThat night.Shots in his gun, death in his heart, they swore his eyesWould bite.Streets a riot with gowns and masks, candy galoreSpills out.BANG BANG through the night, BANG BANGWhat was that?His ghost still haunts the town. Well. You can put all that nonsenseout of your mind. Having been the first lady of Little Horton for a decade, I’m well-placed to say that our charming little town isn’t haunted. Not by Jeremy Krone, and not by any of the men and women who tragically met their ends on Halloween night. It is true that our town has a history of being a little… unrestful, when that special time of year arrives. “No smoke without fire” is how the expression goes. But I assure you, those…

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.

Charlotte, the star of HELLO WIFE, is friendly, quirky, and a little bit reckless. Her story grows from a desire — a desperation — to have a partner. Someone to love who will love her back. As she drives herself toward that goal, her emotional hunger is exposed, over and over again. HELLO WIFE was written with Ravel’s Boléro playing in my headphones. Like Charlotte, the Boléro features a repetitive melody that repeats over and over. And like Charlotte, it gains intensity and depth as it rumbles, inevitably, toward its end. I like the idea that the pacing and rhythm of the music mirrors Charlotte’s journey. Plus, it’s a great piece of music. The rest of my list is made up of tunes that make me feel strong. That bolsters my own confidence as a writer and serves as an example of what real art can do to, and for, a person. Come To My Window, Melissa EtheridgeThis song puts me in the mood to write about love. “You don’t know how much I’d give, or how much I can take” might be the language of my character Celia, who loves her sister desperately. The refrain, “I’ll be home soon,”…

What is the title of your latest release?RICHES BEYOND MEASURE What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?A widow eager to let go of grief joins a treasure hunt with a wannabe cowboy. When they encounter danger along with lost gold, he’s tougher than she thought and her grief is turning into a longing for a new future. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?The heroine of this book, Annie Lane, grew up at this ranch, and her husband’s death in a hail of bullets kicks off the beginning of an earlier book, Inventions of the Heart. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I loved Annie, she’s hard-working and kind and loving…but just lately she’s decided everyone else is having all the fun. She wants in on the treasure hunt! What are three words that describe your hero?Musical, kind, city boy. What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned about sailing ships that explored the California coast three hundred years before America was a country. I learned about Conquistadors and earthquakes…and I used all of that information in my book. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are…

What is the title of your latest release?EXTRAORDINARY QUESTS FOR AMATEUR WITCHES What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?After accidentally cursing his ex-boyfriend Ash, a young witch named Kieran must go on a fantastical quest to fix his mistake and win Ash back. Things get complicated, however, when Kieran finds himself falling for a mysterious new crewmember along the way. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Quests is a companion novel to Practical Rules for Cursed Witches, which takes place in the fictional country of Celdwyn. It made sense, then, to remain there, but to explore some new regions that I didn’t get to with the first book. The setting is also very cold and wintery to contrast with the first book, which took place in the lushest part of spring/summer. Would you hang out with your hero in real life?Oh, definitely. Kieran very much shares my sense of humor, and we’re both writers with a penchant for melodrama, so I figure we’d get along. What are three words that describe your hero?Sincere, flamboyant, and kindhearted. What’s something you learned while writing this book?It really solidified my love for main characters with big personalities….

What is the title of your latest release?THE SISTERHOOD What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?I’m so wholly incapable of coming up with an elevator pitch that my agent always writes book descriptions for me. I was born without that gene. In this book, we’ve got suffragettes, the London Season, a murdered debutante, stolen jewels, and a second timeline focused on Boudica and Roman Britain. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?London was one of the primary locations in the first book in the series (And Only to Deceive) and is a place I’ve circled back to a few times since. On this occasion, I was walking along the Thames, came to the statue of Boudica in her chariot, and realized in that instant I wanted to tell her story. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Absolutely! I’d even drink port with her. What are three words that describe your protagonist?Smart, loyal, intuitive. What’s something you learned while writing this book?Although we have a few primary sources that tell us about Boudica, there is no archaeological record of her yet found. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you…

What is the title of your latest release?DAEDALUS IS DEAD What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?Daedalus, who famously designed the Labyrinth that imprisoned the Minotaur, enters the underworld to look for the ghost of his son, Icarus, who died using the wings his father built. Daedalus also looks back on his own memories of Crete, trying to understand why Icarus ignored his warnings and flew too close to the sun. It’s about becoming a parent and having to own up to the ways you’re complicit in the brutally unfair world your kid has to live in. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?The image of the Labyrinth at Knossos on the island of Crete has been in my psychic attic for a long, long time. Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life?Definitely not, too much risk of getting fed to a Minotaur. What are three words that describe your protagonist?Creative, cowardly, crafty. What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned I could finish a book! I’ve started and abandoned two novels, usually running out of gas and ideas between 20k and 30k words. Daedalus is Dead started as an…

Book Title: MURDER ON THE HIGH SEASCharacter Name: Zachariah Fitch How would you describe your family or your childhood?Well, my childhood was great, but later after the death of our parents, my three siblings and I went our own ways. Mainly because I didn’t agree with their professions. My brother was a mercenary, my one sister a nun, and my other sister a Winchester Goose. (A whore.) What was your greatest talent?I’d have to say I have a knack for bringing about justice. Righting wrongs. Significant other?My wife died a year ago, leaving me as a single father. I have a close friend, Lady Vivienne Harlowe who is a widow. Since she’s a noble and I am not. We’ve remained friends only, but sometimes I can feel sparks growing between us. In a romantic way, that is. Biggest challenge in relationships?I guess I have issues with trust. I don’t trust anyone. But then again, in my position as town sheriff, it kind of comes with the territory, I guess. Where do you live?I live in the town of Mablethorpe, England. Do you have any enemies?Most likely, anyone I’ve ever arrested, and pretty much everyone who inhabits Rotten Row . ….