Interviewer: S. Bailey, features writer.Interviewee: Allie Evans, barista at The Wicked WildflowerDate of Interview: July 16, 2026Location of Interview: Pacific Shores, Ca.; The Wicked Wildflower Cafe Begin Transcript 00:00:01 (Early morning sun peeks through the storefront windows, the scent of fresh ground coffee beans lingering in the air. The lights are low, the cafe not yet opened, rays of light shimmering over the sea-blue walls where various pieces of framed art decorate the space, paired with eclectic, vintage decor and terracotta accents. Interviewee, long time staff member and barista, Allie Evans, stands behind the coffee bar, tying an apron around her waist) SB: Thank you for taking time to speak with me today. AE: Sure. Where are you from again? SB: Food Network. We’re doing a spotlight on quaint coastal towns and their charming restaurants. AE: Well, you came to the right place. I have to get the store ready to open, though. Mind asking your questions as you follow me around? SB: Absolutely. Do your thing. 00:00:36 (Miss Evans’ back is turned, adjusting settings on the espresso maker before the rumble of machinery erupts into a dull background roar.) SB: How long have you worked here? AE: I was…

Each Monday the Smashwords store lists the top ten most highly anticipated indie fiction ebooks based on the previous week’s preorder accumulations. Each title on the list is scheduled to release within the next week. To help the talented authors on this list accumulate even more preorders, click the title of the book. The hyperlink will bring you to a Books2Read page where you can order from your preferred ebook retailer. If the preorder is part of a series, click the hyperlinked series title to learn about the other books in the series. Be sure to check back Friday for a list of the Top 25 Bestselling Indie Ebooks.

To be honest, I grew to admire the author, Sherry Thomas, before I knew about any of her books. I met her at Fresh Fiction’s Readers N’ ritas conference in Dallas so many years ago, I don’t want to say. I was working on an event for authors to interact with readers and she introduced herself. She was outgoing, but soft spoken, eloquent with a wry sense of humor and a gentle smile. She was down to earth and a joy to be around.             AND THEN I BOUGHT HER BOOK, AND MY GIRL CRUSH WAS COMPLETE!             Can I just say, my Charlotte Holmes is not blonde, with a creamy complexion. She doesn’t dress in bright vibrant and wild patterns and her hair isn’t done in an elaborate hair style. My Charlotte is a highly intelligent young woman with dark hair and a natural beauty. I met her while jello shots were being passed around the room. My Charlotte dresses incognito every day in unassuming earth tone dresses with oversized sweaters and comfortable shoes and I look forward to reading her latest adventure every year.             We all have our own vision of who a character should be, and…

What is the title of your latest release?ALL HER BEAUTIFUL DEATHS What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?ALL HER BEAUTIFUL DEATHS is about two women, connected in time through a mysterious, hauntingly beautiful album of Victorian death photographs. When the album is involved in an art world scandal and is suddenly thrust into the public eye, our present-day heroine must dig deep to uncover the truth of what happened to the young women pictured. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?Most of my work is set in England and I knew I’d love to write yet another book set in London in Highgate Cemetery (this is the third book I’ve set there, though the other two are children’s books). There’s a particular modern house that adjoins the cemetery that I’ve always fancied, and I decided to take that house and turn it into a Victorian home that had been renovated. And then I made it sentient. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I have two heroines in ALL HER BEAUTIFUL DEATHS – Minnie is 1865 and Hadley in the present day. They’re both delightful people and I miss them both very…

A is for author, because that’s the heart of the matter. U is for unappreciated, because that’s how Mack, the main character, feels. T is for trials and tribulations, because Mack’s life as a professional author is bumpier than he expected. H is for hilarious, because parts of this are laugh-out-loud funny. O is for of course, because of course it’s satire—and of course satire can feel painfully real. R is for reader reviews, because the reader reviews are among the most entertaining parts of the book. L is for lesbians, because there are four lesbian characters. I is for instant bestseller, because that’s what Mack—and I—both dream of. F is for finances, because who can blame Mack for wanting some financial security? E is for existential crisis, because none of this would’ve happened if Mack hadn’t succumbed to doubt and fear and ego. #AUTHORLIFE by Joe Zagets Writing novels wasn’t supposed to be a blood sport. After selling his first thriller novel for six figures, Mackenzie “Mack” Lane quit his job as a journalist to become a full‑time author. But now, a few years later, his career is spiraling downward. With each book doing worse than the last, he…

What is the title of your latest release?The Aunt What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?When one sister dies after years of estrangement, the other inherits everything, but it turns out the suspects are closer than you would think. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I moved to Palm Beach from New Jersey and immediately felt like I stepped into an entirely different world. I wanted to write what that felt like. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?I would like to think that I’m not as cynical as my character, but the person she becomes in the end I would. What are three words that describe your hero?Resourceful, determined, redeeming. What’s something you learned while writing this book?I learned that it doesn’t matter what your social or economic status is in life, you’re still human and not immune to the basic emotions of love, loss, heartbreak, betrayal or sickness. Iin the end we aren’t that different from one another. Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done?My first draft is very bare bones. I focus only on making sure the plot makes sense and is…

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.

This week’s Jen’s Jewels spotlight is shining on FALLING FOR PEACHTREE BLUFF by New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey. The newest installment of the beloved Murphy family series brings fans back to Peachtree Bluff, where small-town charm, family secrets, and plenty of pumpkin spice await. If you’re ready for a cozy fall read filled with heart, humor, and Southern charm, this one belongs on your TBR. LIGHTNING ROUND What’s your favorite way to spend a crisp September afternoon?I’m a big football girl! A Tar Heel game and a pumpkin spice latte make me so happy! Any high school sporting event too. I also love fall boating days. It’s a little cooler, and the water is so calm. What’s your go-to fall drink, snack, or sweet treat while writing?I love to make—and eat!—pumpkin muffins! Pumpkin everything for me! THE FALL INSPIRATION What was the very first spark that inspired this story?It was so strange. I wrote CHRISTMAS IN PEACHTREE BLUFF in 2020 as the extra chapter of the series. I was finished. Or so I thought. The minute I finished I knew what happened next, and I kept writing, just for fun, maybe even for myself. I never even…

A movie star, a diplomat’s wife, a scientist, and attendants to royalty—the protagonists of this month’s selection of stories live out-of-the-ordinary lives on, or near, a grand stage. We’ll start with the movie star in WHEN WE WERE BRILLIANT by Lynn Cullen, a novel about the relationship between Marilyn Monroe and photographer Eve Arnold—the only female photographer Monroe worked with and the one she pursued as a young starlet, sure this woman would project the image Norma Jean wanted the world to see. Although one would become an internationally recognized personality and the other would be little-known, their association spans Marilyn’s life, her story revealed as Eve saw and photographed her.  Both were ambitious, driven women determined to succeed in their chosen fields despite the restrictions imposed by their male-dominated industries, struggling to balance professional aspirations with traditional female roles in marriage and motherhood.  Though Cullen’s Eve remains somewhat a shadowy figure and her narrative doesn’t delve deeply into Marilyn’s serious mental health issues, she does a marvelous job of letting Eve reveal the poignant humanity and enormous heart of the woman behind the symbol who yearned all her life for love, stability and acceptance. We return to a fictional…

What is the title of your latest release?RE:CLAIM – A Sultryverse story What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?After an eighteen-year-old French heiress is blamed for fighting off an attempted assault, she is sent to an elite Swiss boarding school built to contain the scandals of the ultra-wealthy. With a brilliant hacker she cannot stop thinking about, she uncovers a vault of blackmail material and builds Les Louves, an anonymous collective determined to expose powerful men without exploiting their victims. How did you decide where your book was going to take place?I wanted old money, reputation, and secrecy to feel like parts of the same machine. Paris gave the story polish and social pressure; a private island, an elite Swiss boarding school, and a bank vault gave it institutional secrecy and physical stakes. The settings look immaculate, which made them perfect places to hide ugly systems. Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?Absolutely, but I would let Manon choose the venue. She is loyal, funny, stylish, and ferociously protective. I would also make sure my passport was current, because an ordinary drink with Manon has a way of turning into an international incident. What are three…