I admit that I usually go for cozy mysteries rather psychological thriller – when it comes to books. But your latest book, THE OTHER FAMILY, sounds like some of my favorite horror films. What draws you to writing thrillers? I’m a Type A personality, so I think it’s likely about control. Psychological suspense novels are driven by fear of the unknown–for the characters, and for readers. But as the author, I know what’s going to happen–I’m the one who’s making it happen. In real life, there are so few things we can control, and there’s always going to be a measure of uncertainty and fear–unnerving for someone who likes to be in charge. In my fictional world, I truly am! The book description for THE OTHER FAMILY describes a sinister “watcher”. In some suspense or thrillers, the perspective alternates between a few of the main characters, along with an unknown killer playing the role of voyeur. Does your book jump perspectives as well? Or do your characters just get an eerie feeling of being watched, without confirming it for the readers throughout the story? My novel unfolds from three perspectives. Nora Howell is a mother of two who’s recently moved…

Jennifer Vido: What inspired your gripping new release, THE CAGE?  Bonnie Kistler: The opening scene in the elevator came from my years of practicing law in big firms in high-rise buildings. I spent countless hours riding up and down in these “cages,” and the situation often struck me as fraught with peril. Imagine getting trapped in a disabled elevator. Then imagine getting trapped with someone who might wish you harm. That’s where we find Shay Lambert and Lucy Carter-Jones when The Cage begins. The larger themes of the novel were inspired by the fall-out from the Great Recession of 2008. I knew so many bright young professionals who lost their jobs through no fault of their own. Once you lose your place on the ladder of success, it’s hard to ever get back on the right rung. That’s Shay’s back story. The third big “light bulb” moment came when a big news story broke: a prominent man was arrested for frequenting a massage parlor/brothel in Florida. The women involved appeared to have been trafficked, and that got me thinking about the exploitation of workers at all levels of the labor spectrum. What’s the office culture like at the fashion conglomerate…

ETERNAL LOVER, which comes out February 22nd, is described as a reissue but with a new story by you. What can you tell me about the anthology, but your story specifically? When I was reading the book description, some of the stories look like historical paranormal ones (which I LOVE), and I know Hannah Howell has done those type of stories before. I love paranormal historicals. That is one of my favorite candies. However, my story isn’t historical. It’s a modern nod to The Mummy (’99) and my hero is basically a mashup of Imhotep and Ardeth Bey. I am really excited to be included in this anthology because it was one that I’d read and loved. I’m a big fan of the other authors in the set.   The third book in your Fairy Godmothers, Inc. series just came out at the end of December. What can you tell me about that series? Can the books be read as standalones? Fairy Godmothers Inc. is what you get if the Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus used their powers for mostly good. The series is extra special to me because I went through some really hard times while I was writing…

Your new book, DREAMING OF A DEVILISH HIGHLANDER, is the first in a series. Do you have a set number of books you plan on doing in this series? Or you’ll see what inspires you? For the Highland Shifters Series, I plan to publish three books about three Highlander warrior friends who are cursed at the same time by their fallen enemy’s mother. For my other series, like my Highland Adventure Series, I follow inspiration and write stories of previous secondary characters (making them heroes or heroines). I even did a spin off series called Scottish Treasure. But the Highland Shifters characters are separate and unrelated to the other series’ characters. The date is also slightly later.   From the book’s description, there seem to be some supernatural and time travel elements to this story. Paranormal historicals are my favorite. Do you include these kinds of elements in all your books? No, this book contains far more paranormal than my usual books. I have included some very mild paranormal in a couple of my regular historicals, but these were minor elements, like second sight. In DREAMING OF A DEVILISH HIGHLANDER, the hero shapeshifts into a hawk during the daytime and…

Welcome to Fresh Fiction, Harper! Congrats on the release of THE LADY TEMPTS AN HEIR. What do you love about writing novels set during the Gilded Age? Thank you so much for inviting me to Fresh Fiction. I’m thrilled to be here to discuss The Lady Tempts an Heir. By far, the best thing about writing books set during the Gilded Age is the research. I love the history of the time and how accessible it is to us. There are so many primary sources such as newspaper articles, journals, and even photographs from the period that help me set the mood for my stories. A close second is the fashion. The gowns were so gorgeous and extravagant. I can easily lose a day of writing by researching what my characters would be wearing in a particular scene.   Maxwell Crenshaw has been content living in New York but must go back to England after vowing he’d never return when his father takes ill. How do you think returning to his family estate changes Maxwell’s outlook on life so far, especially after he sees Helena again?  By this point in his life, and after dealing with his parents social-climbing maneuverings…

Your newest book THREE TIMES TEMPTED is the third book in your “A Scandal in Mayfair” series. Can this be read as a standalone? And what can you tell readers about the series who may be new to it? How are these books connected? Hi Miranda! Thanks so much for asking about my latest release. So far, there are three books in my “A Scandal in Mayfair” series and all can be read as standalones (all my books can be read as standalones actually!). There’s one more book to come – a Christmas story at the end of this year. “A Scandal in Mayfair” pretty much does what it says on the tin – all three stories are about people who dare to defy the rigid social standards of Regency London to claim their happiness. ONE WICKED WISH, Book 1, features downtrodden governess Stella Faulkner who embarks on an illicit and passionate affair with notorious rake, Lord Halston. TWO SECRET SINS, Book 2, features Stella’s cousin Viscount Colville, who is determined to win the wildest lady in London for his wife, despite his reputation for being a saint. Book 3, THREE TIMES TEMPTED, features Lady Imogen Ridley, Stella’s cousin and…

I see that your new book, THE SINISTER, is the ninth book in the series. Can it be read as a standalone story for readers who may be new to the series? THE SINISTER can most definitely be read as a standalone. I wrote this purposely to work as a standalone. I quickly and economically give the reader the information they need to understand the back story.   How would you describe your main character, Bruno Johnson, to readers? Bruno Johnson is an ex-cop, ex-con who rescues children from toxic homes in South Central Los Angeles. He couldn’t do it as a cop because of all the rules and policies so now he goes outside the law to rescue the children.   From the book description, it says that family plays a big part in THE SINISTER. Does having the main character deal with family issues increase the anxiety or sense of danger? Bruno Johnson is a real person with real problems. He rescues children and women from hostile environments and the story—each novel–always overlaps into his family. He keeps the children he rescues which means his family continues to grow. With a bigger family comes more problems. I’m very…

Hi, and thank you so much for inviting me to visit. It’s lovely to be here! In your latest book, CLAIMING HIS VIRGIN PRINCESS, your hero Noah Carson is a billionaire. This is a common thing for a romance hero. What makes a billionaire hero so attractive? What is your favorite type of hero to write? It’s interesting how many heroes are rich, isn’t it? One thing I particularly enjoyed about Noah was his perspective on wealth and power. He doesn’t come from money but from very humble origins and worked hard to build his commercial success. I think there are a couple of reasons why billionaire heroes are popular. At the most obvious level a rich hero can do things that are poor hero can’t, like whisk the heroine away on a luxurious yachting trip, as Noah does. But for me, the real appeal lies deeper. That wealth is a sign of the hero’s success. One of the things most people find attractive is competence – whether it be a man who can fix things with his hands, or solve a problem, or just be very, very good at whatever it is he does. If he’s a businessman his…

As a reader, I was never really interested in reading YA stories until a few years ago. I find them very compelling since the main characters are usually dealing with transition and emotional upheaval. What inspires you to write YA fiction? To me, they’re compelling because there’s so much our characters to deal with in such a short time and they’re not always ready for them. I love putting myself in the shoes of my heroines and seeing how they act/react. Life is suddenly very complicated. You’ve got your first love, first heartbreak, school, family, friends, the pressure cooker that is social media. When you’re a teenager, everything feels like a life-or-death situation. At least, that’s how I saw things back then! On top of all that, there’s the bewildering physical changes. And that’s just contemporary YA. Imagine what happens when you’ve got vampires, witches, ghosts, and/or aliens lurking around. Imagine if *you* are a teen witch and struggling to find your place in the world. It’s funny—I started writing YA fiction when I was about 13-15 and literally haven’t stopped. Like a lot of kids, I went through a turbulent time back then. The library was like a safe…

What can you tell me about your new historical mystery THE DEBUTANTE’S CODE? THE DEBUTANTE’S CODE is the first book in a new mystery series that stars Lady Juliette Thorndike, an aristocrat, and Mr. Daniel Swann, a Bow Street Magistrate’s Court detective. Lady Juliette, newly returned from finishing school is eager to be reunited with her parents and begin her debut season in London Society, but upon her arrival finds her parents are missing. Lady Juliette uncovers the truth about her parents, a family secret they’ve been hiding for generations, and she determines to carry on their legacy. In addition to her parents going missing, artwork and valuables are also disappearing from the homes of the Beau Monde. As Juliette embarks on her new life, she must keep her secrets from the dashing Detective Swann, who is growing ever closer to discovering who is stealing the artwork, and who the Thorndike family really is. From the book’s description, it seems like there might be a hint of romance in this book. Do you try and have a balance of mystery and romance? In THE DEBUTANTE’S CODE, there is more mystery than romance, as the characters from this book will feature…