I’m a huge believer in fate. When we don’t know what’s ahead, or can’t see how things work, we can trust that Fate is there, stepping in, even if we don’t know she’s there! I’ve seen evidence of this so many times in my life. So much so that I’ve learned to trust. To be comforted, rather than frightened, when Fate takes a hand. Take, for instance, the year I was invited to take part in a Harlequin anthology celebrating older heroines. This was twelve years ago. I’d been asked to contribute a novella to the anthology. I could write any story I wanted to write – as long as the heroine had a late in life pregnancy. Of course, I happily accepted! Within a week, I’d had a call from my brother, who’d already had his fortieth birthday, telling me that he and his wife, his same age, had just found out that they were expecting a child. They’d taken measures, physical measures, to have no more children. This child was truly a miracle. I set out to write my story with joy in my heart. I started researching immediately. And found that one of the big scares for…
There are so many fun summer reads in the July Fresh Fiction Box Not to Miss, check them out! July’s Print Books: Everyone received at least 3 of these summer releases! Everywhere and Every Way by Jennifer Probst A Texas Soldier’s Family by Cathy Gillen Thacker Colton Cowboy Hideout by Carla Cassidy Puppy Love for the Veterinarian by Amy Woods Now and Then Friends by Kate Hewitt Nacho Figueras Presents: Wild One by Jessica Whitman The Billionaire Bachelor by Jessica Lemmon The Beauty of the End by Debbie Howells The Book of Speculation by Erika Swyler July’s eBooks: Every box included all 4! The Vintner and the Vixen by Alexia Adams Remember the Night by Nicole Leiran Burn Down The Night by M. O’Keefe The Geek Gets The Girl by Michele Hauf Vixen’s Tale Every month, until June 2017, each box will showcase a new adventure featuring our mascot, Vixen. The tale is illustrated with a collectible postcard and button set. Vixen’s Tale #2: Bought by the Italian Magnate, A Billionaire Contemporary Romance Vixen was so clueless, she never imagined not learning the local language would get her in this much trouble. At least he had a beautiful smile under…
Best First Book Forget Tomorrow by Pintip Dunn | Entangled | Science Fiction | Young Adult Contemporary Romance: Long Brokedown Cowboy by Maisey Yates | HQN | Contemporary Contemporary Romance: Mid-length Him by Elle Kennedy, Sarina Bowen | Author Self-Published | Gay Contemporary Romance: Short The Nanny Plan by Sarah M. Anderson | Harlequin | Contemporary Erotic Romance For Real by Alexis Hall | Riptide Publishing | Erotica | Gay / Lesbian Historical Romance: Long Tiffany Girl by Deeanne Gist | Howard | Historical | Fiction Historical Romance: Short It Started With a Scandal by Julie Anne Long | Avon | Historical Inspirational Romance A Noble Masquerade by Kristi Ann Hunter | Bethany House | Historical Paranormal Romance Must Love Chainmail by Angela Quarles | Author Self-Published | Time Travel | Paranormal Novella Nice Girls Don’t Ride by Roni Loren | InterMix | Erotica | Erotica Sensual | Novella / Short Story Romantic Suspense Flash Fire by Dana Marton | Author Self-Published | Suspense Young Adult Romance The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett | Feiwel & Friends | Young Adult
One of my favorite annual Fresh Fiction reader events is Boas & Tiaras Afternoon Tea. When we started it nearly two decades ago our small group of fifteen met at a tea shop between Dallas and Fort Worth and used the gathering as an excuse to wear shiny tiaras and fluffy boas. We did not have any authors join us then, instead we used the occasion to talk about books and celebrate the second generation of book club members who were going off to college. From that moment it turned into an annual June afternoon where we would dress up, don our tiaras, and share our favorite summer books. As years passed and our nerve increased, we invited authors to join us. They spread the word about Boas & Tiaras, inviting their readers to come, and helping us establish a name for ourselves. It was those early years of Boas & Tiaras that I cherish, as many friends were made and a great foundation for Fresh Fiction reader events was established. On Saturday, June 12th we celebrated our 15th Boas & Tiaras with Linda Bolton, Kelli Ireland, Mari Madison, Emily McKay, Jan Moran, Susan Sheehey, Gena Showalter, C.A. Szarek, Tracy…
A New Literary Fiction Imprint from MIRA Books New York, NY, July 1, 2016—MIRA Books announced today the official launch of Park Row Books, an exclusive line of thought-provoking and voice-driven novels by both celebrated and new authors. Park Row Books will be led by Margaret Marbury, Vice President, General Fiction Editorial, and Erika Imranyi, Executive Editor. Park Row Books will publish unique voices and powerful stories that inspire discussion. Inaugural titles are slated for release in summer 2017. “With the success of MIRA’s rapidly expanding literary fiction program, we decided to establish a dedicated imprint that focuses on the incredible novels we are publishing,” said Marbury. “Park Row Books allows us to create new opportunities for talented literary writers who want a boutique publishing experience with the support of a powerhouse commercial publisher.” “We are aggressively growing our imprints that publish hardcover and trade paper original fiction,” said Loriana Sacilotto, Executive Vice-President, Global Publishing and Strategy at Harlequin. “Park Row Books is acquiring powerful and compelling novels by talented writers who are looking for a house that will shine a spotlight on their titles.” The name Park Row Books was inspired by the landmark street that runs through downtown…
Book of the Year The Five Times I Met Myself by James L. Rubart What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say? Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage. So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past Read More » Contemporary The Sea Keeper’s Daughters by Lisa Wingate From modern-day Roanoke Island to the sweeping backdrop of North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains and Roosevelt’s WPA folklore writers, past and present intertwine to create an unexpected destiny. Restaurant owner Whitney Monroe is desperate to save her business from a hostile takeover. The inheritance of Read More » Contemporary Romance/Suspense The Wedding Chapel by Rachel Hauck A lonely wedding chapel built as a tribute to lost love just might hold the long-awaited secret to hope and reconciliation. For sixty years, the wedding chapel has stood silent and empty. Retired football hall-of-famer Jimmy “Coach” Westbrook built the chapel by hand, stone by stone, for Read More » Saga of four loves and a wedding chapel Contemporary Series Crazy Little Thing Called Love by Beth K. Vogt …
You never know what is going to happen . . . .When the Duke Comes to Town! I’m thrilled to be included in this collection of Regency stories, all centering on the madcap mischief that ensues when the infamous, match-making Duke of Danby leaves Yorkshire for the London Season. There are four books in all: EVADING THE DUKE THWARTING THE DUKE OUTWITTING THE DUKE DISMISSING THE DUKE My novella, The Earl’s Hired Bride, is included in OUTWITTING THE DUKE. Because an unmarried Earl must be in want of a bride . . . Every debutante in the ton wants to be the Countess of Hartford—and mistress of Hartsworth Castle. Never mind that Hart has no interest in marrying just yet, the young ladies hunt him as ruthlessly as a pack of hounds after the elusive fox. What he needs is a hired bride—one who will give him some room to breathe, but is guaranteed to call it off at the end of the Season. Because a girl with no prospects will do what she must to help her family . . . Miss Emily Spencer must do something. Her mother’s health is failing and the notorious Duke of Danby is…
I’ve had a few mishaps lately. Nothing serious, but annoying. I hurt my wrist, requiring it to be in a sling. And then I chipped a front tooth. No picture for that because I really hate looking at my mouth right now. Anyway, guess how these injuries happened. I was defending the world from evil aliens. After leaping over the nearest baddy, I used my tablet to knock the worst alien unconscious. Sadly,the impact of breaking his skull shattered my tablet, my current manuscript, and my wrist. Aliens did it to me in my sleep. Yup, I just woke up one day and there was a huge bump on my wrist. Racquetball—I stepped too close to my opponent and his racquet slammed into my wrist. Totally his fault! Racquetball – I stepped too close to my opponent and his racquet slammed into my wrist. Totally MY fault! Carpal tunnel from writing so much, so fast. I’m an author on fire! Answer: D – I really wish I’d been fighting aliens or writing so fast that my wrist exploded. Sadly, the truth is that I was playing racquetball, inched too close to my opponent, and got whacked. And yes—big sigh—it was…
MWA Announces the 2016 Edgar® Award Winners Mystery Writers of America is proud to announce the winners of the 2016 Edgar Allan Poe Awards, honoring the best in mystery fiction, non-fiction and television published or produced in 2015. The Edgar® Awards were presented to the winners at our 70th Gala Banquet, April 28, 2016 at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, New York City. BEST NOVEL Let Me Die in His Footsteps by Lori Roy (Penguin Random House – Dutton) BEST FIRST NOVEL BY AN AMERICAN AUTHOR The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen (Grove Atlantic – Grove Press) BEST PAPERBACK ORIGINAL The Long and Faraway Gone by Lou Berney (HarperCollins Publishers – William Morrow) BEST FACT CRIME Whipping Boy: The Forty-Year Search for My Twelve-Year-Old Bully by Allen Kurzweil (HarperCollins Publishers – Harper) BEST CRITICAL/BIOGRAPHICAL The Golden Age of Murder by Martin Edwards (HarperCollins Publishers – HarperCollins) BEST SHORT STORY “Obits” – Bazaar of Bad Dreams by Stephen King (Simon & Schuster – Scribner) BEST JUVENILE Footer Davis Probably is Crazy by Susan Vaught (Simon & Schuster – Paula Wiseman Books) BEST YOUNG ADULT A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis (HarperCollins Publishers – Katherine Tegen Books) BEST TELEVISION EPISODE TELEPLAY “Gently…
Fresh Fiction Local Check out our monthly events in the North Texas area. Monthly Teas at Chocolate Angel 2nd Saturdays Frisco Book Club – first Monday night (La Madeleine – Frisco / 121 & Parkwood) Fort Worth Book Club – second Tuesday night Plano Book Club – third Wednesday night Dallas Book Club – fourth Thursday (La Madeleine / Forest Ln) Don’t miss our annual Boas & Tiaras (June 11, 2016) or Readers & ‘ritas Weekend (November 11-13, 2016) Author sign-up | Vendor Information