Danielle Jackson: Welcome back to Fresh Fiction, Mariah! We are happy to have you hear and celebrate the release of THE DATING DILEMMA with you. Before we chat about your book, I have to say—I love all of your TikTok and Instagram videos. They are so much fun! What do you think it is about romance writing that lends it so well to your videos? Do you have a couple of favorites you’ve made (feel free to link to them)?  Mariah Anekenman:  Thank you so much! I’m excited to be here and more excited to talk about my Tiktok addiction, lol. I have a background in theater and was raised by a professional clown so point me to an audience and I am geared up to entertain! My favorite thing about the romance genre is how vast it is. There’s a romance out there for everyone! So I like to include that in my videos and just celebrate the joy and inclusion of romance. Plus it’s always fun to take the hate this genre gets and turn it around into a celebration of success because as we all know romance is a billion-dollar industry, can’t get numbers like that unless you’re…

It’s no secret, I like anthologies. They introduce me to new authors, some breaking into the industry, some I haven’t tried yet and then others I know really well and I’m dying to get a fix in between books. (I have many addictions when it comes to authors.) This month I chose an anthology close to home, Malice in Dallas checks all my boxes for a great collection of mysteries, and guess what—some will lead you to new series! Sweet! When I saw the cover pop up on my social media, I was intrigued. I contacted author Gina Nelson, aka Rebecca Adler, whom I’ve known since her very first published book, and who has been a guest interviewer at the Cozy Corner. During our messages, an idea was born. With so many great local authors, this book warranted my very first interview anthology! Joining me in this very cozy little corner are just a few of the talented writers who contributed to the book—Gina Nelson, David T. Douglas, Pam McWilliams, and Amber Royer. I hope my product does their product the justice it deserves. Check out Malice in Dallas, edited by Barb Goffman and released this month with an introduction by the talented Charlaine Harris….

Jennifer Vido: What inspired your new release, SOMEBODY’S HOME? Kaira Rouda: Actually, although it doesn’t mention the pandemic, the idea was inspired by those lockdown times early in the pandemic where home felt like the only safe place to be. And then I thought, but what if it isn’t. Let’s talk about Julie Jones. What’s happening in her life that sparks a new beginning? Julie realizes her daughter, Jess, is about to leave home for college and she is running out of time to find a real connection between them. Her marriage is a sham, and she is longing for a more genuine life. It’s time for a fresh start: A new home for herself and her daughter. Who is Tom Dean, and what’s his connection to the house Julie and her daughter desire to call home? Tom Dean is a lost twenty-something. He and his father, Doug, are estranged, his father’s wife, his stepmom Sandi, has tried to reach him without success. When Sandi and Doug sell the family home, Tom feels the last connection to his real mom slip away. Tom decides he won’t move from the carriage house in the back, despite the fact the new owners…

1–What is the title of your latest release? HOW TO LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?  When Noah Jansen can’t convince his neighbor, Grace Travis, to sell her home to him, he has some not so neighborly ways to change her mind. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?  Noah Jansen is the brother of Chris Jansen from TEN RULES FOR FAKING IT. He moves to California to be closer to Chris. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?  Yes! I absolutely would. I’d also let her design my home. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Charming, Funny, Stubborn 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?  Writing-wise, I learned more about the editing process. I find it challenging but with this one, I really learned to get into the groove of improving what already existed. Non-writing wise, I learned some of the laws around the removal of palm trees in California 😉 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I do edit as I draft. My typical process when I open up my computer is to re-read what…

Hey there! I’m Lisa Kessler and I write passionate, page-turning, paranormal romances! I’m so excited to share PIRATE’S PARADOX with you today! It’s book 6 in my Sentinels of Savannah series, but all of the books are standalone so you can jump into PARADOX and you won’t be lost. This book is a sweeping adventure that will take Caleb and Diana all the way to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean! I can’t wait for you to read it… P – is for Pirates! Immortal Pirates to be exact! They plundered the Holy Grail in 1795. I – is for Intelligent – Our hero, Caleb, has spent 250 years studying the sciences. He has numerous PhDs R – is for Rrrrrrr – Caleb would tell you no self-respecting pirate would ever say that. Only in the movies! A – is for Atlantis – The hunt for Atlantis is on and the clock is ticking. T – is for Television – Caleb has insomnia and is addicted to buying gadgets from QVC and infomercials. E – is for Eccentric – Caleb is quirky and so adorable! S – is for Sexy – The chemistry between Caleb and Diana was very steamy….

Danielle Jackson: Welcome to Fresh Fiction, Lizzie! Congrats on the publication of YINKA, WHERE IS YOUR HUZBAND?. How does it feel to have your debut novel out in the world? Can you tell us about your journey into publishing?  Lizzie Damilola Blackburn: Thank you! It feels absolutely insane. (In a good way!) A few years back, no one, not even my other half had read YINKA, WHERE IS YOUR HUZBAND? in its entirety, so it’s kind of surreal that people, complete strangers, will now be reading it. It’s also very exciting because when I was writing YINK, I used to wander around bookstores and visualize my book on the shelves, and now, I’m a published author!  In terms of my journey to publication, it took me roughly five years. YINKA started off as a short story on a blog that I ran in 2014-15. The decision to turn it into a novel came after I met an incredible author called Jackie Ley. She felt as though the concept – a British Nigerian woman feeling the pressure to settle down – would make a brilliant novel. However, I had no formal writing experience, so I took on the challenge, blindly. As…

1–What is the title of your latest release? TEMPTING THE VICAR 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A tenacious vixen, a vicar in disguise, a tangled web of seduction and lies. TEMPTING THE VICAR is a Regency romance about an unconventional miss who falls for a countryside clergyman forced by mishap to pose as his worldly twin. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? London always provides a glittering backdrop for romance, but especially during the Regency. The English countryside also has a lot of appeal, however, so I decided to use both settings! 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely! I’m sure we’d be best friends and get into all sorts of trouble together, so it’s probably a good thing Olivia only exists in Times New Roman font. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Loyal, altruistic, tender 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? While researching London’s social clubs, I learned the Duke of Wellington was once refused entry into Almack’s because he was wearing the wrong kind of pants. Those Almack’s matrons certainly were strict about enforcing the dress code! I also learned how…

1–What is the title of your latest release? LIFE FLIGHT 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? EMS helicopter pilot Penny Carlton is used to high stress situations, but being forced to land on a mountain in a raging storm with a critical patient–and a serial killer on the loose–tests her skills and her nerve to the limit. She survives with FBI Special Agent Holt Satterfield’s help. But she’s not out of the woods yet. In the ensuing days, Penny finds herself under attack. And when news reaches Holt that he may not have gotten his man after all, it will take all he and Penny have to catch a killer–before he catches one of them. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I love the mountains of North Carolina and spending time there as they’re only about an hour and a half from home. So, when I decided the first book would have a mountain top emergency helicopter landing and a serial killer on the loose, Asheville, NC seemed like a great place to put that. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely. 5–What are three words that describe…

1–What is the title of your latest release? NEVER LEAVE ME 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? In NEVER LEAVE ME, Harrison Burlington, a brilliant scientist, is left to pick up the pieces after his friends Marian and Arthur Creighton die from comas after supposedly traveling into the past to the Middle Ages. With his power and wealth, Harrison continues the search for more holy water, with the hope of saving the woman he secretly loves, Ellen Creighton, who is dying of a genetic disease. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? It takes place in Canterbury, England, a place I’ve dreamed about visiting! 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Yes, because she’s such a positive and caring person, and we all need someone in our lives to remind us that the cup is always half full. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Aristocratic, Intelligent, Determined 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? Miraculous healings that took place through the drinking of holy water. I’m not sure if such healings really occurred, but they are recorded all throughout Europe during different time periods. 7–Do you edit…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE HELHEIM PRINCESS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? THE HELHEIM PRINCESS is a sapphic enemies-to-lovers romance about valkyries, who are warrior women on winged horses. Sigrid wants more than anything to be a valkyrie, but she doesn’t have a winged horse, so she’s doomed to be a stable hand. Then she sees a vision of herself leading a valkyrie charge on Odin’s eight-legged stallion, Sleipnir, and she realizes that a greater destiny for herself is possible. So she teams up with an enemy valkyrie who helps her cross the nine worlds to get to Sleipnir. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I decided to write about valkyries because I wanted to write about warrior women on horseback. From there, it was a matter of picking which of the nine Norse worlds they should live on. A bit of research later, we ended up in the beautiful world of Vanaheim! 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely! We would have an awesome time. I’d love to go riding with her. 5–What are three words that describe your other heroine? Destined…