Fresh FIction Box Not To Miss
Callie Hutton | My Top Ten Heroes
Author Guest / July 10, 2019

A list of my top ten heroes. Some of them are book heroes, some of them are real live people, some from movies, but they are all swoon-worthy to me. Either because of looks, strength of character, personality, alpha-ness, and how they treat women. They are not in any particular order. 1. Mr. Darcy from Pride and Prejudice. Either Colin Firth, Matthew Macfadyn, or the character as you imagine him from the book. 2. Rhett Butler. Definitely as I imagined him from the book, because although most women love Clark Gable, I could never see him in that role. 3. Indiana Jones. Love how Harrison Ford played that character in all the movies. 4. The Duke of Manchester from my book, The Duke’s Quandary. You’ll have to read the ending of that book to know why I love him as a hero. 5. Will Smith. Aside from being a really nice guy—from those who know—he plays great heroes in his movies. And looks pretty good, too. 6. Shrek… I know, but it’s my list. 7. Superman. Need I say more? 8. Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird. A true hero for his time. 9. Jon Snow from Game of Thrones…

Tina Gabrielle | Overcoming Writer’s Block
Author Guest / June 13, 2019

Hello! I’m Tina Gabrielle and I write adventurous historical romance featuring feisty ladies and bold heroes. I’m excited to be on Fresh Fiction to celebrate my new historical release, HOW TO BEST A MARQUESS, the second book in my Raven Club series. Writing a novel is not an easy task. I think of it as a rollercoaster ride of emotion. One day I can be struggling with the dreaded sagging middle, and the next day my fingers are flying over the keyboard. Writer’s block is also a dreaded phenomenon, and it can result in frustration and depression. I’ve experienced a form of it. Whether I’m staring at a blank screen or an empty piece of paper, it can be crippling. Thankfully, I’ve used helpful tips to overcome it. Exercising works best for me. I’m a lap swimmer, and I’ve found the quiet time away from the kids and work very helpful. I’m able to simply think. If this doesn’t work, I change my environment. I’m not a coffee drinker, but I go to my nearest Starbucks with my laptop and order a large iced tea. Something about being around people, without having to talk to anyone, helps me focus. I’ve…

Wendy LaCapra | Historical Heroines who Rule
Author Guest / May 22, 2019

I don’t just write and read historical romance, I’m a passionate defender of the subgenre. Although trappings of the past can be fun (Candlelight! Carriages! Architectural grandeur! Bodices and bustles!), what intrigues me most about writing historcials is the very thing most often criticized—that the society was stuffy, restricted, and in dire need of change. For instance, in nineteenth-century England, married women, by law, were not separate entities from their husbands. Men controlled the money, the legal system, and access to education. In such a world, love itself—powerful, unpredictable, capable of smashing social and economic barriers, and, ultimately, bringing those ‘in command’ to their knees—was a radical threat to the social order. Women who chose to flout norms faced very real economic/social consequences, yet history sparkles with them. Armed with wit, intelligence, and creativity, they forged their own way. I’m inspired by the unconventional women who took charge of their destinies despite the forces stacked against them. Lady Clarissa Laithe, the heroine of my latest book, Heart’s Desire, undergoes a transformation and becomes such a lady. As the story begins, she is someone who has done what she was told and fulfilled the expectations around her, but a confrontation with…