1–What is the title of your latest release? STORM ECHO 2–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? The Psy-Changeling series encompasses multiple settings. This time around, I knew we were heading into the territory of the DarkRiver leopard changelings: San Francisco and the surrounding area. The series hasn’t been back in San Francisco for some time, so it was wonderful to return and see glimpses of several familiar characters. I originally chose SF (and more widely, California) as a setting because I’d recently traveled through it, and it just felt right for this series. It has sprawling landscapes, big cities, rivers, mountains, deserts, everything you need for both the shapeshifting changelings as well as the more city-based humans and Psy. I also particularly loved the energy of SF’s Chinatown, and it just worked its way seamlessly into the series – which it does this time around too, with a major scene taking place in the heart of Chinatown. 3–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely! She’s fun, deeply caring, a loyal friend, and has a wildly colorful style. 4–What are three words that describe your hero? Cool, controlled, devoted. 5–Do you…

1–What is the title of your latest release? NIGHT RACE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? It’s the Amazing Race but with vampires! 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I wanted there to be a mixture of places I’ve traveled to and places I’ve always wanted to go! For instance, I’ve always wanted to go to Transylvania, so I had a blast researching the area for the book. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely! I adore Theo and I love her personality and no-nonsense attitude. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Aiden is sweet, sarcastic, and resilient. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned about Patagonia, which is one of the places Theo and Aiden visit for the Night Race competition. It’s now firmly secured on my bucket list, especially Torres del Paine National Park. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I’ll spellcheck after finishing a chapter, but other than that, I don’t edit until I am totally done. For some reason, it messes up my flow! 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Fried Georgia wild…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE UNRIGHTEOUS SON 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? After receiving information that suggests her former bodyguard is in danger, business heiress Matilda Ashby must step back into the supernatural world she wanted to forget in an attempt to save him; but when she is a breakable human in a world of monsters, she has to risk everything to do so, and she must decide how much of her humanity she is willing to sacrifice to save the man she loves. There are necromancers and zombies. Matilda, former doormat, uses a sword at one point. I just hope readers have a lot of fun with it. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? After a trip to New York City, I decided it was the perfect place for my protagonist to call home. At least, in the beginning. In Book 2, I decided to have her visit Dallas, Texas since I’m from the DFW metroplex and the setting worked well with the plot. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Our social circles would never, ever cross. But if they did? I…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present A.N. Payton! Writes: I write fantasy romance, with a hint of steampunk. My debut novel, HELLFIRE AND HONEY, is about a witch princess named Sal forced to surrender to her sworn enemy, the vampire king Kadence. As the pair work through a tumultuous peace, and unexpected romance, something much worse marches toward them – a demon army thirsting for death. Will the kingdoms work together to defeat the horde, or will hellfire consume them all? About: I enjoy a good cup of tea (or coffee, I’m not picky!) while frantically chasing around my toddler and our sweet Australian Shepard mix doggie. When I’m not writing or reading, I’m either playing video games with my husband (probably Halo or Sea of Thieves) or sleeping. I’m searching for readers that love enemies-to-lovers tropes, bad boys you just can’t get over, and strong female characters that don’t have to rely on a man. My Ideal Reader Match Must Love: Enemies to lovers = hot, hot, hot Steamy…

1–What is the title of your latest release? THE HOB & HOUND PUB, Sam Quinn book 4 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Sam Quinn is the werewolf book nerd owner of The Slaughtered Lamb Bookstore & Bar. She’s been living in the apartment behind her bar for years, hiding from the rest of the world. The scars covering most of her body is only one of the reasons. After seven years of relative quiet, all hell is breaking loose. Sam is learning she has powers she never knew about and she’s using them on the daily. Luckily, she’s not on her own. She has Dave, a half-demon cook, Owen, a wicche assistant, and Clive, a British, wicked hot vampire Master of the City, to help her out. While Sam has been getting stronger—battling evil villains—in the last three books, she and Clive have been circling one another. In this story, their trip to Paris is interrupted by kidnappings, stabbings, and grouchy dragons. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Clive is an English vampire. His issues with his nemesis Aldith began long, long ago in Canterbury. Sam & Clive take a couple…

Anne Rice forever changed my reading world over 30 years ago. Prior to reading INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE, I had only read my mom’s collection of romance/gothic novels and horror authors such as Stephen King and Dean Koontz. Anne Rice opened my eyes to a world in which vampires were far more than the creepy nightmarish blood suckers (and definitely more sensual) than the ones I’d previously encountered in one of my favorite horror novels of all time, Stephen King’s SALEM’S LOT. From there, I devoured everything Anne Rice wrote (other than her early erotica novels), whether it was the religious exploration of Jesus Christ’s early years in CHRIST THE LORD: OUT OF EGYPT or the Mayfair Witches in THE WITCHING HOUR. Urban and dark fantasy novels weren’t something you could just walk into a bookstore and find back then, or at least not in my hometown in South Carolina. I remember my excitement when the first Anita Blake book came out and I continued eagerly scouring the shelves for others like Anne Rice who fueled my imagination. The battles between good and evil and the fine line that various urban and dark fantasy heroines and heroes must walk while…

I’m often asked about my writing routine. How I write. When I write. Where the ideas come from and how I get each one onto the page. For me, ideas have never been a problem. I have too many most of the time. The trick is deciding which ones I connect with most. My characters help me with that when they show up and start talking. The loudest, most determined one always gets the most airtime inside my head, invading my creative bubble so insistently I can no longer ignore them. Sometimes, it makes for a chaotic start to my day! One thing for sure, though, remains consistent about my writing routine. I’m a morning person, pure and simple. So when I tell people I get up at 5 AM, seven days a week, to write, I am invariably treated to incredulous looks and even a few “Are you crazy?” comments. Maybe I am. Then again, maybe I’m just the right amount. My imagination is alive early in the day. From the moment I open my eyes, the story I’m writing comes to life inside my mind and characters take shape and form. There’s just something about a quiet house…

I’m so excited to be here to talk a little bit about EMBER OF NIGHT! Ember of Night is a young adult paranormal romance about a girl from a broken home that has one goal in life—get her little sister away from their abusive father. If that wasn’t a hard enough task, a hot stranger comes into her life and tells her she’s the key to saving the world from a war between heaven and hell. But the world has never been kind to her, so who says it’s worth saving? E – E is for Electric. The chemistry between Draven and Harley is electric—even when they’re arguing 🙂 M – M is for Magical. Harley’s world is suddenly entrenched in magic when Draven opens her eyes to supernatural elements she never knew existed.  B – B is for Blurry. The lines between good and evil are blurred the more Harley learns about her new world.  E – E is for Edgy. Harley’s journey is not an easy one. It’s filled with sharp edges, fast drop-offs, and quick turns, but she meets each new challenge head on. R – R is for Rage. Because of Harley’s home life, she has…

Danielle J. Dresser: Welcome to Fresh Fiction, Cassandra, Genevieve, and Caitlin! We are excited to chat with you about WALK AMONG US, set in the world of the RPG game, Vampires: The Masquerade. Were you all familiar with RPGs and this one in particular before you started the project?   Cassandra Khaw: Oh my god, yes. Genevieve Gornichec: I was not, but I always wanted to be! The world just always seemed so big that I didn’t know where to start. Caitlin Starling:  I was obsessed with the source books and clan novels back in the mid-2000s, though I never got a chance to play! I definitely screamed a little when I saw what project I’d been brought in on. * Vampires have always been popular—what do you think makes them so attractive to readers?   Cassandra: The prospect of immortality, of someone who is ancient and ageless and able to have anyone in the world but chooses you to satisfy their needs, I think people like that. I think people like the elegance and sophistication too, the gratuitous amount of black, the tragic nobility. Genevieve: I think there’s something about them that people are drawn to. It’s like, a lot of…

1–What’s the name of your latest release?    CRIES FROM THE LOST ISLAND  2–What is it about?   It’s about a brokenhearted teenage boy who has just lost the love of his life, a young woman who believed she was the reincarnation of Cleopatra. The story is set against the magnificent ruins of ancient Egypt and brings to life the greatest love story of all time.   The leading character is Hal Stevens. He’s sixteen and a budding historical scholar from a small town in Colorado. Hal has only two friends, Roberto the Biker Witch and Cleopatra Mallawi. Cleo believes she’s being stalked by an ancient Egyptian demon, Ammut, the Devourer of the Dead. When Hal gets a desperate call from Cleo saying the demon has found her, he and Roberto rush to her house, but find her dying. Cleo’s last request sends Hal and Roberto on the journey of a lifetime with famed archaeologist Dr. James Moriarity. To save Cleo’s soul, they must find the lost grave of Cleopatra. . . and then discover a way to open the path to the legendary Island of the Two Flames.   But they are not alone in their search. They are being watched by others–and…