New Books - NewInBooks

Mind Games and Motives: Mysteries and Thrillers That Outsmart Readers

These books don’t just keep you guessing; they dare you to outsmart them at every turn. From chilling cold cases with no obvious clues to killers lurking right under everyone’s noses, each story masterfully twists logic into heart-pounding suspense.

Messenger for the Dead (Mathieu James Thriller Book 2)

by Matthew Fults

Release Date: June 17, 2025

ADVANCE READERS AGREE: "An intense, riveting, gripping, raw read." "Relentless." "Well written, highly recommend." "Feels like you're in a movie." Messenger for the Dead is the sequel to the award-winning The Scotland Project. Mathieu James leads an international manhunt for the world's most-wanted terrorist. Vengeance belongs to the departed.

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Suite Lies and Alibis (Harmony Landing Mysteries Book 1)

by Kristy T Dixon

Release Date: June 4, 2025

Harmony finally owns her dream hotel—creepy suite, murder rumors, and all. The catch? The brooding handyman accused of the crime still lives there. As she digs into the five-year-old mystery, Harmony starts to suspect Chase might be innocent… and she might be falling for the guy who fixes the plumbing.

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Her First Mistake (Noelle Marshall Book 1)

by Kendra Elliot

Release Date: June 10, 2025

Thirteen years ago, Assemblyman Derrick Bell was murdered in his home by an intruder. His wife, Noelle Marshall, was left for dead. The crime was unsolved, but it wasn’t forgotten. Today the FBI is tackling a fresh perspective on the case and looking to Noelle, now a detective for the Deschutes County sheriff’s office, for new clues. It is reopening everything Noelle thought was behind her. Memories of her escape from a traumatic childhood. A marriage that wasn’t the perfect love story she’d been promised.

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King of Ashes

by S. A. Cosby

Release Date: June 10, 2025

When eldest son Roman Carruthers is summoned home after his father’s car accident, he finds his younger brother, Dante, in debt to dangerous criminals and his sister, Neveah, exhausted from holding the family—and the family business—together. Neveah and their father, who run the Carruthers Crematorium in the run-down central Virginia town of Jefferson Run, see death up close every day. But mortality draws even closer when it becomes clear that the crash that landed their father in a coma was no accident and Dante’s recklessness has placed them all in real danger.

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Vindicate (Joe Dillard Series Book 11)

by Scott Pratt & J.D. Pratt

Release Date: June 3, 2025

Two isolated killings. Two potentially innocent men. Jack Dillard—son of Joe—is a criminal defense attorney reeling in the wake of the ordeals he’s endured the last few years. He’s lost and angry, especially because the family reputation his parents built is in tatters. Though not entirely his fault, he blames himself.

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Small Things (Alibis collection)

by Wanda M. Morris

Release Date: June 2, 2025

Hannah and her husband appear to live a good life. No one knows the emotional nightmare Hannah endures behind closed doors. A blessed freedom is in the jewelry she crafts in the shed behind her house. But what will Hannah do when her husband threatens to take away even the smallest things that bring her joy? Hannah has a plan. Now it’s just a matter of pulling it off without leaving a single trace behind.

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Interview with Vivian Oliver, Author of Bittersweet Grounds

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Bittersweet Grounds?

I’ve always been drawn to emotionally complicated love stories—especially the kind where people clash before they connect. Bittersweet Grounds came from a single scene that popped into my head: a barista flinging an apron across the room at a smug, dangerously charming stranger. From there, it unfolded into a story about identity, redemption, and the secrets that shape us. At its heart, it’s about a woman trying to hold onto the last thing she loves—and a man who doesn’t realize the one thing he’s missing has been beside him all along.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Bittersweet Grounds, what would they be?

For Aria: “Control” by Halsey—raw, angry, and deeply vulnerable. For Drake: “Take Me to Church” by Hozier—dark, conflicted, and worshipful in a way he doesn’t want to admit. Together: “From the Dining Table” by Harry Styles—aching with everything unsaid.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Definitely contemporary romance with emotional depth. I love stories that combine sharp dialogue, complex relationships, and just enough angst to break your heart a little before putting it back together. So yes, what I read and what I write usually line up. The messier the feelings, the better.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

You With a View by Jessica Joyce, Funny Story by Emily Henry, Before We Were Strangers by Renée Carlino, The Eden Series by Devney Perry. It’s a mix of heartbreak, chemistry, and small-town tension, which is basically my ideal emotional cocktail.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The late-night kitchen scene where Aria and Drake almost cross a line they can’t uncross. There’s tension, heat, restraint, and a moment where she asks him why he looks at her like that—and he can’t bring himself to lie. It’s everything I love about romance: messy, intimate, and a little dangerous.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I write in the middle of chaos. I have five rescue cats, each with strong opinions about keyboard access, and a hilarious, strong-willed five-year-old with special needs who keeps life unpredictable in the best way. Quiet writing days are a myth in my house—so I’ve learned to draft scenes while reheating chicken nuggets, breaking up cat squabbles, or dictating dialogue into my phone at stoplights. It’s messy, but somehow, the words still find their way through.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Scarlett O’Hara said it best: “After all, tomorrow is another day.” Writing, like life, comes with plot twists you don’t see coming. When things get messy, I try to take a breath, regroup, and face the next chapter. There’s power in persistence—and a little drama never hurts, either.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

That real love lives in the messy middle. The characters who stay with us aren’t perfect—they’re flawed, wounded, stubborn, and trying their best. I hope readers walk away feeling like Aria and Drake could be people they know… or people they’ve been. Because sometimes, the most unforgettable stories are the ones that don’t flinch from the gray.

Vivian Oliver is the author of the new book Bittersweet Grounds

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Interview with D. L. Whipple, Author of The Outcast

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Outcast?

I grew up in a small town, much like Banning, challenged small-town norms, never quite fit in, and always felt like I was standing outside the circle. I began writing short stories in high school but didn’t share them with anyone. It was a release or maybe an escape for me. I sometimes felt out of place in school. Writing gave me control, the ability to make the world into what I wanted, to walk in someone else’s shoes. It’s been said that an author’s first book is autobiographical, so it is with The Outcast. The story, setting, and characters are fictitious, but at the heart of The Outcast are experiences and people who have touched my life. More than anything, I wanted the readers to experience the 60s before cellphones and the internet, where one’s value and relationships were not determined by comments on social media, when friendships lasted a lifetime and meant more than a name on a Facebook page.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Outcast, what would they be?

Against The Current pop band's "Outsiders."

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I’m not hooked on any genre. I skip around. I was a science fiction fan in my youth, then jumped to Hemingway, Steinbeck, and others. To Kill a Mockingbird is still my favorite book, and In Cold Blood and Executioner’s Song turned me into a true crime fan. I don’t think good writing is restricted to any particular genre.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The God of the Woods, The Most Fun We Ever Had, and The Poisonwood Bible are books on my to-read list, as are a few series that I read and want to read more of.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The easier question would be—which scenes were the most difficult? I have to give you two that I especially enjoyed. When Danny feels most alone on that first day at school in the cafeteria, Wendy sits across from him. I especially enjoyed their banter, even with the uneasiness they felt from being in a crowded lunchroom of people they had known most of their lives, yet each felt very alone. The other would be the opening scene of Danny and his brother feeding the cattle in the rainstorm. This scene introduces Danny, the setting of The Outcast, and the brothers’ relationship.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I have an affinity for any animal. At their core is honesty. They can’t hide their feelings. If you’re attuned to your surroundings, you know whether an animal likes you. Most times, they burrow right through a person’s subterfuge. I’ve had several muses, all cats, all strays or from a shelter. Toby is my current in-house muse. At times, I’ve sat, my fingers on the keyboard, my eyes fixed on the empty screen, and Toby appears. He can be annoying, sitting in front of my computer screen and refusing to budge until I allow him onto my lap. Still, that brief respite from writing often enables me to find the words that soon appear on the computer screen.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Never accept failure. It's only another step toward success. The best learn from their mistakes and failures. I've seen early success ruin more people than failure. You appreciate more the things that come from hard effort. If you can’t accept failure and use it, writing is not your game. In The Outcast, I chose the epigraph “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” by Nietzsche. The impact of failure depends on how you perceive it and what you do with it.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Finding acceptance within yourself, not through others, requires accepting yourself as the person you are. Danny struggles with finding his way after being judged unjustly by the community and his friends, when his only true path was always to do what he believed was the right thing.

D. L. Whipple is the author of the new book The Outcast

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Interview with Karen Kay, Author of She Belongs In My World

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write She Belongs In My World?

This is the fifth book in The Medicine Man Series, and two of the characters from book four in the series needed to have their story told.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of She Belongs In My World, what would they be?

It would be the country song by the late, great Jim Reeves, Welcome To My World.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Definitely romance, whether historical or contemporary, paranormal or western, I love them all. However, another genre is becoming a favorite, and these are the true stories I read from James Willard Schultz about the Blackfeet Indians of long ago.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Many true adventure stories of Pitamakan and Thomas Fox; true stories of Rising Wolf and Red Crow and his sister, Mint Woman, and many other true stories of long ago. For my other love, romance, I love the stories of Linda Broday, Pam Crooks, Shanna Hatfield, and Cassie Edwards.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

This would be a tossup, I think, between one scene where the hero first sees the heroine for the first time after a long four years apart; or it could be the scouts revenge scene where the villain is not killed, but is brought down to pay for his injustice to the heroine; but perhaps the other favorite scene in the book is the snow scene where the hero and heroine have a snowball fight and where they learn more about themselves as individuals and as a couple.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Help others as much as one can. Be a willing ear to listen to another's woes. And be as kind as one can be. There's not enough kindness in the world today, I think. There should be more.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I would like to take the reader on the journey along with the heroine and hero. I'd like the reader to be able to experience the story as if she or he were there. I like my readers to be able to forget their cares, if only for a little while. And if I can accomplish this, perhaps then all my study and research and doing my best to pour emotion into my stories will be worth the effort.

Karen Kay is the author of the new book She Belongs In My World

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Interview with Lori Zoss, Author of Under Caution

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Under Caution?

I had been toying with a suspense romance for years on and off with a heroine in a male-dominated sport backdrop, but nothing stuck. Then, a couple of summers ago, I went to my first NASCAR race and was hooked. The setting, the pace, the intensity, it had everything I was looking for, especially a sport where men and women can compete against each other. I also thought how interesting it would be if two competing drivers were hot for each other on and off the track. Also, I started thinking about how a relentless villain obsessed with revenge, mixed with a solid knowledge of artificial intelligence (AI), could bring about deadly sabotage. After a few draft modifications, Under Caution was born!

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Under Caution, what would they be?

Funny you should ask, because I have a character playlist on my website. Check it out for a full list of songs for each of the main characters!

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I actually read a lot of motivational self-improvement books, but love to escape with a good thriller or suspense fiction. I also enjoy fiction with strong female heroines in genres of all types.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden, Never Flinch by Stephen King, and Again, Only More Like You by Catalina Margulis.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There is a scene where the heroine (Daisy) sees her estranged love interest and fellow race car driver competitor (Jackson) for the first time after a separation, which was fun to write. On the other side of that coin would be the scenes involving Daisy and the villain of the story (Lumen). Very intense.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I like to listen to mellow Lo-Fi music or beats in the background when I write. Specifically, I’ll put on Lo-Fi Study or Chillhop, which are Sirius XM Extra Channels on their app. Also, when I get to key parts of a story, I’ll listen to the playlist of that character most involved at that point, almost as if I were watching my story as a movie and hearing the soundtrack. Otherwise, my only other quirk might be that I never want to end mid-chapter when I’m writing. Of course, I’ll go back and make edits, but if I’m unable to finish a chapter, I at least write some key phrases to map me out to the end that I’ll go back to the next day. I feel more accomplished that way.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Yes. “The only way out is through.” It’s something I live by both in writing and in life. No matter how difficult the challenge, the only way to overcome it is to face it head-on. You can’t hide it, bury it, or run away from it. This resonates deeply in Under Caution, where the characters, especially Daisy, are forced to confront their fears and vulnerabilities. It's a reminder that we don’t grow by avoiding struggles, but by pushing through them, learning, and emerging stronger on the other side.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

How much fun they had reading it! If I did what I had set out to do, readers were able to escape their own world temporarily and dive into a thrilling, high-stakes adventure. I want them to feel the rush of the racetrack, the intensity of the romance, and the suspense of the story. Most of all, I hope they close the book with a smile, having been captivated by the characters and the journey, eager to come back for more as Book 2 is in the planning stages!

Lori Zoss is the author of the new book Under Caution

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Interview with Annette Masters, Author of Dragonfly Down

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Dragonfly Down?

As a YA author, I like to write about issues facing teens, and the communication rift between adolescents and adults is a universal conundrum. Most teens share the idea that adults don’t listen, adults never understand, and adults convey a condescending notion that kids are not experiencing “real life” yet. But teens are living a real life. A really stressful life. With the pressures of academics, athletics, extracurriculars, group projects, bad romance, mean girls, new jobs, family drama, financial anxiety, and the looming gravity of what will happen after graduation stacked on top of the trauma of social media, teens are juggling more real-life problems than most adults.

With this prickly space of disconnect in mind, I created a teen who faces unimaginable trauma, but her adults don’t listen, don’t understand, and don’t take her seriously. Laurel Greenleaf’s lack of support is so profound that she begins to question her mental stability. The novel is an extreme example of what might happen when adults check out and kids go it alone. With only herself to trust, Laurel dodges her famous family, the press, and law enforcement in a brutal search for the truth—even if it will destroy her.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Dragonfly Down, what would they be?

I listened to the instrumental version of “It’s Quiet Uptown” from Hamilton on repeat as I wrote the first draft of Dragonfly Down. I really love the song’s “unimaginable” reference to loss and grief while inferring the strength of family, the hope of healing, and the power of human resilience. It explores some concepts of loss that I tried to include in the novel.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I love reading a great story in any genre, but my favorite books are often thrillers, historical fiction, or historical biographies. I’m drawn to thrillers that integrate history, antiquities, or old abandoned estates in the middle of nowhere. I’ll buy any book with a crow on the cover, and I lean toward YA thrillers with an Ivy League or boarding school trope. I love reading biographies and memoirs, but I prefer listening to memoirs if the author narrates the work.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Katharine, the Wright Sister by Tracey Enerson Wood, The Amalfi Curse by Sarah Penner, The Mayfair Bookshop by Eliza Knight, Main Characters by Hannah Orenstein, and The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig. I just finished The Queen’s Companion by Eliza Knight, Close Your Eyes and Count to Ten by Lisa Unger, When the Bones Sing by Ginny Myers Sain, and The Cold Light of Fate by Kim Catanzarite.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The midpoint “aha!” moment and the last paragraph before the epilogue. Both of which have spoilers, so I can’t talk about them.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

With Dragonfly Down, I listened to “It’s Quiet Uptown” from Hamilton and “Bigger Than the Whole Sky” by Taylor Swift because the first draft had a melancholy quality. During revisions, the work had a sense of hope and resilience (and it was 2024), so my headphones played The Eras Tour set list (before and after TTPD).

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Be kind.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I’ll leave you with the advice my protagonist gives to readers: “Knowledge is power. Courage appears when you need it. Base your decisions on facts, not fears. If you need help, go to someone who believes in you. And trust your intuition.” –Laurel Greenleaf, Dragonfly Down.

Annette Masters is the author of the new book Dragonfly Down

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Interview with D.F. Maddox, Author of Begin Again

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Begin Again?

My health started to decline about five years ago, shortly after a rough bout with COVID. It began with mysterious GI problems that never fully resolved, evolving into relentless joint pain—ankles, knees, hips, and spine. By age 32, I had four levels of spinal degeneration, my spinal cord painfully compressed by herniated discs. Recently, I underwent surgery to decompress the nerves in my neck, yet my journey through all of this continues. Writing a book has been a dream since I was a kid. Part of this process has genuinely been a mental escape—a distraction from the constant physical pain—but it wasn't just about me.

I wrote it for those who, like myself, have found themselves spiraling into uncertainty, their health trajectory suddenly feeling senseless and chaotic. Yet, perhaps beyond this turmoil lies something greater. Maybe nature itself is rooting for us, Mother Earth silently bolstering our strength. Whether on this plane of existence or the next, there’s comfort in believing there’s purpose hidden within this struggle.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Begin Again, what would they be?

Quite often, I found myself listening to “RY X - Tell Me” while writing this book. I think it captures the mood I hoped the book to convey.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I don’t have a favorite genre, I love everything! Literature, History, Philosophy, Poetry, SciFi, Fantasy, etc. There are great books in every genre. If life weren’t so short, I’d read them all.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

PKD’s VALIS Trilogy, A Bell for Adano - John Hersey, The Invincible - Stanislaw Lem, Star Marker - Olaf Stapleton, Prophet Song - Paul Lynch.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Em & Bjorn at the coast.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Quirky, I don’t know. But I can’t write without good music!

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Change is the only constant. Embrace it!

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

A fascination with liminality, transitions, and the vague boundaries that encapsulate everything. When does a tree become a forest? When does a person become artificial? Philosophers, Scientists, and Artists try to set boundaries so we can make sense of things. But at its core, its true nature, reality has no boundaries.

D.F. Maddox is the author of the new book Begin Again

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Interview with Sue Wilder, Author of Malice Moon

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Malice Moon?

I often get a phrase stuck in my head. For Malice Moon, it was this: A woman who kidnaps an enemy ends up sacrificing herself to save him. I start to build the story out of that concept, and I'm not sure how the magic works, but by the end of the process, there's a story.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Malice Moon, what would they be?

Music from The Witcher, Vikings, and The Last Kingdom covers it.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

I read everything, but my favorite genre to write is fantasy.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Both new books and old friends I want to re-read.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The scene where she's stuck in the tree like a dragon snack. The other favorite scene was close to the end.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

Post-it notes are everywhere.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

Do what you love, love what you do, and put light into the world.

Sue Wilder is the author of the new book Malice Moon

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Interview with Christopher D. Williams, Author of Gralmar's Staff

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Gralmar's Staff?

In 2022, I asked readers what book I should write next. They voted for "urban fantasy," which I had never done before. It took a year, but I published "The Stiamaq Emerald" after that. Months later, I was struggling with a sequel to a post-apocalyptic novel I'd written a few years prior. Couldn't get the plot to line up right, so I took a break from writing that book, and cast about for something else. One day, while my mind wandered (it likes to do that), I started to think about "Stiamaq" again. Before I knew it, I'd scrawled out half of a sequel plot into a little spiral notepad. And here we are.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Gralmar's Staff, what would they be?

Hah! Oh, that's hilarious. Here are a few:
1. Adrian - Enter by The Birthday Massacre.
2. Meilianna/"Mei" - POP STARS by K/DA.
3. Oghren Vignor - Mein Herz Brent by Rammstein.
4. Drifa Skadisdottir - Maidjan by Heilung.
5. Lord Glanbrin - One Night in Tokyo by Beast in Black. 6. Pynn - Bark at the Moon by Ozzy Osbourne.

More characters exist, of course. But you'll have to read the book to figure out a good theme song for them. (I'd love to hear your ideas.)

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

To read? Horror. I very much enjoy good spine-tingling horror. Have I written horror? Yes, but this book is definitely not. It's a good romp through a modern-day-with-magic world. Weird creatures chasing you through magic-based cities, ancient cultural rivalries played out with yelling and swords, techno-spells making people speak in dead languages...you know, fun!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

A book on website development, the newest Dwarves books from Markus Heitz, a book on Sasquatch, and a book on reading human behavior. I'm something of an eccentric eclectic.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

At the beginning of Chapter 9, we meet Lord Glanbrin. His introduction includes chaotic magic, bizarre behavior, and several snort-worthy lines all at once. His very presence takes the story and throws it in a different direction. Can you figure out what he's up to?

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I use an old digital typewriter, set on a lectern, facing a blank wall, to write. This way I stand while writing, have no distractions, and can occasionally pontificate aloud without people looking at me funny. (I prefer the funny looks to come when I do something deliberate.)

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

I suppose a good one here would be, "The great pleasure in life is doing what people say you cannot do."

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

I write my books to be enjoyable reads. But I also include easter eggs. There are connections, hidden surprises, and "ah-ha" worthy moments throughout Gralmar's Staff and Stiamaq Emerald. Go hunting!

Chris Williams is the author of the new book Gralmar's Staff

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Interview with Alexa Aston, Author of Heartstrings and Helmets

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Heartstrings and Helmets (Hearts in Hawthorne Book 1)?

I’ve set two of my small-town contemporary romance series in Texas (Sugar Springs and Lost Creek, Texas Hill Country). Being a native Texan, I have a feel for all things Texas, and I love making my setting of a small town one of the characters in my romances. This series focuses on five cousins who all return to their hometown of Hawthorne, looking for a slower pace of life, ready to settle down and find their soulmate.

As a longtime Dallas Cowboys fan, it was fun to make West Sutherland, the hero in Heartstrings and Helmets, the first to come home. He’s retiring at the top of his game, having won a Super Bowl, and his goal is to coach football at the high school he graduated from. As a former teacher, I certainly know the inner workings of a high school, so it was fun to bring that aspect to my romance novel, as well. I also like the idea of second chances, and West will find that Kelby Blackstone, the one who got away, has just landed in Hawthorne again.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Heartstrings and Helmets (Hearts in Hawthorne Book 1), what would they be?

I would go with Every Road Leads Back to You, an old Bette Midler song from a movie she did called For the Boys. It talks about two old friends running into one another. Years have passed, and they’ve been through a lot, but they always knew each other better than anyone else has. It ends with talking about how they always could make one another smile and how, after all this time, you’re the one I still want beside me, and how every road leads back to you. West and Kelby dated briefly in high school, but they knew they were headed in different directions and ended their relationship. Fourteen years later, they now have a second chance to be together.

What's your favorite genre to read? Is it the same as your favorite genre to write?

Even though I write historical & contemporary romance, I don’t read but a handful of romances because I don’t want other romance authors’ voices in my head. I want to keep what I write fresh and sound like Alexa Aston! I adore thrillers and read everything by Michael Connelly, Lee Child, Brad Thor, and David Baldacci, to name a few favorites. I also enjoy mysteries, women’s fiction, and biographies.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I just finished Jeremy Renner’s autobiography, as well as John Sandford’s Lethal Prey. I’m looking forward to Daniel Silva’s An Inside Job and Steve Berry’s The List. I’m most excited for Stephen King’s Never Flinch.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

It would have to be the epilogue. I think romance readers enjoy pulling back the curtain and seeing the couple who earned their HEA down the line, even more in love with one another. West is the head football coach at Hawthorne High School now, and we see how he’s doing professionally. We also meet the adorable children he and Kelby have, and this final scene ties a lovely bow on their love story.

Do you have any quirky writing habits? (lucky mugs, cats on laps, etc.)

I actually do a lot of my writing when I’m walking every morning. I’m a true believer that movement spurs creativity, and I get my best ideas when I’m briskly walking. I dictate a chapter into my iPhone as I’m pounding the pavement, then I transcribe it once I arrive home. When I’m in my office writing, I always have to burn a scented candle. Vanilla and cinnamon are favorites.

Do you have a motto, quote, or philosophy you live by?

It would have to be from Lao Tzu—“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” Writing a novel is an incredible, sometimes daunting journey. You have to start with that first word, and then all the words that follow, which, over time, create your story.

If you could choose one thing for readers to remember after reading your book, what would it be?

Since I write romance, I want my readers to know they’ll always find a happy ending for my heroes & heroines. The journey they embark upon certainly has a lot of bumps along the way, but they learn they are better together, as well as learning to be better individuals because of the love they have for one another.

Alexa Aston is the author of the new book Heartstrings and Helmets (Hearts in Hawthorne Book 1)

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