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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Barracuda Bay?

Police detective Emilia Cruz’s story started in Cliff Diver, the first in the series set in Acapulco. Now in Barracuda Bay (Book 9), she’s a seasoned cop assigned to investigate the murder of the mayor’s sister. Of course, nothing is easy, and before Emilia can arrest her prime suspect, she’s sent to Washington, DC. There, she becomes a fugitive on the run from killers disguised as cops. Emilia has to turn to her brother, a shady Mexican federal cop she once vowed to kill. I wanted to put Emilia to the ultimate test in Barracuda Bay. She’s on the run in a strange place, having to speak a foreign language, with no money, phone, car, or place to sleep. How will she survive? What would you do? Like all the books in the series, Barracuda Bay gives enough backstory to read as a standalone.

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

Definitely mystery, especially books set in exotic (to me, anyway) locations. I love seeing how other authors build clues and insert red herrings. I never read intending to figure out “whodunit.” I want to be led along the twisting, winding road to the end. Some favorites are books by Peter May, Jussi Adler-Olsen, and Brian Klingborg.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Karla's Choice by Nick Harkaway (a continuation of the George Smiley books by John LaCarre) and Midnight and Blue by Ian Rankin, the latest Inspector Rebus novel.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The first scene must qualify as my favorite, because I rewrote it so many times! The killer is "off-screen" for much of the book, so I knew the reader needed to know who is causing so much havoc. He almost leaps off the page in the short and breathless start to the book. The scene sets a fast pace for the action to come.

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

I am a plotter with a love of the number 3. Every Detective Emilia Cruz mystery has at least 3 strands that are braided together throughout the book: the main crime/investigation, a secondary crime, and a personal issue that Emilia is struggling with. In Barracuda Bay, the main crime is the murder of the mayor’s sister, and the secondary crime is the murder of a Mexican federal cop connected to her undercover brother. Her personal issue is just as explosive: she continually faces discrimination for being the first female police detective in Acapulco. The chief of police sees her plans to marry hotel manager Kurt Rucker as an opportunity to force her out.

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

"If you aim at nothing, you will surely hit it." I don't know who was the first to say it, but it is so true!

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

Grappling with murder, deception, and uncertainty, Detective Emilia Cruz is resilient, courageous, and resourceful. If she can be all that, so can you.

Carmen Amato is the author of the new book Barracuda Bay

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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Ghost and Tell?

Ghost and Tell is book ten in my Ghost Detective series, so by now Audrey and I are basically co-workers. This time, she’s dealing with a dead schoolteacher, a buried scandal, and a raccoon who’s way too comfortable stealing evidence. There’s no deep, soul-searching inspiration behind it—just my love of murder mysteries, snarky banter, and fictional chaos. It also lets me explore what it would be like to live with a talking cat... which is exactly as ridiculous as it sounds.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Ghost and Tell, what would they be?

Audrey (my ghost-whispering PI): “Try Everything” by Shakira, because she’s going to trip, fall, faceplant, and still keep going. Thor (her grumpy, food-obsessed cat): “I Want It That Way” — he has strong opinions about kibble. Bandit (the raccoon): “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson. No explanation needed.

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

I love reading the same kinds of books I write—cozy mysteries with a paranormal twist, snarky characters, and a whole lot of heart. Give me ghosts, witches, and small-town secrets any day of the week. That said, I’ve also been dipping into some non-paranormal psychological thrillers lately—as long as they’re not too dark.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Right now, I’ve got The Last Devil to Die by Richard Osman, The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston, and a few others I picked up purely because the covers were pretty or the blurbs made me laugh-snort. I’m a mood reader, so what I plan to read and what I actually read are often two very different things.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Oh, the taser scene. That one had me giggling at the keyboard. I won’t spoil it, but let’s just say someone seriously underestimated Audrey—and for once, she didn’t tase herself. There was adrenaline, righteous fury, and a very satisfying zap. Easily one of my favorite moments to write in Ghost and Tell.

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

I wish I had something quirky to share, like wearing a yellow beret every time I write—but I don’t. I like to write in silence, and if there’s too much noise around, I’ll put on headphones and listen to thunderstorm sounds. That’s about as exciting as it gets.

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

“Done is better than perfect.” That one’s served me well. Also: don’t skip coffee, and always back up your files. Seriously. Always.

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

That even with ghosts and murder, my books are really about life. I want readers to laugh, escape the real world for a bit, and come away feeling lighter than when they started. If I can deliver a few laughs and a few surprises along the way, then I’ve done my job.

Jane Hinchey is the author of the new book Ghost and Tell

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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write You, Me and Three?

You, Me and Three is the third in my Half Moon Yoga series. I’m a yoga teacher who likes to write so I combined both interests to create my fictional yoga world love stories. Isaac was a constant character in my first two books. and I knew he needed his own story. He’s charming, sexy and funny but needed to grow up a bit. Anna (who was also in both previous books) was driven and introverted- not Isaac’s usual type. But I thought they worked well together When he and Anna meet up at his dad’s wedding sparks fly and the story flows from there. The first two books had an element of pregnancies and babies and I thought why not go all in with this third story. Anna’s surprise pregnancy drives the story and forces both of them to grow in unexpected ways.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of You, Me and Three, what would they be?

I always write to playlists! All three of my books have playlists.They motivate me to go deeper into a characters feelings. Anna’s song- Before I Knew You by Ben Platt played well into the unique connection these two have. Not to give away any secrets but these two met when they were kids. Isaac rescued Anna, but that’s all I’m revealing. Isaac’s song- All the Ways by The Secret Sisters and Ray Lamontagne I felt like this song was Isaac all the way. Sexy, playful, soulful and warm. A true cinnamon roll character.

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

I’m team romance. I read all kinds of romances from big authors to indie authors like me. Steamy to sweet -bring it on! I just love the creativity it takes to make a everyday story pop. My second favorite genre is historical stories of real life women heroes- especially from World War 2. My mom lived through it and was always telling us stories about the sacrifices they had to make. Women who stepped out of their traditional roles and became spies or otherwise contributed to the cause. Not sure I’d be that brave.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Any Abby Jimenez or Ali Hazelwood books. I just finished the The Enlightenment of Bees by Rachel Linden and hope to read more of hers.The romance readers just had a stuff your Kindle day, so I did fill my Kindle…so many books to read!

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

That’s tough one. But probably one of my favorites was when Isaac comes back from volunteering on a rescue crew after a hurricane devastated Asheville ( I live in North Carolina and saw the destruction hurricane Helene brought to the area). The way Anna takes care of him and he allows himself to be taken care of really shows the way their relationship had grown. My other favorite scene was when Isaac revealed to his siblings about the unexpected pregnancy. I love the way they all kid around and pick on Isaac but show their support for him. The siblings are all unique (they are also in the previous two books) and they are a wild and diverse group. They remind me of my own adult kids.

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

Not really. I do have four sparkly pens with fake gems from Dollar Tree that I use to write down ideas. I’m a messy writer and a messy person. I have four different notebooks that I scribble plots and ideas, email lists and promotions and notes from any writing seminars I take . It sounds organized but it’s not- each notebook has a bit of everything in it, so I spent a lot of time trying to remember where I put the notes. If you saw my desks you’d just shake your head. Although, one quirky thing I do is I write on my laptop but edit and format on my larger screen desktop.

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

Find what you love and spend as much time as you can doing it. I lost both my sister and mother in the last two years and it's been eye opening. Life as you know it can change in an instant so you'd better enjoy what you have before it disappears.

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

That love comes in many forms and at any age.

Michelle Stevens is the author of the new book You, Me and Three

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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Walking in Dark Water?

A good friend and beta reader did not care for my last series, a cozy mystery/romance trilogy. Definitely not his thing; he prefers something with more of an edge. I chose to write a thriller, urban fantasy style.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Walking in Dark Water, what would they be?

Bad Moon Rising by CCR

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

I do not have a favorite genre. I have written mystery/thriller/sci-fi and now an urban fantasy.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The books I am likely to read next (I read several at a time) includes re-reads: The Fools in Town Are on Our Side – Ross Thomas Pro Bono – Thomas Perry The Tomb of Dragons – Katherine Addison (Sarah Monet) Eisenhower’s Lieutenants – Russell Weigley Fever Beach – Carl Hiaasen

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The opening scene after the origin story at the start of the novel.

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

I tried to write a fun story.

Reynold Starnes is the author of the new book Walking in Dark Water

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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Me, Myself & AI (Book 1 of 3)?

I wrote Me, Myself and AI because my life got so surreal, it had to be recorded. I was fighting two legal cases—on my own, from a corner booth in an East London pub—armed with evidence, a Yorkshire Terrier, and an AI. It was absurd, it was brutal, and somehow, it was real. But more than that, I wrote it to reclaim my voice. After years of being silenced—by systems, by people, by grief—I realised the only way forward was to tell the truth, and to tell it my way. Writing became my way of processing everything: the betrayal, the resilience, the madness of surviving something no one expected me to survive. The “AI” isn’t just tech—it’s a question of actual identity. Who are you when everything you built has been torn down? What’s left of a man once he’s been erased, humiliated, and underestimated? This book is my answer. It’s not just about survival—it’s about taking the narrative back, lighting it on fire, and walking through it with your head up. And maybe laughing along the way.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Me, Myself & AI (Book 1 of 3), what would they be?

I actually included a playlist in the book so readers could feel the emotional current behind each chapter—it’s meant to be read with headphones on. For me – Cooler by Mikey Mike. It’s raw, ironic, and quietly defiant—perfect for someone holding it together with duct tape and dry humour. – Let It Go. Not the Disney one—Otis Junior’s version. It’s soulful, gentle, and exactly has a kind of quiet wisdom about reclaiming your inner child, and the wisdom we lose. - Weight on me - The Jesse Lees - Almost totally unknown track I found buried in a rabbit hole on Spotify, it’s perfect for this book and the feeling at the end. For Lenny – Loaded by Primal Scream. Because he was. For Ms. Lai – Rich Girl by Hall & Oates. No further comment. The music is part of the story. It’s the subtext, the memory triggers, the mood. If you want the full experience—play it loud.

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

I read memoir, literary fiction, and strange, poetic hybrids that don’t fit a shelf. I write in the same vein—emotional nonfiction with a pulse. I’m drawn to voices that feel like they’re speaking straight to one person, not a crowd.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Abi Morgan’s This Is Not a Pity Memoir, Nina Stibbe’s Went to London, Took the Dog, and always Andrew Kaufman’s All My Friends Are Superheroes. Also need to reread the Midnight Library

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

My favourite scene takes place on Halloween. I’m sat alone in the corner booth of my local pub—the same place I’d fought most of my case from—surrounded by skeletons, fake cobwebs, and costumed drinkers. There’s a man dressed as a judge by the bar. A group of partygoers in full skeleton outfits raise their glasses toward me like comrades. Meanwhile, I’m tapping legal strategy into my AI: probabilities of strike-outs, indemnity costs, default judgments. It’s just so surreal, so absurd and summed up how I felt in that moment, indeed through most of the stroy—this quiet, personal war waged in the middle of a party. One man against the system, fuelled by a pint, a dog under the table, and an algorithm as his lawyer. The absurdity of it made the scene powerful to write. Everyone around me was playing dress-up. I wasn’t. The ghosts and ghouls were fake. The stakes? Very real.

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

I write early in the morning when it’s quiet, but most afternoons I end up in the same corner booth of an East London pub—the one that appears in Me, Myself and AI. In real life, we call it therapy corner. People drift in, share their stories, confess their heartbreaks to the most broken man in the room—me—and somehow, we all leave feeling a bit lighter. That booth’s become part writing desk, part confessional. It’s where I finished all four books, including Evil Ben and the Chicken of Reckoning. Apparently, it’s a good spot for endings, reckonings, and unexpected beginnings.

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

A few, depending on the day. “Do the right thing, even when it’s hard.” “You are mighty.” And the one that gets me through the toughest decisions: “What’s the worst that can happen—and can you live with it?” If the answer’s yes, you move. If it’s no, you move anyway. Just slower, and with a dog.

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

That survival isn’t just about gritting your teeth and getting through it—it’s about reclaiming your voice, your dignity, and your place in the world. Me, Myself and AI is about what happens after everything falls apart: the quiet madness, the absurdity, the small victories no one sees. I didn’t write it to be inspiring—I wrote it to be true. If someone finishes the book and feels seen in their own chaos—feels like maybe they’re not broken, just becoming—then it’s done its job. Because the truth is, we all walk through fire. But not everyone finds the words for it. This was me finding mine, and maybe helping someone else find theirs too.

Stephan Roux is the author of the new book Me, Myself & AI (Book 1 of 3)

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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Case of the Princess and the Interstellar Bounty Hunter?

The story began, as all of my stories do, with the mental image of a character in a scene. In this case, it was a bounty hunter, the character who evolved into Sol, sitting in a bar and being asked to find a kidnapping victim. The setting was the Interstellar Reach of Humanity, a rather grim fictional universe that I first used for Complicated: The Interstellar Life and Times of Saoirse Kenneally, although that book is set about a century before this one. For me, working from the initial image is like solving a puzzle. What happened to cause that scene? Who are these people? What flows from the decisions they make? In this story, I found myself with characters who have been broken in different ways by their lives, have made compromises, and have sold off some bits of themselves over time. Often, it is the characters who dictate the direction of the story to me. In this case, it grew into a science fiction mystery with a touch of noir. Through the whole process, the theme that kept repeating itself to me was that things are not always what they appear to be. This ended up in the WS Gilbert epigraph at the beginning of the book and I hope you will agree.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of The Case of the Princess and the Interstellar Bounty Hunter, what would they be?

I have never thought about theme songs for characters, but I will now! For Martin, it would be “One Tin Soldier” by The Original Caste. For Sol, I will go with “Here I Go Again” by Whitesnake. Finally, Claire would take “Army of One” by Bon Jovi. We could have fun with this.

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

I read a lot of history, historical fiction, and science, but my favorite genre is science fiction and fantasy. I read across most of the sub-genres in this area, from high fantasy to hard science fiction. My favorite authors reflect this, going from older ones such as Robert Heinlein, JRR Tolkien, Poul Anderson, and CJ Cherryh to new writers such as Andy Weir, SL Huang, and Tamsyn Muir. My writing also falls into the field of science fiction and fantasy, primarily science fiction, although my first two books were actually mysteries.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

My TBR pile is too big to list here in its entirety. If I grab a bunch from the top, which means what I am likely to read sometime soon, I see: House of Open Wounds by Adrian Tchaikovsky, Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, Goddess of the River by Vaishnavi Patel, Here Be Dragons by Sharon Penman, The Last Tsar by Tsuyoshi Hasegawa, Justinian by Peter Sarris, and Supermassive by James Trefil and Shobita Satyapal. There are more. I need a new bookcase.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Oh my God, I only get to pick one? I would have to say that I most enjoyed writing the last chapter, but I can’t say more about it because of spoilers. Since I have to leave that one alone, I would pick the opening scene where Martin meets Sol and we are introduced to the world and the purpose of the story, and then the scene where we meet Claire and learn what she is like. So, I managed to fit three into this one.

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

I write my first draft entirely in longhand using a special ballpoint pen my wife gave me. I have no idea what would happen if I lost that pen. I also seem to have standardized on fifty-sheet, white paper pads from Staples for writing that draft. Does this qualify as quirky?

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

The quote I like best is from Theodore Roosevelt. It comes from a speech he gave in 1910 called “Citizenship in a Republic” and it is often referred to as “The Man in the Arena.” The whole quote is too long to put here, but it tells you to do your best at a job worth doing, that you will make mistakes and may even fail, but making the effort to achieve a meaningful goal is what you need to do.

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

I would like readers to remember having fun with the read, being surprised, and that things are not always what they appear to be. See, I got three into this one also!

Colin Alexander is the author of the new book The Case of the Princess and the Interstellar Bounty Hunter

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What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Shake the Jar?

The title is inspired by a story often attributed to Mark Twain called “Who Shook the Jar?” As it goes, red ants and black ants live together in peaceful co-existence inside a jar. But when someone shakes the jar, they turn on each other, believing the other is the enemy. They never stop to ask, “Who shook the jar?” Shake the Jar is the third book in the series. The search for ancestral identity drives our heroine on a quest to uncover her origin story—she is a descendant of African slaves taken to Jamaica. Her journey takes her from Jamaica to Chile and Thailand, unaware that she’s stepping into a geopolitical firestorm. Shake the Jar is a genre-bender, blending a deeply personal search with history, science, and global turmoil.

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

For Arin Murphy: Bon Jovi’s “Who Says You Can’t Go Home.” For Key Murphy: Van Morrison’s “Moondance.”

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

I write thrillers laced with science, history, and travel. I read science and history—both fiction and nonfiction—with a healthy dose of espionage, fantasy, and science fiction thrown in.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Cryptography Apocalypse (for book 4 research), Daniel Silva’s The Messenger, and Kate Quinn’s The Alice Network.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The opening chapter, because it was also the hardest. For returning readers, I needed to create a sense of continuity—as if they’d just closed book 2. For new readers starting with Shake, I had to draw them into the world of Key and Arin Murphy, making them want to run alongside them as they sprint down a beautiful Jamaican beach—just before everything goes to hell.

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

No, but maybe I should adopt some. I do have a ritual before starting a book: I spend a couple of days alone at a New Jersey beach and just begin. It tells my brain it’s time to focus and prepare for a wild ride.

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

I published my first book on my 70th birthday. I spent 12 years on stage performing comedy theatre, traveled to 95 countries—and counting. My philosophy: “There’s time to be boring when you’re dead. For now, make some noise.”

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

Ask the questions that hurt your brain—the hard ones. The ones that make you think, feel, and search.

Kevin Barry O’Connor is the author of the new book Shake the Jar

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