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Interview with Jennifer L Adams, Author of Under the Cygnet Moon

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

My own healing journey and love of darker fairytales inspired this book. After a few very rough years of loss and transformation, I had to find my way back to myself. You’ll see elements of that process in each of the characters! The story explores themes of light vs. dark and different types of power. It is also a loose Swan Lake retelling!

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

I love this question—I actually have a whole playlist for this book. But for Princess Elara, her theme song would be Artemis by Lindsey Stirling. For Captain Caelan, I would pick Shadow by Livingston.

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

Fantasy Romance is my favorite genre to read and to write!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

My TBR is massive, and I don’t get to read as much as I’d like since I have a full-time corporate role and a busy toddler! At the top of the pile right now is Fourth Wing.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene to write was the final chapter. It really showcases Elara's transformation in a surprising way.

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

I sit in the same spot on my couch every time I sit down to write—with a hot cup of coffee, a dog nearby, and a cozy blanket.

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

“Trust the process.”

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

One thing I really want readers to feel after reading Under the Cygnet Moon is that love is complicated, but worth it. Love is about seeing the light and the shadows in a person and choosing to be with them anyway.

Jennifer L Adams is the author of the new book Under the Cygnet Moon

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Interview with Sylas Graham, Author of Tou-Pac-A-Lous!

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Tou-Pac-A-Lous!?

I’ve loved Shakespeare since high school and have been a Tupac fan since grad school. Once I realized that Tupac’s lyrics followed similar patterns and that he loved Shakespeare, I began researching similarities in their writings. This is the culmination of that research. In my analysis, it was important to show the genius in both men, whose works still resonate with people today.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Tou-Pac-A-Lous!, what would they be?

A good theme song might be Tupac's "Something Wicked", which makes a direct reference to Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

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

I’m a fan of mystery novels like “The Name of the Rose” and anything by Agatha Christie. However, I write within the non-fiction lyrical critique genre.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Barbara Hambly’s, “Free Man of Color”, which is a mystery set in pre-civil war New Orleans; “Pride and Prejudice”, just because it’s Jane Austen; a self help book titled, “I Can’t Get Over it”, which struck a nerve, so I put it down; and a re-read of Agatha Christie’s, “Ten Little Indians.”

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I don’t have scenes in this book, but my favorite part is the exploration of onomatopoeia, where the word itself represents the sound it makes, like “drip-drop”. Analyzing how Shakespeare and Tupac utilize this device in their own way to give the narrative more impact.

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

I have no quirks, but I go to bed early, and my favorite time to write is early in the morning. However, my ideas usually come in the evening, which I jot down in my journal to explore the next morning.

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

I don’t believe in regrets, and I accept people for who they are - quirks and all. It’s best to be true to yourself, because in that vein, you attract like-minded people.

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

I want readers to remember that yes, I love and admire both of these prolific authors and hope readers feel the same. But, I also wrote it as a learning tool that readers can use as a structural foundation to create their own narrative works which may inspire others to write.

Sylas Graham is the author of the new book Tou-Pac-A-Lous!

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Interview with Jessica Huntley, Author of The Hanging Tree

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

The two main characters, Stephen and Graham, first appeared in a three-book series of mine (The Darkness Series), and when I finished the series, I didn’t feel that their story was finished yet. So, I decided to write this standalone so anyone could read it and get to know them. The Hanging Tree first came into my head after a rather tragic news story broke around where I was living at the time. I mulled some ideas over for a while, and then another story broke about the Sycamore Gap in 2023, where the tree was illegally felled, and I wanted to then write a story about an ancient tree with a past.

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

I love reading thrillers of any kind, whether they be psychological, crime, dark, mystery, etc. But yes, I mostly read in the genre I write, as it helps me learn new ways of writing and inspires me.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I have a very large TBR pile! But I plan to read John Marrs’s book Dead in the Water the minute it’s out, plus catch up on Claire Douglas’s backlist of books.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I really enjoyed writing the ending, the last scene with Graham under the tree, despite it being sad, and me writing with a tear in my eye.

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

Not really. I can pretty much write anywhere as long as I have my laptop, but I do always like to start my writing sessions with a coffee.

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

Dream. Believe. Achieve. But also, I love a quote that's in this book written by Stephen Mallow, the main character. "Be the light in the darkness".

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

To be kind to others, to strive to be the light in the darkness. There's a lot of darkness in this world, but if we can all be kind to each other, then it makes the world a better place to live in.

Jessica Huntley is the author of the new book The Hanging Tree

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Interview with Gia Hartley, Author of Faking It with the Ex-SEAL

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Faking It with the Ex-SEAL?

This story started with one irresistible question: What happens when a fake relationship collides with very real danger? I’ve always loved fake dating, but I wanted to push it further—add higher stakes, emotional baggage, and a hero whose past refuses to stay buried. Luke came to me fully formed: protective, guarded, and carrying the kind of scars you don’t see right away. Harper was the perfect counterbalance—strong, compassionate, and absolutely unwilling to be steamrolled by his walls. Once I dropped them into a situation where pretending felt safer than telling the truth, the story took off and refused to slow down.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Faking It with the Ex-SEAL, what would they be?

This one is fun. Luke’s song would be something gritty and intense with a slow burn—moody, controlled, and simmering just beneath the surface. Harper’s would be confident and emotional, with a strong heartbeat to it—the kind of song that reminds you she’s soft and unbreakable. Together? Definitely something charged, a little dangerous, and impossible to ignore. Luke's song would be Hurricane by Luke Combs. Harper's song would be "Girl" from Maren Morris.

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

Romance will always be my first love as a reader—especially contemporary romance with emotional depth and high tension. I do enjoy reading outside the genre, but when it comes to writing? Romance is home. I love exploring knowing glances, slow burns, emotional risk, and that moment when two people finally choose each other.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene to write was the moment when Luke’s PTSD surfaces, and Harper is the one who grounds him. Up until then, Luke is all control—muscle memory, discipline, and emotional lockdown. In that scene, everything fractures at once. His past crashes into the present, and for the first time, he can’t muscle his way through it. What I loved most was writing Harper’s response. She doesn’t try to fix him or rush him through it. She stays. She listens. She anchors him back to the moment in the quietest, most human way. That scene stripped away the fake relationship and exposed something real and fragile between them. It was powerful to show that strength doesn’t always look like protection or bravery—it can look like trust, vulnerability, and letting someone see you when you’re at your lowest.

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

I’m very much a “same drink, same spot” writer. Pop or tea nearby, phone face-down, and absolute silence—or instrumental music only. And once I’m in a scene, I’ll reread the last few paragraphs obsessively until the rhythm feels just right.

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

A little love. A little trouble.

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

That love doesn’t always arrive quietly or neatly—but it’s worth the risk. Even when the past is heavy and the stakes are high, choosing connection can change everything.

Gia Hartley is the author of the new book Faking It with the Ex-SEAL

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Interview with R.L. Merrill, Author of Hush Gets Loud

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Hush Gets Loud?

Back in 2018, the organizers of the Vans Warped Tour announced it would be the last cross-country tour. I’d attended for a few years with my eldest daughter and had a blast. It was a place where our musical interests came together. I decided that setting a series on that last tour would make for a compelling read, and the band Hush was born. Summer of Hush featured lead singer Silas and his meet-cute with Krish, whose secret identity is The Guru, an anonymous music blogger. Brains and Brawn picks up the action and features Brains, the drummer, and the Navy corpsman who comes to his rescue during a catastrophe. But I wasn’t done with the band then…

When I joined the Carnival of Mysteries shared world, I went back to that summer and featured a character from another band, Ryan Wells. Ryan is taken in by the guys in Hush, so the action in You Can Do Magic continues the progress of the tour. It’s now been seven years, and I had written a few short stories featuring other members of Hush, so I decided to bundle them all together, write two more full-length novellas to wrap up their storyline, and give HEAs to the remainder of their found family. It was the warm, fuzzy project I needed the last two months of 2025.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Hush Gets Loud, what would they be?

Normally, I create playlists for each writing project when I start, and that music gives me the vibe I need. This time, I had made playlists for the first two stories, but the rest I’d just written with various background tunes on (I was listening to a lot of Slipknot and Sleep Token). I went through the stories and created this playlist once I was through with the project. There are songs that match up with the characters in each story, like the song “Los Angeles” by Sugarcult, which came from Los’s Long Day in LA; “’Til We Die,” which came from Jordan Barrett and the Witch’s Refrain; “Ain’t Wastin’ Time No More” by the Allman Brothers, which came from The Barrett Dickens UnThanksgiving; and “Changes,” as performed by Yungblud and company at the Black Sabbath/Ozzy tribute show, which came from Merry Hushmas Eve.

Check out this playlist!

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

I spent a lot of last year reading romantic suspense and paranormal romance. I wrote a lot of contemporary romance last year, so… maybe that’s the trick—read what I’m not writing? The last books I read were from a certain gay hockey series we all fell in love with at the end of the year. Thanks be to Rachel Reid and Canada’s Crave for Heated Rivalry.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’ve joined a new shared world for 2026, so I’m catching up on the first two seasons of Foggy Basin, a small-town gay romance series.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I really loved writing Burke and Jake’s story. In the earlier books, you learn a lot about their past, but this story allowed me to really explore their dynamic. Burke has an awfully sad backstory, and I was so damned happy to give him the HEA he deserves.

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

I’ve become a bit of a Snow White creature lately. In August of 2025, we lost my MIL, and her Chinese Crested and black cat came to join my Great Dane and twin black cats. My writing now must be done in between petting all of the creatures, making sure they have plenty of food and cuddles if I want to get anything done. Scruffy, the new cat, walks back and forth over my hands as I type, so that takes evasive maneuvers and plenty of proofreading to clean up his stray characters.

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

Leave this world a better place than you found it. Be kind and lift others up. Whatever energy you put out will come back around to you.

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

I want folks to come away feeling all the queer joy. I want them to take that feeling and spread it around, to remember how important found family is, and to love and support their extended family through these tough times.

R.L. Merrill is the author of the new book Hush Gets Loud

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Interview with Yael Yannay, Author of Avi Lanir

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Avi Lanir - A Short Life Story?

Over the course of 20 years, Noam Lanir tried to produce this book dedicated to his father. He received five versions he didn’t like, then it came to me. Bingo!

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Avi Lanir - A Short Life Story, what would they be?

Where Do We Go Now But Nowhere – Nick Cave

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

Favorite reading genre: poetry!!! Second place goes to interviews (assuming the interviewer is worth their salt) with artists who have something worthwhile to say, about both their art and life. Writing genre: I once had the chance to interview Margaret Atwood—the sheer essence of pleasure. Mostly, I write short fragments that freeze an image in time. Like photography: capturing a flickering thing. I love metaphors and subtext.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Several poetry books, a book by Janusz Korczak, and one that is my “personal bible” – The Other Force by Yehudit Hendel.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The monologue by Michal, Avi Lanir’s wife/widow, and the monologue by Noam, his son.

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

Before I sit down to write, I read a little poetry—a kind of warm-up for the mental muscles.

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

We’ve come into this world to be significant—for someone, or something.

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

There are people who are larger than life, who live for something greater than themselves

Yael Yannay is the author of the new book Avi Lanir - A Short Life Story

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New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | January 6

Hold on to the edge of your seat as we hunt for clues and solve the case with these exciting new mystery and thriller books for the week! There are so many bestselling authors with new novels for you to dive into this week including Jessica Huntley, Leah Orr, Yasmin Angoe, and more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!

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New Books to Read in Literary Fiction | January 6

Literary fiction readers are in for a treat. This week’s latest releases list is full of intriguing reads you won’t want to miss! The new releases list includes so many bestselling authors like Sylas Graham, Tasmin Turner, Devney Perry, and more. Enjoy your new literary fiction books. Happy reading!

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New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books | January 6

Set off on an adventure to new worlds this week! This selection of new science fiction and fantasy books will surely please! Science Fiction fans should be excited about the latest from bestselling authors John Bailey, Aaron Parsons, P.J.N, and more. If Fantasy is what your library needs, you’ll be able to pick up the latest from Jennifer L Adams, Stacia Stark, Leia Stone, and more. Enjoy your new science fiction and fantasy books. Happy reading!

Fantasy

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New Biography and Memoir Books to Read | January 6

Looking for some new biography and memoir books for your library? There are so many new releases this week that you’re bound to find a new favorite. You can pick up new books from Yael Yannay, R Jay Driskill, Kelley Lamm, and more. Enjoy your new biography and memoir books. Happy reading!