New Books - NewInBooks

7 Books to Read for Fans of Terry Brooks

From high-stakes quests to richly crafted realms, these reads are perfect for anyone who loves Terry Brooks' enchanting tales. Get ready to embark on new adventures and lose yourself in these captivating reads that are sure to satisfy your craving for epic storytelling!

Malfus: Necromancer Unchained (The Damned and the Dead Book 1)

by Casey Sutton

Release Date: June 28, 2023

"Spellbinding dark fantasy. Magic, redemption, and a captivating journey. "Malfus: Necromancer Unchained" will leave you breathless." - Reedsy Discovery Malfus’s past has finally caught up with him. He’s a renegade, an outlaw, a necromancer. Now he’s a prisoner, captured by an Inquisitor to be executed. But does fate have other plans for Malfus?

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Starlight's End

by Luke Aidan

Release Date: July 21, 2023

The Starlight is the last remaining magic in the galaxy. Long ago its chosen wielders, the Radiants, defended the side of purity. Now a new threat, led by the evil Imperator Ciroc, has risen from the ashes with its eyes set on galactic destruction. An unexpected hero must reignite The Starlight and stand as the galaxy's only defender against Ciroc.

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A Hunger of Echoes (Those Consumed Book 1)

by Dimitri Elfland

Release Date: May 15, 2023

A debut grimdark epic fantasy novel that will pit mortals as the pawns in an immortal Great Game. The heavens and hells conspire, and something from the void hungers for the psychic screams of divinity. Andrex Yan, a mercenary, will be led down a path of conspiracies to stop the annihilation of the world, to put an end to Echoes.

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Convergence

by Jesse Clary

Release Date: May 23, 2023

Jay only has seven days before The Anomaly, a great black diamond in the sky, devours his world. For seven years he has failed to fulfill the promise he made to his late wife: to bury her ashes in her hometown of Escanaba, Michigan. But with time running short, he will journey across a horror-infested Michigan to complete his wife's dying wish.

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The Yawning Gap (The Wanderers Cycle Book 1)

by C.V. Vobh

Release Date: July 20, 2023

Invisible boundaries have isolated Cor's village for centuries. He accidentally discovers a way out. What he finds outside is a blighted world in decline—and he is tasked with fixing it, together with several fellow wanderers. They soon acquire the power to cross the boundaries fragmenting the world. What will they find on the other side?

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Red Dust (Gods & Assassins Book 1)

by Frank Kennedy

Release Date: July 22, 2023

Join Royal and Moon - fallen gods turned assassins - on a wild ride of murder, mayhem, cigar smoke, and laser fire to reclaim lost glory. They’ll kill to achieve interstellar chaos. Standing in their way: The Collectorate President, a crime syndicate, and an ancient secret. It’s gods, guns, and good times in this new five-book space western series.

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Sacking the Montecristo (The Zakarian Brothers Book 1)

by Bradford Bates & Michael Anderle

Release Date: July 6, 2023

Christian Zakarian is tired of playing second fiddle to his undeserving, playboy brother. Edward may be older than him, but the corporation should go to the best man for the job. To take his brother out of the running and get what he rightfully deserves, Christian turns to the one person who wants to get back at Edward more than he does... The fate of the galaxy rests in their hands.

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5 Inspirational & Heartwarming New Releases

We're bringing you five books that will warm your heart, touch your soul, and leave you with a renewed sense of hope. From touching stories of love and resilience to tales of courage and personal growth, these new releases are sure to leave a lasting impression.

My Best Break: Cynthia's Story (My Best Series Book 5)

by Carole Wolfe

Release Date: June 8, 2023

Cynthia Anderson is determined to succeed and finds a captivating story to send her journalism career to new heights. Her aspirations take a hit when her overbearing mother wreaks havoc on her personal life. Carole Wolfe's light-hearted drama can be read separately or out of order from the My Best women's fiction series.

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K9 Odin

by Lisa Slater

Release Date: June 11, 2023

This book is based on a true story. It is told by Odin, Coos County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Tracking Canine, badge number 5K3. The intended spirit of this book is to provide the unique and invaluable opportunity to experience life through Odin’s eyes, allowing readers to bear the noble weight of a dog’s capacity, for what some might call, a flickering and waning human role—to serve faithfully.

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All That Moves Us: A Pediatric Neurosurgeon, His Young Patients, and Their Stories of Grace and Resilience

by Jay Wellons

Release Date: June 28, 2022

Dr. Jay Wellons pulls back the curtain to reveal the profoundly moving triumphs, haunting complications, and harrowing close calls that characterize the life of a pediatric neurosurgeon, bringing the high-stakes drama of the operating room to life with astonishing candor and honest compassion.

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When Dreams There Be: The Ninth Novel in the Rosemont Series

by Barbara Hinske

Release Date: July 6, 2023

Loretta and Frank Haynes have newborn twins. They’re beautiful and healthy. Frank has everything he wants: a growing family and a thriving business. He should be on cloud nine, not down in the dumps. What’s got him tied up in knots? On a happier note, David Wheeler continues his journey to become a seeing eye dog trainer. His plans to bring a guide dog training school to Westbury are bolstered by the donation of a rare piece of jewelry. The auction of the brooch leads to a staggering twist. Meanwhile, Maggie Martin is sailing along in her new position as president of Highpointe College. Will her late husband’s shady past raise its ugly head and upend her success? Follow along as the kind and generous people of Westbury tackle life’s problems together.

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The Shift: Change Your Perspective, Not Yourself

by Tinx

Release Date: May 23, 2023

The lifestyle creator, advice expert, and host of the It’s Me, Tinx podcast shares her hilarious and (sometimes brutally) honest wisdom on how to shift your approach to life, step into your confidence, and enjoy the journey.

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Interview with Dimitri Elfland, Author of A Hunger of Echoes

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write A Hunger of Echoes?

I wanted to finish a decent novel. I wrote one before and I felt it was mediocre. So I read the best in class craft books and made an entire standard operating procedure with a brand new story to "test it out" with. It was my lab experiment using what I studied, and what coaches and editors told me. Ultimately, the book became much more as the story developed into what I find a fascinating question on how one can grow despite the chains of their past.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of A Hunger of Echoes, what would they be?

Andrex Yan probably would like the neurotic sounds of Mindless Self Indulgence. Pakian is likely a big Lana Del Rey fan.

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

Epic fantasy and cosmic horror (so basically what I write).

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Red Rising.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Probably the chapter where I give the reader the point of view of a cosmic horror slithering through a mountain.

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

I game the process. I put my word count and time of writing in a spreadsheet and then always try to beat the day before. I'll also write my mood and setting. I've never optimized as I'm quite lazy, but I like having the data to "feel" like I might optimize my writing productivity one day. The ultimate procrastinator tool.

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

I live life by my favorite quote from Oscar Wilde, "Life is too serious to be taken seriously."

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

That people are complicated, nuanced, and may do good things for evil reasons and vice versa.

Dimitri Elfland is the author of the new book A Hunger of Echoes

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Interview with Stephanie Fournet, Author of Camp Bliss

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Camp Bliss?

One day last summer, I was taking my dogs on a long walk, and we passed a nearby church with the following passage on its marquee: “Where there is no love, put love and you will find love.” —St. John of the Cross. The idea for CAMP BLISS just hit me. A story about two people who find themselves stuck in a tough situation and have no choice but to make it work—and they fall in love in the process.

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

“A Natural Woman” by Aretha Franklin. For so many reasons.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Unlucky Like Us by Krista and Becca Ritchie, Better Hate Than Never by Chloe Liese, and Not That Duke by Eloisa James.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

It’s hard to pick a scene I enjoyed writing the most. Putting Greta and Zach together in a scene always made me smile, but if I had to pick, it’d be the roof leak scene (laughs wickedly).

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

I write every day, usually early in the morning after I've exercised and walked my dogs, Mabel and Bud. But lately I've also stopped looking at my phone before I write. It's been a challenge, but I think my brain and my creativity are better off.

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

Greta learns that forgiveness is about overcoming the lie. When someone hurts us, the hurt lingers when we allow ourselves to believe that we are the way the hurt made us feel: inferior, unlovable, inadequate, etc. Forgiveness is really about freeing ourselves from that lie. If we no longer label ourselves that way, then the injury we’ve sustained no longer weighs us down, and we are free. Forgiveness really is for ourselves, not for those who hurt us.

Stephanie Fournet is the author of the new book Camp Bliss

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Interview with Lloyd Jeffries, Author of A Measure of Rhyme

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write A Measure of Rhyme?

I was inspired to write these books as I was traveling over the Bogan Bridge in Pensacola, Florida. For a long time, I’d been thinking about legends and myths and how biblical lore effects society today. I was also wondering about current events and the end times as written in Revelation. While listening to NPR, the idea hit me like a bolt of lightning. Cain, the Earth’s first murderer and his punishment of immortality. What if Cain was still on Earth? What would he be doing? What was his history and how does that affect the planet? From there, it was twelve years of writing, military deployments and life, until A Portion of Malice was complete. What followed was beyond anything I could’ve ever dreamed.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of A Measure of Rhyme, what would they be?

Cain – Demolition Man, The Police. Cain’s a wrecking ball and that song suits him perfectly.

Emery – Thunderstruck, by AC/DC. Again, if anyone was ever, truly thunderstruck, it’s our beloved Emery.

Rhyme – Mountain Climbing, Joe Bonamassa. A perfect blues song and one Rhyme thinks of often.

Igneus – Long Time Gone, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young. Igneus is finally coming into his own, and that’s been a long time coming.

Longinus – The Rooster, Alice in Chains. “Ain’t found a way to kill me yet.” A great lyric and that’s Longinus in a nutshell.

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

I tend to read everything. Always in search of a good story, I don’t put much thought into genre and I get easily bored with the same tropes (ex-FBI agent, Former CIA operative, etc). I like a good story. Whether that’s a family biopic or something set in outer space or a psychological thriller. Give me interesting characters and a clever plot. Give me flawed people pushed to the very edge of their limits. Give me turmoil! But above all, engage my brain and make me think about everything long after I’ve finished reading. I hate genres and view them as a bottleneck for creativity. I’m not interested in writing a 30-book series. I’m interested in writing a story that knocks your socks off and gets in your head. That’s what I like to read. That’s what I write. If you like a good story, you’ll love my books.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Just finished “The Complete works of Sherlock Holmes” by Arthur Conan Doyle. Seems every few years I have to return to those. I’ve got some overdue Shakespeare on my list and have been longing to read Dickens again in any form. As far as current books, “Fairy Tale” by Stephen King is there, as well as finishing the Kingsbridge series by Ken Follet. Sadly, I’ve exhausted all my Michael Crichton collection and worn it dog eared. Now there was a guy who could tell a story.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The climax to A Measure of Rhyme was great fun to imagine and write. Our beloved antihero, Emery, gets a front row seat to events like the world has never seen as he and Longinus struggle with a weapon of epic power while everything hangs in the balance. A great, edge of your seat scene and an awesome awe inspiring change in the characters.

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

Good question: I guess my biggest quirk is that I can sit around for days or weeks and not write a word, just waiting for that first, perfect sentence to hit me. When that happens, the dam bursts and it’s on full blast. I both love and hate that. I love the nature of the spontaneity of that but hate when the firehose turns on at three in the morning.

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

When my daughter was six, she was playing in the backyard and climbed atop an eagle statue we had at the top of a landscaped waterfall. Looking up at her, I asked, “Oh great and wise one, what is the meaning of life?” Without missing a beat, she said. “So you can be trusted, learn your lessons, and have fun.” Although I asked in jest, the universe saw fit to send its message through a wonderful child. That’s always stuck with me and I contemplate her words often. If I had to pick another one, it would be “Follow the right.” I’ve found that when I do that, wonderful things happen.

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

That’s a tough question as my books touch on all variety of genres and lore. But, if forced to try and put it all in a nutshell, my answer is that I would want them to open their eyes. To see the manipulations and evil of every day. To realize that they have a choice in how to act, what to think, how to treat others. That they can reject the negative and focus on those things that make this planet bearable. Namely, goodness, intent, love, humility. Like my beloved antihero, Emery Merrick, I’d like them to come away with a sense of the struggle being worth it. A sense of self reflection and how everyone’s actions are largely determined by excuses and rationalizations. I want them to think “I can do better”, “I can choose better”, “I can live my life on my own terms and choose the harder path, the path not worn”. I’d like them to realize and take stock of what’s important to them, then own those choices and act accordingly.

Lloyd Jeffries is the author of the new book A Measure of Rhyme (Ages of Malice Book II)

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Interview with C.V. Vobh, Author of The Yawning Gap

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

It goes back to the late 1990s. We were still in that post-USSR, pre-9/11 moment when the western world believed it was living at the end of history, and it’d be just a few more years before peace, capitalism and democracy finished spreading across the world. And, like many teenagers in that era, I was bored. Life felt as inauthentic as a smile at the fast food counter and as homogenous as the food. It seemed to me that a lot of life’s interest would be restored if the world outside one’s home felt as weird and foreign as it had in premodern times.

That’s where the idea for the Boundaries came from. A sort of thought experiment: “What would happen if some catastrophe left our globalized world fragmented, so a bunch of jaded moderners suddenly had to survive as farmers and hunter-gatherers? What would that world look like a thousand years later?” That’s half of where The Wanderers Cycle came from.

Meanwhile, I’d been sketching out ideas for characters for a couple of years and had some names already—Cor, Deliad, Shadin, and Celeste—as well as a rough sense of who I wanted each to be. I also had some very specific scenes in mind involving those characters and some other plot elements like the Sojourner. I made a few aborted efforts to bring those characters together in a story (which, alas, still survives on my hard drive), but it always felt like I wasn’t doing justice to the idea.

Then, I went off to college, studied traditional formal poetry, and wrote a bunch of stuff that wasn’t fantasy until 2016. At that point, I finally sat down to start writing the book I’d meant to write as a teenager. Seven years later, here I am, with four books written and the first of them—The Yawning Gap—released last month.

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

This is actually a question I’d given a lot of thought to! On hearing One Big Holiday by My Morning Jacket around 2021, I immediately felt strongly that it captured Cor’s character: a sanguine intensity and artistry that begins and ends purely with guitar work, and a reflective interlude in the middle where the singer joins in with a surprisingly melancholy sense of musing. The song of a warm but intense character who reveals himself mostly through what he does, but reveals a surprising depth sometimes when he finally speaks.

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

My favorite genres to read and write are fantasy and poetry. Best of all is when the two come together in one work, as you find sometimes in Lord of the Rings, Wizard of Earthsea, Book of the New Sun, etc.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I’m almost finished with Matt Dinniman’s Dungeon Crawler Carl series. As someone who had no real inclination toward LitRPGs, I was shocked and impressed by the visceral, down-to-earth humanity of the characters. It’s a series about people. The fact that there’s a made-up numerical system governing how they interact is just a tool used by the author to get at real things: humans in intense situations and how they relate to one another.

After that, there’s a long list I’ve started and have to finish: Kings of the Wyld, The Fifth Season, The Girl and The Stars, and many others.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The confrontation at the end of The Yawning Gap, particularly the “one on one” portion.

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

I type with a black background and green text, like a 1980s Apple computer or something out of Fallout.

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

Personally, I find it more satisfying to let stories and memories inspire me along from day to day than any particular philosophy. Whenever I try to distill a philosophy out of life experiences, it always loses part of what makes life feel real and whole and healthy. Like trying to take a healthy, hearty diet and systematically reduce it to a regimen of pills. There’s always some irreducible complexity that’s lost.

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

I hope they’ll remember the poetry of it. Genre fiction has always been plot-and-character-centric, and more so today than ever. If some readers leave The Yawning Gap feeling that poetic language can also be a “hook” for readers, I’ll be happy.

C.V. Vobh is the author of the new book The Yawning Gap

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A Little Pinprick Can Change Your Whole Life!

A Little Pinprick Can Change Your Whole Life!

Girls Found is the fourth book of the Rainey Paxton Series.

I wrote the Rainey Paxton Series as part of my healing process. I was married at nineteen and by the time I turned twenty-one, my then-husband was an intravenous drug user. He loved meth and heroin more than anything else in the world. He came from a great family, loving and giving parents that provided everything he needed and wanted. His childhood differed from mine in that aspect.

Once Peter (that’s his fictitious name) started using massive amounts of drugs and driving us further into debt, I left him. It was several years later and after thirteen failed rehab attempts, when I filed for divorce. I assumed all of his drug debt to keep my credit rating in good standing as he went off into the streets of North Philadelphia to immerse himself further into the drug scene. I filed and received full custody of our child. I was so worried he would trade my child for drugs or let people do awful things to her in exchange for his dope. Those thoughts were the basis for the Rainey Paxton Series.

I’ve looked under the covers and have seen the hopelessness and trauma that addiction causes the entire family. I understand the pain and suffering an addict can create. I was so tired of everyone focusing on my addicted husband while I was working and essentially raising my child alone. Society focuses on the addict, giving them the bulk of the attention and resources while the family members, including the children, figure things out on their own.

This series started with A Little Pinprick, Book One, a child born addicted to heroin to two drug-using parents. Rainey was left to navigate her way through her life despite her parent’s addiction and irresponsible, harmful, behavior. I wrote this series so readers can understand what the family may deal with and the daily struggles they face. I hope the Rainey Paxton Series will provide a peek into the problems that can face children affected by addicted parents.

Paige Dearth is the author of the new book Girls Found (Rainey Paxton Series Book 4)

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Interview with Casey Sutton, Author of Malfus: Necromancer Unchained

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Malfus: Necromancer Unchained?

My name is Casey Sutton, I’m an army veteran, D&D nerd, amateur mycologist; and the self-published author of Malfus: Necromancer Unchained! I had a near-death experience in South Africa in 2018. No, not quite as cool as you are imagining it, I’m sure. I had some internal bleeding on Christmas Eve and had to be rushed to the hospital from blood loss. By the time I had gotten to see a doctor, I was already going into shock from blood loss and was taken into emergency surgery right away! As I recovered in bed in the ICU, I looked at the pile of books I had brought with me which were all books about writing and how to start your first book – I’d still never actually taken pen to paper because I didn’t feel good enough. I realized then that life is short, tomorrow isn’t promised and if I kept waiting, I may never write a book. So I started outlining my first book that night in the hospital bed! The irony of writing a story about necromancy after a near-death experience isn’t lost on me!

I’m a huge Dungeons and Dragons nerd though and that also influenced a lot of my ideas with this story, as well as exploring flawed characters. I published parts of it on RoyalRoad at first and was blown away when I found out it made it into the top 50 on the whole site! I even got an audiobook deal from Tantor Audio because of that! The book has been edited by an editor that’s worked with Brandon Sanderson before and has a 2-page world map and 10 color illustrations by fantasy artist Dejan Delic!

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Malfus: Necromancer Unchained, what would they be?

It would probably be the type of music I listen to while I write, Game of Thrones soundtracks or video game song covers (lyrics bug me while I write). However, if Malfus was a teen in our world, he probably would have listened to Korn and Marilyn Manson during a "phase" in his life.

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

I love grimdark fantasy. I like the morally gray characters and more realistic side of human behavior those stories tell, all while in a fantasy setting! I love Joe Abercrombie and the First Law series. I read a lot of D&D novels as a kid, and I wanted to combine the two! So this novel is a bit Dungeons and Dragons meets Quentin Tarantino.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Currently reading The Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb. Next is The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Definitely the combat scenes! There is one in the middle of the book with a ballista, and that's all I'll say so I don't spoil anything.

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

I am cursed to wake up super early, so that's usually when I write. My cat August usually joins me and has been there for 90% of Malfus's creation. I listed her as a co-author in the back of the book and have a picture of her. Aside from that, I can't listen to music with lyrics and write at the same time.

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

"I'll try anything twice!" and specifically for writing "It's easier to edit bad writing than a blank page."

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

The nameless soldier in the middle of the battle, no matter whether it is in a fantasy book, a movie, or real life.

Casey Sutton is the author of the new book Malfus: Necromancer Unchained

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Interview with Luke Aidan, Author of Starlight's End

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Starlight's End?

Starlight's End is a story that has been in my head and heart for the last 20 years. Like many people who grew up in the 90s, some of my earliest formative memories were built around a galaxy far, far away and filled with heroes in masks and costumes. Those stories were first and foremost entertaining, but they also taught me about heroism and sacrifice. That’s the spirit that Starlight’s End was born out of. Flawed heroes that face unbeatable odds. Over the last decade I have searched for the right medium and the right words to tell my version of that story. After thousands of hours brainstorming, writing, and re-writing, Starlight’s End was how that story finally came together.

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

Somewhat an answer to the question, there was one song that I found inspiration for the story in- The Power of One by Secession Studios & Greg Dombrowski. The song starts off very slow and dark, but as it goes on it builds to an epic finale filled with sounds of hope and power. It’s a very moving song.

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

Actually my favorite genre to read is mystery.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz will be my next read.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Chapter 39: The Only Hope. By far my favorite thing I've ever written.

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

I tend to write very late at night or very early in the morning. I do have a cat who lays beside me which is actually kind of comforting.

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

Well, first and foremost, I am a Christian. In all of my writing and my interaction with others, I aim to echo the words of Psalm 19:14 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

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

If I could hope anything, it would be for my readers to walk away entertained and satisfied with the way the story played out and with their choice to spend time reading it.

Luke Aidan is the author of the new book Starlight's End

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Interview with Carole Wolfe, Author of My Best Break

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write My Best Break?

Cynthia Anderson is a recurring character in the My Best Series who readers didn’t particularly like. I thought it was time to change that. My inspiration for this book came from a story about a father who discovered the daughter he raised from birth wasn’t biologically his. Cynthia’s story is a bit different, but it still touches on the fact that things aren’t always what they appear and it is up to each person to deal with life’s surprises. Cynthia is hungry for success but she has to make some tough decisions.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of My Best Break, what would they be?

Older by Alec Benjamin - It’s a song about growing up whether you are ready to or not. The song applies to both Cynthia and her mother Cybil in different ways. Plus it has a really catchy tune!

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

I read across most genres, everything from Women’s Fiction to Science Fiction. (Horror and some thrillers give me nightmares, so I read those less frequently.) Women’s Fiction is what I read most often, but I like a little bit of everything. I write Women’s Fiction because I understand what readers expect from the genre book. I make sure to include the conventions and scenes readers expect so my books are satisfying and enjoyable. Someday, I might write in a new genre, but for now, Women’s Fiction is my focus.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt Demon, Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, The Change by Kirsten Miller, The Obituary Society by Jessica L. Randall, and Valentine’s Day in Venice by Stephanie Taylor.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The scene where Cynthia is in the bathroom eavesdropping on her mother’s phone conversation wrote itself. It is showing how Cynthia is repeating the behaviors of her past but is aware of how she should be doing things differently. And for some reason, the bathroom was the right setting for this!

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

Fans! I have two floor fans that are always running in my office. They are great for white noise and to keep me cool during the hot Texas summers! If I don’t have them running, it’s hard for me to concentrate.

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

When eating an elephant take one bite at a time. This idea from Creighton Abrams helps me move a book from an idea to a published manuscript because I can focus on what needs to happen right now. If I worried about all the other things that need to be done, I’d never accomplish anything.

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

You have more control over your life than what you think. Don’t give away the control.

Carole Wolfe is the author of the new book My Best Break - Cynthia’s Story (Book 5 in the My Best Series)

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