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Interview with Lori Robbins, Author of Murder in Third Position

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Murder in Third Position: On Pointe Mystery #3?

Murder in Third Position was inspired by my own experiences as a dancer. All of the details about a ballerina’s life are real, but the story is definitely a work of fiction. The main character, Leah Siderova, is drawn into a complex web of secret betrayals and deadly rivalries, and the only thing she knows for sure is that the killer is someone close to her.

The underlying story is more universal. It’s about trust and loyalty, friends and lovers.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Murder in Third Position: On Pointe Mystery #3, what would they be?

My characters would be singing along with whatever Stephanie Plum, or Agatha Raisin, or Miss Marple were listening to. There’s a lot of humor in Murder in Third Position. Think of it as Janet Evanovich meets Tiny Pretty Things. Funny but intense And definitely danceable.

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

I do love all kinds of mysteries, from traditional British whodunnits to thrillers and locked room puzzles. Having said that, as a former English teacher, I’m just as likely to be found keeping company with Jane Austen for laughs and Thomas Hardy for tears.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Several of my favorite writers have new releases, including: The Counterfeit Wife, by Mally Becker How to Kill a Kingpin, by Gabrielle St. George Aria for Murder, by Erica Miner, and there are two others that will be published shortly: Never Let Go, by Lori Duffy Foster With a Twist: Murder on the Rocks Mystery #4, by Cathi Stoler.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I loved writing about the party that takes place in Chapters Ten and Eleven. It pokes fun at the New York City art scene, where models, dancers, filmmakers, and galleristas mingle with the moneyed people who support them. It’s also central to the plot.

Without giving anything away, a host of clues are embedded in the descriptions and the dialogue. It was a tricky—and very satisfying—part of the novel to write. And it ends with a bang.

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

I like to read aloud while I’m writing, and I’ve been known to talk to my characters. And yes, they do talk back! Also: I’m not sure if drinking gallons of coffee qualifies as quirky, but I definitely run on caffeine, preferably in my Chapter One mug

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

I’m going with persistence as a way of life, and Winston Churchill for the quotation: If you’re going through hell, keep going.

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

I’m going to answer this question as my main character would: There’s more to me than how I look.

Lori Robbins is the author of the new book Murder in Third Position: On Pointe Mystery #3

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Interview with Ciara Blume, Author of Rome for the Holidays

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Rome for the Holidays?

I love Italy! I’ve always felt at home there, particularly in Rome and Tuscany. While I was researching this book I was also digging into my family's history and I was delighted to trace a branch of my family back to Pitigliano. We had a run in with a wild boar on our most recent trip to Italy. I won’t spoil the story, but the experience definitely provided fodder for my tale.

I’m also a big fan of reality television and the over-the-top characters on shows like Bachelor in Paradise. I had almost as much fun writing my secondary characters in this book as the primary ones. I made myself snort-laugh on several occasions. The “elfie” scene in particular.

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

I actually made a playlist for my characters! It's on Spotify, and the link is on my Facebook Fan page.

They bond over their mutual nostalgia for the music their parents played when they were kids. They both have a special fondness for the song "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac. It's actually the song that inspired his character's self help book.

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

I love to read RomComs but I also love historical fiction, paranormal women's fiction and re-reading the classics. I love humorous essays too.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I'm at a book conference as I'm typing and I've met so many fantastic authors so my TBR is epic right now! I'm reading the Prince and the Pauper right now though because it's relevant to one of the upcoming books in my series.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I loved writing the airport lounge scene, but the scene where Blaze gets stuck in the bathroom while Steff and Marco are taking naughty holiday photos was the hardest I have ever laughed while writing. It's so great when you crack yourself up.

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

I can't write without music but I am super picky about what I play while writing. It has to match the mood of the scene and not distract me. I always have a cat on my lap for luck! My other quirky habit is going thrifting for inspiration. I pick up trinkets and items that help me "feel" my characters. Tees, souvenirs, funny mugs, teapots. It's not stuff I would have but it's things they would, so I bring it home and park it on my desk while I am writing.

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

I met my husband in a comedy improv troupe which was perfect really. What better life partner could you have than one with whom you can say "yes and" and find a way to laugh at life's troubles with?

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

I'd like them to remember how it made them feel, which is hopefully good!

Ciara Blume is the author of the new book Rome for the Holidays

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Interview with B. D. Panthona, Author of Coven Of the Dead

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Coven Of the Dead Vol.1?

For those who don’t know what shadow work is; it is the process of sifting through the past to find what is influencing the present. My past is riddled with loss and the disappointment of the world we live our days in. I made the Hel’s Hoard series to create a world where there was no one right answer. Where I could be magical and live a meaningful life. I also created it for those who do not have a place they fit in, where they can be accepted by a realm that appreciates them. I made Hel’s Hoard for everyone to process loss and stand up more magikal because of it.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Coven Of the Dead Vol.1, what would they be?

Wendy- King by Lauren Aquilina.

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

I love to read Fiction, Fantasy, Izuki, and romance stories. I read to escape and feel more than myself. I hope I have done that for others.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Trailer park warlock, and Mushoku Tensei. (I keep it small not to be overwhelmed)

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Gosh, I remember what chapter I hated writing the most but for the best… I would have to say creating Helheim and Alfheim was my favorite part. How the sections of the realm were connected by free hanging branches of the world tree was amazing to visualize. I also made a campfire story about Banshees, I’m really happy with that part.

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

I listen to Celtic music or lo-fi when I write.

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

Do what you like. With the billions of people on this earth, SOMEONE else has to like it too.

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

Loss isn't the end, it could be the beginning. You are the only one who will be in the grave with you when you die, make sure you like yourself.

B. D. Panthona is the author of the new book Coven Of the Dead Vol.1

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Interview with Walter Marks, Author of Vengeful Behavior

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Vengeful Behavior?

I read an online report about a woman who took off all her clothes and danced naked in Times Square. Since my protagonist Dr. David Rothberg is a psychiatrist, I thought to use this episode for him to investigate. What would make a woman want to do this?

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

Dr. David Rothberg. "I've Gotta be Me" (written by the author).

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

Police procedural. Most of my books are in that genre.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

All the psychiatric hospital scenes involving the woman who strips

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

No. It's just my job.

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

Perseverance!

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

There is no end to the complexities of the human mind.

Walter Marks is the author of the new book Vengeful Behavior

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Interview with R C Ducantlin, Author of Cold Star

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Cold Star?

The idea that we could alter our genome to become more. More leads to the reality of existence.

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

Bad Trick by Ray Wylie Hubbard.

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

Historical Fiction!

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Too many to list...

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The cowboy in the trailer opening up about being more.

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

I am at my desk by 6am. Is that a quirk?

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

Stop thinking. Write.

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

AI ad technology are omnipresent.

R C Ducantlin is the author of the new book Cold Star

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Interview with Tara K. Rafacz, Author of Broad Sheet

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Broad Sheet?

My nephew picked a couple prompts.

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

Something bad by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.

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

Science fiction and non-fiction are my favorite to read. The science fiction is my favorite to write.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The latest Cook's Country magazine and The Killing Series by Bill O'Reilly,

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Kash and Geena's reunion.

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

I still write my first drafts in spiral bound notebooks that end up with random notes for other, non related things in them. In ink, sometimes in cursive. By the time I'm done, there's usually a coffee stain in a couple places.

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

Pen in hand, butt in chair. Only I can tell the story in my head.

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

That they should think for themselves.

Tara K. Rafacz is the author of the new book Broad Sheet

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Interview with Bernadette Marie, Author of The Rom Com Movie Club

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write The Rom Com Movie Club (Book 1)?

I am always inspired by Rom Com movies. I am the quoter of the one liners, the lover of the misunderstanding, and fan of the many tropes. Having a trilogy that pulled from my love of Rom Com movies only seemed logical. Of course, the research was fun as well!

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

My favorite genre is also Romance, and its many subcategories. I also love biographies as well. It gives me a nice balance.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Right now I have Lynn Painter’s “The Do-Over”, Matthew Perry’s “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” and Katherine Center’s “Happiness for Beginners.”

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I think my favorite scenes were all of the Rom Com Movie Club nights. When the girls would get together to watch movies with face masks and pajamas. This is where the true sisterhood is brought out in the books, and where we really get to know the characters.

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

My quirky writing habit is covering my work so no one sees it. I don’t mind if ANYONE reads my work, but over my shoulder is a no-no. So I’m quick to swipe screens.

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

My motto is that I write the antidote to anything you might have read that is heavy. I am the author that will pull you back into a happier place. I also say I can write romance because I live it, and I will always promise a happily ever after.

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

I would like readers to remember that a true love story isn’t always between a couple. Sometimes learning to love ourselves and the flaws we assume we have is in itself a romance.

Bernadette Marie is the author of the new book The Rom Com Movie Club (Book 1)

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Interview with Melody Anne, Author of He Saw Me First

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write He Saw Me First?

I was talking to my friend Emmy about her story with her husband which will be in book 3 of this series. It fascinated me. I then began thinking of stories that aren’t cookie cutter, that aren’t the typical romance formula of boy meets girl, they fall in love, they have a problem, they break up, then they come back together and live happily ever after. I love these stories, but I’ve written them. I wanted something deeper with meaning.

I began to think of the journey I’ve gone through. I also am a huge advocate for children. There are so many taken who are never found again. I wanted to shed light on this in a way that would help people who have gone through this. I wanted to show a person who can recover from this dark world. I love this story and love Cass’s journey. I cried, laughed, and cheered as I wrote it. She’s one of my all-time favorite characters.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of He Saw Me First, what would they be?

Ohhhh, this is hard!! First song that came to mind is Anti-Hero by Taylor Swift because Cass has a journey and trust is so tough for her. I’m also obsessed with The Greatest Showman. Seriously obsessed. I’ve watched it at least a dozen times. I think Rewrite the Stars would be quite fitting for them as a couple. And This is Me would be perfect for Cass. I could go on and on. I LOVE music!

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

I have several favorites. I only have one I don’t like which is Sci-Fi. Don’t know why, just don’t like space books or movies much. I read every single day. I do all of my reading on audio now. I’m currently listening to Ruth Cardello. I love to read my friends.

My favorite two series of all time are the Jack Reacher Series by Lee Child and The Women’s Murder Club by James Patterson. I’ve listened to both of these series multiple times. I love the cast of characters in both and the situations they find themselves in.

I guess if I had to choose I’d say crime is my fav with romance thrown in. I love that no matter what series or genre there’s always romance. Even in my superhero movies, everything is done for love.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Soooooooo many books!! I did just download the newest Jack Reacher, No Plan B, that I haven’t listened to yet because I got onto Ruth’s series which is long. As soon as I’m done with Ruth’s books, then I will dive into my latest Reacher book.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The Epilogue. It was the funnest epilogue I’ve written. I laughed as I wrote it. I thought I was pretty creative with this one. I can’t say anything about it without giving away a big part of the book.

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

Not really. I seriously do have OCD. Not extreme, but I don’t like getting out of my routine. My favorite writing place is my couch. It’s comfy. I have an office that I rarely use. It’s a cluttered mess right now. I need light, lots of light. I never shut my curtains and I have my front door open all of the time. I don’t like closed spaces. If I love a story I’m writing though, I can write from anywhere.

I have to have my coffee with me at all times and my Frenchie sits with me as well. My cats jump up looking for love every once in a while before they’re off again. My husband also passes by me quite often to give me a drive-by-kiss.

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

Dance Like Nobody’s Watching. I have this quote all over the place. I was a really shy child. I was dirt poor and always felt like I wasn’t good enough. I hate that I ever thought that way. I was afraid to do something to be embarrassed by. Now, I tell myself to always dance as if nobody’s watching. Life’s short and I don’t want to live in fear. I’ll make mistakes and that’s okay. I want to live each day as if it’s my last because as I get older I realize it could be. I love my family, my friends, my animals and my life. I want to enjoy every moment of it.

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

That we’re all imperfect. I want them to read this book and see themselves in the characters. Of course it’s fiction, but there are towns that are like this. There are people that will drop everything to be at your side. I want them to know that through our imperfections, we’re great. How boring would the world be if we were all perfect, if we never stumbled?

We don’t remember Christmas because it went off without a hitch, we remember the cat jumping into the tree and knocking it over on the dog who howled, then ran over grandma’s foot, making her spill her wine all over the new carpet. That’s a memory. A perfect day is soon forgotten, but a crazy day is talked about for years to come.

Melody Anne is the author of the new book He Saw Me First

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Interview with J. S. Allen, Author of Remnants of Light

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Knights of Aralia Book I: Remnants of Light?

A friend and I used to play this game back in 3rd and 4th grade in which he and I would pretend to be dragons wandering over the land and doing good deeds. We would draw little maps and set up scenarios to go along with them, then play through like they were some sort of video game levels. Eventually, I decided to link a bunch of these scenarios together into one continuous storyline. I began writing the whole thing down in a notebook one day, and it just kept on rolling from there.

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

History and linguistics are my most read genres, but in the realm of fiction, fantasy is definitely my favorite to read as well as write.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Der Nibelunge Nôt, The Rise and Fall of the Dinosaurs (by Steve Brusatte), & Sweden: An Illustrated History (by Martina Sprague), among many others.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Probably the attack on the bastion in Chapter XXIV. That one was just plain fun to make.

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

My workspace is frequently surrounded by bears and other assorted plushies.

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

"Only he is lost who gives himself up for lost."

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

Nothing worthwhile in life ever comes without a struggle.

J. S. Allen is the author of the new book Knights of Aralia Book I: Remnants of Light

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New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | November 22

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 Mark Howen, Walter Marks, Lori Robbins, and many more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!