Blog

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write And So We Dream?

I think I wanted to capture the way life was when I was growing up – or, rather, to create an idealized version of it. And I’ve always believed in the power of dreams, of shaping your life the way you want it to be.

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

Very broadly speaking, Women’s Fiction, the same genre I write in.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Amor Towles’ Rules of Civility, Disappearing Earth by Julia Glass, and The Oceanography of the Moon by Glendy Vanderah.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

Two scenes, in part because they were pivotal to the character arc of Vita – her visit to the directors, and the night of the shooting stars.

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

Looking out at the treetops with a cup of tea at hand.

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

It used to be something along the lines of “find the beauty in the day,” “the way you live your day is the way you live your life” – now it’s “Hurry up and write! You’re running out of time!”

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

That to actively pursue a dream is one of life’s greatest pleasures.

Linda Mahkovec is the author of the new book And So We Dream

Connect with Linda Mahkovec

Author Site

Facebook

Twitter

Buy The Book

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Something Blue: A Sweet Romance Anthology?

This anthology is a collection of wedding-themed novellas from 18 different bestselling authors. I love doing group projects like this because they are a fun departure from the solitude of writing by myself. As a group, we were inspired to put together a fun collection of stories for our readers to enjoy and we hope that our readers can find new-to-them authors to follow!

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Something Blue: A Sweet Romance Anthology, what would they be?

My novella in this anthology is called Four Royal Weddings and An (Almost) Funeral, and I will admit that while I was writing it, I listened to the soundtrack to the Hulu show Four Weddings and a Funeral, which I adore! My main characters, Tabby and Ethan, are reporters at rival newspapers covering a succession of four royal weddings that take place over the course of one London summer. If I had to pick a theme song for Tabby, it would be Stronger by Kelly Clarkson. Ethan’s would definitely be Feeling Good by Michael Bublé. Right from the start, he’s got a slight upper hand in their little rivalry!

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

My favorite genres to read are sweet romance, romantic comedy, and domestic thrillers (those stories where mostly rich women drink wine and deal with murder-y problems, haha). I like reading my own genre, but I also like to mix it up sometimes for variety.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Books on my TBR right now include THE DACHSHUND WEARS PRADA by Stefanie London and THE NO-SHOW by Beth O’Leary. I read an early copy of Stefanie’s book and I loved it so much that I’m anxious to read it again. Beth O’Leary’s THE FLAT SHARE was amazing, so I’m excited about reading something new from her.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I really loved writing the entire novella. It’s a fun enemies-to-lovers story and I enjoyed writing a story set in various posh locations in and around London. My favorite scene to write was the one at Windsor Castle, because it’s the first time both characters are feeling an undeniable romantic spark simmering beneath their competitive banter.

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

I don’t really have any quirky writing habits. I do love having my dogs around, though! And a cupcake doesn’t hurt either.

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

My motto comes from the days when I used to show my Cavalier King Charles Spaniels in dog shows. An older gentleman named Harold in his 80s was my mentor. He was always really generous with helping train new dog show handlers at his home. Such a nice man. Every time I asked him if I should enter my dogs in a specific show, he would say the same thing—“You can’t win if you don’t enter.” That has since become my life motto. To me, it means that you can’t reach your goals or get what you want if you don’t take the chance and put yourself out there.

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

I would want them to remember my story as an escape from the stress of everyday life.

Teri Wilson is the author of the new book Something Blue: A Sweet Romance Anthology

Connect with Teri Wilson

Author Site

Facebook

Twitter

Buy The Book

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Shadow's Edge?

The story behind the story is one of healing and redemption in the wake of trauma. I was inspired by the survivors who walk among us.

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

Psychological Thrillers and life-changing love stories. I LOVE writing and reading them.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James, Kill Creek by Scott Thomas, and anything by Stephen King or Joe Hill.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I have a bunch! I love the jump scares, and writing this novel was filled with moments when I'd creep myself out and I'd need to take a break before I kept writing.

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

I'm an early morning writer. I love to write while the world is quiet and the sun rises.

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

"What you seek is seeking you." ~ Rumi

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

Simply that I loved writing this book and I'm delighted to share it with you. If you enjoyed it, or it resonated with you, please share it with your friends.

Lizbeth James is the author of the new book Shadow's Edge

Connect with Lizbeth James

Author Site

Buy The Book

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Flame and Crystal Thorns?

This book is a spin off of my previous series, The Fae of Bitter Thorn. Even though it's a spin off, it's a completely brand new series that can be read without reading the previous series first. Since it's a spin off though, the story came about mostly because I got to the end of the previous series and realized a few of the characters still had much bigger stories of their own that still needed to be told.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Flame and Crystal Thorns, what would they be?

The theme song for my main character, Chloe, would definitely be Ordinary Human by OneRepublic. For the male main character, Quintus, his theme song would be Power Over Me by Dermot Kennedy.

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

I absolutely love young adult fantasy. It's definitely my favorite both to read and to write. Within that genre, epic fantasy is my very favorite of all.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

Too many! I always have too many books on my TBR pile, as I'm sure many readers can understand. But the top of my pile currently has The Demon King and Crown of Feathers.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

There's a scene inside of a black cave where there are twinkling golden lights up above. It's a scene that was so visually striking in my head, and I really wanted to make that come through on the page. But it's also a really low emotional moment for the characters. Some things about the past are revealed, which are painful, but they also make the character's previous actions clear. Emotional scenes like that can be draining to write, but I love how much more powerful they make the story in the end.

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

I like to write in complete silence and often have to turn on a fan or other white noise because even the tiniest noises will distract me.

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

My favorite motto is, "If it's not happy, then it's not the end." I'm a firm believer in happy endings, but I do make my characters struggle to get there. Some people say that happy endings are not realistic, but I completely disagree. Bad things do happen in life. We do all have struggles that hurt and test us. But we have happy times too, and as I like to say, if it's not happy, then it's not the end.

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

I hope that they would remember feeling something while reading. I do my best to write books that are relatable so that readers can feel/work through their own life experiences while reading. I truly hope that after the book is finished, readers remember how it made them feel.

Kay L. Moody is the author of the new book Flame and Crystal Thorns

Connect with Kay L. Moody

Author Site

Facebook

Twitter

Buy The Book

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write Buried Alive/The Spirit Walker Series Book 2?

What’s your biggest fear? Mine is being buried alive. The thought of waking up in a casket buried six feet under with no way to escape sends shivers down my spine. Being the lover of horror tales that I am, I happened across the story of Dr. Johann Gottfried Taberger, who in the 1800s, came up with the bell system. A bell was placed above a person’s grave, and it was secured to a rope, routed down into the casket, and tied around a corpse’s finger in the event someone happened to be buried alive. They could pull on the string, ringing the bell, and alerting the cemetery worker, who would then dig them up. This is a true story. That laid the groundwork for the next harrowing ordeal our feisty little psychic, Jenna Langley would encounter in book 2 of the Spirit Walker Series, Buried Alive. How long could someone survive in a casket with no ventilation? This dilemma is put to the ultimate test when someone seeking revenge kidnaps Jenna and forces her to face the unthinkable.

If you had to pick theme songs for the main characters of Buried Alive/The Spirit Walker Series Book 2, what would they be?

During the writing of book 1 and book 2 of the Spirit Walker Series, the song, A Thousand Years, from The Twilight Saga, Breaking Dawn Part 2, kept playing in my mind over and over. The lyrics reminded me so much of Jenna and Cole. They loved each other from the time they discovered what love was…from a teenager to an adult so many years later. Time did not wash away what they’d found in each other. They had loved each other for a thousand years.

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

I love to read everything from horror to mystery, thriller, fantasy, and paranormal. I feel there is a bit of mixed genre in my writing. But when I write a story, romance is always the biggest driver of all.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

I know authors get asked this question a lot. And I would like to answer with the names of at least five titles that are sitting on my desk waiting to be cracked open right now. But that would be disingenuous of me. I know reading is expected of authors. After all, we are in the business of creating stories. But if I read, I’d do it so often I’d never get any writing done. I must confess, I have this compulsive side. Once I delve into something, it’s hard to tear myself away. And it doesn’t help that every time I open a book, all it does is make me want to create another story. So, there’s the truth of it. I can’t read when writing is on my brain. And lately, writing is on my brain constantly.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

I think the moment Cole stumbles upon Jenna’s burial site. I can’t say too much about it or I’ll give away too much of the story. But I can tell you, the emotions exploding through him are profound. I had to reach deep into the heart of this tough man, this gritty detective, and lay it bare like I’d never done with any other character. I will never forget the tears streaming down my face by the time I finished writing that scene.

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

A cup of hot tea, a laptop, and my imagination is all that's required.

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

Yes. Many. But a few of the important ones regarding writing are: For the love of God, don’t argue with your editor. They are there to make you look good. Don’t break the rules, unless adhering to the rules is what’s keeping you from being the writer you are meant to be. Then break them as many times as you need to. You’ll know when a little rule-breaking is called for.

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

The next book in the series is coming…and it’s going to be even better than the one you just read.

Donnette Smith is the author of the new book Buried Alive/The Spirit Walker Series Book 2

Connect with Donnette Smith

Author Site

Facebook

Twitter

Buy The Book