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Interview with CJ Holmes, Author of Labyrinthine

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

I’ve always loved stories that feel deeply emotional and a little dangerous—the kind where love, power, and survival are all tangled together. Labyrinthine started with the idea of a heroine trapped between duty and freedom, and grew into a story about grief, identity, and the terrifying things we become to survive. I also wanted to write a dark romantasy that leaned fully into lush, emotional prose and complex relationships, while still keeping the stakes high and the world dark and dangerous.

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

Azhara’s would probably be “Control” by Halsey—emotional, angry, and constantly fighting against herself. Mallen’s would be “Take Me Back to Eden” by Sleep Token. It’s intense, yearning, and a little devastating, which fits him perfectly. Darian’s would be “Too Sweet” by Hozier—charming, effortless, warm on the surface… and impossible not to trust.

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

Fantasy romance and dark romantasy are definitely my favourite genres to read, and they’re also my favourite to write. I also adore paranormal romance and cosy fantasy, but I read widely - you’ll often find me reading gothic horror, classics, thrillers, and literary fiction alongside whatever romantasy obsession has currently taken over my life.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

My TBR is permanently out of control, but right now I’m especially excited for Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, The Twisted Throne, and The Dispossessed. I’m always drawn to stories with strong atmosphere, complicated characters, and emotional tension that lingers long after I finish the book.

What scene in your book was your favorite to write?

The labyrinth scene itself, without question. It’s the point where the emotional tension between the characters finally explodes under incredibly dangerous circumstances, and everything they’ve been avoiding comes to the surface at once. It’s emotional, brutal, and a complete gut punch, which made it incredibly fun to write.

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

My writing process is mostly powered by tea, dramatic playlists, and aggressively pacing around while talking to myself. I also tend to collect aesthetic Pinterest boards and playlists for every book I write, because apparently emotional damage requires a soundtrack.

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

Probably Ursula K. Le Guin’s idea that “the artist deals with what cannot be said in words.” I think the best stories make us feel something true, even when it’s difficult or uncomfortable.

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

The feeling. More than anything, I wanted Labyrinthine to feel immersive, emotional, and a little haunting - the kind of story that lingers in your head long after you’ve finished the final page.

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CJ Holmes is the author of the new book Labyrinthine (Thrones of the Forsaken Book 1)

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Labyrinthine (Thrones of the Forsaken Book 1)

Interview with George Robstad, Author of The Lies in the Lefse

What's the story behind the story? What inspired you to write this book?

I wanted to write a cozy mystery that felt warm and familiar on the surface, but was more reflective of the community and identity I live in. The Cash Kristiansen books are built around the things I love in the genre: a tight-knit group, food, secrets, found family, and a main character who is still figuring himself out while getting pulled into things he probably should have left alone. With The Lies in the Lefse, I wanted to lean further into Salt Cliff Isle as a place where everyone knows each other, but not everyone knows the truth. The book grew out of that tension: what people hide to protect themselves, what they hide to protect others, and what happens when those lies start to unravel. There’s food, there’s community, there’s small-island charm, but there’s also the undercurrent that everybody can be hiding something.

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

I like to think of Cash as very cringe in all the best possible ways. He’s quirky, a little cheesy, and is not a big fan of attention. So I’m going to take a big Millennial swing here and say “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield.

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

I love mysteries, especially ones that are character-driven with a strong sense of place and environment. I also enjoy stories about community and the ways people reinvent themselves. So yes, there’s definitely overlap between what I like to read and what I like to write. That said, I’ve recently dabbled in writing some fantasy work, which I grew up reading, and am excited to see where that takes me. Cozy mystery gives me a lot of room to play with the things I enjoy most: atmosphere, food, relationships, small-town politics. I like that cozies can be comforting without being simple. They can be warm and funny and still have real stakes with characters that readers come to care about.

What books are on your TBR pile right now?

The TBR pile is always so long! I’ve pared it down to what I’m actively reading right now: For commercial fantasy, I’ve been enjoying the ACOTAR series, House of Frost and Feathers, and Katabasis. For cozy mysteries, I’ve been reading the Coffee Lover’s Mysteries by Tara Lush and The Crescent Moon Tea Room by Stacey Sivinski.

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

I have to have a clean desk with nothing on it, typically three different beverages: a hot, a cold, and water. I don’t know if it’s quirky, but it works!

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

In another life, when I worked as a banker, there was a big emphasis on building a sales culture around the phrase “be curious.” That may not have been exactly how they intended it, but I took it personally outside of the office. I want to know things. I want to learn. I want to understand people, places, stories, and the choices that shape them. And if I can do that alongside people I care about, even better.

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

First, I would be squandering this opportunity, not to mention that there is a first book in the Cash Kristiansen Mysteries, Sandbakkels and Sin - a shameless plug, but an important one. Beyond that, I’d like readers to remember Cash. He’s not perfect, and he doesn’t always know what he’s doing, but he cares. He keeps showing up. He keeps asking questions. He keeps trying to build a life and a place for himself, even when the island makes that difficult. And I hope readers remember that cozy doesn’t have to mean soft. A cozy mystery can have warmth, humour, food, and community while still looking at secrets, grief, fear, and the messy reasons people make the choices they do.

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George Robstad is the author of the new book The Lies in the Lefse (A Cash Kristiansen Mystery Book 2)

Connect with George Robstad

Author Site

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The Lies in the Lefse (A Cash Kristiansen Mystery Book 2)

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Labyrinthine (Thrones of the Forsaken Book 1)

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by CJ Holmes

Release Date: May 12, 2026

Cursed and claimed by the gods, Princess Azhara is the prize in deadly trials where suitors fight to win her hand or die in the labyrinth. But as secrets twist and loyalties fracture, she realizes the greatest danger isn’t the maze. It’s the men who want to claim her. And if she chooses wrong, she won’t just lose her heart—she’ll lose herself.

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The Lies in the Lefse (A Cash Kristiansen Mystery Book 2)

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