New Books - NewInBooks

Interview with Rosalind Tate, Author of Stranded

What can you tell us about your new release, Stranded?

Stranded was inspired by a question that popped into my head a few years ago when I was watching Downton Abbey on TV. How would a modern girl cope - or not - if she found herself in a grand house a century ago?

I love time travel stories, but I wrestle with the paradoxes and consequences of time travel. A quantum computer couldn’t track all the effects that someone just traveling would bring about, never mind interacting with people in the past and future. The main character in Stranded, Sophie, thinks she’s traveled in time, but she’s actually landed in a similar parallel universe where time passes slower - so that world is a century behind ours.

Here in 2020, the scientific community is so convinced parallel universes exist, they’re searching for evidence of them in the Large Hadron Collider in Switzerland. Going with parallel universes made the story real for me.

The portal between universes is at the heart of the story. The portal isn’t magic. It works within the laws of physics. So, if Sophie can unpick its secrets, she’ll be able to get home.

Stranded also has romance and a love triangle, and Sophie, Hugo and Freddy’s friendship will continue and develop in subsequent books in the series. Readers have asked me whether I’m on ‘Team Hugo’ or ‘Team Freddy,’ but my lips are sealed!

What or who inspired you to become an author?

My mother inspired me. She wrote historical novels that were published in the 1980s. As a teenager, I never thought much of it, but now I appreciate how hard she must have worked and appreciate the high quality of her books. It’s a commonplace tragedy nowadays, but she has advanced dementia, so I can’t tell her how proud I am. Her novels are out of print and I intend to republish them, so she’ll live on in those stories.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

For me, very special books take you out of reality, keep you gripped, make you think and — the ultimate test — when you get to the end, you can’t bear it and have to read from the beginning again. I’m afraid my choices aren’t very original!

These need no explanation…

The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien,

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis.

A bit more up to date…

A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness. Deborah’s knowledge of history (she’s a history professor) and modern DNA techniques, and the way she weaves that through her story of vampires and witches, means you’re hooked until the very last page.

Fortune’s Fool by Angela Boord. This novel knocked my socks off. It won the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off competition (SPFBO) last year, and I stopped reading the eBook on the second page and bought the paperback. Her wonderful writing needed to be savored slowly and that merited a physical book!

My final choice is not a book, but can I cheat? The TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, written by Joss Whedon, has to be up there. The best dialogue, how you can succeed with the help of your friends, and how hard it is to be a leader. I’m not sure it’s even about vampires…

Say you're the host of a literary talk show. Who would be your first guest? What would you want to ask?

The scientist, Jane Goodall.

Jane conducted a six-decade study of wild chimpanzees in Africa, debunked the assumption that humans are uniquely different from other animals by proving (among other things) that animals construct and use tools. And because of her tireless campaigning, there are now no laboratories in the US that experiment on chimpanzees.

Jane is my hero and her work influenced how I’ve portrayed Sophie’s dog, Charlotte, who also falls through the portal in Stranded. Charlotte has her own personality (as anyone who has a dog will know!) and she’s just a regular dog. But (no spoilers) she’s not in the book by accident.

The question I’d ask Jane is: why and how did you not give up, when for years eminent professors and scientists ridiculed you and your work?

What's your favorite thing about writing?

When complete scenes and dialogue come into my brain from the ether (usually when I’m in the shower) and I have to write it all down or it’s lost. It feels as though it’s come from somewhere/someone else and that I’m ‘cheating,’ as I haven’t consciously created them!

What is a typical day like for you?

I get up at 4 am while my family are asleep. When my head is in 1925, any well-meant interruption (‘How’s the book going?’) can stop my chain of thought for the day! I write in a shed in the garden until 11 am (at the moment, I’m writing Escape, the next book after Stranded), then I have coffee with my long-suffering husband, and in the afternoon I do marketing, publishing admin and answer reader’s emails. I’m not superwoman, so I’m in bed by 8 pm most nights. I take it easy at weekends and spend time with my family. That’s not typical at the moment. We’re in lockdown here in England and because two of my grown-up children are miles away, we can only Zoom.

What scene from Stranded was your favorite to write?

The Summer Ball at Shorten Manor. Sophie is wearing a fabulous dress, posh white gloves to above the elbow and looking as pretty and delicate as Cinderella. But when a lecherous guest tries to seduce her, she puts him on the floor with one punch. Yay!

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

‘Carpe diem’ or ‘Seize the day.’ We’re only here once (probably), so enjoy it. I don’t always succeed in living by that motto though. Life too often gets in the way…

Rosalind Tate is the author of the new book Stranded.

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Interview with David Staats, Author of A Midsummer Night's Death

What can you tell us about your new release, A Midsummer Night's Death?

Book three in the Walter Dure series is an attempt to meld two incompatible ideas: a murder mystery with the delightful atmosphere of Shakespeare's fey play.

In a setting shaped by too many dollars and too little sense, a young person dies suddenly in full view of a dozen or more people. That foul play was involved is clear, yet none of the witnesses could tell the how or the who. Caught between a nouveau riche billionaire and a stereotypical, not-as-smart-as-he-thinks-he-is sheriff, Attorney Walter Dure is maneuvered into having to investigate a murder.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

When I was a teenager, I loved the book King of Paris, Guy Endore's fictionalized biography of Alexandre Dumas.

What's on your top 5 list for the best books you've ever read?

Without going into a detailed essay about what constitutes a “best” book, here are five books that I would recommend to anyone, or at least anyone over the age of twenty (not because there is anything risqué in these books, but because to be enjoyed they require a certain maturity):

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Don Quixote by Miguel Cervantes
The Odyssey by Homer (Fitzgerald translation) (hopefully this book hasn't been ruined for you by its having been taught in school)
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe
Witness by Whittaker Chambers

How about mysteries? Give us a few of the best mysteries you've read?

I would say these are three can't-miss mysteries:

A Kiss Before Dying by Ira Levin
Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane
Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie

How do you feel about reader ratings and reviews that appear online?

I am very appreciative when anyone takes the time to share their reaction to one of my works. The overwhelming majority of readers are in fact generous. If there should be an occasional less favorable review, I can comfort myself by reading 1-star reviews of great books. For example, a 1-star reviewer of Anna Karenina, which many consider the greatest novel, wrote: “This is an extremely long-winded book …. Numerous dull and irrelevant discussions about local politics, farming methods etc take up endless pages and add nothing to the story. One gets the impression that Tolstoy was paid by the page and did all he could to drag things out.”

If Tolstoy gets his lumps, I guess I shouldn't be surprised to get some myself.

What's the hardest thing about writing?

That as a writer you have to compete with all of the writers in history. I try to write so that someone could reasonably spend their time reading my book, even though they could instead read something by Tolstoy, or Dickens, or Mary Ann Evans, or thousands of other writers.

David Staats is the author of the new book A Midsummer Night's Death.

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Interview with Mary E. Twomey, Author of Savage Hearts

What can you tell us about your new release, Savage Hearts?

This is a five-part series, which is based entirely in Hispanic folklore. All the monsters, themes and magical twists can be found in Latino lore. All the characters are Latino, as well. When I looked at the top 100 books in paranormal romance on amazon, there were zero Latina women on the covers. My goal is to get more diverse offering for readers, so everyone feels seen and is included in the genre I love so much.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

Right now, I've got my kindle on my nightstand, which contains a billion books to be read. Mostly nonfiction, but also some romance and paranormal romance.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

Listen first. Listen second. Act third.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Ideally, I would be sleeping. But I would probably work instead.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

My kids are great fun. I also enjoy cooking. I've been into making flatbread lately.

What scene from Savage Hearts was your favorite to write?

I loved any time Cruz and Santos are sweet to each other, which happens often. They have a unique brotherhood. It was nice to have several scenes laced with manly sweetness.

Mary E. Twomey is the author of the new book Savage Hearts.

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The Story Behind The Formidable Earl by Sophie Barnes

By Sophie Barnes

Writing The Formidable Earl was more challenging than any other book I’ve ever written, not because of the plot, but because of who the hero is. Looking back, I think it’s because I’ve always loved the heroes and heroines in my books from the get go, which made character development easy. But when it came to writing The Formidable Earl, it was hard.

If you’ve followed my Diamonds In The Rough series from the beginning, you may remember Simon Nugent, the Earl of Fielding, from the first book, A Most Unlikely Duke, where he appears as Gabriella’s arrogant fiancé. While written as a dislikeable character, I always wanted him to have a chance to redeem himself, to grow and become more than anyone ever believed he could be. Even himself.

This transformation from the sort of man most people would feel like strangling for his snobbish behavior and constant fear of other people’s opinion, was tough. And when I thought I’d gotten it right, it turns out I hadn’t. As is oftentimes the case for authors, we’re so engrossed in our own stories and know more than what’s on the page, that we don’t always see the problems with our books. This is why we need beta readers, editors, and proof readers to help the story shine.

When it came to The Formidable Earl, I finished the book early. I was happy with it. My beta readers got back to me with a bit of advice which I implemented and off it went to editor number one. I made huge changes to the plot – changes so extensive that looking back, I ought to have sent it for content edits once more. Instead (thinking I’d done a great job – sigh) I moved on to line edits, made some more tweaks and additional corrections.

Long story short, The Formidable Earl was published to Netgalley with a hero who, as it turns out, nobody liked. Which is pretty disastrous for a romance novel. Having multiple reviewers say that they wished the heroine had ended up with someone else, was not great. So I pondered my options for a couple of days. It was mid-October so there were just two months left until the book was due for release. After receiving a bunch of fantastic advice and encouragement from other authors, I chose to bite the bullet and overhaul the entire manuscript with particular focus on the hero’s character development and a few plot issues reviews consistently mentioned.

Needless to say, October turned out to be extraordinarily stressful. I knew it would be going in, but it was well worth it. My editor was a champ and at the end of it all, I am so much happier with the book as it is today. So far, the reviewers who have read the updated version have given it great reviews. Hopefully readers will also enjoy Simon’s transformational journey and feel as though he absolutely deserved to win Ida Strong when they turn the last page. Keeping my fingers crossed for a successful release.

Sophie Barnes is the author of the new book The Formidable Earl.

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Interview with Evy Journey, author of The Shade Under the Mango Tree

What can you tell us about your new release, The Shade Under the Mango Tree?

The Shade Under the Mango Tree is a multicultural/transcultural story told partly through journal entries. From birth, Luna, the multiracial Asian-Hawaiian-Caucasian protagonist—no longer unusual in the story’s West Coast setting—is exposed to different cultures. The mango tree and its fruit is symbolic of that heritage. A year after college, she chooses to travel to an ancient culture with a deadly history where she confronts a harsh reality she never imagined.

The love that blossoms between Luna and Lucien, the young architect who inspires her to travel, starts with the journal she has lost. But, as one reviewer says, the novel is far more complex than the usual storybook romance. It’s more about forging one’s unique path through the choices they make.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

The Street of a Thousand Blossoms by Gail Tsukiyama.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows, which is also an epistolary novel.

Every Day is for the Thief by Teju Cole.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

It’s not enough to be open to possibilities, your life may be fuller if you actively seek them out.

If you had an extra hour each day, how would you spend it?

Doing art, lately mostly digital art. But I occasionally go back to oils (or acrylics) and pastels. Art-making is so absorbing, though, and gets me engaged for hours once I get into it.

What makes your world go round? Why does it bring you joy?

Literally, it’s traveling. The world is big, varied, and full of wonder. It teaches you or shows you so many things you would never know or experience if you stayed home or traveled only within the borders of your country. You expand your own world when you travel (not just sight-see) and get to know more about how other people in other lands live.

What scene in The Shade Under the Mango Tree was your favorite to write?

I love reunions so it has to be that scene in the second to the last chapter when, all alone in a foreign land and beaten by her experience—though she isn’t aware of it yet—Luna hears a knock on the door. She’s packing to return home and doesn’t believe anyone could have anything more to ask of her. But the insistent knocking compels her to peek through her window. She sees someone she never expected to see in that faraway place. Please read the book to find out what happens.

Evy Journeyis the author of the new book The Shade Under the Mango Tree.

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The Story Behind Wild Forces by Karen Renee

By Karen Renee

A protective Alpha-male.

A slow-burn romance.

Music. So much music!

Those are just three things you’ll find in Wild Forces, the latest book in the O-Town series. Cassie and Gabe are best friends, but neither wants to ruin their friendship by taking things further. This book is the second installment in the O-Town series, and while it is a stand-alone, the friends-to-lovers story came to me in the midst of writing Relentless Habit, the first book in the series.

You might think that would make it easier to write, but I thoroughly struggled with Cassie and Gabe’s story. Mainly because I hadn’t written a friends-to-lovers romance before, and possibly because that trope is not my jam.

Speaking of jams, music is so abundant in this book because Gabe is a freelance DJ and because he meets Cassie when she’s a teaching assistant for a Music Appreciation course Gabe took. The two of them talk music all the time. Writing their banter about music was especially fun because it showcases how different their personalities are.

Their conversations about music ultimately spurred the title for the book. I knew I wanted the word Force in the title. Cassie is a huge fan of the Rolling Stones and their song “Wild Horses.” When that song came up, I realized that was a fun play on words and their title was born.

Orlando DJ, Gabe Sullivan spins a woman up only to revolve right out the door. His tune changes when his only female friend, Cassie, pretends to be more than friends. Sparks fly from their fake kiss, and Gabe insists on exploring things further with Cassie.

After a business deal enters the picture, Cassie pleads for Gabe to listen to her. His fiery temper and misconceptions create an enormous rift. When Cassie finds Gabe to apologize, she discovers he’s kept a secret from her. He claims he was protecting her, but his betrayal cuts too deep.

Can their love overcome so many outside forces of confusion and betrayal?

“I’m surprised by how well this author grabs me from jump. Gabe and Cassie were anything but predictable, and the twists that Karen threw in kept me guessing up to the last chapter or two.” – Jenn the Readaholic, Goodreads

Karen Renee is the author of the new book Wild Forces.

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New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | November 17

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 David Staats, Moses Yuriyvich Mikheyev, David Baldacci, Mary Higgins Clark, and many more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!

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New Romance Books to Read | November 17

Looking to fall in love with some new romance reads? You’ll adore these exciting new novels! This week you can get your hands on books by bestselling authors Willow Winters, Sophie Barnes, Karen Renee, Danielle Kaheaku, and more. Enjoy your new romance books and happy reading!

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New Books to Read in Literary Fiction | November 17

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 Evy Journey, Danielle Steel, David Hopen, Simon Han, and many more. Enjoy your new literary fiction books. Happy reading!

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New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books | November 17

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 Rick Partlow, Meg LaTorre, Peter F. Hamilton, and more. If Fantasy is what your library needs, you’ll be able to pick up the latest from Mary E. Twomey, Rosalind Tate, Lauren Dawes, and more. Enjoy your new science fiction and fantasy books. Happy reading!