New Books - NewInBooks

Interview with Jude Austin, Author of Homecoming

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

It picks up where my debut novel, Project Tau, leaves off. While Project Tau focused purely on human rights and the ethics of cloning, Homecoming tackles these issues while also bringing others - mental illness, emotional abuse and eating disorders - into play. Like all my work, it's also not typical sci-fi; I don't use AI or robots (explained in-universe) and there are no epic space battles or alien diplomacy/wars. It's about normal people trying to live normal lives. In the book universe, people are just beginning to create clones (called Projects) who are legally viewed as livestock and usually treated accordingly. Homecoming follows former college freshman Kalin Taylor/Kata who - in the previous book - was illegally imprisoned and gaslighted into believing himself to be a Project and his friend Project Tau after they escape from the scientists' brutal treatment at GenTech. As Project Tau deals with Kalin's desperate attempts to win back his freedom, Homecoming deals with his struggles to keep it and to deal with the trauma of everything he was subjected to in the lab, along with Tau's experiencing the outside world for the first time.

That said, there's enough background information in Homecoming for it to be read as a standalone novel.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Honestly? Nothing and no one. I've been writing since I was old enough to hold a pen. When I was a kid, you could get these huge blocks of post-it notes with a hole in one corner to put a pen in; I used to grab a chunk and use them to write my own "books" as a young child. I sold my first story to a magazine when I was twelve (kind of; they were running a contest to write the next episode of a serial, and I won) and completed the first novel of a sci-fi trilogy when I was 17-18. That one's still sitting on my PC, along with the other two books. I might dust them off one day, but they need a lot of work doing to them.

Anyway, the simple answer is that I've always been writing, and I always am 😉 Little scenes, alternate scenes between characters, AU versions of my own stuff, fanfic, articles - I work as a proofreader and writer for a bilingual travel magazine in Tokyo - and, of course, novels.

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

Ooh, that's hard. Let's see...
1. The Apple and Percival books by Anthony Armstrong.
2. Bosom Friends by Angela Brazil.
3. Christine by Stephen King.
4. The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. Actually, anything he writes about the Greek gods and demigods is great.
5. The Dorothy Dainty series by Amy Brooks. I know they're for kids, but they're a decent length and there's something so sweet and innocent about them. It's like detox for my brain.

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

If I can pick anyone, it would be Sir Pterry Pratchett. I've always loved his work, particularly Discworld, and I would love to know what other books he'd had planned before he passed away.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Everything! I love seeing my characters change and evolve (often in surprising ways) and I love being surprised by where the story goes. I don't plot out my books - I have a vague idea of how they're going to end, but this can change several times during the process - and developing worlds. I have files of maps and local flora and fauna of every planet in my books. Sometimes I spend more time world-building than I do actually writing.

What is a typical day like for you?

I'm a night owl, so I tend to get up quite late by other people's standards (9:30-ish). I spend about 30 minutes on my phone, checking emails and gaming, then head downstairs. I have one of those reclining couches, which is wonderful as it lets me sit and write on my laptop for hours without putting any strain on my legs and back. So I stretch out in front of my smart TV, load up a series of something on Hulu or Netfllix or Youtube, and write all day!

What scene in Homecoming was your favorite to write?

Most of them. I had a lot of fun working on this book. If I had to pick just one, it would be any of the scenes between Kata and Alan. It's the first time in the series where we really start to see the kind of kid Kata used to be before he was kidnapped and dehumanized. His own father isn't exactly the best parent, he's always had a difficult relationship with his parents, and so once Alan manages to get past Kata's barriers, he's basically the father figure that Kata's always wanted and becomes the first - and so far only - adult that Kata learns to trust. Pretty good going for a character who wasn't even slated to appear in the first place!

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

There's one I learned from my old physics teacher: "You don't need to know the answer. You just need to be able to think about it." I didn't learn a great deal from that school for various reasons, but that lesson has stuck with me all my life.

Jude Austin is the author of the new book Homecoming.

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Interview with Dawn Brookes, Author of Murderous Cruise Habit

What can you tell us about your new release, Murderous Cruise Habit?

Murderous Cruise habit is the sixth in the Rachel Prince Mystery series set on a fictional cruise ship. Rachel is a murder magnet! Wherever she goes, trouble follows and this Caribbean cruise proves no exception when a nun who is part of an unusual group collapses and dies.

Despite Rachel’s parents being on the cruise with her, she can’t resist the urge to investigate encouraged by her incorrigible elderly friend, Lady Marjorie Snellthorpe. Rachel now has a number of friends on board ship including her best friend from childhood, Sarah Bradshaw, a cruise ship nurse. Never far away is the brusque but likeable chief of security with whom Rachel has a love-hate relationship.

A few early reviewers have marked the book out as the ‘best yet’ and one would love to see the series make it to TV!

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Having grown up reading Enid Blyton books with a torch under the bedsheets, I have always loved reading. Writing was a dream I never thought I would realise until I penned a memoir in 2016. The popularity of that book and with more time after retiring from my forty-year nursing career prompted me to give it a go. I also loved Agatha Christie and decided that it was still possible to write murder without gore, where plot and the investigation are central along with engaging characters. I published the first-in-series in 2018 and was delighted to find a dedicated readership almost immediately. They, and my imagination keep me going.

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

Now that’s a difficult question because I have an eclectic taste in reading.

If I was pushed to choose a top five they would include:

- Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, my all-time favorite romance novel
- Bleak House by Charles Dickens because of its depth of characters and detailed descriptions that many readers find hard today
- To a Different Drum by Dr Pauline Hamilton is one of the most engaging memoirs I’ve read. It’s about a woman who went from suicidal to stalwart missionary and ended up in China
- Lord of the Rings would be in my top five but as a trilogy rather than singling out one of them.
- 1984 by George Orwell is another classic that has to be in my top five

If you asked me the same question on another day, I might choose a different top five!

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

That’s a tricky one, but if it was now, I would want to invite LJ Ross, a self-published author who has attracted a huge following and sold millions of books. I would ask her what one thing does she believe has been the key to her resounding success?

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Definitely the creative process. Allowing my imagination to develop into an engaging story that others want to read is humbling and rewarding in equal measure.

What is a typical day like for you?

I wake early and check emails, and engage with social media fans between 6am and 8am.

I write from 9-12 each day and aim for 2,000 words. I am more creative in the morning.

In the afternoon, I do other business tasks such as checking on marketing, editing, formatting etc unless I’m working hard to meet a deadline, in which case I write again.

This past year, I have been studying for an MA in Creative Writing so have had to fit in my writing life around university and studying. Cover-19 has unfortunately moved the studies to the virtual setting although working from home is something I’m used to.

What scene in Murderous Cruise Habit was your favorite to write?

One of the scenes involving Lady Marjorie and her fractious relationship with the chief of security was my favourite. She has a knack of putting him in his place with a few caustic words. Another was a scene where Rachel is confronted by a group of heavies as it required some imaginative plotting to get her out of a dangerous situation.

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

Not necessarily, but one of the things I believe concludes the ‘about’ section of my website and it is this:

"I believe there are no limits to what a person can achieve if they set their mind to it, no matter what background we are born into, we should not be restrained by boundaries."

Dawn Brookes is the author of the new book Murderous Cruise Habit.

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Interview with Sheena Howard, Author of Nina's Whisper

What can you tell us about your new release, Nina's Whisper?

Nina's Whisper is a domestic suspense and psychological thriller set in the fictional urban oasis of Sumneytown, Texas. It's about Nina, a young successful woman who falls in love with Page, an edgy, seductive, free-spirit. The relationship takes Nina on an emotional journey of self-discovery and awareness, in which she learns that she is not as self-assured, confident and assertive as she once was or thought she was. Ultimately, Nina is changed forever.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I've been a writer as long as I could write. Writing has been the preferred way for me to express my feelings. I think writing is powerful and that there is room for everyone's story and experience to be told. I try to write stories and experiences that make people uncomfortable and challenge people to think outside themselves.

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

The Alchemist, Mumbo Jumbo, Zami, The Autobiography of Malcolm X and B-Boy Blues

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

Carmen Machado. I'd want to ask her what her writing process was for her newest book In The Dream House. I'd also want to know how difficult it was to write about topics such as domestic abuse and how she got thru the fear of writing about such topics.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

The finished product. The first time I hold the book in my hands and I am able to see and feel the result of all of my energy and time - it's a beautiful thing. Accomplishing something you are passionate about feels good every time.

What is a typical day like for you?

During COVID-19, I spend 24-7 with my toddler son. I find fun homeschooling activities for him, we go for walks and I teach him new things. It's beautiful. If we weren't in such unprecedented times, I'd be going to my full-time job as a professor most days - teaching, writing and researching and going to my co-working office on other days.

What scene in Nina's Whisper was your favorite to write?

The scene that is my favorite would involve me giving away too much of the book!

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

My quote is "don't let your reality limit your imagination" - Sheena C. Howard

Sheena Howard is the author of the new book Nina's Whisper.

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Interview with Joanna Walden, Author of The Inside Hustle

What can you tell us about your new release, The Inside Hustle?

In the Inside Hustle, I take readers to places most would never go to and into experiences some would only dream of. In doing so, I am brutally honest about my own inner workings, and this serves two purposes. It helps readers better understand my goals and motivations, and I hope also helps them shortcut their own long journey to inner truth. This is a travel adventure like no other which takes you out of the bounds of normalcy, into the madness of reality, and then smack bang into a new perspective. Truth is absolutely stranger than fiction.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

It was perhaps always a background dream which I never thought could be a reality, until I did The Camino and shared my stories via email to friends and family. They were relishing my emails so much, I started getting comments like, "This is hilarious, I've been reading them out to all my work colleagues at lunchtime, you need to write a book," so eventually, I did.

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

I haven't read much in recent years as I find it really hard to read others’ work while writing, and only 5 best books ever is a tough call! The books that have left a lasting impression however are The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Blyton which fuelled my imagination; To Kill A Mockingbird which gave me my first proper 'literary' experience; The Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield helped me escape my teenage years; Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden captivated me while traveling in my twenties; and The Life and Teachings of the Master Of The Far East series by Baird T Spalding totally expanded my mind to what might be possible and gave more purpose to my adventures.

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

It would have to be Shirley MacLaine given she inspired me to do the Camino in the first place, and that first adventure set me on this path which ultimately resulted in The Inside Hustle.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I love being able to take people on a journey and really bring them an inside view of an experience they might never have otherwise. I go to places some would only dream of, and do things others might never dare, so if I can not only immerse people in those experiences but share what I learned doing it, I feel fulfilled. Truth is stranger than fiction, as they say. I am never short of inspiration from the madness that is real life.

What is a typical day like for you?

I start my working day rather early, with a cup of tea as I work with people from all around the world, I have to cater to a range of different time zones. My business is holistic brand strategy and personal transformation and right now, as you can imagine, it’s keeping me very busy as people have more time on their hands and are starting to question what is really important in life. I bring all the lessons and experiences I learned as documented in my book and use it as a foundation to work with each client to bring them back to their true self, and focus on their own personal vision. I have a really fluid approach with no two days being the same. Right now, with my book launch and the media and promotional interviews happening, I have to find time to center, connect and nourish myself throughout the day with meditation, visualisation, a green juice, a nature walk or an interesting podcast. I love to cook, so creating something delicious is permanently on the agenda.

What scene in The Inside Hustle was your favorite to write?

I write in the moment and then go back to my notes to rewrite it all together so reliving some adventures are easier than others. The Camino will always hold a special place in my heart as it was my first proper adventure and so rich in characters, landscapes and experiences that it almost leapt off the page when I wrote it. It seems such a crazy idea to follow little yellow arrows and scallop shells over 900 kilometres (550 miles) across Spain with no map and I find my blind naivety at the time somewhat charming.

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

Where your attention goes your energy flows. Make it count.

Joanna Walden is the author of the new book The Inside Hustle.

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Interview with Louise Clark, Author of Cat Among The Fishes

What can you tell us about your new release, Cat Among The Fishes?

Cat Among The Fishes is a camping story wrapped around a murder mystery. It takes place on Vancouver Island off the coast of British Columbia, Canada, a beautiful location where I used to camp when my kids were little. All of the recurring characters in 9 Lives series are at the campground, including Detective Patterson who is also on vacation there with her family, and Stormy the Cat of course! The mystery turns around the death of an executive trying to spearhead the installation of a new fish farm in the area, and there are plenty of people who don’t want him to succeed—including Detective Patterson’s brother-in-law who is a marine biologist with a long history of being against off-shore aquaculture. When Patterson’s brother-in-law becomes the main suspect, Christy and the others can’t help but get involved—even if they are supposed to be on vacation.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

My best friend’s mother. One of the things my friend and I loved to do together was talk about our favorite authors. The summer we graduated from high school, we came up with a story we thought would be perfect for the author we were currently reading. When we ran the idea past my friend’s mom, she said, “Why don’t you write it yourselves?” As we were going to post secondary schools in different towns in the fall, this seemed like a great way to keep in touch. Through the month of September we each sent the other a chapter, then coursework got in the way and the project petered out. It stayed in my mind, though, and every now and then I’d pull out the manuscript and write a few lines. It wasn’t until after I graduated that I took a serious look at the story and started to work on it in a consistent way. That manuscript never sold, but I learned how to write and how to market a book because of it.

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

I read always and a lot, so rather than picking five books, I’ll do five authors.

Agatha Christie – her mysteries are complex and her plots pull you in from the beginning. Moreover, she doesn’t cheat and withhold critical information that will lead to solving of the mystery.

Ellis Peters (Edith Pargetar), the Brother Cadfael series – I love this series for the way she immerses you in Cadfael’s twelfth century world, but through characterization that pulls out the essential humanity of the characters and the situation, makes the stories relevant to our modern life. Another author who sets his mysteries in the medieval world is Peter Tremayne (Peter Berresford Ellis) who writes the Sister Fidelma series, set in Ireland during the early spread of Christianity there.

Elizabeth Peters (Barbara Mertz), the Amelia Peabody series. This long running series began as a mystery romance matching the feisty late Victorian feminist Amelia Peabody with the crusty, but gorgeous, archaeologist Radcliffe Emerson. The series follows them through their tumultuous relationship as they excavate Egyptian tombs, become parents to the fearless Ramses, adopt the beautiful Nefret, and become involved in historical events. There’s a lot of humor in the books and I love the way the characters grow and change without becoming other than themselves through the series.

Janet Evanovich, the Stephanie Plum series – The characters and action in this series are so firmly anchored in the world Evanovich has built that every crazy thing that happens seems to be normal. The action is fast paced and there are always scenes that make me laugh out loud.

J. D. Robb (Nora Roberts), the In Death series – Robb mixes a step-by-step police procedural with deep dives into the thought processes of her characters. We know what they care about, what they’re looking forward to. We see the world through their eyes and it just pulls me in. As well, there is a recurring cast of characters whose lives grow and change through the series.

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

I’d start with J. K. Rowling. I read somewhere that she had the Harry Potter series planned before she even finished the first book. I’d like to ask her how she kept to that plan (or how much of the plan she actually kept to) and how she felt when she ended the series. My original plan for the 9 Lives series was to have nine books, each with story points designed to build to a big conclusion in book 9. I’ve kept some of those story points, but jettisoned others and now here I am with book 5, Cat Among the Fishes, out and available and the rough draft of book 6, Cat in the Limelight, completed. That means there are three books remaining in the series and I’m having so much fun working with the 9 Lives characters I don’t want to let them go. Should I end the series at book 9 as originally planned? Or scrap the series outline and let the Jamieson-Armstrongs continue on? I’d love input from my readers, if they’d like to weigh in on the question.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Helping my characters come to life. Planning and research are necessary, and I do enjoy doing them—especially the research—but I can get lost in the details, which makes me impatient. I guess it’s the extrovert in me, but actually working with the characters is like going to a party or socializing with friends. I’m there, in their lives, cheering them on.

What is a typical day like for you?

When I’m having my morning coffee I work on a puzzle—jigsaw or sudoku—to unfog my brain (I am not a morning person), then I review what needs to be done during the day. I check my e-mail and do marketing or other non-writing related things in the morning. Then I break for lunch and exercise. I write new scenes, or work on revisions in the afternoon.

What scene in Cat Among The Fishes was your favorite to write?

I always enjoy writing the big scenes. By that I mean the ones that start off quietly, then someone does something off-the-wall and chaos ensues. In Cat Among the Fishes there are a few of those, but I think my favorite is early on in the book. The Jamieson-Armstrongs are at a demonstration fish farm where a talk about the benefits of fish farming for the local community is being given. There is already a potential for problems, because there is a large presence of anti-fish farming eco warriors at the event. However, things really get going when Stormy the Cat decides to take a dive into a pool filled with salmon smolts that is part of the demonstration site. As his people rush to rescue him, the fish farm executive takes offense, the local mayor gets involved along with other members of the audience, and there’s almost a scuffle. In the end it’s Aunt Ellen who takes charge of the situation, expertly reining in the red faced, bellowing executive. The scene started with me wondering what would happen if you took a cat to place with a swimming pool sized tank filled with fish and the rest unfolded from there.

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

Butt in Chair. The only way a writer writes is to be at the computer with fingers to the keyboard. Yes, there has to be time to think and plan, but for me inspiration comes with the doing. I begin with an idea of what I want the reader to learn in a particular scene, then I start typing. The scene grows organically from there.

Louise Clark is the author of the new book Cat Among The Fishes.

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Interview with Jeffrey L. Kohanek, Author of Fate of Wizardoms Boxed Set

What can you tell us about your new release, Fate of Wizardoms Boxed Set?

Fate of Wizardoms is an epic fantasy series with a plot that twists beloved genre tropes in new ways. Set in a world where wizards rule, the ambitious vie for thrones able to grant the power of a god. When a power-hungry wizard lord seeks to expand his rule, he sends his world into chaos. Races of old return and creatures of legend stalk the land.

Think of it as a fast-paced mashup of Wheel of Time meets Game of Thrones, centered around a cast of reluctant heroes caught in the middle of world-altering events.

This boxed set includes the first three books from the six-book series.

What books are currently on your nightstand?

I have migrated to eBooks and hundreds of fantasy novels currently fill my Kindle. I am currently reading a series written by Lindsay Buroker.

What advice would you give your teenage self?

The same advice I give when speaking to high school classrooms: It's fine to take the responsible career path, but it doesn't mean you need to give up on your dreams. I waited two decades after college before I began writing again, rekindling my dream of storytelling. I could have done so much sooner.

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

Likely writing or some other author-related activity. It seems like I have far more ideas and tasks on that front than time to accomplish them all. However, I make a point to spend time with my family and friends whenever possible.

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

Connections to the people in my life is important to me. Be it friends, family, or my children, touching the lives of others is the reason we are on this planet. This includes my readers, although that interaction is usually limited to Facebook or email.

What scene in Fate of Wizardoms Boxed Set was your favorite to write?

I enjoy crafting outrageous scenes mixing humor, action, and intrigue. One such chapter comes on the first book when Jace, a clever rogue of a thief, dresses like a woman in order to seduce and rob a powerful wizard who is hosting a ball at his castle. Things don't go as planned, but Jace is resourceful and finds a way to make it work while leaving said wizard naked and tied to his bed for his party guests to discover.

Jeffrey L. Kohanek is the author of the new book Fate of Wizardoms Boxed Set.

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The Story Behind Big Ben by Nana Malone

By Nana Malone

Big Ben is the first book in the See No Evil Trilogy by USA Today Bestselling Author Nana Malone.

Get all the details of this sexy new release right from the author herself in her video blog below!

Nana Malone is the author of the new book Big Ben.

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New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | April 21

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 Louise Clark, Dawn Brookes, David Baldacci, Stephen King, and many more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!

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New Romance Books to Read | April 21

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, Lauren Landish, Nana Malone, Lauren Blakely, and more. Enjoy your new romance books and happy reading!

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New Books to Read in Literary Fiction | April 21

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 Sheena Howard, Kasie Whitener, Sue Monk Kidd, and many more. Enjoy your new literary fiction books. Happy reading!