New Books - NewInBooks

The Story Behind After His Banana by Penelope Bloom

By Penelope Bloom

Believe it or not, I thought I was done with the world of erotic fruit books after the Objects of Attraction series. I'd spent nearly a year writing them from book one to book six, and it just kind of seemed like the right thing to move on.

Well... here we are. And here I am with a cover depicting two grown ass, consenting bananas doing what God intended bananas to do when they are in a loving relationship. No, they aren't spooning, either. If that's where your mind went, bless your heart. You're still a pure soul and I haven't had a chance to corrupt you with my immaturity yet.

Silliness aside, I did want to talk about a few things relating to this book. One thing I thought was worth bringing up is that I've discovered a little something about myself. No matter how hard I try, it's always going to feel wrong to put myself in one box. As in, I don't want to get myself in a place again where I start to think, "Oh, I'd love to write a book like that... But it's not really what people expect me to write."

So, within reason, I'm going to do my best to keep myself excited and high-energy about everything I'm writing. That will probably mean bouncing between projects, and I'm going to just have to learn to be okay with that.

Big picture stuff aside, I also want to give some perspective on what this book means and how it relates to the Objects of Attraction Series. At the moment, I'm kind of thinking of this new wave of books as a sister series. My goal would be that you could ultimately read them in either order. Like you could come in with After His Banana (and After Her Cherry, which is next), and THEN go on to read His Banana and all of those books. Or you could do it the other way around. If that ends up seeming too complicated, I still sort of reserve the right to say these are books 7 and onward within the Objects of Attraction series, too. We'll just have to see how it goes.

I've never come back to a series in any way after initially finishing it, so this was a new experience for me. I found it was really fun--both re-reading some of the old books to refresh my memory on everybody and their personalities, and then re-imagining them in a new place in their lives. Also seeing them through a different lens (the eyes of these new, younger characters) was really fun, too.

As for the book itself, I feel pretty confident in saying it's exactly what you'd expect from an Objects of Attraction book. So if you were a fan of those, I'm very confident you'll love this one, too.

So, we'll see! In a lot of ways, this feels different than my normal book launches because I'm mostly hoping to make fans of the original series happy. I don't know if I even put a tenth of the thought I normally do into reaching new readers. It was more about doing something really fun and exciting for everyone who was a fan of the original.

I hope you decide to check it out. Meanwhile, I'm going to go jump back into the writing cave because these things don't write themselves (unfortunately). My next project is Savage Love... Or Brutal Love... Or Vicious Love? I haven't decided what to call it, but you can bet your ass that love is going to be rough, because it's the second book in my bully series I started last month. This one follows Cassian, and I am actually really excited to dive into writing something angsty and more serious after the non-stop humor of After His Banana.

Variety is a good thing. That's going to be my new mantra, lol!

Happy reading,

And don't forget to borrow or buy After His Banana. Click here to check it out!

Penelope Bloom is the author of the new book After His Banana.

Connect with Penelope:
Author Page

Twitter

Buy The Book

Sign up for our email and we’ll send you the best new books in your favorite genres weekly.

Interview with Patricia Barletta, Author of Moon Bright

What can you tell us about your new release, Moon Bright?

Moon Bright is the third book in the Auriano Curse Series. The series is about a cursed Venetian family in 1797. Each of the books is a stand-alone about one of the siblings who search for a magical artifact, the Sphere of Astarte, that will break the curse. The books are connected because they're about a family, and the siblings show up in each of the books. Moon Bright is Allegra's story. She has fled to Bath, England, in order to evade the nefarious Legion of Baal. This group wants her dead, because she stands in the way of their search for the Sphere, which they want for their evil purposes. She is also pursued by the ancient, evil sorceress, Nulkana, who placed the curse on the family. While in Bath, Allegra encounters the dashing and dangerous Sebastian Fox, Earl of Hawksmoor, who is an agent for the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, and who has infiltrated the Legion. Revealing his secret identity will put both of them in danger. But Allegra has her own secrets, and she's not sure she can trust the enigmatic earl. Forced to fight their common enemies while negotiating through Bath society, Allegra and Sebastian are thrust together. As they fight for their lives, passion ignites between them, and love conquers all secrets.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I've always loved to read, so my love of reading really started me off. I can remember going into the stacks at my local library when I was young, pulling a book from the shelf, sitting on the floor, and starting to read it right there before checking it out. I was entranced by authors like Alexandre Dumas, Walter Scott, Mary Stewart, Victoria Holt, and Helen MacInnes. In junior high and high school, I wrote stories for my friends. When I became an adult and read romances by Kathleen Woodiwiss and Rosemary Rodgers and Johanna Lindsey, I decided I could write one, too. So I did!

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

There are so many good books that it's hard to choose five, but here are some of my favorites, not in any particular order:
Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte)
Pride and Prejudice (Jane Austen)
The Night Circus (Erin Morgenstern)
Bird by Bird (Ann Lamott)
Rebecca ( Daphne du Maurier)

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

I think my first guest would be Shakespeare. I'd want to know where he got his ideas, and how he did his research for his historical plays. I'd ask if he had ever traveled to Italy, because several of his plays are set there, like Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew, and The Merchant of Venice. How long did he take to write a play? Who inspired him to write such strong, powerful women in many of his plays? Was it Elizabeth I? What was his opinion of the queen? I think Shakespeare would be a fascinating, interesting guest on a talk show, because he lived in such an interesting period of history.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I love creating my characters, putting them into difficult or emotional situations, and then watching them work their way out. I also enjoy writing about the past and exotic locales because of all the research I have to do. I love to do research almost as much as writing! When I start researching something, it often leads to something else, an interesting fact or tidbit that I can put into my story. And the best part of writing happens when I finish a story, because all that drama and angst get tied up, my two main characters live on happily, and the villain gets what's coming to him or her.

What is a typical day like for you?

After I've had my coffee, I sit down at my computer and work for four or five hours. After that, my brain is pretty well fried, so I do errands or chores around the house. I try to go for a walk every day because it clears my head. I might come back to the computer for another hour or so and do busy work. By that time, the work day is over for me.

What scene in Moon Bright was your favorite to write?

I think all the scenes with Sebastian and his mother, the countess, were my favorites. She aggravates the heck out of him, but he loves her, so he grits his teeth and puts up with her drama. Their scenes together have some humor in them, so it lightens the mood after a darker or more emotional scene. Then there's the big reveal about her past near the end of the book that opens his eyes to who she really is, so she not only has his love but also his respect.

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

My work motto is: Butt in chair; fingers on keyboard.
For difficult times in life: This, too, shall pass.
For life in general(I got this one from my good friend, Jane): Don???t postpone joy.

Patricia Barletta is the author of the new book Moon Bright.

Connect with Patricia
Author Website
Facebook

Buy The Book

Sign up for our email and we’ll send you the best new books in your favorite genres weekly.

Interview with K.C. Gillis, Author of Toxic Deception

What can you tell us about your new release, Toxic Deception?

To start, it’s my first novel. That only happens once for a writer, so for me, Toxic Deception is my debut. More importantly, it’s the first book in a series and I have the next three books at different stages of preparation and production, as well as a prequel, available through my website, for anyone interested in joining my email list.

Considering the actual story, the lead character, Jordan Reed, is a young reporter at a Boston newspaper. Still very junior and a bit naïve, she gets drawn into investigating the death of an employee at a biotech company. Without giving too much away, let’s just say that the real story is much more than the employee death, that the biotech company is behind something terrible. Maybe even be something infectious. With the help of a couple of friends, Jordan pieces together seemingly unconnected bits of information to figure out the truth. For sure there is some danger, some seriously tense confrontations, and a couple of truly distasteful characters. I tried to keep the pace quick and share just enough science to make sense.

On the business side of things, I’m at the beginning of a steep learning curve on book promotion. I’ve taken the key courses (yes, that means Mark Dawson’s self-publishing courses) and am testing all sorts of advertising tactics. Hopefully I’ll learn quickly how to promote effectively without breaking the bank!

What or who inspired you to become an author?

For me it was more a “what” than a “who.” I’ve loved reading since I was young and truly love a great story. I’ve always had a desire to write fiction, accompanied by a loose vision of how rewarding/satisfying it would be to write stories that others enjoyed. To be able to look at books I had written, knowing that someone, somewhere, loved them, was very motivating. Though in hindsight, since it took me so long to actually do the “writing thing” for real, maybe I needed more motivation!

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

That’s a super tough question, especially since I read some very popular books a very long time ago. I don’t remember their details well, so recency definitely comes into play. In the last few years I’d have to say the book I enjoyed the most was “The Passage” from Justin Cronin. It’s an expansive post-apoc story that has an interesting twist on the vampire theme. I loved the characters and the threat of utter violence that surrounded those who survived a deadly pandemic. Going back farther, I remember not being able to put down Jurassic Park. While the science was a bit off, the concept was ahead of its time and the tension was kept at an amazingly high level for most of the book. I’ve read a lot of Ken Follett (maybe even everything) and have loved pretty much every book. If I had to pick a favorite, I’d have to say “Pillars of the Earth.” The interconnecting plot among an amazing cast was fabulously well written. I should also throw in Mila 18 from Leon Uris. Set in a Jewish sector of Warsaw during the German invasion at the start of WWII, I remember devouring it in a weekend. As a mystery-thriller writer I have read tons of the leaders in the area (James Patterson, Lee Child, Mark Dawson). It’s very hard to pick a favorite, but I’d read just about anything by authors like these.

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

Another tough question. I say I’d go with George R.R. Martin. I devoured his “Game of Thrones” books and mostly loved the HBO series, so there would be a lot to talk about. First, I would want to know if he thought the show would ever “pass him.” I think he had a five-book head start, so there was a chance he could have kept ahead. But he didn’t. Given that, I also wonder how much influence he had on the last two seasons of the show and if the ending was what he would have wrote. Given the attention his epic and the HBO show have received, I’d also love to learn some behind the scenes stories, especially from the last season of the show. There have to some amazing stories waiting to get out!

What's your favorite thing about writing?

There are many aspects of writing I enjoy, including some of the business tasks. But I think what I find most enjoyable is when I work through a plot sequence that really hangs together and feels like it’s part of a great story. I know that I can struggle with plot, especially when it won’t “do what I want,” so pulling together what feels like a strong plot sequence is very rewarding. Not to mention that when I do this in the outline phase, it makes the writing that much easier.

What is a typical day like for you?

Since writing is not what pays the bills, it is forced to fit around the demands of the job that does pay the bills. So from a writing perspective, my typical day is to get up at 5 and get in about 1.5 hours before transitioning to the rest of my day. I try to find time in the evenings to write, but that is not feasible every day. Weekends are wild cards…sometimes I can get in big blocks of writing (4-5 hours)…sometimes there just isn’t time. I look forward to a day sometime in the future, when I won’t have to get up at 5 to write…

What scene in Toxic Deception was your favorite to write?

There is a scene late in the book where Jordan confronts one of the antagonists. It was rewarding for her and was definitely rewarding for me to write. It was one of those scenes I could easily visualize in my head and the words came easy. If only that were always the case!

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

Interesting question. I wouldn’t say I have a mantra that I repeat/consider frequently, but I do have phrase that often guides me when I feel like my schedule and demands on my time are too high. The literal phrase is “some is better than none.” What is means is that some progress or accomplishment, no matter how small, is better than none. It started when I was doing lots of running (50+ miles per week) and sometimes found it hard to fit a run into a busy schedule. Despite some internal resistance to short runs, I adapted my thinking to accept runs of 2-3 miles (instead of 8, 10 or more) because at least I got outside and broke a sweat. I have since allowed that phrase to apply more broadly in my life, in particular to writing and the related work. Better to get in a few hundred words in 30 minutes than to get none because I felt the time available was too short.

K.C. Gillis is the author of the new book Toxic Deception.

Connect with K.C. Gillis
Author Website
Facebook

Buy The Book

Sign up for our email and we’ll send you the best new books in your favorite genres weekly.

The Story Behind Close to Me by Monica Murphy

I wrote a book and self-published it seven years ago. It was called ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND, and it went on to become an international best seller. It hit the USA Today and New York Times bestseller lists multiple times, and the other books in the series did the same. That book, the series and those characters changed my career, changed my life.

And now I’m writing about their children.

It’s crazy for me to wrap my head around the fact that in CLOSE TO ME, my new high school set, new adult romance, Drew and Fable from ONE WEEK GIRLFRIEND are now parents. (If anyone reading this has watched soap operas like Days of Our Lives or All My Children, then know I’ve aged up the kids in soap opera time. Meaning they went from three to seventeen in about two years, HA).

When Drew and Fable first met, they weren’t in the best situation. They both came from messed up homes and found each other when they needed a lifeline the most. Really, they saved each other. I always described them as being a complete mess alone, yet somehow perfect together.

Autumn Callahan, their oldest child, is not messed up at all. She’s had a wonderful upbringing, thanks to her parents. Her father is a retired NFL quarterback, they live in a beautiful home and their household is filled with respect, laughter and understanding. Yet like many a teenage girl (and beyond), she’s attracted to the bad boy at her high school. The push and pull, the does he like me? I hate him back and forth takes a toll on Autumn, but she can’t quit him.

And he can’t quit her either.

Asher Davis is a mess. His dad died when he was young, and his mom doesn’t care about him, so why should Ash care about…anything? But he does care. About football. About school.

About Autumn.

It was so much fun to go back into Drew and Fable’s world. I even wrote in their point of views, and even after all these years, it was incredibly easy to be back in their heads. But they’re older now. Wiser. Trying their best to guide their children and live their lives to the fullest. The One Week Girlfriend series makes me nostalgic, but what’s so great is that I keep them alive in this new series that kicks off with CLOSE TO ME, The Callahans. There will be more books about Drew and Fable’s children, and hopefully, you will be excited to read them all!

Monica Murphy is the author of the new book Close to Me.

Connect with Monica
Author Website
Facebook

Buy The Book

Sign up for our email and we’ll send you the best new books in your favorite genres weekly.

New Mystery and Thriller Books to Read | February 11

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 K.C. Gillis, Sarah Pinborough, Rhys Bowen, Yrsa Sigurdardottir, and many more. Enjoy your new mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. Happy reading!

Get The Book

Sign up for our email and we’ll send you the best new books in your favorite genres weekly.

New Romance Books to Read | February 11

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 Julia Kent, Monica Murphy, Penelope Bloom, Patricia Barletta, and more. Enjoy your new romance books and happy reading!

Get The Book

Sign up for our email and we’ll send you the best new books in your favorite genres weekly.

New Books to Read in Literary Fiction | February 11

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 Susan Mallery, Kiran Millwood Hargrave, Clare Beams, and many more. Enjoy your new literary fiction books. Happy reading!

Get The Book

Sign up for our email and we’ll send you the best new books in your favorite genres weekly.

New Science Fiction and Fantasy Books | February 11

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 Una McCormack, Andrew Krivak, Dean F. Wilson, and more. If Fantasy is what your library needs, you’ll be able to pick up the latest from Michael Anderle, A.K. Larkwood, Constance Sayers, and more. Enjoy your new science fiction and fantasy books. Happy reading!

Fantasy

Get The Book

Science Fiction

Get The Book

Sign up for our email and we’ll send you the best new books in your favorite genres weekly.

New Young Adult Books to Read | February 11

Are you an avid reader of Young Adult books? This week you are in luck! With all of these new novels, you’re bound to find a new favorite book to add to your reading list. This week includes new novels from bestselling authors Nicki Pau Preto, Scott McEwen, Evelyn Skye, Rachel Caine, and many more. Enjoy your new young adult books. Happy reading!

Get The Book

Sign up for our email and we’ll send you the best new books in your favorite genres weekly.

New Biography and Memoir Books to Read | February 11

Looking for some new biography and memoir books for your library? There are so many new releases this week that you’re bound to find a new favorite. You can pick up new books from Adrienne Miller, Kate Winkler Dawson, Edward J. Larson, and more. Enjoy your new biography and memoir books. Happy reading!