New Books - NewInBooks

The Best New Fantasy and Science Fiction Novels: Summer 2018

Are you a fan of fantasy and science fiction novels? Are you looking for some new additions to your summer reading list? We've made a list of some of our new favorites and think you'll love them as much as us. The list includes authors Velvet Davis, Cristelle Comby, Zach Kraft, Michael Anderle, Joshua Dalzelle, and Shannon Mayer!

Immortal Roots

by Velvet Davis

Release Date: June 1, 2018

A forest beckons. It hides a relic in its roots. And provokes a perilous quest... Ceera Kestlyn is a scribe in Semadon's orderly society. She fears for her reputation when a shadowy forest summons her through a vision and her dreams. Three men go missing in a remote wood. Is it her duty to find out why?

Buy on Amazon

Hostile Takeover

by Cristelle Comby

Release Date: August 1, 2018

A mysterious beast has been savagely mauling residents of Cold City. The police assume the killings are by a rogue wolf but private investigator, Bellamy Vale, isn't so sure. She has been ordered by Death herself to investigate and this boss is not someone to disappoint... if he wants to keep breathing.

Buy on Amazon

Counting the Ones We Kill

by Zach Kraft

Release Date: May 25, 2018

In the wake of alien conquest, humans have learned to live with Election—the unpredictable and irreversible abduction of its citizens. It can happen to anyone: young, old, rich and poor. Four years after his wife and daughter were taken, Private Detective Alan Riker is called to Bug territory to investigate the murder of a young girl.

Buy on Amazon

Hail to the King

by Michael Anderle

Release Date: July 22, 2018

Tyler has figured out a new way for Brownstone to make money. But Brownstone must agree to it first... Brownstne has received a request from his hacker support after a job he did for the Professor. It looks likes she may have made someone upset close to home. Will Tyler end the bar's neutrality or has the Professor found someone with enough magic to take Brownstone out?

Buy on Amazon

Omega Force

by Joshua Dalzelle

Release Date: July 20, 2018

Jason Burke is broken. He has been in a downward spiral of rage and self-destruction ever since he lost his friend and crewmate on an ill-fated mission to a Pillar World. But what if Lucky didn't actually die on that planet?

Buy on Amazon

Aimless Witch

by Shannon Mayer

Release Date: July 31, 2018

My name is Penelope. I am a witch that has no equal. Well, that's what I thought... It's been three years since the Destroyer sundered our world. Our land is now broken into many pieces, technology is gone, and new monsters have arisen. Through this, humans fight to survive, as they compete with the supernaturals for food and resources, as well as their own kind.

Buy on Amazon

Books To Read If You Like Catherine Coulter

Catherine Coulter is the New York Times Bestselling Author of mystery and thriller novels. With over 75 novels, she is best known for her FBI Thriller series, which just had the 22nd release, Paradox. If you are eager to dive into a new mystery novel, check out these books to read if you like Catherine Coulter!

Drip Drop Dead

by Willow Rose

Release Date: July 30, 2018

Finally, things are starting to go well for Emma Frost. She has a sweet boyfriend, finished a new book, and her daughter Maya is doing well in high school. Even Victor is thriving and playing with his best friend, the strange girl who fell from the sky. But then a woman is found murdered in her bed with no obvious signs of being killed.

Buy on Amazon

Finding Pegasus

by John Pearce

Release Date: July 28, 2018

The third book in the bestselling Eddie Grant series... A bomb has shattered the midnight silence. Mark and Kate only had seconds to escape before their sailboat turned into a flaming hell. Meanwhile, a wrecking crew breaks into their shop to steal a crucial tool. A tool the CIA needs to prevent a neo-Nazi takeover in Eastern Europe.

Buy on Amazon

The Betrayed

by Maria Milot

Release Date: July 16, 2018

Maddie Marcelle is an unexpected heiress. Despite being emotionally crippled by a devastating betrayal, she's now ready to date again. She is unaware that the man she has allowed into her life is hiding a dark secret. Now a brutal killing has occurred at the Marble House mansion and Maddie becomes entangled in the investigation.

Buy on Amazon

Shadows at War

by Kenneth L. Capps

Release Date: August 1, 2018

During Operation Iraqi Freedom and the war in Irag, two powerful men play a high stakes game with a soldier as their pawn. One is working on the side of good but is corrupted by the realization of what he could gain by using his position to his own advantage. The other has been patiently waiting for years for his chance to possess his prize.

Buy on Amazon

Girls' Night out

by Liz Fenton

Release Date: July 24, 2018

Estranged friends Ashley, Natalie, and Lauren are ready to heal the wounds between them. There's no better way to repair severed ties than a girls' getaway to the paradise of Tulum, Mexico. But even when they reunite, no one is being completely honest about the past of the secrets they are hiding.

Buy on Amazon

A Measure of Darkness

by Jonathan Kellerman & Jesse Kellerman

Release Date: July 31, 2018

Clay Edison 's phone rings in the dead of night. A wild party in the East Bay neighborhood has resulted in gunshots and chaos. For Clay and his fellow coroners, it's just the beginning of a long night and the first of many to come. The victims keep piling up and what started as a community tragedy soon becomes lurid fodder for social media.

Buy on Amazon

Interview with Kenneth L. Capps, author of Shadows at War

What can you tell us about your new release, Shadows at War?

I am glad to have it done! This is the first book that I came up with in my foggy head. It has been bouncing around in there for more than 30 years. It is an amalgamation of everything that happened to me as a Marine from day one. All the stories hearken back to things I have seen, done, laughed about, and cried over. I started it and then put it away because I couldn't come up with an ending. And when my very best friend in this whole world, Lieut. Col. Mitchell Bell shined a bright light in my eyes, it just came to me. As in I mean the ending came to me. And it wasn't going to be easy either. You as a reader of this book may think you have it figured out, but you have no idea. I am the only one who knows how the series ends. Which is strange because if I get the right amount of high octane liquor in me I tell everything I know. Not even my lover knows the truth about what my characters are up to.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I had a friend corral me into saying it was the money and for a short time I believed that, but it's not true at all. The fact is I don't give a shovel full of dirt about money and never will. Chasing money is like chasing a rabbit in a field full of holes. I have seen what money, or is it big money does to people. I write to express myself. I get bored easily and try not to have any idle time on my hands. Now I know that is one sorry answer to the question but the truth is I don't see myself as an author, writer, or anything else but me. Just me, little old happy me.

What's on your top five list of best books you've ever read?

Now you're going to think I am throwing the interview. I don't read. I am serious. When I was a little kid in school reading was extremely difficult for me and I didn't find out until later in life that I am somewhat dyslexic, and extremely easily distracted both mentally and physically. I can think about a turning wheel in my head and what it can do and then be severely distracted by something moving outside of the window that I so desperately want to be next to or out of. To this day I am the same way. Anything and everything I write is extremely difficult for me. I can't spell, again very seriously, I can't spell at all. If it weren't for writing programs you would never see my works. I am very embarrassed when people pick up something I've written that has not been edited and they realized how bad it really is. When I turned 50 I decided I was old enough not to give a damn anymore. I wanted to write. So I pushed through it and I will continue to push through it. It is not a secret I keep anymore is the reality that is me and I am comfortable with it.

I have only read a handful of books. And most of those were shoved in my face in some sort of class at school I attended either in high school or the Marine Corps. There was a time I did a little reading to pass the time but I couldn't tell you who the authors were. The only time I read anything is if it involves a cooking recipe or assembly instructions for some expensive item I had purchased. However even then I skipped the reading unless I crammed myself into a mental conundrum during the assembly process, but let's face it there are lots of pictures in the diagrams.

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

Okay, now you're stretching it. I would never do such a thing or be qualified for that matter. I barely got out of high school. My grade average wasn't enough for a trade school. So needless to say I didn't have colleges knocking down my door begging me to be their poster boy. I'm a bit of a renegade and have a tendency to “tell it like I see it.” I’m not politically correct, and carry a gun with me at all times. However in order to humor you I will wade into the waters just deep enough. It would definitely be Harper Lee. I am very fortunate to know her caretaker before she died. I asked her if she would give Harper one of my books not to have her sign it and return it, I just wanted her to have it. She informed me that Harper rarely reads people’s books and it would just be put in a box that would eventually be shipped off somewhere. I did receive an update from Harper Lee's caretaker saying that she is reading your book. I see it move from coffee table to end table to bedside table so she is definitely reading it. That was good enough for me. If I can ask her one question it would be did the tears of joy fall from your cheeks onto the pages of the original copy of To Kill a Mockingbird when you realize how wonderful of a story you had written?

Or perhaps I would ask a famous author that lives up the river from me if he remembers the person that put out the fire in his garage that almost burned down his multimillion dollar mansion. I don't need to tell you his name he doesn't need any more fame crammed into his head.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Freedom. The total freedom to express my imagination. When I write a story I am very selfish. I do it to make me happy. It makes me happy. If someone else likes it, then all the better. I don't do it for the money, I know I've said that before and if you've ever written a book thinking you're going to get rich you're a fool. Yeah, yeah I know that is a BS answer but it is the truth someone wants to psycho analyze that in order to say I am wrong, well you go have a good time with that one.

What scene in Shadows at War was your favorite to write?

That would be the one where Anita asks Scott what it was like to kill someone. I went to a place within me that was vulnerable, emotional, and extremely honest.

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

This one comes straight from my mother and father, who just celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary last week. Never sleep with the bitter taste of a lie on your lips. If you do your tongue will have to dance around it in the morning and tell two more. I have done many, many stupid things in my life. And I have told the truth about them when asked. It cost me a lot and set me back in many ways, but I was always able to overcome and keep on heading down the road because I got a good night’s sleep and didn't have to remember the sequence of lies told to cover up my stupidity.

Kenneth L. Capps is the author of the new book Shadows at War.

Connect with Kenneth:
Author Page

Buy The Book

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

Books To Read If You Like Avery Flynn

Avery Flynn is a USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary romance novels. Some of her novels are steamy and some are sweeter, but you can be guaranteed to find sexy alphas heroes and feisty heroines. Some of her popular recent books include Butterface, The Schemer, and Trouble. If you're looking for some new romance novels to fall for, check out these hot new books to read if you like Avery Flynn.

Break

by Cassia Leo

Release Date: July 26, 2018

Ben Hayes was the gorgeous bad boy next door. My brother's best friend. Then for six of the happiest years of my life, he was my boyfriend. That was until he dumped me on social media in front of millions of people and became my worst enemy. Now, three years later he's returned to town. But I won't let him break me again.

Buy on Amazon

Crazy Sexy Love

by Alison G. Bailey

Release Date: July 17, 2018

Sophie is an intelligent and independent woman. Her parents divorced when she was a child and ever since she's tossed the idea of a happy ever after out the window. When her best friend Bryson reunites with her soulmate Hart, Sophie is forced to allow his friends into her world. She likes her new friends, except for one handsome buffoon named Doug Truman.

Buy on Amazon

It Was Always You

by Lorhainne Eckhart

Release Date: June 16, 2018

Katy and Steven were the loves of each other's lives. That was until a tragedy drove them apart. They share a son but have moved on with their lives. They haven't seen each other in five long years... That was until he comes knocking on her parent's door after learning she was back in town. Now Katy is forced to face her estranged husband and the love that broke her heart.

Buy on Amazon

Playboy

by Katy Evans

Release Date: July 29, 2018

It started out as just a game. But then I found out who he was. Gambler, famous playboy and... my best friend's soon-to-be brother in law, Cullen Carmichael. He needed a good luck charm and I needed a distraction. So we made a gamble and set off for Vegas.

Buy on Amazon

Chasing Clouds

by Kathryn Andrews

Release Date: July 19, 2018

I love only two things: my family and playing football. I may not understand why people get married, but I'd go anywhere for my brother, even his friend's wedding. Now that I'm here, I realize our Bronx upbringing has left me unprepared for the world of old southern money. It's a life I don't relate to. Then I shock not only myself but the bride when I stand up and object to the wedding.

Buy on Amazon

Beyond the Bases

by Kaylee Ryan

Release Date: July 31, 2018

He's sexy and irresistible but I've done my best to ignore the magnetism between us. I don't need any more complications in my life. I don't want to get wrapped up in his world. I can't get attached to a professional athlete. I don't have the time for heartbreak.

Buy on Amazon

Interview with Zach Kraft, author of Counting the Ones We Kill

What can you tell us about your new release, Counting the Ones We Kill?

In the near future, the world's been conquered in a bloodless invasion. The all-powerful and enigmatic invader, floating in vast ships at the edge of orbit, has never said a word to the masses. It speaks only through Election--the inexplicable and relentless abduction of young and old, rich and poor.

Against this backdrop a young girl is found murdered on the territory of the human agency that oversees Elections. Fearing reprisals, nobody has the courage to investigate—nobody but Private Detective Alan Riker, whose past indiscretions have left him with little to lose. He soon finds that to solve the crime, he’ll have to confront the ugliest parts of a despairing world. Counting is the first in a series of novels. Including Counting, four of these novels have been published to date. All are available on Amazon. Two more, to be released by 2019, will complete the series.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Compulsion, mostly. Writing a novel is one of the most foolish things a person can do. It’s kind of like spending a few hundred hours for the honor of buying an expensive lottery ticket that has virtually no chance of paying off, and when it does it nearly always pays off meekly. And yet we do it anyway, because when it’s going well, it’s one of the most fun things in the world.

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

True Grit by Charles Portis. A book written by a young man using the voice of an elderly spinster recalling her days as a whip-smart firecracker. I’ve never seen so much delightful richness in the telling of a story.

Darker than Amber by John D. MacDonald. No thriller writer beats MacDonald on comprehension of the world and the people who inhabit it. And his musings on Florida and its money-obsessed degradation are as cutting today as they were in back in his day (1960s and 70s). But as often than not, when I read him I get depressed. He sets a standard that is all but impossible to match.

Master and Commander by Patrick O’Brian. Any installment of this series belongs among my favorite books. Patrick O’Brian is unequaled in his ability to transport the reader through time. He writes with unqualified authority on life and death in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars, and he does so with an understanding of human psychology that rivals the finest novelists of any era.

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. The best book on vain ambition I’ve ever read. And I’ve spent plenty of time on vain ambition. The last two paragraphs alone are nearly enough to earn placement on my list.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. What can I say? The ludicrous prejudices of our world as seen through the eyes of an unforgettable girl. It may be the best American novel of the late 20^th century.

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

First thing I would do is surreptitiously disable all of the transmitting equipment in the studio. Then I would send all the support people home, without pay. Then I would bring in James Patterson, and as I pretended to interview him for the masses, I would privately interrogate him on how to survive in this racket.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

For me, the inspiration for a book typically comes with a concept for a few thrilling scenes. Often enough these scenes appear at the climax of the story, but not always. In all events, writing this stuff is the most fun part of the job.

What is a typical day like for you?

My days are spent in the attempt to conquer procrastination and distraction. I’d say my record is fair at best. I’m fortunate to work from home and to have a great deal of flexibility in how I fill my schedule. I try to fill as much of that schedule with writing as I can.

What scene in Counting the Ones We Kill was your favorite to write?

I enjoyed a particular moment of realization that takes place toward the end--one that I can't disclose for fear of spoilers. Suffice it to say, nothing is more satisfying than the shock of a character.

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

I believe it was Hedy Lamarr who said something to the effect of, “if something isn’t working—change it.” Such a simple instruction. I wish I followed it more often. Not that I should necessarily look to celebrities for guidance on the life well lived...

Zach Kraft is the author of the new book Counting the Ones We Kill.

Connect with Zach:
Author Page

Buy The Book

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

Interview with Alison G. Bailey, author of Crazy Sexy love

What can you tell us about your new release, Crazy Sexy Love?

Crazy Sexy Love is my very first romantic comedy. It's an enemies, to friends, to lovers story about Doug and Sophie, who we first met in my novel, The Dance. Doug has annoyed and turned on Sophie for years. She's attracted to him physically. It's when he opens his mouth to speak one of his Doug-isms is where the problem comes in. Plus, starting an enemies with benefits relationship is just too complicated. As in any great romantic comedy, circumstances throw these two together. It's a fun and flirty read with some swoon and steam tossed in.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

The death of my father. Focusing on my first novel guided me through the grieving process. I truly believe my dad helped me write that story.

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

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Making Faces by Amy Harmon. Hopeless by Colleen Hoover. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Stone Soup (1968), written by Ann McGovern, mom used to read this to me all the time.

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

I'd have Harper Lee on my show. I'd ask her while writing To Kill A Mockingbird, did she know it would have such an impact on society and that it would be the only novel she would publish.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

I like creating characters and unique stories that surprise the reader.

What is a typical day like for you?

Most of my day is spent taking care of my 85-year-old mother. I write at night when the world is nice and quiet.

What scene in Crazy Sexy Love was your favorite to write?

I have two actually. The first is when Doug needs a place to stay because his condo is unlivable and begs Sophie to let him stay with her. The other one is the first morning after Doug moves in. Honestly, any scene with Doug and Sophie verbally sparring is a favorite.

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

Stay hopeful and keep moving forward.

Alison G. Bailey is the author of the new book Crazy Sexy Love.

Connect with Alison:
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 Velvet Davis, author of Immortal Roots

What can you tell us about your new release, Immortal Roots?

Immortal Roots is a fantasy eco-adventure novel with a hint of sci-fi and a cast of unique and magical characters. It's a quirky, light-hearted read that begins in the futuristic village of Semadon. The main character dreams that a forest is summoning her, and sets out on an adventure to find out why. In doing so, she puts her career in jeopardy and life on the line.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

Since I was a young child I wanted to be an author. It was probably inspired by our weekly family trips to the library. My mother would let us pick the maximum books allowed, and I would leave each week with ten and have them all read by the next Saturday. I've just always loved books. I'd ask for blank notebooks as Christmas or birthday presents and would fill them with stories. I still have them all.

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

American Gods by Neil Gaiman
The Firebird by Susana Kearsley
Fool On The Hill by Matt Ruff
Tracks by Louise Erdrich
The Bear And The Nightingale by Katherine Arden

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

My first guest would be Neil Gaiman. I would ask him which god in America Gods was his favorite to write and why. I'm curious to know since I had such vivid pictures of them in my head while reading the book.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

My favorite thing about writing is that sometimes the story comes together like magic. Or maybe it's just your subconscious at work that makes everything fit together in the end. It happens with characters too. Sometimes they have a life of their own and do things toward the end of a story that you unintentionally foreshadowed earlier on.

What is a typical day like for you?

I usually start out with coffee and some exercise, since I desperately need both to wake up. Then I write for the rest of the morning. I spend the afternoon working on marketing and outreach, the business side of being an author. After dinner, I allow myself some free time which can include anything from surfing the web to spending time with my family. I try to end the day with yoga and a good book.

What scene in Immortal Roots was your favorite to write?

I loved writing all the scenes involving the Archaics, particularly the ones with Oc~ea's children because things go very wrong in a dangerous yet innocent kind of way.

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

I have three words that drive me: Passion, Patience, Perseverance.

Velvet Davis is the author of the new book Immortal Roots.

Connect with Velvet:
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 Lorhainne Eckhart, author of It Was Always You

What can you tell us about your new release, It Was Always You?

It Was Always You is from the long running Friessen Family Series and brings back Katy and Steven whose marriage fell apart bit by bit after a brutal attack and the resulting fall out of Steven’s injuries that slowly drove the couple apart and Katy into depression. Steven and Katy share a son who is being looked after by Katy’s parents, Brad and Emily Friessen, while both do their very best to get lives back together. But five long years later they have both moved on dating other people and when Steven comes knocking on her parent’s door when she arrives back in town, his intentions regarding their all but over marriage are soon made very clear. This is a love story of that first love that you never get over.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

There was no singular person that inspired me to become an author, but rather it was where I was in my life, after the birth of my daughter, my oldest recently diagnosed with autism being the mother of three and a marriage all but over and I was hit with that, “is this it?” And it’s that moment that I teach others that talk about in my blogs where we all have a dream and not to ever settle for mediocrity. My dream was to write a book, it always was, I just never did it instead settling for just a job and career that pays the bills but doesn’t fill you with any satisfaction or joy of life. And it was a moment of wanting it so bad that I didn’t give up and kept going to achieve my dreams, wrote my first book started on the next one, queried everyone and never gave up no matter who said no.

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

Boy I had to really dig deep on this one, first there is, Ride the Wind by Lucia St. Clair Robson, Over the Edge Suzanne Brockmann (from her Troubleshooter series, the first series I ever fell in love with) Real by Katy Evans, The Vow Linda Lael Miller, Faithless by Karin Slaughter (I read just about every genre).

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

First guest would be E.L James who wrote the phenomenon Fifty Shades Series. And first thing I’d ask her is how did you ever come up with the Fifty Shades of Grey concept and create those characters that nearly everyone in the reading world has grabbed a copy of and read whether they’ll admit it or not.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Everything! What can I say to be a writer you have to love your own company and I do. It is a lonely occupation people say and I’ve been told. But I’ve never found that. I love my days writing alone with no one around, it really is something that fills me with such joy. I love creating my characters where they come to life and begin telling me their story.

What is a typical day like for you?

I’m up at 5 a.m. Part of the 5 a.m. club I joined this year, I work-out, get my head together, outline my day and spend the most productive hours of my morning the first ninety minutes writing or marketing. And then because it’s important to always be learning something new, I then will spend either thirty minutes to an hour listening to a podcast or online taking a course, so I am always learning something new in the industry, in marketing or just for me. Now in there to, because I have kids, all teenagers by the way, I tend to get, “excuse me mom are you busy.” Generally, in middle of writing a really fantastic scene, because they need me to drop everything to drive them someplace, handle something for them, or just need to interrupt me because they can.

My days are jam packed, and I tend to focus on social media, booking ads and other maintenance stuff that every author needs to do to sell books in the afternoon, when my head isn’t as productive. And two nights a week you’ll find me on the water where I am part of a dragon boat racing team that fills that part of me that is super competitive.

What scene in It Was Always You was your favorite to write?

The opening chapter was my favorite by far. When Katy comes home to her parent’s ranch, and no one knows she’s coming or the plans she has to take her son back, which all but falls apart. Then her estranged husband Steven shows up after not seeing each other in years and she realizes in this defining moment watching her father with her soon to be ex and how close they seem to be that she may be the one on the outside looking in. It’s just a moment for Katy where everything she’s planned in that quick trip back home to Hoquiam to her parents’ ranch where her son is still living and being looked after, begins to disintegrate. And then to make matters worse in walks a friend of hers from high school only to learn that her estranged husband Steven who was her first love has moved on and is planning to marry her once best friend. And it was that opening scene where Katy comes face to face with her first love and everything she ran away from only to discover she may not be over her first love.

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

Yes, I do and it’s one I teach my kids. Follow your dreams and passions, don’t settle for mediocrity, don’t do it if it’s not fun. Be honest. Do your very best. Keep your word. And a job is one that you have to love!

Lorhainne Eckhart is the author of the new book It Was Always You.

Connect with Lorhainne:
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 Nicholas Houseman, author of Old Country Wounds

What can you tell us about your new release, Old Country Wounds?

I wrote this book as I have always been interested in looking at immigrant situations, being an immigrant myself, and how moving from one country to another brings with it all sorts of challenges but mostly how one gets caught between the two cultures and countries and over time how feelings change and evolve. When I was young my family moved around a lot. Before I was 12 I had already lived in 4 countries and been to 8 different schools and the constant change impacted who I am as a person. Living in Canada now, a country full of immigrants, it interesting to hear discussions around life in a new country and longing for the “old country”. That was the basis of the book that was then wrapped around a good old-fashioned story of revenge.

What or who inspired you to become an author?

I cannot say that anyone or anything inspired me to write. I always enjoyed writing even when I was small. I remember being frustrated as a 9 year old because my teacher asked us to write a story and I wrote three times as much as the limit set. I had so much to say as the story took on a life of its own and I remember thinking to myself even then that I enjoy the process of building the story.

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

I am more of a nonfiction person. I like historical biographies and business books. Top 5 I would say include Good to Great by Jim Collins, Stop Time by Frank Conroy, The Night Manager by John LeCarre, Misery by Stephen King, Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt.

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

If I had to pick someone it would be Sir Winston Churchill or Napoleon. They are know for some incredible successes but they are also known for some incredible failures and that is what I would want to explore with them. If I had to pick someone living I would like to invite Barak Obama and discuss his life and challenges he overcame to become President and where he sees the world going.

What's your favorite thing about writing?

Building the story and adding parts to it like building a house. Adding a room that explores someone’s feelings or adding a room that involves a distant memory. It’s the process of creating something with no boundaries. Writing has no limits except imagination.

What is a typical day like for you?

A typical day involves running my businesses. I write on airplanes or when I have downtime during trips. The book I wrote was started in Montreal but written in hotel rooms around the world including London, Ljubljana, Dubai, Singapore, and many others.

What scene in Old Country Wounds was your favorite to write?

My favorite scene was when the main character stows away on a ship to make his escape. It reminded me of times in my childhood and luckily I wasn’t caught.

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

Never give up! And I think this is critical in writing. I started the book and got sidetracked by life and business but I always kept working at my book a little bit at a time. There were times where it was very frustrating to write and then leave it alone for a month or two because of other commitments but the satisfaction of completing the book was immense. My kids summed it up well when the paperback version arrived at our house - “Dad you wrote a book! That’s cool.”

Nicholas Houseman is the author of the new book Old Country Wounds.

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 | July 31

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 John Pearce, Kenneth L. Capps, Peg Cochran, Catherine Coulter, Jonathan Kellerman, 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.